HCR 49 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

URGING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO OBTAIN, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, THE CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION DESIGNATION FROM THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COUNCIL FOR THE STATE.

This bill is a non-binding resolution urging the state's Executive Branch to apply for and obtain the Certified Sustainable Destination designation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for Hawaii. The measure aims to encourage the state to adopt internationally recognized standards that balance tourism growth with the protection of cultural and natural resources while improving resident quality of life. By seeking this certification, the resolution seeks to align Hawaii's tourism strategies with global sustainability benchmarks and support existing state sustainability plans. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal recommendation to state officials to pursue this specific certification.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 12, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HCR49 → HCR49_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly simplified to focus exclusively on urging the Executive Branch to obtain a 'Certified Sustainable Destination' designation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The original version contained broad mandates requiring the state to mandate third-party certifications for businesses, limit hotel expansion, and enforce specific cultural and environmental practices. The revised version removes these operational mandates, replacing them with a singular request for the state to achieve a specific international accreditation.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a comprehensive set of operational mandates for the tourism industry to a singular, non-binding recommendation for the Executive Branch to seek a specific certification.

REQUIREMENT

Removed mandates requiring tourist-serving businesses to be assessed and certified by accredited third parties.

Removed directives to minimize the expansion of tourist accommodations until sustainability is enforced.

Removed specific instructions to stop the exploitation of Native Hawaiian cultural resources and restore ancestral lands.

Changed the primary directive from a broad list of eight actions to a single request for the state to obtain the Certified Sustainable Destination designation.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of recipients for the resolution to include the 'Hawaiian Council' instead of the 'Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement' and the 'Hawaiian Tourism Authority' instead of the 'Hawaii Tourism Authority'.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Committee

Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1735-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Hussey, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to TOU, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

To be offered.

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors