It was 11 years ago, when state lawmakers shot down an attempt to bring casino gaming to Oahu. The issue resurfaced in 2010.
The idea of a stand-alone casino in Waikiki comes at a pivotal time in Hawaii's history. For the first time in more than a decade state lawmakers will consider bringing casino gaming to Waikiki.
"The issue is tourism, the issue is we need to find ways to get people to come here to Hawaii," said Hawaii lobbyist John Radcliffe. "The economy then was awful, the economy today is worst."
The measure would grant a 10-year license for one stand-alone casino in Waikiki but not in a hotel.
"As you know you can't even see a movie in Waikiki now because the theatres are now closed so maybe one of those would be open I don't know," said Radcliffe.
It also establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission which would implement a gambling addiction program.
"We believe that is far stronger among the tourist industry then it was then. We know that we need to be looking of other sources of revenue if we're going to have our state survive," said Radcliffe. "The China is the market that frankly we're aiming toward."
"If there's a license that is sold, we pick up so many millions of dollars and so forth, it's just an option on the budget side of the equation," said House Speaker, Rep. Calvin Say.
The casino would create about 4,000 jobs and generate about a half-billion dollars in revenue each year, a similar amount that leaves the state for gaming destinations like Las Vegas.
"$550 million that would be over the last 11 years that's $6 billion plus. If we could have captured just 15 or 20 percent of that we would not be in the shape that we are in the state of Hawaii," said Radcliffe.
Radcliffe says Marketing Resource Group of Michigan is interested in the project. The Ilitch family owns Little Caesar's Pizza, the Detroit Tigers and Redwings as well as several casinos.
"A casino for us would be no, we wouldn't come here for that at all," said Jim Hutchinson of Canada.
"Your city is going through the same debate that every other city has in North America and around the world," said Linda Hutchinson.
"If no one's going to come up with ideas to address the budget shortfall, we're stuck at status quo," said Say
Hawaii and Utah are the only states that prohibit all forms of legal gaming.
