STAND. COM. REP. NO. 115

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1233

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1233 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the School of Travel Industry Management of the University of Hawaii at Manoa to conduct a study that assesses the tourism social carrying capacity for the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu;

(2) Require the School of Travel and Industry Management to consult with the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from UNITE HERE Local 5 and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and one individual.

Your Committee finds that tourism social carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of tourists that can be present at a destination without significantly undermining residents' quality of life and tourists' enjoyment of the destination. Your Committee believes it is imperative to get a better understanding of the State's tourism social carrying capacity as the number of visitors to the State is increasing toward pre-pandemic levels. This measure will allow the State to improve the quality of life for residents while maintaining visitors' enjoyment of the State by studying the impacts of overtourism in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the determinations the School of Industry Management is required to make in consulting with the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) Expanding the scope of the study;

(3) Including the Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Center for Labor Education and Research of the University of Hawaii West Oahu as entities with which the School of Travel Industry Management may consult;

(4) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1233, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1233, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair