STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3466

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 174

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Tourism and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES TO REVISE LAWS TO REFLECT STRATEGIC LAND USE PRACTICES FOR MAIN STREET REDEVELOPMENT IN EXISTING TOWNS THAT SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING POPULATION OF THE STATE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the counties to revise laws to reflect strategic land use practices for main street redevelopment in existing towns that support public transportation and accommodate the growing population.

 

     Prior to holding a public hearing on this measure, a proposed S.D. 1 was prepared and made available for public review and comment.  The proposed S.D. 1 deleted the contents of this measure and inserted language to:

 

     (1)  Describe the history of Koreans in Hawaii, Hawaii's integral role in the visa waiver program for Koreans, Korean tourism, and the potential for a Koreatown in Hawaii to serve as a gateway, financially and culturally, to other states and to the rest of the world;

 

     (2)  Request the Office of Planning, with assistance from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, to develop a master plan for a Koreatown in Hawaii;

 

     (3)  Request the Office of Planning to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature; and

 

     (4)  Amend the title accordingly to read:  "URGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KOREATOWN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF KOREATOWN".

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from two individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to the proposed S.D. 1 from the Office of Planning and City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.

 

     Your Committees find that Koreans have had a long and diverse history in Hawaii and their influence continues to grow.  On Oahu there is the Japanese Cultural Center, the Okinawan Center, Chinatown, and the Waipahu Filipino Community Center.  Establishing a Koreatown would be the natural progression in acknowledging Koreans' contributions to Hawaii and add color and vibrancy to our environment for residents and visitors. 

 

Your Committees understand that due to the economic crisis, Hawaii has struggled with lower tourism numbers.  However, with Korea's recent inclusion in the visa waiver program, there has been a significant increase in Korean tourists, providing a much needed boost in Hawaii's economy.  Establishing a Koreatown will enhance not only Korean tourists' experiences but also display Hawaii's welcoming culture to all ethnicities.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and making further amendments by:

 

     (1)  Including neighborhood boards and other applicable community organizations as additional organizations with which the Office of Planning is to coordinate in developing the master plan for Koreatown;

 

     (2)  Providing the Office of Planning with more discretion in determining the specific elements to be included in the master plan;

 

     (3)  Clarifying that the designation of a Koreatown in Hawaii is to highlight the cultural significant contributions of Koreans in Hawaii;

 

     (4)  Extending the deadline for reporting to the Legislature to no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Tourism and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 174, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 174, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Tourism and Transportation and International Affairs,

 

____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair		____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair
		____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair