§226-8 Objective and policies for the economy--visitor industry.

686 words·~3 min read·/hi/chapter-226/226-8

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Planning for the State's economy with regard to the visitor industry shall be directed towards the achievement of the objective of a visitor industry that constitutes a major component of steady growth for Hawaii's economy.

(b)To achieve the visitor industry objective, it shall be the policy of the State to:

(1)Support and assist in the promotion of Hawaii's visitor attractions and facilities;

(2)Ensure that visitor industry activities are in keeping with the social, economic, and physical needs and aspirations of Hawaii's people;

(3)Improve the quality of existing visitor destination areas by utilizing Hawaii's strengths in science and technology;

(4)Encourage cooperation and coordination between the government and private sectors in developing and maintaining well-designed, adequately serviced visitor industry and related developments that are sensitive to neighboring communities and activities;

(5)Develop the industry in a manner that will:

(A)Continue to provide new job opportunities and steady employment for Hawaii's people;

(B)Commit to building the capacity of Hawaii's people; and

(C)Offer career opportunities to ultimately increase the percentage of Hawaii's people who hold management and leadership positions in the visitor industry;

(6)Provide opportunities for Hawaii's people to obtain job training and education that will allow for upward mobility within the visitor industry;

(7)Foster a recognition of the contribution of the visitor industry to Hawaii's economy and the need to perpetuate the aloha spirit;

(8)Foster an understanding by visitors of the aloha spirit and of the unique and sensitive character of Hawaii's cultures and values;

(9)Allow the formation of community partnerships to ensure Native Hawaiian cultural integrity by:

(A)Supporting Hawaii's people and communities and their efforts to care for the land and protect the cultural and natural resources of the land, oceans, streams, and skies;

(B)Strengthening the relationships between the place and Hawaii's people and visitors alike;

(C)Engaging in collaborative efforts that provide visitors with genuine and meaningful experiences in Hawaii;

(D)Ensuring that kapu (prohibited) and environmentally sensitive contexts are protected from visitor traffic;

(E)Positioning local business owners and entrepreneurs in the economic value chain to ensure more meaningful visitor and resident engagement as well as economic benefit to local communities; and

(F)Acknowledging and, where appropriate, protecting Native Hawaiian cultural intellectual property, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions that contribute to Hawaii's economy;

(10)Apply innovative financial policies as well as data collection and analysis to incentivize and facilitate a shift to a regenerative visitor industry that has a smaller ecological footprint by implementing policies such as decreasing the impacts on beaches, reefs, and ocean life, and that aims to sustain and improve the quality of life for Hawaii's people by implementing policies such as decreasing the impacts of transient accommodations, vacation rentals, bed and breakfast operations, and rental cars;

(11)Target markets that have a high probability of alignment with the goal of cultivating a regenerative visitor industry;

(12)Actively support and encourage other economic sectors and clusters to reduce the State's dependence on tourism to support Hawaii's overall economic prosperity;

(13)Minimize negative economic, environmental, and social impacts to the State;

(14)Generate greater economic benefits for Hawaii's people, enhance the well-being of Hawaii's indigenous communities, and improve the working conditions of and access to the visitor industry;

(15)Involve Hawaii's people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;

(16)Make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage for the maintenance of Hawaii's diversity;

(17)Provide more enjoyable experiences and a greater understanding of local cultural, social, and environmental issues for visitors through more meaningful connections with Hawaii's people; and

(18)Provide equitable access for individuals with disabilities and sociologically disadvantaged people that is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between visitors and Hawaii's people, and builds pride and confidence in Hawaii. [L 1978, c 100, pt of §2; am L 1986, c 276, §7; am L 1988, c 70, §5; am L 2009, c 167, §4; am L 2024, c 128, §2; am L 2025, c 132, §5]

Cross References

Hawaii tourism authority, see chapter 201B.