Hawaii Tourism Authority invoice advances to full Senate

HILO, Hawaii (AP) – Two Senate committees have decided to propose a House Bill that will modify the administration of the Hawaiian aerospace industry with changes some claim to limit the functions and resources of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The bill was originally aimed at deleting the Aerospace Development Bureau, the Aerospace Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board for the State Test Site for Unmanned Aerial Systems. It would also transfer administration for other programs to the University of Hilo at Hilo and the State Department of Education.

However, the bill was amended earlier this week to restrict the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s ability to conduct activities other than marketing and advertising, to remove its authority to develop guidelines and form advisory boards, and to limit the amount of funds it can raise the Tourism Emergency Special could draw funds.

The bill will be put to a vote in the Senate after it passes the Senate Means and Ways Committees and Commerce and Consumer Protection Committees, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported on Saturday.

The committees voted on Friday and made changes that would allow the agency-managed Hawaiian cultural programs to proceed and impose requirements on the agency to ensure their tourism marketing is culturally sensitive.

John De Fries, president of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Friday the bill is trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.

“It felt like trying to fix something that wasn’t broken and if we commit to it the premise is that we have to break it,” said De Fries, who attended a joint committee hearing participated.

Hawaii State Senator Glenn Wakai, a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said the bill was necessary to contain the agency after paying an average of $ 244 per Japanese tourist who visited the island as of February, compared to $ 5.70 in 2019.

“We need to hold HTA accountable,” said Wakai. “If we remove them from special funds where they can just do what they want and continue to do what they want and get them funded now generally, they will be accountable to us and the taxpayers to make sure they are using our funds Spend wisely. “

Wakai also said the agency’s remaining budget could continue to be used to market events and further promote Hawaiian culture.

It is not immediately known when the Senate would vote on the bill.