HB 446: RELATING TO A STATE HOTEL.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO A STATE HOTEL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a hotel owned, operated, and managed by the State has the potential to offer numerous benefits for the people and economy of Hawaii.  For instance, a state hotel could create workforce development opportunities for local residents and better allow the State to promote regenerative tourism for visitors.

     The legislature further finds that a state hotel could also support local students' career development through hospitality, regenerative tourism practices, sustainable development, and business management programs.  By providing local students valuable opportunities to gain professional experience in one of Hawaii's leading industries, there may be less of a need to search outside the State to recruit upper-level management and top leadership in the tourism industry.

     The legislature also finds that a state hotel could accommodate visitors and guests to university of Hawaii campuses, improve the recruitment of students to the university of Hawaii, and help generate additional revenue for the university of Hawaii system.  Moreover, there is also the potential for state hotels to eventually expand to more islands in the State.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to jointly perform a study regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa shall jointly perform a study regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel, including:

     (1)  Consideration of the staffing and financial resources required to own, operate, and manage a state hotel; and

     (2)  Consideration of whether it is more cost-effective and feasible to construct a new hotel or purchase an existing hotel.

     (b)  The Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa shall submit the study required in subsection (a) to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     (c)  As used in this Act, "state hotel" means a hotel owned, operated, and managed by the State.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii tourism authority to jointly perform a study with the school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii tourism authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to jointly perform a study with the Hawaii tourism authority regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000; provided that sections 3 and 4 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

State Hotel; Study; Hawaii Tourism Authority; School of Travel Industry Management; University of Hawaii; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to jointly perform a study regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to a state hotel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a hotel owned, operated, and managed by the State has the potential to offer numerous benefits for the people and economy of Hawaii.  For instance, a state hotel could create workforce development opportunities for local residents and better allow the State to promote regenerative tourism for visitors.

     The legislature further finds that a state hotel could also support local students' career development through hospitality, regenerative tourism practices, sustainable development, and business management programs.  By providing local students valuable opportunities to gain professional experience in one of Hawaii's leading industries, there may be less of a need to search outside the State to recruit upper-level management and top leadership in the tourism industry.

     The legislature also finds that a state hotel could accommodate visitors and guests to university of Hawaii campuses, improve the recruitment of students to the university of Hawaii, and help generate additional revenue for the university of Hawaii system.  Moreover, there is also the potential for state hotels to eventually expand to more islands in the State.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to collaborate to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa shall collaborate to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     (b)  The state hotel shall be jointly managed by the Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.

     (c)  The state hotel may employ members of labor unions and students enrolled at the university of Hawaii.

     (d)  At least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the Hawaii tourism authority and school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the progress of their plans for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     (e)  As used in this Act, "state hotel" means a hotel owned, operated, and managed by the State.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii tourism authority, in collaboration with the school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel, including but not limited to searching for a location and developing a design for the state hotel.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii tourism authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, in collaboration with the Hawaii tourism authority, to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel, including but not limited to searching for a location and developing a design for the state hotel.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

State Hotel; Planning; Hawaii Tourism Authority; School of Travel Industry Management; University of Hawaii; Reports; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to collaborate to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  25

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 446

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 446 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A STATE HOTEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to collaborate to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association.

     Your Committee finds that a state hotel could create workforce development opportunities for local residents and better allow the State to promote regenerative tourism for visitors.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to jointly perform a study, rather than actively plan, for the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel;

     (2)  Requiring a report on the study to be submitted to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2027;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $150,000 for the study.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 446, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 446, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism,