HR 137: STRONGLY URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ENCOURAGE ALL TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCORPORATE THE PONO PLEDGE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GUEST CHECK-IN.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

STRONGLY URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ENCOURAGE ALL TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCORPORATE THE PONO PLEDGE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GUEST CHECK-IN.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is a place of immense cultural and environmental significance, with a fragile ecosystem and deep-rooted traditions that require respectful stewardship; and

     WHEREAS, the increasing number of visitors to Hawaii has placed a significant strain on natural resources, cultural sites, and local communities; and

     WHEREAS, irresponsible tourism practices, including trespassing on sacred land, disrupting native wildlife and ecosystems, taking lava rocks, and disregarding safety precautions in hazardous areas, have led to environmental degradation; the desecration of sacred cultural sites; a lack of respect for Native Hawaiian traditions and customs, including a failure to acknowledge or understand the significance of the host culture; and unnecessarily risking the lives of first responders; and

     WHEREAS, the Pono Pledge was created to educate visitors about responsible tourism by promoting respect for Hawaii's land, ocean, culture, and local communities through a commitment to ethical and safe behavior; and

     WHEREAS, integrating the Pono Pledge into the visitor experience can foster a sense of kuleana (responsibility) and encourage sustainable tourism practices that align with Native Hawaiian values and local community interests; and

     WHEREAS, requiring all guests staying at transient accommodations, including hotels, hostels, short-term rentals, timeshares, and other lodging establishments, to take the Pono Pledge prior to check-in will ensure that visitors are informed of their responsibility to mālama (care for) Hawaii; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is strongly urged to encourage all transient accommodations to incorporate the Pono Pledge as a requirement for guest check-in; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to establish procedures to require guests to take the Pono Pledge as a mandatory component of the check-in process for transient accommodations, including requiring visitors to provide proof that they have taken the Pono Pledge; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to work in collaboration with hotel operators, property managers, and other tourism industry stakeholders to develop an accessible and effective method for visitors to take the Pono Pledge, including through online platforms, mobile applications, and in-person acknowledgments at check-in; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to representatives of the hospitality industry in the State; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

Report Title: 

Pono Pledge; Requirement; Guest Check-in

HOUSE RESOLUTION

strongly URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE ALL TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCORPORATE THE PONO PLEDGE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GUEST CHECK-IN.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is a place of immense cultural and environmental significance, with a fragile ecosystem and deep-rooted traditions that require respectful stewardship; and

     WHEREAS, the increasing number of visitors to Hawaii has placed a significant strain on natural resources, cultural sites, and local communities; and

     WHEREAS, irresponsible tourism practices, including trespassing on sacred land, disrupting native wildlife and ecosystems, taking lava rocks, and disregarding safety precautions in hazardous areas, have led to environmental degradation; the desecration of sacred cultural sites; a lack of respect for Native Hawaiian traditions and customs, including a failure to acknowledge or understand the significance of the host culture; and unnecessarily risking the lives of first responders; and

     WHEREAS, the Pono Pledge was created to educate visitors about responsible tourism by promoting respect for Hawaii's land, ocean, culture, and local communities through a commitment to ethical and safe behavior; and

     WHEREAS, integrating the Pono Pledge into the visitor experience can foster a sense of kuleana (responsibility) and encourage sustainable tourism practices that align with Native Hawaiian values and local community interests; and

     WHEREAS, requiring all guests staying at transient accommodations, including hotels, hostels, short-term rentals, timeshares, and other lodging establishments, to take the Pono Pledge prior to check-in will ensure that visitors are informed of their responsibility to mālama (care for) Hawaii; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is strongly urged to require all transient accommodations to incorporate the Pono Pledge as a requirement for guest check-in; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to establish procedures to require guests to take the Pono Pledge as a mandatory component of the check-in process for transient accommodations, including requiring visitors to provide proof that they have taken the Pono Pledge; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to work in collaboration with hotel operators, property managers, and other tourism industry stakeholders to develop an accessible and effective method for visitors to take the Pono Pledge, including through online platforms, mobile applications, and in-person acknowledgments at check-in; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to representatives of the hospitality industry in the State; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

Report Title: 

Pono Pledge; Requirement; Guest Check-in

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1586

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 137

      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.R. No. 137 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE ALL TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCORPORATE THE PONO PLEDGE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GUEST CHECK-IN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to strongly urge the Hawaii Tourism Authority to require all transient accommodations to require guests to take the Pono Pledge upon check-in.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Fair Wind Cruises.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Strongly urging the Hawaii Tourism Authority to encourage, rather than require, all transient accommodations to require guests to take the Pono Pledge upon check-in; and

     (2)  Changing the title of the measure accordingly.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 137, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 137, H.D. 1.

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