HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.34            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
    AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF JAPAN'S IMPORT BEHAVIOR
    TO ASSIST AND IMPROVE THE EFFORTS OF HAWAII'S BUSINESSES
    IN CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH THAT COUNTRY.



 1        WHEREAS, Japan is Hawaii's largest and most important
 2   foreign market; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, Japanese individuals have an estimated $10
 5   trillion in personal savings, nearly twice that of their
 6   American counterparts; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, despite the recent downturn in Japan's economy,
 9   Japanese investment and tourism continue to play a large role
10   in Hawaii's economy; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, while a number of Hawaiian and United States
13   mainland firms have established successful retail operations in
14   Japan, and Hawaiian exports, especially agricultural products,
15   are popular with many Japanese tourists to Hawaii, exports to
16   Japan from Hawaii could be significantly expanded; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, the "Hawaii" name is a marketable and
19   underutilized economic asset.  Since Hawaii products advertise
20   the image and artistic creativity of Hawaii and its
21   multicultural community, there is a need to further promote,
22   market, distribute, and export Hawaii-made products and Hawaii-
23   grown crops to Japan; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, Hawaii companies that export to Japan need
26   information on Japan's import behavior, as well as other areas
27   including market trends, financing resources, pricing options,
28   importing regulations, specific trade leads, and other areas;
29   and
30   
31        WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development,
32   and Tourism has already begun to take steps in providing
33   information and contacts for overseas trade and business
34   transactions, for example, by receiving tentative approval from
35   the United Nations to establish a United Nations Trade Point;
36   and
37   

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     H.R. NO.34         
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        WHEREAS, an understanding of the import behavior of
 2   Japanese firms and consumers is critical to establishing
 3   successful export operations to Japan from Hawaii; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, in order to improve the quality of life and the
 6   standard of living for Hawaii residents, there is a need for
 7   the State to improve its balance of trade by boosting its
 8   exports; and
 9   
10        WHEREAS, there is a need for a study of Japan's import
11   behavior, including a study of trade and promotion of trade
12   with Japan, in order to assist and improve the efforts of
13   Hawaii's businesses in conducting business with that country;
14   now, therefore,
15   
16        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
17   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
18   of 1999, that the Department of Business, Economic Development,
19   and Tourism is requested to conduct a study of Japan's import
20   behavior to assist and improve the efforts of Hawaii's
21   businesses in conducting business with that country; and
22   
23        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the East-West Center, the
24   Japan-America Society of Hawaii, the Japanese Cultural Center
25   of Hawaii, the Japan-America Institute of Management Science,
26   and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce are requested to provide
27   assistance to the Department of Business, Economic Development,
28   and Tourism as may be necessary in the course of its study; and
29   
30        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business,
31   Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to report its
32   findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than
33   twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of
34   2000; and
35   
36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
37   Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Director of
38   Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the President of
39   the East-West Center; the President of the Japan-America
40   Society of Hawaii; the President of the Japanese Cultural
41   Center of Hawaii; the President of the Japan-America Institute
42   of Management Science; and the President of the Japanese
43   Chamber of Commerce.
44   
45   
46   
47                           OFFERED BY: ___________________________