HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0476.004 2020-2022 f
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Comments on Communication 476 re. Hawaii Visitors Bureau
for Hawai'i County Council
Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations,and Economic Development
10:30 AM Wednesday,January 5, 2022
from Cory Harden,Sierra Club, Hawai'i Island Group
The Destination Management Plan is commendable, but what we really need is a totally different
direction.
What ever happened to our hopes that COVID would push us towards producing most of our own food
and basing more of our economy on locally produced goods?
Instead,one out of every five jobs in Hawaii is in tourism.
httpsW/ vww.hawaiitourismouthority.orglnew5lMews-releases12021jhto-releases-results-from-20211
resident-sentiment-surveyl
In 2019, we had 10 million tourists. Our resident population is only one and a half million. ,
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Why do we have a tourism plan, but no state food system plan? 18 states have these plans.The plan,
can include agriculture,food production,farmer's markets,food procurement, programs for low-income
families to access food, and university programs,The plans guide government policy and private
investment.
https:jjwww.civilbeat.orgl2022j01Jwhy-hawaii-needs-to-rethink-efforts-to-increase-JocaJ food-
productionJ
Why do we track how much tourists are spending, but never do a cost-benefit analysis including what
we're paying to support tourism?
Is it legal to use taxpayer money to support tourism,when there's never been an Environmental
Assessment(EA)of tourism impacts?
Sierra Club sued for an EA twenty years ago. But the court said Sierra Club did not have standing. So the
legal need for an EA and the impacts of tourism have never been analyzed in court or In an EA.
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Tourism impacts include:
Destruction and damage to the natural environment
Damage to culture: misinterpretation and crowding out of native Hawaiian culture {
Increased need for infrastructure: electric,water, airports, harbors, roads,and parks
Increased need for services: police,fire,emergency medical, solid waste handling
Increased climate change:
18 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were generated by visitor air
travel for Hawai'i in 2019, according to Tawn Keeney(retired M.D., Honoka'a). This
dwarfs the Hawaii emissions from electricity generation--7.8 million tons—and ground
transportation-4 million tons.
Increased COVID infections; need for programs to prevent visitors from spreading COVID
Higher rent and property taxes when land values go up in resort areas
Impacts from tourism jobs that pay a pittance and require long commutes
Comma No. 09.4
Ref. Tao (109D&
Ref. ate JAN - 5 2022
Lost time from traffic congestion
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Here are some questions from Dave Frankel {Sierra Club,O'ahu};
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1-Why are taxpayers paying to advertise Hawai'i?The hotels can well afford to do their own
advertising,and there isn't much persuasion needed for Hawai'i.
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2-Why are we approving new hotels,vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and time-shares?And
allowing so many rental cars?
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3- How about increasing property taxes on houses not occupied by the owner, or not used for long-
term rental?
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4—How about banning tour buses and vans from beach parks on weekends and holidays?
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Please support a more locally based economy, and an EA for tourism. Mahalo.
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