← Back to search

HRS §26-18

State business and tourism department setup

This section creates the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, led by a director. The department handles business growth, energy, research, ocean planning, and trade. It also includes several related agencies and can change city and town boundary lines for statistics.

businessesstate agencies

The statute, as written — Department of business, economic development, and tourism

(a) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall be headed by a single executive to be known as the director of business, economic development, and tourism. The department shall undertake statewide business and economic development activities, undertake energy development and management, provide economic research and analysis, plan for the use of Hawaii's ocean resources, and encourage the development and promotion of industry and international commerce through programs established by law. (b) The following are placed in the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes as defined by section 26-35: Hawaii community development authority, Hawaii housing finance and development corporation, Hawaii technology development corporation, natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority, and any other boards and commissions as shall be provided by law. (c) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall be empowered to establish, modify, or abolish statistical boundaries for cities, towns, or villages in the State and shall publish, as expeditiously as possible, an up-to-date list of cities, towns, and villages after changes to statistical boundaries have been made. [L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §25; am L 1961, c 132, §1(h), (i); am L 1963, c 2, §1 and c 25, §2; Supp, §14A-24; HRS §26-18; am L 1981, c 98, §2; am L 1983, c 239, §2; am L 1987, c 336, §3(2) and c 337, §2; am L 1988, c 79, §1; am L 1989, c 26, §2; am L 1990, c 293, §8; am L 1991, c 3, §1; am L 1997, c 350, §5; am L 2003, c 92, §3; am L 2007, c 249, §42; am L 2015, c 35, §2; am L 2017, c 69, §4; am L 2021, c 153, §2]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§26-35 How boards and commissions are supervised

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.