Gambling debate continues in Hawaii

Bruce Dunford

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

HONOLULU -- The people of Hawaii and not the Legislature should decide whether Hawaii should legalize some form of gambling, Gov. Ben Cayetano said Tuesday.

"This is one of those issues which is very, very big. There's no question that if gambling is approved in Hawaii, whether it be a single casino or multiple casinos, that it will have some impact, not only on our growth but perhaps our way of life," Cayetano told a news conference.

The governor stopped short of saying he would veto any legislation this year to allow a single casino license -- something he finds acceptable if the money goes to educational scholarships.

Going into the 2002 legislative session that begins next Wednesday, leaders are doubtful any gambling measure will be approved.

House Speaker Calvin Say, D-Palolo Valley-Kaimuki, pointed to the membership of the Judiciary Committee which would have to approve any gambling measure, noting well over half of the 17 members are on record opposing legalized gambling.

"I asked chair (Rep. Eric) Hamakawa to schedule any gambling bill he wants for a hearing just to get it out of the way," Say said. "If the votes are not there in passing it, it's pau."

Senate President Robert Bunda, D-Wahiawa-Haleiwa-North Shore, said his proposed resolution for a study of gambling's social and economic impact failed to win approval last year.

"It didn't make it, so we'll just wait until the House comes over with their proposal, if any," said Bunda, who also supports putting the issue before the voters as a constitutional amendment.

While lawmakers face a $315 million revenue shortfall in the current two-year state budget, legalized gambling is not the solution, said House Republican Minority Leader Galen Fox.

"The right thing to do is to scale back government," he said. "Gambling is a mirage instead of a real solution because what seems to happen in most places where they turn to gambling is that money is just shifted from one pocket to another."

Gambling interests, however, are gearing up to pitch it as a solution to the state's struggling economy. They are being countered by antigambling forces who also are making the rounds at the Capitol.

Sun International, owner of the lavish Atlantis Resort-Casino in the Bahamas, last year proposed building an $800 million luxury resort casino at Ko Olina in West Oahu. It's back this year proposing a $1 billion development.

Marian Ilitch, part-owner of Detroit's Motor City Casino as well as Little Caesar's Pizza and the Detroit Lions football team, wants approval for a stand-alone casino in Waikiki.

Meanwhile, the Legislature's Keiki Caucus, a group of lawmakers concerned with issues involving children, was scheduled to hear from Tom Grey, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, during a meeting Thursday.

"While it may result in additional revenues, it may also result in greater social and health costs that affect children and families," said Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-Palama-Alewa Heights-Kalihi, a Keiki Caucus leader.

Cayetano reiterated his support for a constitutional amendment either to allow or not allow legalized gambling. It would require approval by a majority of Hawaii's voters in the November general election.

"I don't want to see the Legislature approve it in the form of a general law," he said. "I'd prefer that it be presented to the people so that what is presented to the people is what it's going to be."

If it were just a state law, it would be subject to changes by the Legislature in future years, Cayetano said.

"You could start with a single casino now and five years later you could open it up to multiple casinos and I think that would be a terrible mistake," he said.

Some out-of-town advice on the gambling issue came Tuesday from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, whose state allows casino gambling.

In response to questions, he told reporters at the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum underway at the Hilton Hawaiian Village that gambling has both good and bad aspects.

It brings in revenues, but is "a dangerous thing to get into," Daschle said.

"Hawaii should be wary," he said.

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