HI HCR76

Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, with cooperation of the Mayor of Honolulu, is requested to convene a state-city task force to identify and secure a site for building floats, storing materials, and setting up displays for parades and major celebratory events.

Task force shall comprise state and city officials necessary to identify and plan for the site, and include participation of parade and event planners to determine needed site characteristics.

Director must report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the 2012 Regular Session with the task force's findings, recommendations, and progress on identifying and securing a suitable location.

Resolution emphasizes that parade tourism generates significant economic benefit, citing the 2005 Honolulu Festival which attracted 6,000 visitors and added nearly $13 million to the economy.

Parade organizers were previously displaced from a warehouse at Pier 32 and currently store materials in containers outside Pier 1 that lack weather protection; a permanent, centrally-located site in Honolulu is urgently needed.