HI HB1785

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study identifying and analyzing alternative tourism governance systems used in locations similar to Hawaii, with a draft report due October 1, 2024 and final report due before the 2025 legislative session.

Establishes four core functions for the Hawaii Tourism Authority: Hawaiian culture, natural resources, community, and branding; prohibits contractors from serving more than one core function except in limited circumstances.

Mandates all branding contracts be performance-based and requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop and implement destination management action plans for each county with six specified objectives.

Restructures the Hawaii Tourism Authority's organizational hierarchy by creating positions for a chief branding and cultural officer, director of planning, and county-based community specialists to align operations with the four core functions.

Appropriates $59,999,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Hawaii Tourism Authority for culture ($12.9M), natural resources ($7.7M), community ($16.4M), branding ($18M), and administrative costs ($5M) for fiscal year 2022-2023.