Hirono touts parks, tourism legislation

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono introduced, last month, a measure for the third time asking to add parts of Hawaii’s coast to the National Park System.

“It takes awhile,” Hirono said Tuesday, when asked whether the request would have success this Congressional session. “It’s not as thought that area’s going to be developed any time soon.”

The measure, House Resolution 3908, asks the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the coast from Kapaoo Point to Kahuku Point as a part of the National Park System.

This is the third time Hirono has introduced such a measure, as well as one to designate a portion of the North Maui coastline as part of the National Park system.

Hirono was in West Hawaii Tuesday, first speaking to the Mauka Rotary Club, which convenes at Teshima’s in Honalo, then heading to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. Speaking to Rotarians, she promoted a measure she co-sponsored with Republican Rep. David Dreier of California. That bill, the VISIT USA Act, would increase ways for Chinese tourists to visit the United States. Hirono said Hawaii Tourism Authority and University of Hawaii officials have estimated up to 300,000 more Chinese visitors would travel to Hawaii, up from the roughly 62,000 Chinese visitors the state hosts annually. That, in turn, could bring up to another $600 million in visitor spending and create 6,000 jobs, Hirono said.

“It would be a huge economic boost to Hawaii,” Hirono said. “Small businesses will benefit. Hotels will benefit.”

Specific provisions of the matter include allowing Chinese tourists seeking visas to the U.S. to conduct video, rather than in-person, interviews and allowing those visas to last five years, instead of expiring after one. Right now, all Chinese tourists must travel to one of just five U.S. consulates in China to conduct the interview, Hirono said.

Prior to her speech, Hirono answered questions about her Congressional record. In her six years as representative, Hirono has introduced 54 bills, none of which have been enacted as law.

“It’s not just bills,” Hirono said. “There are amendments.”

She said she successfully introduced an amendment to the four-year Federal Aviation Administration renewal that brings another $6 million a year from the Airport Improvement Program for Hawaii airports.

Hirono also touted her success at garnering earmarks, a way representatives and senators set aside money for their home districts for years. Congress members ended the practice last year. Hirono was in the top 10 of representatives in getting those earmarks, she said.

“Earmarks are being very responsive to constituents,” she said.