HR 178 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL TOURISM WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE EXISTING LAWS AND ORDINANCES RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL TOURISM IN HAWAII.

This bill requests the Hawaii Tourism Authority to create a working group to study agricultural tourism laws and offer suggestions for improving the industry. The group will review current regulations across the state to address inconsistencies in how different counties define and permit agricultural tourism activities. Members will include representatives from tourism, agriculture, local governments, and farming organizations, along with industry experts from key crops like coffee and macadamia nuts. The working group must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by early 2027, with the group dissolving by June 2027.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Resolution adopted in final form.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to TOU, referral sheet 25
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Committee
Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1732-26), recommending referral to WAL.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Hussey, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan.
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to TOU, WAL, referral sheet 19
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Introduced
Offered
lower
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors