STARTING THIS YEAR, TOURISTS ARE PAYING MORE TO VACATION IN HAWAI'I.

THE NEW GREEN FEE WENT INTO EFFECT, INCREASING A TAX ON OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS.

THE MONIES GENERATED FROM THE FEE WILL GO TOWARDS PROTECTING AND RESTORING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THE FEE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S.. WE'LL LOOK INTO HOW MUCH MONEY IT COULD BRING IN AND WHO DECIDES HOW IT WILL BE SPENT.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

♪ ♪ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M LAUREN DAY.

ACT 96, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GREEN FEE, WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST.

IT'S A STATEWIDE CHARGE THAT'S BEEN ADDED ONTO OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS LIKE HOTELS, VACATION RENTALS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, CRUISE SHIPS.

THE FEE ITSELF IS A 0.75% INCREASE TO THE HAWAII TRANSIENT ACCOMODATIONS TAX, RAISING THE T.A.T.

TO 11% REVENUES OF THIS PORTION OF THE T.A.T.

WILL BE USED TO FUND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN HAWAI'I.

THE GREEN FEE IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 100-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKING OUR PANEL TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

STATE SENATOR CHRIS LEE SERVES DISTRICT 25 REPRESENTING KAILUA AND WAIMANALO.

HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS MAJORITY WHIP AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN KAILUA AND ATTENDED 'IOLANI SCHOOL AND OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE IKAIKA AND DENISE ANTOLINI HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FIELD.

SHE'S AN EMERITUS PROFESSOR AT THE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW AT UH MANOA.

SHE SERVED ON THE CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAM THAT PROVIDED THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE GREEN FEE LEGISLATION.

CARMELA RESUMA IS THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AT KILOHANA BY THE HAWAIIAN COUNCIL.

SHE SERVES ON THE GREEN FEE ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH IS TASKED WITH EVALUATING AND RECOMMENDING PROPOSALS FOR POTENTIAL GREEN FEE FUNDING PRIORITIES TO THE GOVERNOR.

WE ALSO HAVE FOURTH GUEST.

NEED JUST IN TIME.

FOR ME TO INTRODUCE HIM.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE IKAIKA HUSSEY SERCHLS SERVES DISTRICT 29 INCLUDES KAMEHAMEHA HEIGHTS AND KALIHI VALLEY.

CURRENTLY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE TOURISM COMMITTEE.

LIKE SENATOR LEE ALSO ATTEND IOLANI AND LATER WENT ON TO U.H.

MANOA.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

YOU HAVE IMPECCABLE TIMING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>Lauren: WAS IT THE TRAFFIC?

>> SURE.

>>Lauren: THIS IS FIRST OF ITS KIND.

CLIMATE IMPACT FEE IN THE UNITED STATES.

I'LL PICK ON YOU CHRIS.

START FROM YOU AND GO AROUND.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THE MONEY HAVE ON THE STATE OF HAWAII AND MORE SO FOR US AS LOCALS?

>> I THINK HERE IN HAWAII, WE FOR MANY, MANY YE YEARS HAVE KNOWN FACING IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

FEELING THE HEAT DURING HOT SUSUMMER ESPECIALLY EL NINO YEARS.

SEEING OUR R RAINFALL PAT RPS SHIFT.

SEEING DROUGHT NEIGHBOR ISLANDS IMPACTS TO OCEANS ACIDIFICATION.

LOSS OF CORAL REEF AN SEVERAL ABOVE ALL I THINK IN OUR MINDS ARE THE DISASTERS THAT WE FA FACE.

LIKE LAHAINA, LIKE HURRICANES INCREASING FRKC FRE FREQUENCY AD STESTENGT TITCH OF THE ICEBERG.

HAVE TO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER END UP PAYING TO EITHER, ADAPT TO SOME OF THESE THINGS OR TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT SO.

IMPACTS AND LISTEN THEIR EFFE EFFECTED N US.

ALL OF THAT ARE WHETHER WE, LIKE IT OR NOT, GOING TO COST MONEY.

I THINK THE REAL THING THAT WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC OVER THE YEARS IS WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO LENS T IT'S ABOUT URD ON TAXPAYORS AND INSURER PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

THAT'S THE WAY OUGHT TO GO.

USING MECHANISM LIKE THIS PLACES SOME BURDEN ON VISITORS AND TOURISTS TO PAY FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS MEANS LOWER COURCOST LOCAL REST DENNY AND WE CAN START TO INVEST IN SOME OF THE PROJECTS TODAY THAT WILL INEVITABLY REDUCE THOSE IMPACT AND COSTS FOR ALL YOU US TOMORROW J.

>>Lauren: SEEMS THIS TAX ISING THAT YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT FOR COMMUNITY.

WHY IS THAT?

HOW DO YOU THINK IT IMPACT US IS THIS.

>> F BOTH COMMUNITY AND IN P     E PLACE, (HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE) THE LAND IS CHIEF AND US PEOPLE ARE THE LAND SERVANTS.

I THINK CENTERING IN THAT AND IN THE NEEDS OF AINA IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND IN DEVASTATING IMPACT OF THINGS LIKE VIDEO INVASIVE SPECIES SEA LEVEL RISE, FEE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THAT.

DRAMATICALLY CHANGE HOW WE MANAGE OUR AINA AND DESTINATION ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THE EU78 PABLGS OF VISITORS AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

IMPACTS HAS A WAY MARRYING THOSE WOULD TINT TWO ENTITIES POSITIVE IMPACT IN COMMUNITY AND ISLAAINA ITSELF.

>>Lauren: WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, IT IMPACT FEE OR THE PORTION OF TAX HOW IT WILL IMPACT HAWAII.

VERY WISE BECAUSE CLIMATE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE FELT BY EVERY COMMUNITY DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO TO HAVE A PROCESS LIKE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY FORD G FOR THE GREENE ALLOWS FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SPEAK UP AND TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS AND THAT TO BE VETTED BY PANEL EXPERTS APPROPRIATE WAY TO IT BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN KALIHI VALLEY DIFFERENT FROM WAIMANALO OR KAILUA.

WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF EVERYONE'S PARTICULARITIES AND SPECIFIC NEEDS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> WELL, REMINDS ME WHEN I WAS INURN LAHAINA THE GOVERNOR'S CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAM.

INITIALLY, ONE OF OUR MARCHING ORDERS WAS TO NOT RAISE TAXES ON LOCAL RESIDENTS.

FIND MECHANISMS TO EVEN THOUGH T.A.T.

HAS A LITTLE BIT IMPACT ON LOCAL RESIDENTS, FIND A MECHANISM THAT WOULD BRING IN NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE.

SO THE T.A.T.

LARGELY DOES THAT.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL KIND OF MARCHING ORDERS FROM THE GOVERNOR.

FIND NEW WAYS TO DO THIS.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT TOURISTS, SURVEYS BEEN DONE, SURVEYS ARE WILLING TO PAY.

THEY COME TO HAWAII FOR A REASON.

WE ALL THIS.

IT'S UNIQUE.

IT'S SPECTACULAR.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RETURN VISITORS.

THEY'RE WILLING TO INVEST.

SO THAT.

>> THE TAX BASICALLY GIVES MECHANISM TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE TIME THAT THEY ARE SPENDING HERE.

THEIR ABILITY TO GIVE BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR THEIR STAY.

SOMETHING ELSE ON THAT TO TODAY.

DURING COVID, EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN, I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE, PEOPLE KIND OF PEAKED OUT OF THEIR HOLES FOR FIRST TIME AND THEIR HOMES BEACH IS KIND OF EMPTY.

TRAILS AREN'T PACKED WITH VISITORS.

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY I THAT I REALIZATION THAT RIGHT SIZING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND MARKET AND IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, WAS SOMETHING THAT COMMUNITIES DESIRED.

SO REALLY WAS THIS FOCUS TO TTRY TO LI LIMB I LIMIT IMPACT R SPENDING VISITORS.

GIVE COMMUNITY BETTER EXPERIENCE.

THIS KIND OF DOVETAILS WITH THAT.

I THINK IT'S PART OF REASON WHY YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF MOMENTUM MOVING THAT ULTIMATELY PAST THIS FLAW.

I WOULD SAY TOO, I THINK TO DENISE'S POINT VISITORS DO WANT TO PAY.

WILLING TO PAY.

DURING COVID, WHEN COMING OUT OF THE COVID, WHEN THINGS ARE JUST RECOVERING, WEREN'T ENOUGH RENTAL CARS ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

SO PEOPLE WERE PAYING 4 OR $500 A DAY TO RENT A CAR.

SO TO THINK THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO PAY FEW DOLLARS MORE HERE OR THERE, NORMAL COURSE, CLEARLY THERE IS SOME EXPERIENCE THERE TO LEARN FR FROM.

>> I WANT TO BACK UP A FEW STEPS.

WHY A GREEN FEE?

AS OPPOSED TO LET'S SAY GOING SCHOOLS.

ROADS, ANY OTHERS LOCAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE?

>> I CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

SO AFTER THE LAHAINA AND IT WASN'T JUST LAHAINA.

ON MAUI, JUST THE DISASTER THERE, AND AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AFTER THAT DISASTER, GOVERNOR GREEN FELT LIKE THERE NEEDED TO BE FORWARD LOOKING POLICY TO TRY TO HELP HAWAII PREPARE FOR THE NEXT CLIMATE DISASTER.

BECAUSE I TH THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT DISASTERS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

SEA LEVEL RISE RISE IS HAPPENING.

SEEING ERODED BEACH BEAES BEACH EDITHKANAKAOLE FOG KAL IM.

CLIMATE TEAM PULLED TOGETHER JUNE 2024.

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT.

LOOK FORWARD HOW DO WE PREVENT AVOID AND MITIGATE FUTURE CLIMATE DISASTERS.

CHARGED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

STRENGTHENING INFORMATION AND INVESTING IN CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTING IN CLIMATE WORK PER SE BROAD MANDATE TO LOOK AT UP THOSE THINGS.

ULTIMATELY THAT LED TO A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH LED TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND ENDED UP IN ACABIACT96.

>>Lauren: DO YOU FEEL GREEN FEE OR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IS AN AREA THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF THE TOURISM TAX GOES?

>> THERE'S AN MEN' IMMENSE NEED STUDY HAVE BEEN DONE IT SHOW ROUGHLY $500 MILLION GAP IN TERMS OF WHAT DO WE NEED TO MITIGATE OUR CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES AND AS PART OF THE GREEN FEE, ADVISORY COUNCIL, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY.

SOLICITED IDEAS FOR HOW WE COULD USE THESE FUND YOU.

NEED WAS AMPING TO OVER $2 BILLION.

AMOUNTING TO OVER $2 MILLION.

NOT ONLY IS THIS NECESSARY, IT'S ABUNDANTLY NEED AND ADVOCATED BY COMMUNITY, OF THESE ARE REALLY BIG PRIORITY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>>Lauren: I THINK THIS VIEWER WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

HER NAME IT MO MOLLY SHE SAY     T FIRST, MAKING TOURISTS PAY FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR THEY INFLIBLGHT ON TH FLICT LAND EVEN AINA, BEACHES TRAILS PARK.

WHY DID THIS TAKE SO LONG?

INFLICT ON US.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

PROBABLY 8 OR 9 OF YEARS OF WORK BY VARIOUS NONPROFITS AND ADVOCATES FOR FEE.

A LONG HISTORY.

TOOK A LONG TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK LAHAINA DISASTER PROMPTED US TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AND LOOK FORWARD.

SO I'M JUST GLAD IT FINALLY HAPPENED.

>> FOUR OF YOU FEEL LIKE THE MONEY, THAT THIS TAX, OR THIS FEE, WOULD GET FOR THE STATE HELP PREVENT ANOTHER DISASTER LIKE LAHAINA?

AND WHY?

>> DID YOU SAY PREVENT?

>>Lauren: CORRECT ME IF THAT'S THE WRONG WORD CHOICE.

>> I WANT TO TWO OUT OF MY SKIS.

THERE WILL BE ST STARTS DISASTES BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF OUR CLIMATE, LIVING IN RAPIDLY D DESTABILIZED WORLD.

WE HAVE TO THEN I I THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE BECOME RECILL YEFNT ANTI AUNTIES PAY THE WHAT THOSE DISASTER WILL BE POSSIBLE RECOVER MAKES US STRONGER IN THE, AFTERWARD, AFTER MALGTD MATH THERE WILL BE DISASTERS THAT IS A REA REALITY.

>>Lauren: NOW THAT THE GREEN FEE IS BEING COLLECTED, HOW IS THE STATE GOING TO DECIDE WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO, DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF IT?

>> BACK UP JUST A SECOND GET WAY THE LAW WAS IS SET UP, THE FEES ARE COLLECTED FROM VRIS VISITORS AFNTH EACH EACH YEAR GOVERNOR'S TEAM HAS TO, PUT TOGETHER A SLATE OF PROJECTS RELATED TO CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT, TOURISM, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP ADDRESS ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

AND THAT IS PROPOSED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET EACH YEAR.

SO LEGISLATURE, FEBRUARY RIGHT NOW, ALMOST MARCH, LEGISLATURE MEETING MONTH-AND-A-HALF AND GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET SO THERE'S A BUNCH OF PROJECTS AND KIND OF LINE ITEMS PROPOSED.

NOW UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO VET THOSE AND KIND OF DIVE INTO FIGURE OUT WHICH OF THESE ARE MOST PRIORITY AND PRESSING AND HOW DO WE BUILD THOSE INTO THE BUDGET THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSES BY THE TIME WE ADJOURN IN APRIL OR MAY.

WE'RE NOT MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

ULTIMATELY, THAT IS HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR.

SO THERE'S SURE GOING TO BE SOME LEARNING EXPERIENCE ALONG THE WAY AND WE'RE HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AND FROM PROKNOWNS OF THOSE PROJECTS AAND ROW O HOW TO DEAL WITH THEE ISSUES AND WHERE THAT MONEY SHOULD GO SO WE CAN HELP BUILD THAT INTO THE PROCESS,.

>>Lauren: TO YOUR POINT I THINK AT THIS MOMENT WE LEARNED ABUNDANCE, ABUNDANCE OF DESIRE, TO TAKE ACTION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE GATHERING FROM COMMUNITY IS TESTAMENT OF OF THATI THINK THE DELIBERATE AN TAKEN BY LEGISLATORS, MAKING SURE IN THIS IS HAPPENING AS WELL AS THEY COULD IN YEAR ONE, IS AS BEST AS WE CAN DO.

SO EXCITING.

AND I WILL SAY FIRST YEAR AND THIS MONEY, WILL FUNDING MOVE ON IN PERPETUITY.

FIGURE IT OUT AND WE'RE WORKING COLLABORATION WITH EACH OTHER I THINK IS A WONDERFUL THING.

>>Lauren: CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROW, GREEN FEE ADVISORY COUNCIL, YOUR ROLAND A HOW PROPOSALS WILL WORK?

HOW YOU EVEN APPLY, WHO CAN APPLY, HOW YOU GUYS PLAY THAT ROLE IN DETERMINEING WHERE THE MONEY GOES?

>> I AM IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SERVE ON THIS IT IN DME E. COMMITTEE 10 OF US A POINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN SEPTEMBER.

EARLY ON WE KNEW THAT WE NEWE FEEDNEED TO CLEAR THIEWNTDR COMCOMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEED ARE.

COMMUNITY, WORK NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND THE NEED, BACK IF I WANT TO SAY NOVEMBER, LAUNCHED PUBLIC PORTAL WHERE BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN SUBMIT THEIR IDEA PROP PROPOSALS.

AND VERY SWIFT AMOUNT OF TIME WE CAME UP CRITERIA AND EVALUATION PROCESSES, AS COMMITTEE WE LOST A LOT OF SLEEP FOR GOOD REASON.

AND TOTALLY WORTH IT.

I HAVE MORE GRAY HAIR BUT I'M HON HONORED.

>> I'M BEATING YOU.

FOR NOW.

AND SO IT TOOK US A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE IT WAS SO IMPORTANT, ALL DEDICATED A LOT OF OUR TIME TO ITMENT A CAME UP WITH SOUTHWEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR IN DECEMBER.

SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

VERY MUCH COMMUNITY CENTERED AND COMMUNITY INVOLVED.

EVEN HOW WE VETTED EVERYTHING.

SO WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED OF THE POTENTIAL OF THIS FU FUNDING CAN YOU TALK ABOUT PROPOSALS PEOPLE HOPING WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO AFTER THE FIRST YEAR?

>> THERE'S SO MANY EXCITING THINGS.

NONE OF THEM SURPRISED ANYONE EXISTED IN HAWAII.

A LOT OF PROPOSALS ABOUT MITIGATING INVASIVE SPECIES, BOTH GUINEA GRASS BATTLE ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

THAT I WORK WITH, OR COQUI FROGS OUT IN WAIMANALO.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROPOSALS THAT VIDEO GAMES, WATERSHED PROTECTION.

INVASIVE SPECIES.

I JOKE THAT I CANNOT DO WATERSHED WITHOUT DOING THIS MOTION.

MAUKA TO MAKAI ACTION.

FLIPSIDE IN TERM OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM RCIA WE HEAO VISITORS BECOME MORE EDUCATED?

AND SO A LOT OF FUNDING SOME OF THE FUNDING IS PROPOSED GO TOWARDS THOSE ACTION INCLUDING VISITORS IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

SO THEY UNDERSTAND THIS MONEY GOING TO MEANINGFUL WAY AND LEARNING AS PART OF PROCESS.

>>Lauren: DO YOU HERE AT ALL IN YOUR ROLE WHAT SOME OTHER PROPOSALS OAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SUGGEST THE MONEY GO TOWARDS IN.

>> YEAH.

IN FACT, ONE OF HATS I WEAR IS PRESIDENT OF NONPROFIT ON THE NORTH SHORE, MALAMA PUPUKEA WAIMEA.

IN THAT ROLE, ORGANIZATION ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE G FACT PORTAL AND SUGGESTED A LOT OF THE PROJECTS AND IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I THINK GOT BLENDED WITH SOME OTHER PROJECTS.

SO WE CAN SEE SOME OF OUR SUGGESTIONS IN SOME OF THE RECOMMIN SOME RECOMRECOMMENDED .

FOCUSED MARINE STEWARDSHIP.

STRETCHING COMMUNITY-BASED EYES AN EARS FOR DLNR.

ENFORCEMENT STRENGTHENING VISITOR EDUCATION THROUGH, PLACED-BASED COMMUNICABLE GROUPS.

SO BASICALLY, LIKE A AMBASSADORS OR TRAIL STEWARD OR TRAIL RANGER KIND OF PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY-BASED).

DEFINITELY I CAN SEE PROPOSALS IN THERE DIRECTLY CAME FROM OUR CHICOMMUNICABLE AND COLLEAGS OTHER NONPROFITSER THE SO SOME OF IDEAS CAME TO US CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAM WITH THE GOVERNOR EARLY ON.

MENTIONED EARLIER A LOT OF THOSE IDEA IS NOT K NEW.

PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY STARTED FOR FUNDS OVER FUNDMENT STARVED FOR FUNDS.

IN THAT SENSE ALSO SHOVEL READY.

THAT IS ALSO EXCITING TERMS GETTING QUICK START FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THESE A LOT OF THEM ARE EX EXISTING PRO PROGRAMS DESPERATEY NEEDS FUNDS AN HAVE A NEXT IS TO TOURISM OR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

HAVE A NEX NEXUS.

>>Lauren: NEXT QUESTION FROM NOAH.

GOES FOR, SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE HERE.

WHAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE TO KEEP STEWARDS OF THIS MONEY THAT COMES IN ACCOUNTABLE IN A WAY FUNNELING MONEY TO ADDRESS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM RECE REACCES GRANT.

COMPETE OR GRANTS HAVE TO REPORT HOW WE SPEND MONDAY AN DOCUMENT RESULTS.

IS THAT PART OF THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD?

,.

>> YEAH.

GREAT QUESTION.

I MEAN, QUESTION THAT WE'RE ASKING RIGHT NOW.

AT THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW DO YOU BUILD IN THE RIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY, GUIDELINES.

REPORTING ALL THAT HAVE SORT STUFF TO DEMPEW DEMONSTRATE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS ACH ACHIEVING THAT INTENDED USE.

THIS IS NEVER BEEN DONE QUITE THIS WAY BEFORE.

AS WE TWO THROUGH IT, THE LEGISLATURE AND HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGETS ARE BEING CONSIDERED TRYING TO VET EACH PROJECT EACH PROPOSAL.

SO THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GET ABOUT THAT, THE BETTER.

AND AS WE'VE SEEN I THINK IN THE PAST, WITH OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED, ESTABLISHING LINE OF ACCOUNTANT IS POSSIBLE IF IT'S DONE RIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.

>>Lauren: GOOD QUESTION FROM NATHAN.

HOW DOVES DOES DOES PUBLIC HAVEA VOICE IN HOW THE MONEY SPENT.

CAN WE SUGGEST PROJECTS TO GET FUNDING?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO EXACT MOMENT.

>> THE PORTAL WE OPENED IN NOVEMBER IS NOW CLOSE TH.

HOWEVER, FUNDING WAS DONE IN PERPETUITY.

CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY YEAR OVER UHERO.

YEAR RECOMMEND FOLKS STOPIN THEY HOW D DO I APPLY FOR GREEN FEE FUNDING FOR MY PROJECT?

AT THIS POINT TALK TO IT YOUR LEGISLATORS.

LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS I WOULD IMAGINE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT ARE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATORS.

TALK TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO SEE ADVOCATE FOR THOSE.

IF PROTECTING AND INTER INFORMIG FOFOLKS ABOUT THING, PROGRAM OUT IN NORTH SHORE.

ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

SO REALLY, IT'S FI FIRST OF MANY YEARS.

IDEAS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

THERE WILL BE TIME AN OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE.

>>Lauren: I KNOW WE'RE AONLY 2 MONTHS INTO THE YEAR.

ABOUT DO YOU THINK THE GREEN FEE COULD INFLUENCE VISITORS BEHAVIOR?

>> KNOW DUI I DEINTERN AND THE R DAMPER.

>>Lauren: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

THIS GOES BACK TO THE EDUCATION POINT.

HAVE EDUCATION TOURISTS WHERE IT'S GOING TOWARD.

I'M GOING TO BORROW FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

THAT I DO THINK VISITORS ESPECIALLY VISITORS THAT WE WANT TO C COME TO HAWAII, ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THEY'RE THOUGHTFUL.

AND THEY'RE HERE NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT THE MAI TAI.

BUT ALSO, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO WHAT IS MAIKA'I AND THAT WAS OLELO JOKE.

VERY NICE.

>> THINK IS THAT TOURISM IS INCREDIBLY LUCRAT LUK LU LUKE RY LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY.

NOT WORRIED ABOUT NEGATIVE DEEFFECT.

OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE GREEN FEE AFFECTING VISITOR DEMAND.

POLICIES RUN I AM GRAYING NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.

IMMIGRATION JUNIOR POLICIES AROUND IMMIGRATION I DO THIS THINK VERY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FO FOR OUR STATE.

>>Lauren: >>Lauren: ASKING, WHAT GUARANTEE IS THERE THAT THE TAX WILL NOT INCREASE IN THE FUTURE MAKING HAWAII TOO EXPENSIVE FOR AD VISITORS ESPECIALLY FOR US RESIDENTS TO DO A STAYCATION.

ALREADY EXPENSIVE AS WE ALL KNOW.

>> I'LL BITE.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS KIND OF MECHANISM ABLE TO REDUCE THE COST THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY.

BECAUSE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN SOME OF THESE THINGS.

LIKE IT OR NOT.

GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT BACK IN 2017, STARTED DOING OUR BROAD ANALYSIS, LOOK AT SEA LEVEL RISE AROUND THE STATE.

AT THE TIME HIGHEST RESOLUTION ANALYSIS OF COASTAL SEA LEVEL RISE DONE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD.

FOUND THAT 10 OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, PROPERTIES THAT ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE LOST IF NOTHING ELSE IS DONE.

DECADES TO COME.

AND THAT MEANS DRIVING UP THE NORTH SHORE, ALREADY, SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY AND CAW OFFENSIVE AND OTHERS THAT ARE BEING ERODED AWAY.

CACAW OFFENSIVE.

HAS TO BE PAID FOR.

STILL WANT CONNECTIONS TO EXIST.

SAY NOTHING FRESH WATER SYSTEMS WE CAN'T GO WITHOUT THAT ON ISLANDS.

FOR AGRICULTURE ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A TOP OF MONEY EVEN JUST TO STAY ABOVE WATER.

SO TO SPEAK.

AND MAINTAIN THE LEVELS OF INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS AND COMMERCE VISITORS AND DAILY WAY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

SO THE OPTIONS ARE NOT GREAT.

EITHER WE CAN HAVE RESIDENTS PAY FOR ALL OF THAT OR TRY AND MITIGATE THAT BY SHIFTING SOME OF THE BURDEN AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO TOURISTS.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT TOURISTS WON'T PAY MORE IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK THAT IS ONGOING DISCUSSION.

ESPECIALLY AS MENTION BEFORE, HAD REAL WORLD EXAMPLES WHERE TOURISTS AND VISITORS PAY Z SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES NOT ONLY HERE IN HAWAII IN THE PAST, BUT CERTAINLY IN OTHER SIMILAR TOURISTS DESTINATION AROUND THE WORLD.

WE ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY AFFORDABLE AS FAR AS COMES COMPARED TO SOME OTHER KEITH MAYS, JR.

OUT THERE.

THE MORE THAT WE CAN OTHER PLACES.

MORE WE CAN REDUCE THE COST TO LOCAL RESIDENTS THE BETTER, I WANT TO ADD TO THAT.

EASY WAY TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING IN THE NEW T.A.T., 3 OR FOUR DOLLARS FOR AN AVERAGE NIGHT'S STAY.

WHICH THESE DAYS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS LIKE HALF OF A LATTE.

NOT A MAI TAI JOKE.

BUT HALF A LATTE AND UNFORTUNATELY, ALL PRICES ARE RISING BUT IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL FEE.

AND I THINK IN TERMS OF FUTURE INCREASES, WHO KNOWS?

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THING IS TO REALLY MAKE THESE FIRST TRAUNCH OF PROJECTS REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

SO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS FEELS GOOD THAT THE MONEY WELL SPENT.

AND THAT IS PROVIDES A PATHWAY FORWARD.

INCREASE IN MY MIND IS NOT ISSUE.

IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THIS FIRST STEP GOES WELL.

>> THE REASONY STAY TAKES ESTAYCATIONAND VACATION IS NOT , NOT BECAUSE OF T.A.T.

BECAUSE OF PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS BUYING ALL THE HO HOTELS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SUCKETTING PRO PROFIT TO OWNERSN WALL STREET.

THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

>>Lauren: THAT COULD BE A WHOLE HOUR LONG SHOW.

TWO VIEWER BOTH WROTE IN KIND OF ASKING OR POSING A SIMILAR QUESTION FOR THE FOUR OF YOU.

AUNTY CASEY, EMAILED IN, THERE ARE CHOKE ILLEGALS SHORNLS DO NOT EVEN PAY REAL INDOCUMENT TAX IT'S OR THE T.A.T.

INCOME TAXES OR THE T.A.T.

CAUSE IF THEY DO HOW WILL THE THOUSANDS OF STE TOURISTS AND ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS WAY GREEN FEES.

SOMEBODY ELSE WATCHING BASICALLY SAYING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH TRUE ENFORCEMENT SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS, ASKING SO MANY ILLEGAL SHORNL SHORT-TERM RENTAL DO NOT PAY T.A.T.

OR REAL IN INCOME TAXES.

HOW WILL PEOPLE PAY GREASERS.

GREEN FANTLIVING NORTH SHORE.

COULDN'T AGREE MORE SHORT-TERM AVAILABLES BIG PROBLEM EDITH KANAKAOLE ECONOMY, SOCI SOCIALLY, -- EDITH K EDITH KANAE NO, MA'AM ITICALLY, SOCIALLY.

PAY FAIR SHARE AND FIRST SHE SHOULD BE LEGAL.

IF THEY'RE LEGAL SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

COMMON CORY.

SEPARATE --ER ECONOMICALLY.

GETTING COUNTIES TO STAND UP ENFORCEMENT UNITS AND CATCH WITH THE WAY THESE THINGS ARE ADVERTISED.

EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES MEMBERS COMPLAIN AND REPORT AND THERE NEEDS TO SOME HELP FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

SO AGREE WITH THE VIEWER.

IT THIS IS GOOD START.

AND YES, THAT IS A PROBLEM.

IT'S EQUITY ISSUE I THINK.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO JUMP IN.

>> I THINK ALSO GOES TO THAT IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF VISITOR ARE WE ATTRACTING?

I THINK IN THE LONG HAUL, WE WANT TO ATTRACT VISITORS THAT UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATION OF STAYING AT SHORT-TERM RENTAL ON THE NORTH SHORE.

I THINK THAT IS MORE OF A LONG GAME.

BUT I THINK TAKES TIME TO SWITCH THAT UNDERSTANDING.

LET ME FIND THE CHEAPEST ACCOMMODATION.

RIGHT ON THE BEACH.

ON THE NORTH SHORE.

TO WHAT IS MY FOOTPRINT GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN I STAY IN HAWAII.

>>Lauren: TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF VISITOR, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO OPT TO GET ON A CRUISE SHIP AND COME HERE.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, GREEN FEE IS NOT BEING ATTACKED ON TO CRUISE SHIPS INDUSTRY VISI VISITORS.

BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY FILED A LLAWSUIT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHERE THAT STANDS TODAY?

>> LA LAWYER.

GGO FOR IT.

FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF THE STATE AND THAT'S BEEN A PEELED BY THE CRUISE INDUSTRY TO THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS UP ON APPEAL SHORT ANSWER.

AND IT MAY TAKE A WHILE FOR THAT ALL TO RESOLVE.

IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK THERE'S SOME BILLS INS LEGISLATURE THAT ARE TRYING T TO, THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT WORK AROUND.

SO I THINK IT'S ALL TO BE DETERMINED BUT TIED UP IN LITIGATION FOR A W WHILE PERSONL PREDICTION.

>>Lauren: SURPRISED CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY CAN DO THAT.

YOU WOULD THINK HON ON OUR OCEAN, MAYBE I'M GETTING.

>> SURPRISED THEY CAN SUE?

>>Lauren: TOO NOT HAVE IT.

WITH THE HOTELS HAVE TO.

>> SO THE CRUISE INDUSTRY I THINK FROM THE VERY FIRST MENTION OF THIS, OBJECTED TO IT.

SO AND THEY OBJECT TO THESE KINDS OF FEES ALL THE TIME.

NOT A HUGE SURPRISE.

BUT WE SURE HOPE THAT THEY SEE THE LIGHT.

AND IN TERMS OF IMPACT THAT CRUISE PASSENGERS HAVE IN WHO I. HAWAII HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ANY FEE LIKE THAT.

SO NEI ADMMY UNDERSTANDING NOT L CRUISE SHIP COMPANIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE LITIGATION.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>>Lauren: I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOU SAWE SAID TWO BIL I THINK THREE OR FOUR BILLS CHANGING W WAY THE CRUISE SHIP TAX OR FEE WOULD BE I IMPOSE STILL KIND OF WINDING THEIR WAY THROUGH.

>> I HAVE RATHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE, A PER PASSENGER FEE.

WHICH WOULD BE BRING IN A WAY LESS TOTAL MONEY.

IS THAT A SITUATION THAT MAYBE YOU FEEL OR THE FOUR OF YOU CAN CHIME IN TOO?

THAT GETTING SOMETHING FROM THOSE CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS IS BETTER THAN THE NOT NOTHING O GO TOWARDS THE GREEN FEE.

>> I THINK SO.

WAYBILLS ARE SET UP RIGHT NOW, PER PASSENGER FEE IS AT AN KIND OF ARBITRARY LEVEL.

I THINK ONE BILL, $10.

ANOTHER ONE IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AT ANY POINT TO MEET WHATEVER KIND OF E EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF REVENUE IS.

FAIR BETWEEN HOTELS AND CRUISE SHIPS.

ROOMS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK FORGET WOULD MENTIONED IT, BUT SOMEONE SAID, SOME COMPANIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE LAWSUITS.

OTHERS HAVE NOT.

QUESTION IS GOING TO BE A GOOD PAREN PAREN FOCUS IN HAWAII, GOOD PARTNER.

THAT'S GREAT.

IF ANOTH NOT PART OF IF YOU HADG THIS AND FUNDING CONTEMPLATED BY NEW BILLS IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO PART OF THIS FUNDING).

HARBOR AND OTHER RELATED IMPROVEMENTS PO NGS I PEOPLE GATHEPOTENTIALLIMIT SHOULD COMPS RECEIVER SOME OF THE BENEFIT FROM THESE DOLLARS KOHALA ELOCHALLENGEING LAW AND GET ADVANTAGE OVER THE HOTELS AND OTHER FOLKS WILLING TO DO THEIR FAIR SHARE AND PLAY THEIR PART.

>>Lauren: SURPRISING THINK CRUISE SHIP A LOALT HEALTH ON W. ANONYMOUS CALLER IS ASKING WILL KAMA'AINA HAVE TO PAY THE GREEN FEE WHEN TRAVELING ISLAND?

I AM I'M ASSUMING STAYCATION.

>> I'LL TAKE IT.

SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

BECAUSE IT IS ASSESSED ON THE ACTUAL ROOM COST C YOU THINK HOPE WITH DMIEN RA KAMA'AINA RATES THAT WOULD BE M MITIGATE THE I WANT TO SAY, CONDITION REMEMBER SAID CAN'T REMEMBER.

GO TO KAUAI STAY IN A HOTEL HAE IMPACT IN THIS TAKE CRA.

THREE DOLLARS PER NIGHT, SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY.

THAT IS PROBABLY ANOTHER PART OF HOW WE INVISION, IMPACT NOT JUST AS REST RESIDENTS BUT VIST OTHER ISLAND AS WELL.

>> MAKES SENSE.

>>Lauren: LISA ASKING, SOME BIG PROJECTS SUCH AS WILDFIRE PREVENTION ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

WORTHY BUT PRICEY.

WILL THOSE PROJECTS TAKE PRECEDENCE OR STEAM EROSION PROJECTS AN SMALL DMIEWNTSES AND VALLEYS OTHER PLACES.

COMMUNITIES TEST COMPETITION FOR MONEY COULD BE FIERCE,.

I THINK G FACT HAD TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

THERE'S A I WOULD SAY LIKE A BUCKET FOR THAT KIND OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT.

WILDFIRE MITIGATION IS LIKE THE TOP OF EVERYBODY'S LIST.

AT SMP A HIGH PRIORITY.

AND I KNOW THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING, KIND OF LODGED IN THERE FOR THAT.

BUT TO ME, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM AND THERE'S LENNY LPNTY MONEY TO HE LPNTY MONEY O MANY FUND A LOT OF THESE THINGS, MAKE A DENT NO WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

REDUCTION.

ADDITIONAL EVACUATION ROADS FOR COMMUNICABLE.

SORT THROUGH ALL OF THIS FOR COMMUNITY.

A THERE'S A LOTS IN THERE.

HASN'T TO GO ME A LOT OF OVERLAP.

WE RECEIVED OVER 600 DIFFERENT IDEAS.

THAT WE GROUP KIND OF COM COMBIE BECAUSE SIMILAR TOPICS.

AND FOR CLARITY, THERE IS THREE DISTINCT BUCKETS FUNDING GOES TO AND I YOU MENTIONED TOP OF THE SHOW, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

GOT A ALLOCATED $43 MILLION PER BUCK.

GROUPS PROJECTS TOGETHER BY BUDGET REALLY REVEALED THOSE PRIORITIES.

WHICH THINK WE'RE VERY CLEAR WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES WERE.

>>Lauren: WILL IT BE EASY TO SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY THAT IS RECEIVED OR COLLECT FROM THE TAX?

WHAT HAPPENS I GUESS IF IT DOESN'T?

>> ONE OF THE CRITERIA.

ONE OF CRITERIA IS READINESS.

IS THE PROJECT I THINK THE TERM WE USED SHOVEL READY.

A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT ARE RECEIVING THESE FUNDS HAVE INDICATED THE THESE PROJECTS ARE READY TO GO AND DON'T HAVE FUNDING.

THE PRESUMPTION AND CRI CRY CRYR THEY'RE YEAH THEY ARE READY TO GO.

>> ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT THE PROCESS BUDGETTINGS FUNDAMENTALLY MORAL DOCUMENT STATE OF PRINCIPLES AND BELIEVES WHAT WE VALUE.

STARTS WITH EXPERT WH -- STARTS TO COMMUNITY AND KIND OF ORGANIC KNOWLEDGE AND LOEA LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WITH WISDOM.

GOES TO G FACT AWESOME NAME.

AND AGREE TO DISAGREE RNLTS SUPER-COOL.

THINK IT'S COOL.

CAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LEGISLATURE SUBJECT TO ALL KIND OF PRECIOUS.

PREPRECIOUS FORCES US TODO THED BUDGET REALLY REQUIRES.

PRECPRESSURES.

>>Lauren: BOB ASKING, IF THE GREEN FEE PROJECTED TO RAISE ABOUT $100 MILLION AN WHA WHAT WANANNUALLY NEED 358 TO 500 MILLION TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.

HOW DO WE CLOSE THE TAX.

TAX THE RICH.

I'M SORRY WAS I NOT ASKED THAT QUESTION?

GEN-Z DOES?THIS.

CLAPPING.

THANK YOU.

I EI DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO ANSWER.

I THINK IT WAS LIKE 10, 12 YEARS AGO, MAYBE, ABOUT LOOKING AT INVASIVE SPECIES, WHAT THE COST WAS TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH INVASIVE SPECIES ANY WAY WEIGWAY EFFECTIVELY M MITIGE SPREAD THROUGHOUT ISLANDS.

$50 MILLION IN A YEAR.

AT THE TIME PUTTING IN THERE $6 MILLION GIVE OR TAKE AND SINCE THEN, FUNDING GONE UP.

BUT NOT NEARLY MEETING THAT $50 MILLION FIGURE WHICHED T TOO, IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHICH TODAY, NOT DEALING WITH IT EARLY ON MEANT THE SPREAD OF, FIRE ANTS AND COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE AND COQUI AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING ALL THE ISLANDS.

AT THIS POINT.

THAT IS LIKE VERY DIRECT LESSON LEARNED IN MONEY MANAGE MANAGEMENT.

COST YOU A LITTLE BIT EARLY OP.

GOING TO COST YOU HECK OF A LOT MORE IF YOU WAITER ARE.

QUESTION FUNDAMENTALLY.

WHAT DO WE DO?

ONE MECHANISM.

GREEN FEE IS ONE MECHANISM OUT OF MASSIVE POOL OF POTENTIAL OPTIONS TO LOOK AT TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE DO THINGS BETTER, ULTIMATELY MAKE THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS AN FUND THINGS SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SADDLING NEXT GENERATION WITH HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THEY HAVE TO PAY HAD WE DONE SOMETHING TODAY.

I THINK ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND THE CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAM, WE HIRED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ACTUALLY TAACTUARIAL FIRM TO ESTIMATE WHAT THE COST WAS FUTURE DISASTERS INEVITABLE COMING DOWN THE TRACK.

BILLIONS.

LOOK AT LAHAINA.

ESTIMATE FOR LAHAINA JUST KEPT GOING UP.

OF COURSE IT'S FAR FROM OVER.

SO COMPLETELY AGREE WITH SENATOR.

IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SENATORS THOUGH THAT INVESTING NOW PREVENTS FUTURE DISASTERS BECAUSE IT'S JUST WE DON'T CALCULATE RISK THAT WAY.

THAT WELL.

BUT IF YOU THINK P IT YOUR OWN LIFE, WHAT RESULTING TO INVEST IN YOUR HOUSE IT MAKE NEIGHBORG MAKE IT MORERECILL RESILVERSTEIN YENTD WITHSTAND NEXT HURRICANE.

PROTECT THEIR HOME.

PROTECT HAWAII OUR HOME BY INVESTING NOW.

>>Lauren: THIS VIEWER ASK ASKING, EMAILED IN, IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASE, THE LEGISLATURE CREATES NEW TAX OR FEE.

DEPOSITS THAT REVENUE SPECIAL FUND AND THEN APPROPRIATES FUNDING BASED ON HOW MUCH MONEY IS ACTUALLY RA RAISED.

WITH THE GREEN FEE, THE GOVERNMENTAL OWE CATIEING MONEY BASED ON PROJECTIONS INSTEAD OF WAIT FOR A FULL REVENUE SIEBLG.

ALLOCATING J CYCLE ASKING WHY AND ARE WE PUTTING CART BEFORE THE HORSE?

>> I'LL DIVE IN AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT TO DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION.

WE DON'T BASED ON PROJECTION.

RELOOKING BALLPARK OF ABOUT $100 MILLION A YEAR EXPECTED TO BE RAISED.

NOTWITHSTANDING CRUISE SHIP, SITUATION.

SEE HOW THIS A PLAYS OUT.

BUT ON THE WHOLE, TALKING ABOUT STATE BUDGET THAT IS MANY, MANY BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT GOES TO ALL THINGS.

SO BEING ABLE TO SAY, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET ABOUT $100 MILLION FOR THIS, WE'RE GOING TO START PUTTING IT INTO VARIOUS PROJECTS.

AND SO FORTH.

GOES BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION YOU ASKED.

WHICH IS TIMELINESS.

IF WE JUST WAIT THAT IS I YEAR LOST.

THAT MEANS, POTENTIALLY IN THAT TIME, COULD HAVE ANY NUMBER OF DISASTERS.

HAVE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY AVOIDED.

NOT JUST THEN BUT AS PROJECTS ACTUALLY GET DEPLOYED.

URGENCY IS KEY.

WE WE KNOW THAT ON THIS ISSUE GENERALLY.

BUT ALSO, WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD BUGGING SYSTEM AND PART OF THE SORT OF MECHANISM BUILT IN THIS IN THE BEGINNING IS NOT A SPECIAL FUND.

WHERE MONEY GOES IN AND GOES, EXPLICITLY FOR PUN PURPOSE X. IF THE EVENT DISASTER ECONOMIC CRASH OR WHATEVER HAPPENS NE NEXT.

THAT MONEY GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE TO BE APPROPRIATED ULTIMATELY FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES.

SO IF THERE'S A NEED TO MOVE FUNDING INTO SOME PARTICULAR MORE URGENT FI THING THAT IS POSH.

SO POSSIBLE.

LEGISLATURE IS THE BACKSTOP THAT PROVIDES, INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR THIS.

NOT FOR THAT.

BUT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY.

AND SO I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT MEETING LIKE SOME EXACT, 100 VERSUS 100.5 MILLION OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE WE CAN SHIFT THE BUDGETS AROUND TO AN ACCOUNT FOR THAT SORT OF THING AS WE GO.

END EACH BUDGET YEAR WITH IS SURPLUS MANDATED BIT CONSTITUTION HAVE A BALANCED BUG.

WIGGLE ROOM THERE IN THE END EVERYTHING PEN I WILL ISES OUT.

SNSH PENCILS OUT.

BALANCE BUDGET JUNIOR.

>>Lauren: WANT TO CLARIFY ARER, IF THE GREEN FEE FUNDS, ARE GO GOING IF INTO A SPECIFIC GREEN FEE FUND OR INTO THE GENERAL FUND,.

>> SO RIGHT NOW, AS THINGS ARE COLLECTED, I SHOULD SAY GOV GOVGOVERNOR BUDGET COMES TO LEGISLATURE SUNSCRE GENERAL FUNI DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EXAMPLE, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, FOR COASTAL STUFF, HAS FUNDS TO DEPOI DEPOSITED VAS FUNDING STREAMS VERSUS TRANSPORTATION FOR MAYBE SOME TOURISM HIGHWAY STUFF OR SOMETHING.

WILL HAVE FUNDS DEPOSITED THERE.

SO REALLY DEEM DEEMED DEE DEPEN.

BROKEN OUT THAT WAY.

>>Lauren: WILL THE PROJECTS FUND BY THIS GREEN FEE, CREATE JOBS?

SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ADDED BENEFIT.

>> SHORT ANSWER, POTENTIALLY.

BECAUSE A LOT OF SOME OF THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOR PROJECTS LIKE DEAN HE'S COMMUNITYCERTAIN STEWARDS SENIO.

FOLKS KNOW WHERE TO ENTER OCEAN NOT TRAMPLING NATIVE SPECIES OR SAFELY SNORKEL OR SHARK'S COVE.

THOSE PROGRAMS ARE FUND.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, LIAMPEOPLE THAT WILL BE THREES H COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EXECUTE THOSE PROGRAMS.

JUMP IN AND SAY LIKE I THINK THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY FOR SURE.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THERE NEW POSITIONS BEING PO FINANCIALLY KREIDMAN--POTENTIALLY CREATED FLOATED IN SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, TALKING ABOUT, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IN THE DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES, WE'RE SHORT ON CONV CFLTIO CONSERVATIE STAFF.

EXPERT.

PARK RANGERS.

SHORT EVERYWHERE.

CREATING THESE PUBLIC SECTOR JOB AS WELL.

BUT A LOT OF PROJECTS THEMSELVES ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WAI WAIKIKI ONE OF PROJECT BEEN PROPOSED TAKE THE SECTION WIE WAIKIKI BEACHES COMPLETELY RE REED ERODED AWAY PREVENTED, PUBLIC REST DENNY AND VISITORS ALIKE FROM WALKING LONG THE SHORE TO RESTORE THAT BEEMPLE.

RESIDENTS JY PUBLIC PUT IF PUBLIC ACCESS SORT OF PUBLIC BENEFIT.

THAT'S NO ONLY JOBS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BUT THAT'S CONSTRUCTION JOB, JOBS DOING ALL THE WORK PLANNING AN EVERYTHING ELSE, THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.

SO I THINK 100%.

IS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUES QUESTION.

>>Lauren: THOUSAND PERCENT.

>> GREAT EXAMPLE IS WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

THAT IS VERY, VERY LABOR INTENSIVE.

IT'S CREWS GOING OUT AND REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES.

AND PHYSICAL WORK.

SO I REALLY THINK THE PAYOFF WILL BE HUGE IN TERMS OF GREEN JOBS.

>>Lauren: SPEAKING OF FIRE MITIGATION, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS ANY OF YOUR EXPERTISE.

BUT KAINOA ASKING, THE PRO PROJECTS BEING DISCUSSED ARE NOT SO-CALLED PAY NOW PROBLEM SOLVED MOVE ON.

FIRE MITIGATION IS A CONSTANT EXPENSE.

HOW DOES THAT SCENARIO GET MANAGED LONG TERM?

>> WELL, JUST DIVE IN AND SAY, I THINK AT LEAST ON OUR SIDE OF THE CAPITOL, PUT OUT FIRES IS LIKE A DAILY EXERCISE.

BUT TRYING TO BEAT YOUR MAI TAI JOKE.

I THINK THERE'S THIS LEVEL OF CONSTANT INVESTMENT.

ETERNAL VIGILANT IN THINGSMENT SIDE OF HIGHWAYS MAKING SURE THERE'S FUNDING TO ADEQUATE REMOVE A LOT OF THE GRASSES AND FLAMMABLE MATERIALS.

IT'S BUILDING COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY.

AND INVESTING RESOURCES INTO FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T, END UP WITH ANOTHER LAHAINA TYPE SITU SITUATION.

SO THERE'S BREAKS.

NOT JUST OUT IN THE WILDERNESS AND NATURAL VEGETATION, BUT IN THE ISSUE AND ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.

A LOT OF RISK HOME SIDE BY SIDE CAN IGNITE ONE ANOTHER.

TON OF THINGS IN THERE.

LET ME I WANTED TO MAKE THE JOJOKE.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

GOOD COMMUNITY REQUIRES MAINTENANCE.

ALL THINGS IN LIFE.

THINGS I CARE ABOUT YOU HAVE TO TEND THEM.

I THINK IT'S WORTH IT.

>>Lauren: ON KIND OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

OR NEEDS, GEORGETTE IS ASKING, WOULD THE PROPOSED ALL WAI WATERSHED FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY SOMETHING COULD BE FUNDED BY THESE FUNDS?

MAYBE CAN YOU TAKE THAT ONE.

I WOULD SAY I MEAN, I CANNOT SAY WITH VALIDITY FUND OR NOT.

BUT IT IS WATERSHED PROTECTION AND ESPECIALLY IN THAT AREA, DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE FUNDED.

>>Lauren: SENATOR MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE THAT ONE OR REP.

KNOW LINE I ASKING, IS THE LEGISLATURE GOING TO BE RUBBER STAMP STAMP FOR THE GOVERNOR HE'S PET PROJECTS GOVERNOR JENNIFER HUNTER SMITH LIST OF PROJECTS HOW MUCH -- GOVERNOR JENNIFER HUNTER SMITH LIST OF HUGE.

JENNIFER HUNTER SMITH LIST OF HUGE.

HOW MUCH DO LAWMAKERS SPEAK FOR US.

>> DEFINITELY NOT A ARE YOUR RUB YOU ARERUBBER STAMP.

LEGISLATORS SAYING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 'TILE SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM FIRST TIME SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM PUT THE BUDGET IN GOING THROUGH THOSE KIND OF PIECE BY PIECE, SOME I THINK ONE OF ACKNOWLEDGE WORK OF THE GREEN FEE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO DO SO MUCH DUE DILIGENCE ON THESE.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT NOW.

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THERE MAY BE DIFFERENCES IN PRIORITIES.

MAY H VERY FOR EXAMPLE, FUNDING SHORTFALL IN ONE ISLAND WHERE WE'RE SHORT ON MAYBE WILDFIRE PROTECTION OR WHATEVER.

HAVE TO ADJUST AS WE GO.

BASED ON THE REST OF THE STATE BUDGET AS WELL.

TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE MADE WHOLE AND THAT NEEDS ARE ULTIMATELY MET.

OR FOR FOR EXAMPLE FOR EXAMPLE TURNS OUT COMMUNITY NONPROFIT OUT THERE NOT BEEN AD ABA STEWARD OF WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE WORKING, ON NOT BEEN A GOOD STEWART.

>> MADE A PITCH FOR OR HAD INSTANCES OF WHO KNOWS WHAT ISSUE THAT MIGHT COME UP WE'LL HAVE TO RE-EVALUATE THAT.

ALL OF THAT IS, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THIS PROCESS WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

>>Lauren: YOU WANTED TO ADD.

I WOULD SAY EVEN THOUGH THIS WHOLE PROGRAM IS NAMED AFTER THE GOVERNOR, IT'S NOT, I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS HIS PROGRAM, HOWEVER, IT REPR REPRESENTS THE WORK OF HUNDREDS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

ALL THROUGHOUT PAI'AINA.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK THAT IT IS SO ACTUALLY QUITE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE ABSOLUTELY INDEPENDENT BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE OUR OWN INSTITUTCONSTITUTIONAL ROLE WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET.

>>Lauren: PORTION OF THE REVENUE SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

I THINK WE MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.

CAN MAYBE THE FOUR YOU OF YOU SEEK TO WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

FOR MAYBE OUR VIEWERS WHO DON'T KNOW.

>> I'LL START.

WHEN I SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IS THE WORD OF DAY.

WE TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, ETHICAL TOURISM.

REGENERATIVE TOURISM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ARE WE LEAVING, TAKING CARE OF THE PLACE THAT WE VISIT?

IF IS THERE RECIPROCITY.

ESSENCE OF NOT JUST SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, BUT WHEN WE THINK VALUES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN TERRILL OF RECIPROCITY AND MAKE SURE WE GIVE BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT'S SPACE WE TAKE UP IS APPROPRIATE, TANDEN WE BEING RESPECTFUL.

THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF WHAT I THINK IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

I KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT TAKES ON IT.

I KNOW PROBABLY DEFINITION IN THE STATUTE SOMEWHERE.

>> I'LL GIVE ON THE GROUND.

THERE ARE SO MANY HOT SPOTS AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE BEEN LOVED TO DEATH BY TOURISTS.

PART OF THAT SOCIAL MEDIA.

DRIVING IT.

SOME PLACES THAT WERE QUIET OR RESIDENTS WOULD ENJOY FAMILY BEACH OR WHATEVER, LOW LEVEL TOURISM, HAVE REALLY REALLY EXPLODE AND THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE AINA, ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, FROM COUNTY PARKS AND STATE PARKS, IS REALLY PHENOMENALLY SEVERE.

SO BY REINVESTING IN TRAILS OVERLOOKS, SIGNAGE, STEWARDS, AMBASSADORS, GIVES VISITOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE AND IT REALLY HELPS OUTS RESIDENTS AS WELL.

WOULD ARE SOMETIMES WHO ARE SOMETIMES TRAMPLED BECAUSE VISITORS AREN'T DIRECTED TO AREAS WHERE THERE IS THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THEY TH THEME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO KI KIND, GIVE THE VISITOR BETTER EXPERIENCE WHEN AT THE COME HERE, YOU DO HEAR COMMUNITIES FROM VISITORS QUITE DISAPPOINT SEAT WEAR AND TEAR SOME OF THE PLACES THAT ARE VERY COMMONLY VISITED.

LIKE TRAILS IN IF PARTICULAR.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO FIX THAT.

WHEN YOU SAY A PORTION OF THIS REVENUE, SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, LIKE HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT?

KIND OF IS SAUD SOUND LIKE COULD ALSO FALL UNDER IN GENERAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> DID CROSS.

ESSENCE OF IT.

A LOT OF THE THESE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS ARE INTERWOVEN.

NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

I YOU THINK WE HAD TO IS FIGURE OUT WHICH IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE KIND OF BUCKET IF IT IT IN, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THERE IS OVE      P OVERLAP.

>> I WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT, POKE AT SOMETHING WHICH IS THAT IN TERMS CLIMATE IMPACTS, TOURISM I WOULD SAY IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE LARGEST IMPACT THAT HAWAII HAS ON THE GLOBAL CLIMATE.

BECAUSE AIR TRAVEL.

AIR TRAVEL IS INCREDIBLY CARBON EMISSION HEAVY.

BETWEEN 30, HOW YOU DO THE MATH, 30 TO 60 PERCENT OF CARBON EMISSIONS ALL AIR TRAVEL.

A LOT OF THAT IS LONG HAUL TRAVEL FOR TOURISM.

ONE PIECE THAT I THINK WE'RE THE NO GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE.

WE ROA S RESPBLG TO F FACT.

TAKE WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF INVEST MANY.

STATE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

INVESTMENTS STATE HAS TO THINK ABOUT.

>>Lauren: >>Lauren: TWO VOWR VIEWERS SHOULDN'T SAY OPPOSED TO, THE TAX JUST READING IT FIRST GLANTS HERE GLANCE HERE.

MAYBE THIS GOES BACK TO, SOMETHING YOU HAD SAID 30 MINUTES AGO.

THAT MAYBE WE CAN READDRESS.

MIKE FROM MAKIKI SAYING, WHY DON'T WE MAKE EXEMPTIONS FOR LOCALS, WE ALREADY PAY ENOUGH TAXES.

FEE WILL DETE DEHHE DETER HE LOS TRAVELING TO OTHER ISLANDS.

VIEWER SAYING LIVES BIG ISLAND AAND FLIES TO OAHU VISIT FAMILY AND GOT CHARGED TOURISTS TAX IN HIS HOTEL, AND ON HIS RENTARENTAL CAR AND ESSENTIALLYS GOING ON AND SAYING THAT THIS IS IMPACTING HAWAII RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION WHEN TRAVELING TO OTHER ISLANDS.

>> THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A POLITICAL YEAR.

ALWAYS A POLITICAL YEAR.

AND I CAN IMAGINE SOME SOSHTD SORT OFPROCESS LOCAL PERSON COUD SUBMIT A DOCUMENT TO DOE TAX SAYING, I TRAVEL, STAY, I'M A TAX PAYING REST RESI RESIDENT SG HAWAII.

HILTON HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE UNION HOTEL AND I WANT TO GET MY POINTS PERCENT T.A.T.

BUMP TAKEN OFF OF MY INCOME TAX.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M SURE OPEN TO PROPOSAL.

WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

>>Lauren: ALSO ADD WE ARE IN YEAR ONE.

I THINK THIS IS, A SOLUTION THAT WILL MAYBE EVOLVE TO BETTER FIT ALL OF THE NEEDS OF WHAT THIS IS MEANT TO DO.

AND I THINK THIS WAS SOLUTION FOR NOW AND HOPEFULLY, IT WILL MAKE IMPACT IN THE WAYS GOING TO MAKE IMPACT.

FIRST OF MANY, FIRST STEP OF A LA LARGER NATIVENARRATIVE WE NEED TO WORK.

>>Lauren: IS THERE ANY MAYBE EDUCATION TODAY FOR VISITORS AS TO WHERE THEIR T.A.T.

MONEY IS GOING?

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY CARE TO KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GO GOING?

WONDERING IF WE HAD AS TALKING ABOUT EVERY WENT LIVE, BUT WOULD THAT MAKE THEM MORE CARING, RESPONSIBLE, VISITORS IF THEY KNEW THAT IMPACT THAT THEY'RE SPEND HAD?

I THINK TWO LEVELS THAT I WANT TO ANSWER.

WITH ONE, IS WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERYBODY PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS.

AND THERE'S A BILL MAYBE TWO BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW TO CREATE KIND OF DASHBOARD.

SO THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS BECOMES VERY, VISIBLE TO ANYBODY WHO WOULD CARE TO SAY TRACE THE MONEY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO PERSONALLY I HOPE THAT THAT BILL PASSES AND CREATES THAT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY.

GOING FORWARD.

AND ABSOLUTELY I THINK VISITORS WHEN THEY COME, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAYS, WE WELCOME YOU AND WE KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO REINVEST.

HAVE A GOOD SU STAY HERE.

QULEARPING YOU ARE WHY HE IS AND OTHER VISITORS HAVE A GOOD STAY HERER HERE.

GREEN FEE PROJECTS I A I AMISM PROBLEMMED LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING PAID FOR BY THE GREEN FEE.

NOT BY GOVERNOR GREEN WHATEVER LEGISLATURE WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT THE VISIBILITY SHOULD BE YOUR DOLLARS WENT TO THIS.

STUDY SHOW WHEN PEOPLE PAY FEES, IF THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING, LIKE YOU SAID, EDUCATION, MUCH MORE WILLING AND HAPPY AND O LET'S TAG THOSE PROJECTS.

>> ONE OF THE FUNCTION I MENTIONED FOLKS, SOME OF MY FAVORITE W WAYS TO SPEND MY DAYS TAKE OUT MY STRESS ON IFN INVIIPVASE YOU'VE GRASS.

LIGHT OF VISITORS COME.

WHAT Y YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCE.

THIS ONE.

LEARNED WILL HE HE OLELO HAWAII.

LEARNED OLI.

IMPORTANT TO THE WATERSHED.

DO YOU KNOW THIS ORGANIZATION WAS FUNDED BY TAX DOLLARS?

THEY'RE NOT AWARE YET BAHA THE YETBECAUSE THE T.A.T.

GOES INTO GENERAL FUND GOES INTO TOURISM DOLLARS GO INTO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS RIGHT HAVE YET TO TELLT NARRATIVE WELL AS A COLLECT YOU'VE.

I THINK MORE YOU DO THAT, THE LIGHT GOES OFFICER AND VISITOR AND COME BACK BECAUSE, I KNOW MY VISITOR DOLLARS, TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THESE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS.

>>Lauren: JUST IN WAIKIKI OTHER NIGHT.

YOU SEE ALL CALL THEM, PLASTIC POSTER BOARD THINGS.

ADVERTISING LUAU.

WHATEVER.

SURFING ET CETERA.

DO YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OF THAT BUT FOR THOSE TYPES OF, PROGRAMS, TO ACTUALLY GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY THEY CAN DETE CONNECT TO TRULY WHAT HAWAII IS LIKE.

NOT JUST WAIKIKI?

>> AS A COLLECTIVE.

WOULDN'T SAY CERTAIN ORGANIZATION OR AUTHOR ISES.

WORKING AGENCIES WORK TOWARDS THAT.

IN ERM IT OF, BRINGING TERMS BRINGING VISITORS INTO THE STORY TO HELP TO BRING WHO KALIKIKALIMA.

HANDS DOWN AND GETTING TO WORK AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE MOST ENRICHING EXPERIENCES VISITORS.

IF THOSE ARE FUNDED VIA GREEN FEE AND WE TELL FOLKS, VIA DISAISIRISANDWICH BOARD OR SPOND SOCIAL MEDIA POST.

GET GFM WENT TO THE WEED IT'S, THESE ARE THE WAYS WE INFORM VISITORS WHERE THIS FUNDING IS GOING AND HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED.

BENEFIT NOT ONLY THEM AND PLACE HOPEFULLY FALLING IN LOVE WITH BEING IN HAWAII.

>>Lauren: THAT WOULD BE COOL.

I OVERHEARD VISITOR WANTING TO KNOW LOCAL A SPOTS.

IT WOULD BE C COOL I IN THAT TYE OF EXPERIENCE WAS MORE WIDELY ADVERTISED TO OUR VISITORS.

>> HAWAII I WANT TO GIVE PROPS TO HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY AND HAWAII DOWN BECAUSE GO HAWAII?

I FORGET THE WEBSITE.

HAWAIIAN COUNCIL J JRK FANTASTIC LIST, OF COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS AND THAT DIDN'T EXIST, SIX MONTHS OR YEAR AGO.

SO CAN'T TELL HOW TO FIND IT BUT IT IS GREAT AND I SCANNED IT THE OTHER DAY.

WOW, IT IS REALLY WELL DONE.

THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET IT OUT.

>>Lauren: THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND DISCUSSING THIS WITH US.

THANK YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US.

AND WRITING IN.

CALLING IN, EMAILING IN ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

STATE SENATOR CHRIS LEE AND GREEN FEE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER CARMELA RESUMA.

ALSO, STATE REPRESENTATIVE IKAIKA HUSSEY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW EXPERT DENISE ANTOLINI.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING SEVERAL IMMIGRATION-RELATED BILLS, TARGETING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CONCERNS.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE MEASURES STRENGTHEN TRUST BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENT, BUT OPPONENTS ARGUE THEY COULD CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LAW.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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