THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

139

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING the RETAIL BUSINESS industry to develop a plan for its direction for the future.

 

WHEREAS, Oahu has experienced the establishment of several "big box" retailers in the past several years; and

WHEREAS, big box retailers typically sell in volume at discounted prices from warehouse type operations; and

WHEREAS, big box retailers do business in groceries, office supplies, sporting goods, home furnishings, toys, books and music, computers, electronics and hardware on Oahu and on some Neighbor Islands; and

WHEREAS, the economy of the State and the cost of living for Hawaii residents are impacted considerably by big box retailers; and

WHEREAS, anecdotal reports are that big box retailers have had an adverse economic impact on small and medium sized businesses that are locally owned, causing many of them to lose revenue and eventually close; and

WHEREAS, while these reports on the adverse economic impact big box retailers have on local businesses may be anecdotal, recent statistics on business closures and bankruptcy filings in Hawaii have grown significantly in the years since the influx of big box retailers; and

WHEREAS, it should be the responsibility of the retail industry of Hawaii to report its objectives to the State for the State to decide how these objectives may benefit or conflict with the well being of various sized retail businesses in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature needs solid and reliable information regarding the direction, goals, and objectives of the retail business industry; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, the retail industry of Hawaii is requested as a whole and in cooperation with various business organizations such as the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Small Business Hawaii, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii Business league, National Federation of Independent businesses, and others to develop and report the direction of the retail industry of Hawaii, paying particular attention to the effects the recent introduction of big box retailers in Hawaii have had on our economy and on competing medium and small local businesses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the big box retail industry, includes but shall not be limited to Home Depot, WalMart, Kmart, Border's Books and Music, Barnes and Noble, Lowe's, Costco, Sam's Club, Ross, and Old Navy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this report shall be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the chief executive officers in Hawaii for Home Depot, WalMart, Kmart, Border's Books and Music, Barnes and Noble, Lowe's, Costco, Sam's Club, Ross, and Old Navy.

Report Title:

Big Box Retailer Economic Impact Study