STAND. COM. REP. NO.1461

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.R. No. 139

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.R. No. 139 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONSIDERATION OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH NON-PROFIT ENTITIES TO ENHANCE SELECTED PARK PROPERTIES WHILE APPLYING A COMMUNITY-BASED CULTURAL TOURISM MODEL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request:

(1) The Parks Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to consider strategic partnerships with non-profit entities, such as the Friends of Malaekahana, to enhance selected park properties while applying a community-based cultural tourism model; and

(2) DLNR to offer long-term leases to their non-profit partners in enhancing state parks.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from Kahuku 2000 and one individual.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's ecotourism market is growing. Proper development and maintenance of state parks is key to sustaining growth in ecotourism and is necessary to ensure that Hawaii's resources and culture are preserved for enjoyment in the future. Fortunately, there are community-based programs where non-profit entities dedicate their efforts toward enhancing, maintaining, and preserving state parks, and promoting cultural tourism. Your Committees find that these partnerships have been extremely successful and encourage DLNR to continue to form these partnerships for the benefit of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 139 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair