House panel stops With a unanimous decision by the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs to hold two casino-related bills, anti-gambling forces are turning their attention to the Senate.
2 gambling bills
Many protest the plans for casinos
in Waikiki and KapoleiBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"Anything can come up. It's not over," Dorothy Bobilin, president of the Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said after the committee's action, which keeps the bills from advancing in the House.
She noted 14 old bills concerning gambling are still pending, plus some new ones. "We have to watch all of these."
Law enforcement agencies; business, church, social, consumer and community groups; university professors; and residents islandwide overwhelmingly protested any form of gambling in Hawaii during a four-hour hearing yesterday.
The committee aired House Bill 1687 to establish a Hawaii gaming control commission and framework for gambling casinos in Waikiki and Kapolei, and Bill 2822 for development of a casino gaming resort in Kapolei.
About six residents presented favorable testimony, based largely on anticipated jobs and economic development.
Recommending holding the bills, Committee Chairman Eric Hamakawa (D, South Hilo, Puna) said the gambling issue deserves debate but he feels legislators have heard what the public thinks about it.
Rep. Joe Souki (D, Maalaea, Kapalua, Wailuku), committee member who introduced HB1687, wasn't present.
Other committee members said they don't feel gambling would revitalize the state's economy and would be hard to close the door on gambling once opened.
"If we go this route ... we would have to hold return tickets for tourists to make sure losers are not stuck in Hawaii," said Rep. Hermina Morita (D, East Maui, North Kauai).
Sun International Hotels is proposing a mega-resort and casino at Ko Olina that it said would result in thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in licensing fees and taxes to the state.
Howard Kerzner, Sun president, said the casino would be a small part of the resort and "designed consistent with local culture and history."
"We don't believe the Las Vegas model is right for Hawaii," he said.
Holomua Hawaii distributed brochures and showed a video featuring island supporters to persuade legislators that casinos in Waikiki and Kapolei would boost the state's economy and ability to compete internationally for tourists.
"Enough already," someone in the audience shouted as the video talked about providing work and jobs and reducing crime because of increased employment.
Opponents called the proposals "a fantasy." They described consequences of allowing even one casino in Hawaii: increases in bankruptcies, families on welfare, unemployment, divorces, crime, and suicides.
They said casinos would destroy Hawaii's lifestyle and would not reduce its dependence on tourism.
Colin White, chief executive officer of 21st Century Lighting, said, "if gambling was a sound business investment, why are so many business organizations, like the Chamber, Hawaii Bankers, Hawaii Hotel Association, etc., so opposed to it?
"Gambling steals from local business revenues, causes untold problems to local employers and will put a huge strain on our already exhausted social services programs."
M. Kauila Clark, a consultant to West Oahu job and training organizations, said, "It's interesting that this hearing is the day before the biggest gambling day in Hawaii -- the Super Bowl."
He said he isn't a gambler but he supports a casino resort in Ko Olina to provide jobs, training, education and income for families in his area.
Legislature Directory
Testimony by email: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes
Include in the email the committee name; bill number;
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see http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/par
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