Tourism is the lifeblood of Hawai'i's economy and local legislators don't want bedbugs to suck it dry.

As the tiny parasite once thought to have gone the way of bubonic plague and goiters makes a resurgence across the U.S., Hawai'i legislators have introduced resolutions urging the state Department of Health to mount a prevention and education campaign.

"We just want to make sure that people are aware of it so that we nip it in the bud, so to speak, before it starts to be a real issue out here," said Sen. Rosalyn Baker, who introduced the Senate version of the resolution. Baker, a Democrat who represents popular tourist spots on Maui, heads the Senate Health Committee.

The campaign would target the islands' hotel and accommodations industry, which lodged 7 million visitors in 2005.

Several lawsuits have been filed against hotels around the country because of alleged attacks by bedbugs.

Locally the situation seems less itchy, with a gradual 10 percent to 30 percent increase in calls over the past year or so, said Tim Lyons, executive director of Hawaii Pest Control Association, which represents 80 pest control companies statewide.

However, the Department of Health said the 26 reports it has had since April are normal. "It kind of seems that they're trying to make a bigger deal of it then it actually is as far as control issues," said spokesman Kurt Tsue.

Tsue said the department has had an education pamphlet on the bugs for the past 20 years and would be amenable to helping launch a new campaign. The bugs just haven't been a high priority because they aren't linked to any diseases, he said.

Controlling the problem can be as simple as having the right vacuum and knowing where the bugs like to hide or just vacuuming suitcases after returning from a trip, Lyons said.