Tourism

Online sports betting will not be legalized this legislative session. Lawmakers decided to defer the measure Friday afternoon. The bill would have allowed online sports betting and taxed it at a 10% rate.

Although House lawmakers passed a resolution to study legalizing gambling in Hawaiʻi, another measure that legalizes sports betting is still being considered. The bill would legalize online sports betting and tax it at a 10% rate. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports.

House lawmakers passed a resolution Monday to convene a working group to evaluate legalized gambling. Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm thinks it’s a bad idea. HPR's Ashley Mizuo has more.

Environmental groups are urging lawmakers to pass a measure that would increase taxes on tourists and fund climate initiatives. Two bills still alive this legislative session, SB1396 and HB504, consider raising the 10.25% transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point.

House Bill 348 would ban small single-use plastic bottles in hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts — essentially any place with 50 or more lodging rooms — starting next year. Once 2028 rolls around, this ban will apply to any location that provides one or more rented rooms for lodging.

A recent court ruling requires tour boat operators to stop their operations until the state conducts environmental assessments, or determines that the businesses don't need a review. But the measure would side-step the ruling by allowing the “temporary continuation” of authorized ocean recreation and coastal areas programs while environmental reviews are underway.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Chair Mufi Hannemann has resigned from the board chair position but is staying on the board.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has been developing a management plan for the Pololū trail on Hawaiʻi Island aimed at addressing the large amounts of visitors.

Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi completes his tenure as interim president and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to embark on a new global tourism role.

Māhealani Kamau is a hula dancer that discusses resurrecting the lost stories of Waikīkī through the performances in Cirque du Soleil ʻAuana.