HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	62
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the hawaii tourism authority to issue requests for proposals for redevelopment of the hawaii convention center.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Convention Center opened its doors to the public over twenty years ago; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2018, the Convention Center was facing up to $53 million in repairs; specifically, $26 million to fix stairwells, audio problems, breaking chairs, and chipped china and another $27 million to repair the rooftop terrace; and

 

     WHEREAS, competition in the leisure tourism industry is increasing Hawaii hotel room rates to the highest levels in the nation, which contributes to the Convention Center having a difficult time attracting convention planners to hold their meetings in Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2018, the Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista approved a public-private partnership deal for design and development of the Chula Vista Bayfront hotel and convention center, which is anticipated to bring jobs and revenue to the area; and

 

     WHEREAS, the operator of the Los Angeles Convention Center is proposing a public-private partnership to expand the downtown complex by as much as 350,000 square feet and add hundreds of downtown hotel rooms; and

 

     WHEREAS, the City of Long Beach and the Port of Long Beach entered into a public-private partnership for the Long Beach Civic Center Project, which will include a new city hall, port headquarters, main library, public park, and street improvements; and

     WHEREAS, the aforementioned projects demonstrate the potential for public-private partnerships to provide better infrastructure solutions than projects that are funded wholly by public funds or wholly by private funds; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the State have a vital interest in ensuring that the Convention Center is profitable or self-sustaining while at the same time benefiting the visitors and residents of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, in order to keep the Convention Center financially solvent, consideration of a variety of proposals and financing mechanisms for potential redevelopment will allow the Hawaii Tourism Authority to utilize or take advantage of additional revenue streams or innovative design-build-finance-operate-maintain structures for the Center; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is urged to issue requests for proposals for redevelopment of the Hawaii Convention Center, including but not limited to proposals for public-private partnerships for the design, building, financing, operation, and maintenance of the center; and

 

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

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Redevelopment; Convention Center; Hawaii Tourism Authority