STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1695

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 78

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 78, S.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCLUDE IN THE 2017-2018 SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REQUEST IMPROVEMENTS TO CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER TERMINALS AT NAWILIWILI HARBOR IN KAUAI, HONOLULU HARBOR IN OAHU, KAHULUI HARBOR IN MAUI, AND HILO HARBOR IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support improvements to cruise ship passenger terminals in the State.

     More specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requests that the Governor and the Department of Transportation include, in the 2017-2018 Supplemental Capital Improvement Program request, improvements to cruise ship passenger terminals at Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, Honolulu Harbor in Oahu, Kahului Harbor in Maui, and Hilo Harbor in Hawaii; and

     (2)  Requests that the Department of Transportation continue to collaborate with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and other state and federal entities to encourage the installation of art and award-winning designs that promote heritage tourism and original Hawaii artwork.

     While the Department of Transportation has increased cruise ship passengers' debark and embark fees in recent years, your Committee finds that, except for certain improvements to Pier 2 at Honolulu Harbor, the Department has not included in its Capital Improvement Program the design and construction of cruise ship passenger facilities for each of its major commercial ports serving passenger vessels.  Your Committee also finds that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is increasing its cruise industry marketing efforts and is funding a statewide vessel scheduling system for cruise line agents to have online access to reserve and schedule passenger vessels at the Department of Land and Natural Resources small boat harbors at Kona and Lahaina and the Department of Transportation Harbors Division commercial ports at Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, Honolulu Harbor in Oahu, Kahului Harbor in Maui, and Hilo Harbor in Hawaii.  Your Committee believes that the improvements requested by this measure will assist the Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to enhance the Hawaii cruise ship passenger experience.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 78, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair