STAND. COM. REP. NO. 159

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1190
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1190 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM
     AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to grant the Board of Directors
of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) the power to fund and
support activities that promote responsible management of
Hawaii's natural resources.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the
Hawaii Audubon Society, and an individual submitted testimony in
support of the bill.  Hawaii's Thousand Friends and the Hawaii
Chapter of the Sierra Club supported the intent of the bill.  HTA
commented on the bill.
     
     Your Committee recognizes the need to preserve, protect, and
sustain Hawaii's natural resources for they are an important
reason that so many people travel to our beautiful islands.  Your
Committee favorably notes that HTA submitted comments
acknowledging its recognition of the need for the Tourism
Strategic Plan to include strategies to address the long-term
sustainability of the natural resources affected by the visitor
industry.  In addition, your Committee is encouraged by HTA's
intent, also expressed in its comments, to work closely with the
DLNR and the commercial and non-profit entities involved in the

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 159
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field to ensure that proper attention is paid to the management
and preservation of Hawaii's natural resources.

     Your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments
to the bill for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1190, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1190, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Tourism.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair