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COUNTY OF HAWAII �• <br />7rE OF•M'.� <br />RESOLUTION NO. <br />STATE OF HAWAII <br />SG 1S <br />A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS SENATE <br />BILL NO. 1233 AND HOUSE BILL NO. 610 APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR A <br />FEDERAL INSPECTION STATION AT KONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. <br />WHEREAS, Honolulu International Airport is the only international entry point for <br />Hawaii; and <br />WHEREAS, all passengers travelling from a international destination must disembark in <br />Honolulu and clear United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before proceeding on to <br />connecting flights; and <br />WHEREAS, as more international travelers arrive in Honolulu, this creates an avoidable <br />backlog with the inspection services which overall diminishes our visitor experience; and <br />WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 1233 and House Bill No. 610 appropriates funds for a <br />federal inspection station at Kona International Airport (KOA); and <br />WHEREAS, this building will replace a structure that no longer meets CBP technical <br />standards, and will provide the state with a second international port of entry; and <br />WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, there is a strong demand for a <br />direct route between Japan and KOA; and <br />WHEREAS, Hawaiian Airlines recently filed an application with the U.S. Department of <br />Transportation for a daily, roundtrip flight from Tokyo International Airport at Haneda to KOA <br />in June; and <br />WHEREAS, the application submitted by Hawaiian Airlines is an indication that the <br />demand for direct flights from Japan is evident; and <br />WHEREAS, an investment by this state in a federal inspection station at KOA will <br />provide dividends to our number one economic driver, the tourism industry; now, therefore, <br />