Latest news with #LynnDeCoite
Skift
28-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Hawaii Adds 'Green Fee' to Hotel Stays to Combat Climate Change
The new climate tax model shifts part of the climate change burden onto the travel sector, particularly hotels, vacation rentals, and cruise operators. Hawaii has enacted a new 'green fee' aimed at addressing the growing impacts of climate change. Signed into law on Tuesday, the measure adds a 0.75% surcharge to the state's existing accommodations tax, raising it from 10.25% to 11% on hotel room rates. Starting in January, the fee will also apply to cruise ship cabins when vessels dock in Hawaii for the first time. State officials say the added revenue will support disaster preparedness and environmental protection efforts across the islands. The state estimates it could raise around $100 million annually. The funds will go toward projects such as shoreline protection, wildfire prevention, and maintaining the natural ecosystems that draw millions of tourists each year. 'Once again, Hawaii is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources,' said Governor Josh Green at the signing ceremony. 'As an island chain, we cannot wait for the next disaster to hit. We must build resiliency now.' Lawmakers from both tourism-heavy and climate-vulnerable areas backed the bill. Senator Lynn DeCoite called it a matter of 'kuleana,' a Hawaiian concept referring to responsibility. 'Climate change is here,' she said. 'The bill shares the responsibility of caring for our home with those who come to visit.' Representative Adrian Tam, whose district includes Waikīkī, said the fee is a 'win-win' that balances tourism and environmental protection. Skift's in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift's editorial team.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
DOT: Free Wi-Fi is now available at Molokai Airport
State officials say free Wi-Fi is now available at Molokai Airport, which should be accessible throughout the terminal via Hawaiian Telcom. The Hawaii Department of Transportation said the fiber optic network infrastructure was installed through its 'HI Connect Broadband Project.' Service through Hawaiian Telcom began on April 17. Travelers should select 'HI Connect Free Wi-Fi ' in the list of available networks. The network should be able to accommodate video streaming and downloads by multiple users. 'Air travel is a necessity for Molokai residents to access medical care and other resources, ' said state Sen. Lynn DeCoite in a news release. 'Access to free internet while waiting for flights can help make these essential trips more efficient and comfortable. I appreciate HDOT working to connect Molokai Airport.' The 'HI Connect Broadband Project ' also improved broadbrand infrastructure along roads in Kalihi, Nanakuli, Waianae, Makaha on Oahu ; in Puna and Kau on Hawaii island ; and in Kapaa, Kauai. 'Wi-Fi has been available at our larger, busier airports since 2018, ' said DOT Director Ed Sniffen in the release. 'Offering this free service at Molok 'i Airport is part of our efforts to make meaningful, cost-effective improvements at our facilities for local travelers.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State bill would change oversight of Hawai'i Tourism Authority
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / REP. ADRIAN TAM'S OFFICE Hawaii Rep. Adrian Tam and Sen. Lynn DeCoite during intense negotiations Friday at the state Capitol before reaching agreement on Senate Bill 1571, which establishes major changes to the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority's governance model. CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / REP. ADRIAN TAM'S OFFICE Hawaii Rep. Adrian Tam and Sen. Lynn DeCoite during intense negotiations Friday at the state Capitol before reaching agreement on Senate Bill 1571, which establishes major changes to the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority's governance model. State lawmakers advanced a bill by the Legislature session deadline that will significantly change the governance model for the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority for the first time since it created the agency in 1998. A Senate and House conference committee delayed votes on Senate Bill 1571 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and met three times on Friday before finally approving a conference draft just before the 6 p.m. deadline. The bill heads to the full House and Senate for a final vote this week. At least four conference drafts emerged throughout last week, indicating that Senate and House conferees were engaged in robust discussion. HTA's overall governance structure had been discussed during previous legislative sessions. Various bills also have been introduced but not advanced in recent years to explore whether HTA's structure as outlined in Hawaii Revised Statutes is the best approach for managing tourism, a top economic driver. However, legislators showed that some lingering doubts about HTA's capabilities remained when they repealed HTA's exemption from the administrative supervision of boards and commissions, which went into effect July 1. The exemption was its last after the Legislature took away its procurement exemption in 2021, and in 2022 the agency lost its special fund status. Late last month, state lawmakers renewed efforts to tighten oversight of HTA after the agency underwent more leadership shake-ups while dealing with ethics allegations that procedural deficiencies allowed for inappropriate freebies at the Hawai 'i Convention Center and that Hawaii Tourism Conference partnerships were inconsistent. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. There also were allegations about potential procurement violations, and late payments to contractors. Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, Hana-East and Upcountry Maui-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe ), chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism, and chair of the Senate conferees for SB 1571 said Friday that the HTA bill 'represents our efforts to improve and strengthen the organization.' DeCoite acknowledged the hard work of Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki ), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, who chaired the House conferees noting that 'it's been back and forth between the both of us.' The conference draft eventually approved by conferees includes the following key changes, which go into effect if the bill becomes law :—Downgrades the HTA board to an advisory board.—Amends eligibility requirements to serve on the HTA advisory board.—Removes the director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism from the board.—Requires a member of the board to represent a tourism-impacted entity.—Allows the House speaker and the Senate president to each appoint an HTA advisory board member.—Exempts all positions filled by HTA within DBEDT from the state civil service law.—Allows the HTA advisory board to appoint the HTA president and CEO, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.—Requires the HTA president and CEO to report to the governor.—Allows the HTA advisory board to set the term of the HTA president and CEO in the hiring contract. DeCoite said that tourism is the biggest economic engine for Hawaii, and that the HTA must increase leadership and accountability 'to rebuild public trust within our community.' She said the bill may not solve all of the problems that lawmakers heard that HTA was experiencing this session, but would provide 'a time out ' to 'get us on the right track.' Tam told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the bill represents the biggest governance changes to HTA since it was created, but said, 'It's been a long time coming. HTA was plagued with issues prior to me becoming chair of the House Committee on Tourism. I've leaned on people with past experience to help me reform it.' Tam said even so, he was hesitant at the beginning of the session to move SB 1571 forward but the idea gained traction during the session as he lost confidence in HTA. The HTA Budget, Finance, and Convention Center Standing Committee held a meeting this month and disclosed that the state Attorney Gen eral's Office is reviewing whether the HTA must pay $780, 000 in interest for millions of dollars in late payments to a major contractor. At the same time, DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka told the committee that another pending issue is a possible procurement violation in relation to a $1.5 million Los Angeles marketing contract executed with the Hawai 'i Visitors and Convention Bureau last fall as part of a Maui recovery plan. David Arakawa, a HTA board member and chair of the standing committee, also brought up the issue of sponsorships and questioned why premier conference partners for the HTA's fall Hawaii Tourism Conference did not pay sponsorship fees. Caroline Anderson, interim HTA president and CEO, told the Star-Advertiser that premier conference partners were different than sponsors without that designation. It's unclear where the discussion about semantics will land. But Tam said with the passage of SB 1571, lawmakers are 'hoping to gain a level of ethics on the advisory board and trying to prevent the actions of what has happened that transpired and lead us to this point in the past and is happening again.' 'There are actors out there who can find loopholes in anything and anything can be abused, but we're hoping that this makes it harder, ' he said. 'As Sen. DeCoite said, this won't solve all the problems, but it's a fresh start.' The board already has undergone leadership changes and had been vetting a new governance model on its own. Todd Apo was elected by the HTA board to serve as its chair in late March. Apo replaced former chair Mufi Hannemann, who stepped down from the role but remains on the board. 'I appreciate all the work on (SB 1571 ). The upside is that we now know … the foundational landscape that we need to work in, ' Apo said. 'Uncertainty is the biggest risk, so we, from an authority standpoint, a board standpoint, and an industry standpoint understand what we need to work within.' Apo said HTA will need to factor the changes that SB 1571 will bring into its ongoing review of a third-party governance study. 'I hope we can do that in relatively short order so that we can spend the bulk of 2025 getting HTA and the industry in the best position to serve Hawaii, ' he said. In 2023 with the looming threat of bills calling for HTA's repeal, the HTA decided to fund a third-party governance study. Through a competitive bidding process, Better Destination LLC, founded by Cathy Ritter, was selected for a $294, 400 contract, and the top recommendation released in the summer was for HTA to restructure into a destination stewardship organization with a new name. The recommendations were presented to the HTA board June 27 and have been under consideration by the HTA Governance Study Permitted Interaction Group. For the governance study recommendations to move forward, it also requires the support of state legislators, who may be resistant to giving up even partial control of the state's tourism industry—a cash cow that delivers some $1 billion annually in transient accommodations taxes. Apo said board members will need to take some time to understand what the new changes mean for HTA now and in the future. 'Working with both the department and DBEDT as well as the governor's office, we'll figure it out, ' he said. 'We'll look at the details of the language of the final bill, but our job is now to implement it and put our leading state industry in the best position that we can.'
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Film industry workers ‘devastated' after measure to bring more work deferred
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi's film industry received a huge setback after a bill that could have boosted the struggling industry died in committee on April 25. TV and film industry workers say they are stunned and one lawmaker says people's livelihoods are at stake because of political back and forth. Bill to give tax credits to film industry for local productions deferred Sen. Lynn DeCoite fought tirelessly to help the struggling film industry thrive once again by looking to raise the total cap on credits per year, expanding streaming productions, tax incentives and adding bonuses for local hires, just to name a few. 'It is unfortunate that we do not have an agreement as we've been back and forth working on the different conference drafts and the changes we have made,' DeCoite said. 'I have tried my best along with some of my colleagues and at the end of the day, it was the tax credits that was not liked by the House. It is unfortunate and I am very saddened that this is where I'm at today.' Senators Donna Mercado Kim and Samantha DeCorte commended DeCoite's hard work on the measure. DeCoite couldn't be reached for comment following the said the senate tried everything they could to get the measure passed and even had support from the senate president as well as the chair of Ways and Means. 'The saddest thing about this whole situation is that there are real lives effected because this bill didn't pass,' DeCorte said. 'The film industry brings millions if not billions of dollars here to Hawaii, but most importantly, they put to work thousands of our local workers and this means those workers are out of a job entirely. The lawmakers that are responsible for not being cooperative with this bill are literally taking food off the plates of these workers.' Workers like Ralph Malani, who has done hair for about 40 TV and Film productions including 'Lilo and Stitch' and 'Rescue: HI-Surf,' says that the bill's deferment is a major loss for himself and his colleagues.'[Hawaii] is where I'm from, it's just so sad to me that the powers that be don't seem to care that local people are losing out big time and we're going to have to leave, and I never wanted to leave,' he said, referencing how the mainland has more job opportunities than in the islands. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news This is the first time in two decades that there are no active productions filming on the islands. 'I have friends going to the foodbank because they can't feed their kids, people are selling their homes because they cant pay mortgages, they are taking kids out of schools because there is no work here,' he added. He also worked on the film 'Finding Ohana,' which was shot in Thailand. 'It was supposed to be in Hawaii and it looked just like Hawaii and for one of me they could hire five in Thailand, so why wouldn't they go there?' he said. 'And that's exactly what's going to keep happening, they're going to go to New Zealand and other places.' 'Duke's Law' one step closer to reality in win against agricultural land crime For Malani, the deferment left him questioning the actions of the legislators who opposed the bill. 'If those people who voted against this are watching, just why? What did it threaten you with to give us a good job? It's so sad. Think about the local people who grew up here, who are raised here, have families here, think about us before you sign off a piece of paper and destroy everything we had,' Malani said. The final draft of SB 732 had 367 pages of testimony, and not a single agency or person testified against it. 'The truth of the matter is this bill died for political reasons, and the House wasn't compromising with the Senate and we did everything we could, we gave in to a lot of the things we were asked for on the Senate side,' DeCorte said. 'They made it so much harder and again these are lives that are at stake, real families that rely on this income to pay their bills and now what is going to happen?' TV and Film Producer Eric Hays moved his family to Hawaii a few years ago after wrapping up filming NCIS in New Orleans. HPD searching for attempted murder suspect 'When the show here shut down, we chose to stay here because we love the people, it's a privilege to shoot on the island here and we respect the culture and everything about it,' Hays said. 'We could have went back to New Orleans but we decided to stay here, and my daughter is graduating from Mid-Pacific next month and we made the right decision to stay.' Despite his happiness with living in the islands, the reality is that Hays may have to consider relocating. 'I'm worried that we may have to go to back to New Orleans because right now, I have three to four shows I'm trying to bring here as an independent producer and financially it doesn't make sense,' Hays said. They can be written for here or New Orleans, but let's shoot it here, and rebuild the industry and make it thrive.' He said when people come to Oahu they come to visit Waikiki, the beaches, Diamond Head, and also Kualoa Ranch. Merrie Monarch boost Hilo businesses like Ola Brew 'They want to see fake dinosaur footprints and to see where King Kong fought Godzilla and all the other movies out there, and guess what? That is the film industry impact on tourism,' Hays said. He said the tax incentive motivates productions to come to Hawaii and film while also pushing money into the economy. 'We could put $60 to 80 million into the economy in this county in over one year,' he said. 'And combine that into three years or another show that's here and four other movies and the next thing you know, you're putting a billion dollars into the economy.' The state's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism wrote testimony stating support for the legislation, citing the economic impacts film has had on the islands. Puna woman arrested following deadly domestic dispute 'The film industry has provided hundreds of jobs, launched careers and resulted in long term employment for residents at a better than average living wage,' the testimony said. 'Together with the Legislature, we have an opportunity to restore our production activity, turning around the current 50% decline in production here through maintaining a viable tax incentive, putting our residents and vendors back to work.' Hays cited other states' tax credits as a reason why films that have ties to Polynesia shoot on the mainland. ''Moana' was shot in Atlanta, but came here for exteriors. Why wasn't it shot here the whole time? Because producers chase the money they chase the tax credit,' Hays said. Industry professionals say Georgia is leading the way when it comes to the film industry by offering many incentives and bonuses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
