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HCR 102

STRONGLY URGING THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO ALLOW FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON'S EXAMINATION IN THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE FOR PURPOSES OF ISSUING A LIMITED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON'S LICENSE, FOR THE SALE OF TIMESHARE PRODUCTS IN HAWAII, TO JAPANESE NATIONAL VISITORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING JAPAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN AND SUPPORT OF THE HAWAII TOURISM INDUSTRY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Adrian Tam

Urges the Real Estate Commission to offer the salesperson exam in Japanese and issue a restricted timeshare-sales license to those who pass it.

Report and Resolution Adopted. Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Transmitted to House.
#japaneselanguage #realestatesalesperson'sexamination #timeshareproducts
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Bill Summary · HCR 102

HCR 102 — Summary

Summary / Purpose

HCR 102 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (REC) to permit administration of the full real estate salesperson’s examination in Japanese and to issue a limited real estate salesperson’s license (restricted to the sale of timeshare products in Hawaii) to applicants who pass the Japanese-language exam. The resolution frames this as a measure to promote sales of timeshare products to Japanese visitors and to strengthen Japan’s involvement in and support of Hawaii’s tourism economy.

Key provisions

  • Strongly urges the Real Estate Commission (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) to:
    • Allow the real estate salesperson’s written examination to be administered in Japanese; and
    • Issue a real estate salesperson’s license limited to the sale of timeshare products in Hawaii to those who pass the Japanese-language exam.
  • Requests the REC to use its existing statutory authority under chapter 467, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement the change (no statutory amendment requested).
  • Directs certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the DCCA Director and REC leadership.

Who would be affected

  • Real Estate Commission / DCCA: asked to change exam-language offerings and licensing practice.
  • Timeshare industry and operators: could gain access to a larger pool of licensed Japanese-speaking salespersons.
  • Japanese nationals / Japanese-speaking visitors and applicants: potential new pathway to a limited timeshare salesperson license via a Japanese-language exam.
  • Hawaii tourism and local economy: potential increase in repeat visitors and timeshare ownership, per proponents’ rationale.
  • Consumers: buyers interacting with newly licensed Japanese-speaking salespersons.

Rationale cited in the resolution

  • Experience in other jurisdictions suggests higher pass rates for Japanese-language exams could increase licensed sellers and timeshare sales to Japanese visitors.
  • Timeshare owners tend to return regularly and provide sustained economic support.
  • Precedent exists for offering licensing exams in multiple languages in Hawaii (e.g., driver’s license tests).

Procedural / timeline status

  • Introduced: March 6, 2025.
  • Referred to committees (TOU, CPC, etc.), considered and reported in March–April 2025.
  • Adopted by the Legislature in April 2025 (Senate concurrence recorded 04/23/2025; vote noted 1 no—Sen. Awa). Report and resolution adopted; transmitted back to the House.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely effect (per sponsors): increase in licensed Japanese-speaking timeshare salespersons, potential rise in timeshare sales and repeat tourism from Japan, and economic benefit to local communities.
  • Considerations: ensuring translation accuracy and equivalence of exam content, consumer protection and disclosure standards for limited-license salespersons, monitoring for any unintended market or regulatory consequences. The resolution is nonbinding—implementation would depend on REC action under existing statute.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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