WHEREAS, the Legislature enacted Act 200, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, to provide suitable harbor facilities and berthing piers to ensure the efficient and timely delivery and shipment of goods imported into the State; and

WHEREAS, Act 200 also included the construction of ferry and passenger facilities; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's congressional delegation consisting of the late Senator Daniel Inouye, retired Senator Daniel Akaka, former Congressman Neil Abercrombie, and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono supported and included into Public Law, 109-59, Title IX, Section 9008, the Hawaii Port Infrastructure Expansion Program, Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended; and

WHEREAS, that congressional delegation successfully allocated federal funds to the Hawaii Port Infrastructure Expansion Program; and

WHEREAS, federal funds from the Hawaii Port Infrastructure Expansion Program were used to design an efficient traffic flow for tour buses and taxi operations and enhance the passenger experience by remodeling the interior of the terminal at the Pier 2 Passenger Terminal in Honolulu Harbor; and

WHEREAS, at the 2013 Historic Preservation Honor Awards, the Historic Hawaii Foundation recognized the Pier 2 Passenger Terminal Building by awarding it the Preservation Media Award for its permanent exhibits and large scale original Hawaii artwork; and

WHEREAS, federal funds were also used to separate inter-island cargo operations and passenger tour operations at Hilo Harbor; and

WHEREAS, during fiscal year (FY) 2014-2015, approximately 1.15 million cruise ship passengers passed through the Hawaii harbor system, as compared to 1.21 million in FY 2013-2014 and 1.15 million in FY 2012-2013; and

WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2011, cruise ship passengers were assessed a debark fee of $5, an embark fee of $5 at the first point of entry, and an additional $5 in-transit fee for each port visit thereafter; and

WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2013, the debark and embark fees increased to $6 per passenger; and

WHEREAS, primarily due to the changes in the fee rate structure, cruise ship passengers' fee revenue increased from $5.7 million in FY 2012-2013 to $6.7 million in FY 2013-2014 and to $6.9 million in FY 2014-2015; and

WHEREAS, while the Department of Transportation has increased the passengers' fees, it has not, except for the improvements to Pier 2 at Honolulu Harbor, included in its Capital Improvement Program the design and construction of cruise ship passenger facilities for each of its major commercial ports serving passenger vessels; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is increasing its market to include passenger cruise operations; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is funding a statewide vessel scheduling system for cruise line agents to have online access to reserve and schedule passenger vessels at the Department of Land and Natural Resources small boat harbors at Kona and Lahaina and the Department of Transportation Harbors Division commercial ports at Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, Honolulu Harbor in Oahu, Kahului Harbor in Maui, and Hilo Harbor in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation is seeking to support the Hawaii Tourism Authority by funding an existing position to evaluate existing facilities, help create a uniform visitor experience at each port of call, and support the Hawaii Tourism Authority in managing the greeter program; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes and supports the cooperation between the Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to enhance the passenger experience and tourism brand; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor and Department of Transportation are requested to include in the 2017-2018 Supplemental Capital Improvement Program request improvements to cruise ship passenger terminals at Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, Honolulu Harbor in Oahu, Kahului Harbor in Maui, and Hilo Harbor in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation continue to collaborate with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and other state and federal entities to encourage the installation of art and award winning designs that promote heritage tourism and original Hawaii artwork; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Transportation, Chair of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Mayor of Hawaii County, Mayor of Kauai County, Mayor of Maui County, Chair of the Hawaii County Council, Chair of the Kauai County Council, and Chair of the Maui County Council.

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Capital Improvements; Cruise Ship Passenger Terminals

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	85
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII