Committee recommends first reading of agreement to join Hawaii Creative Economy Collaborative

The Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee voted to recommend on first reading Bill 47, authorizing the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the counties to form the Hawaii Creative Economy Collaborative, a statewide partnership aimed at coordinating marketing, workforce development, data sharing and infrastructure planning for Hawaii’s creative industries, particularly film.

Supporters told the committee the agreement mainly formalizes how county film offices pool resources for trade shows and marketing events. “I’m Brian Cohn, Maui film commissioner ... I’m here to testify in support of Bill 47,” Brian Cone said, adding that the agreement “simplifies how we can share resources” among the four county film offices and the state office and does not create a new statewide obligation for the state to cover county expenses.

Committee members pressed administration and industry representatives on finances, liability and local benefits. Cynthia Lalo, chief of staff to the mayor and acting director for the Office of Economic Development, said the administration is not committing new funds beyond what has already been budgeted for film promotion. “There is no financial commitment other than what Brian had talked about that’s included in the budget already,” Lalo said. Film commissioner Cone described joint travel and sponsorship arrangements and listed upcoming industry events the group plans to attend, including Cineposium (Cincinnati), the American Film Marketplace (Los Angeles) and a Focus event in London.

Members raised concerns about legal and signature-page issues in the draft agreement and about ensuring Maui is not overshadowed within the statewide collaboration. First deputy corporation counsel Mimi Desjardins told the committee that the signature pages are non‑substantive and can be corrected after council approval so long as the agreement’s substance does not change. Council members amended the document in committee to remove certain signature pages and to correct an identified contact name; the committee then voted to recommend the bill on first reading.

Actions and votes: the committee adopted an amendment to remove duplicate signature pages (motion by Member Rollins Fernandez) and a separate amendment to correct a mayoral contact on the signature page; both amendments passed (committee roll calls recorded votes). The committee then voted to recommend Bill 47 on first reading as amended; the roll call recorded nine votes in favor and the motion carried.

Next steps: staff said the administration has requested clean signature pages from the state and that corporation counsel will confirm that signature lines match the current mayors and authorized signatories before the mayor signs the agreement. The item will go forward to full council for first reading with the committee corrections noted.