Report Title:

Big Island; Cruise Industry

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

88

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER HOW THE HILO AREA CAN MAXIMIZE the ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Hilo area on the Big Island of Hawaii will benefit from the greater diversification and expansion of its economy; and

WHEREAS, the growth of passenger cruise operations in the State is providing a much-needed boost to the State's recovering visitor industry-based economy, contributing substantial amounts to the local economy and employing many local residents; and

WHEREAS, the cruise industry's economic benefits for communities in the State go far beyond the amounts directly generated by the carriers themselves, because like air carriers, the cruise industry brings visitors to Hawaii, who stay in local hotels before and after their voyages, go sightseeing and shopping, patronize local restaurants, and support the many locally-based visitor attractions and tours while their ships are in port; and

WHEREAS, the cruise industry is expected to continue to expand its activities in the State for the foreseeable future; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable to increase the economic benefits of the cruise industry to the Hilo area and to explore the feasibility of encouraging a cruise operator to homeport a cruise ship in the Port of Hilo; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that there are obstacles to the homeporting of a cruise vessel in the Port of Hilo, such as the lack of airlift between Hilo and the United States mainland, the insufficiency of Hilo's existing hotel capacity, the relative lack of tourist attractions in the Hilo area, and the need for substantial port facility improvements; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is respectfully requested to convene a task force to review and make recommendations on how the Hilo area can maximize the economic opportunities presented by the cruise industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint to the task force to the extent possible representatives of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Department of Transportation, other agencies of the executive branch of government, the domestic and foreign cruise carriers serving the State, the County of Hawaii, air carriers, Hilo area hotel operators, Hilo area businesses, and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to report the findings and recommendations of the task force to the Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Director of Transportation, the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Executive Directors of the American Classic Voyages Co., the NorthWest Cruise Ship Association, and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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