STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1641-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 24

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 24 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HAWAII'S FOOD MANUFACTURING STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIC MARKETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on Hawaii's food manufacturing strengths and strategic markets, including an assessment of the competitive advantages of Hawaii-made products and the specific high-value, premium products that the State should focus on manufacturing for export.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee finds that Act 237, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the Food and Product Innovation Network, a statewide network of open-access food and value-added product development facilities to enable businesses to scale up new products by supporting research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Your Committee further finds that the successful implementation and growth of the Food and Product Innovation Network requires further examination of Hawaii's food manufacturing strengths and identification of strategic markets for local high-value, premium products. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on Hawaii's food manufacturing strengths and strategic markets.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 24 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

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GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair