HR 178: requesting the Hawaii Tourism Authority to establish an Agricultural tourism working group to examine existing laws and ordinances relating to agricultural tourism and provide recommendations to encourage the growth of agricultural tourism in Hawaii.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	178
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the Hawaii Tourism Authority to establish an Agricultural tourism working group to examine existing laws and ordinances relating to agricultural tourism and provide recommendations to encourage the growth of agricultural tourism in Hawaii.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, agricultural tourism has become a critical supplemental revenue source to support the economic viability of farms and ranches; and

 

     WHEREAS, agricultural tourism activities can offer visitors educational experiences that are connected to Hawaii's working lands and promote the sale of local products; and

 

     WHEREAS, agricultural tourism activities can play an important role in supporting the State's goal of adopting a regenerative tourism model that emphasizes designing and managing tourism to provide net benefits for local communities and destinations; and

 

     WHEREAS, each county has its own agricultural tourism activity permitting processes, standards, procedures, and definitions, which has resulted in a disjointed regulatory framework; and

 

     WHEREAS, although there is some statewide regulation of agricultural tourism, the interpretation of these statutes varies by county and often creates inconsistent and differing standards of what constitutes agricultural tourism statewide; and

 

     WHEREAS, because of ambiguity about what types of activities constitute agricultural tourism, bad faith actors may attempt to use agricultural lands primarily for purposes other than bona fide agricultural activities under the guise of agricultural tourism; and

 

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of certain laws and ordinances will enable the State to better support the economic viability of Hawaii's farms and ranches while ensuring Hawaii's agricultural lands remain primarily in productive agricultural use; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to convene an Agricultural Tourism Working Group to examine existing laws and ordinances relating to agricultural tourism and provide recommendations to encourage the growth of agricultural tourism in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

 

     (1)  The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, or the President and Chief Executive Officer's designee, who shall serve as Chair of the working group;

 

     (2)  The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, or the Chairperson's designee;

 

     (3)  A representative from each county, to be selected by the respective Mayor of each county;

 

     (4)  A representative from the Hawaii Farm Bureau; and

 

     (5)  A representation from the Hawaii Farmers Union; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of the working group is requested to invite the following individuals to participate in the working group:

 

     (1)  A representative of the State's coffee industry;

 

     (2)  A representative of the State's cacao industry;

 

     (3)  A representative of the State's macadamia nut industry;

 

     (4)  A representative of the State's floriculture industry; and

 

     (5)  Any other representatives the working group deems necessary; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be dissolved on June 30, 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Mayors of the Counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, and the City and County of Honolulu; President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Farmers Union.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

HTA; Agricultural Tourism; Working Group; Report