HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

23

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO STUDY WHETHER TO LICENSE TOUR GUIDES TO ENSURE GUIDES HAVE AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF HAWAIIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the visitor industry remains the largest sector in Hawaii's economy although efforts to diversify into various other sectors are important and should continue to be encouraged; and

 

     WHEREAS, the visitor industry continues to generate the most economic activity and revenues in the State and, as such, needs to be carefully nurtured; and

 

     WHEREAS, however, there has always been a fine line between exploiting the natural beauty and resources of the islands in catering to visitors and being knowledgeable and respectful of the culture and history of the Hawaiian people who have been the caretakers of Hawaii's aina; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is the distinct spirit of Aloha that ultimately defines the unique beauty and the source of the State's attraction to the rest of the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, yet, with the rapid increase in the number of visitors to the State over the past few years, we must guard against trivializing native Hawaiian culture and history for the sake of visitors with misguided commercial stereotypes; and

 

     WHEREAS, often, it is the tour guide who has the most frequent and direct contact with visitors to Hawaii and the tour guide can either accurately portray Hawaiian history and culture or not; and

 

     WHEREAS, however, at present, there is no mechanism to ensure that a tour guide possesses the requisite knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture to accurately portray them to the visiting public; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to study and recommend whether tour guides should be licensed in the State to ensure that they possess an adequate level of knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to include in its study a consideration of at least the following issues:

 

     (1)  Who, if any, should be subject to licensing;

 

     (2)  Criteria to determine an adequate level of knowledge;

 

(3)  Mechanism to assess an individual's level of knowledge;

 

(4)  Term of a license;

 

(5)  Whether temporary licenses are necessary or desirable;

 

(6)  Application and renewal fees;

 

(7)  Cost of implementing a licensing program; and

 

(8)  Any other issues the Authority deems relevant; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to consider using the following definition of "tour guide" in its study:

 

"Tour guide" means a person who, under a contract, agreement, or any arrangement, is directly engaged in providing services that include accompanying, guiding, explicating to, or assisting a visitor to better appreciate the visitor's sightseeing or tour activities in the State, whether the services may include transportation or not, but shall not include travel agents or brokers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Tour Guides; Hawaii Tourism Authority Study of Licensing