Finally, the federal government is taking steps toward developing a far more reasonable policy on issuing tourist visas to American visitors.

No state can be happier about this development than Hawai'i. For years, government leaders have lobbied for an expansion of the visa waiver program, making it easier for visitors from South Korea and other countries to come, with all the spending and job creation that would bring.

Last month, hopes were raised with President Bush signing a carrot-and-stick anti-terrorism bill. The legislation includes a visa-waiver section, enabling more countries entry into the U.S. without a visa.

That's the carrot. The stick is that to qualify, nations must join with U.S. counterterrorism efforts.

A few kinks may somewhat complicate the Republic of Korea's course toward visa-waiver status: Last week's uproar over the Seoul government's hostage deal with the Taliban regime, for example, was unsettling. But the central concession — following through on its plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by year's end — was acceptable. It should not present any long-term hurdle for South Korea to overcome in qualifying for visa waivers.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has its own to-do list to tackle if the hope for freer international travel is to be realized.

On the home front, the Lingle administration must continue pressing for change at the federal level. The new law requires that in the next year Congress must fund the completion of a biometric identification system that essentially will put visitors through check-in and check-out procedures at the border. Hawai'i officials already have worked with the Department of Homeland Security on developing the entry system at Honolulu and Kona airports; now the exit system must be put in place.

The system should be made adaptable for use in any future "guest worker" program, too.

Funding such improvements should be seen as critical investments, strengthening our nation's border security as much as its tourism economy.