STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1447

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 420

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 420, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN CULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal a provision designating the Hawaii Convention Center as the location for operation of a Hawaiian Center and the Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that under existing law, $79,000,000 of transient accommodations tax revenue is allocated per year to the tourism special fund and of that amount, $1,000,000 is allocated for the operation of a Hawaiian Center and Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance at the Hawaii Convention Center.  However, your Committees further find that the Hawaii Convention Center is currently an unsuitable location for the Hawaiian Center and the Museum due to a need for renovation and repairs to the roof.  Your Committees additionally find that the Bishop Museum, officially designated in statute as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is a more appropriate location for the Hawaiian Center and Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Designating the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History as the location for operation of a Hawaiian Center and the Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance;

 

     (2)  Authorizing the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History to enter into contracts and partnerships for services related to the Hawaiian Center and the Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 420, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 420, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair

 

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair