STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1385

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 259

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 259 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT A VISITOR PLEDGE OF ALOHA TO EDUCATE AND EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF HAWAII'S ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE AND ENCOURAGE INCREASED RESPECT AND APPRECIATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State to explore and implement a visitor pledge of Aloha to educate and explain the importance of Hawaii's environment and culture and encourage increased respect and appreciation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's environment, culture, and people are unique and its assailable resources are central to the identity of our island state. Your Committee further finds that the unique attributes of the Hawaiian Islands should be honored, valued, and protected by the people of Hawaii and visitors should be educated and acknowledge their kuleana to honor and respect Hawaii's environment, culture, and people. This measure, which implements a visitor pledge of Aloha, will allow visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Hawaii's environment and culture and an increased admiration and respect of the Hawaiian Islands.

Your Committee also finds that this measure aligns with the Hawaii Tourism Authority's guiding principles, and therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Identifying the Hawaii Tourism Authority as the responsible State agency for this effort;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 259, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 259, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair