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.

HR178

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
.

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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

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(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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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