House panel plans Saturday hearing on gambling bills

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

The public will get an opportunity Saturday to comment on two bills seeking to authorize casino gambling in Hawai'i, but the chance of their passage remains slim.

The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee has scheduled a public hearing at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Capitol auditorium on a bill that would authorize the development of a casino gaming resort in Kapolei, and another bill that would authorize limited casino gaming in Kapolei and Waikiki.

The odds of gambling legislation passing the Legislature are small. Most lawmakers — including nine of the 14 members on the House Judiciary Committee — oppose legalizing casino gambling, according to an Advertiser legislative survey taken late last year.

Lawmakers also typically avoid handling controversial issues in an election year, and this year all 76 seats in the Legislature will be up for grabs.

"If I was a betting man, I wouldn't make a large wager — not even a plate lunch — on it passing," House Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro said.

But Oshiro, D-40th (Wahiawa, Whitmore), also said, "We felt that just to be fair to the proponents we should have a hearing on the measure, so that's what we're going to do, but we're not going to let it override any of the other issues of the session. ...

"This is to give these people the benefit of the doubt, give them their day in court to make their best case and see what happens."

House Bill 1687, introduced by Rep. Joe Souki last session, would authorize a facility in Kapolei and Waikiki. It would also establish a gaming control commission.

House Bill 2822 would authorize the development of a casino gaming resort in Kapolei. It was introduced this session by House Speaker Calvin Say upon the request of Tim Lyons, a registered lobbyist for a number of clients, including the Coalition for Economic Diversity. The coalition is largely financed by Sun International Hotels, which wants to build a luxury resort and casino at Ko Olina in West O'ahu.

An investment group from Detroit also wants to build casinos at Ko Olina and in Waikiki.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.