Bills

HCR 51: urging the Hawaii Tourism Authority to add a stipulation to its signature event program to require thirty percent of funds awarded through the program to be used to market events to out-of-state markets.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: House
Latest Version Date: 2026-03-12

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-02: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This resolution asks the Hawaii Tourism Authority to require that events receiving Signature Event Program grants spend 30% of those funds on marketing to out-of-state audiences. It would apply to major events funded by the program, such as festivals, marathons, and film or food events, to help bring visitors to Hawaii.

Version:

urging the Hawaii Tourism Authority to add a stipulation to its signature event program to require thirty percent of funds awarded through the program to be used to market events to out-of-state markets.

Version:

HCR51

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	51
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's Signature Event Program provides funding that supports major events that showcase Hawaii's unique culture and advance the State's tourism objectives; and

WHEREAS, among the events supported by the Signature Event Program in 2025 were the 43rd Annual Pan-Pacific Festival, Hawaiʻi Food and Wine Festival, Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, 53rd Honolulu Marathon, and Hoops in Hawaii Classic; and

WHEREAS, these events typically have broad national and international appeal and can attract visitors and enhance the State's reputation as a premier destination; and

WHEREAS, under the Signature Events Program's program structure, grantees are not required to dedicate a portion of awarded funds toward marketing their events to out‑of‑state markets, and may instead use grant funds primarily for operational or local purposes; and

WHEREAS, requiring that a portion of funds awarded under the Signature Event Program be used for out-of-state marketing will help ensure that publicly funded events actively contribute to increasing visitor demand and strengthening Hawaii's visitor industry; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is urged to add a stipulation to its Signature Event Program to require thirty percent of funds awarded through the program to be used to market events to out-of-state markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

HTA; Signature Event Program Grants; Out-of-State Marketing

Date	Status
Apr 2, 2026	Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Apr 2, 2026	Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1731-26), recommending referral to FIN.
Mar 31, 2026	The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Hussey, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan.
Mar 27, 2026	Resolution scheduled to be heard by TOU on Tuesday, 03-31-26 10:00AM in conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 18, 2026	Referred to TOU, FIN, referral sheet 18
Mar 16, 2026	Offered
Mar 12, 2026	To be offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 31, 2026	The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	House Standing Committee on Tourism	5 0 1 Passed