Senate bill lets convention
center keep lessees’ names
secretSen. Kim claims the secrecy measure
would help lure clients who do not
want any publicity
The state Senate plans to vote Monday on a bill that would let the Hawai'i Convention Center hush up who leases the state-run facilities.
The bill, SB-2395, is being pushed by Sen. Donna Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa), who argues that the convention center will get more business if it can appeal to clients who do not want any publicity.
Opponents, such as Sen. Les Ihara (D, Kapahulu-Palolo), say the bills put the state in the position of trading away a basic right to make a profit.
Yesterday, the Senate said it would agree to amendments made to the bill in the House and put the bill up for a vote Monday.
"I want to sound the alarm. This keeps secret the users' identity," Ihara said.
"This bill poses a significant policy question: How much are our citizens' rights worth -- a million, 2 million dollars? It is purely for economic reasons that this bill is being proposed," Ihara said.
In earlier testimony on the bill, critics warned that any group, no matter how disagreeable or unacceptable, "could mask their rental of the convention center."
The Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists objected, saying that groups such as the "Nazi Party or skinheads" could rent the state facility and no one would know about it.
"Are we to expect exemptions for the stadium, Waikiki Shell and Blaisdell Center? What is so special about the convention center that it deserves exemption from public scrutiny?" Stirling Morita, spokesman and an editor at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, asked in written testimony.
Republican Sens. Fred Hemmings (Lanikai-Waimanalo) and Sam Slom (Diamond Head-Hawaii Kai) also objected to the bill.
"There is no way we can justify this bill or talk about government, sunshine and public information and pass this bill," said Slom.
The original bill was changed to permit public disclosure of who rents the convention center 10 days after the event concludes, with the agreement of the Lingle administration.
Gov. Lingle said yesterday that she was unaware of the bill.
"I haven't focused on it. I haven't been briefed on it, so it is difficult for me to respond," Lingle said.