Should Hawaii visitors and residents both pay an environmental fee? More questions are back on the table.
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143 thoughts on “Controversial $50 Hawaii Visitor Fee Plan Returns”
Should Hawaii visitors and residents both pay an environmental fee? More questions are back on the table.
This is all the state knows. They have been feeding off free money forever from the fed government and tourists. How about recruiting different industries? You had 2 years to come up with something and all I hear is taxes and fees and some bs educate the visitor which is nothing more than a money grab usually run by some relative or crony of a politician.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green comment is either virtue signaling to his base or an attempt to payoff his stakeholders, but probably both.
The main benefactors of the Hawaiian $50.00 climate travel fee will be Green’s stakeholders who will provide overpriced services and products related to implementing the programs climate change mandates.
That’s how crony capitalism works.
Ask yourself why after pouring billions of dollars into homelessness has it gotten worse? Answer: Politicians and their stakeholders don’t want to resolve the problem, because they’re making millions off of it.
Amen, Richard, been coming to Hawaii since 1986, use the Nimitz through downtown to Kalakau, through 2006, it was 5X’s a year on Business, the Homeless were living under the bridges at water level as one approached Sand Island., I would pass the same Black Gentleman walking carrying his belongs, just before the Car Dealerships and the turn-off for what was John Dominus. Ditto Kuhio even today, open sores, barefoot around the Foodland. Why is it the Tourist responsibility to underwrite the Homeless and their Shelter, Hawaii’s Unemployment Insurance was one of the most generous in the Nation, yet they are now over $500,000,000 upside down, this while Ige exascerbated the problem having Service and Retail people stay away on the Fed dole!
I don’t see how a fee Can be assessed just for entering the state, but are we not already collecting additional “visitor fees” on hotel/rental accommodations to the amount of nearly 15%? If absolutely necessary, why do we not just simply increase that fee for visitors (locals exempted)?
How about visitors on
Cruise ships?
Great idea!
Don’t expect it to be used for the environment, much less the people.
Our residents should not have to pay the fee because we contribute to protecting our home by doing clean ups and other activities with our community and telling tourists to listen to us when it comes to caring for our home
Hello Erika, cleaning up your yard, house even neighborhood is considered pride of ownership and is its own reward. Urban blight, garbage, junk, and other things that detract from the neighborhood should be a fined offense as it is in most places. Everyone should be assessed equally for the $50 without exception. If it’s about the Island it involves Everyone. If Everyone is paying then possibly Residents will begin to question Where the money actually goes to. It makes you a “true stakeholder” in the outcome.
Erika…then why do I see trashed cars, refrigerators, stoves etc? I don’t think visitors are hauling those over and dumping them.
Erika uses terms like ” us ” and ” them ” in other posts. BTW, Erika , go down to the Ala Wai marina and volunteer to clean it up. Its probably the most polluted water in Hawaii, usually filled with trash and garbage. Yes, “your” residents who live on board the boats in the harbor are the ones polluting the waters and I don’t see ” Your residents ” cleaning it up. ( disclaimer , I have seen some people cleaning the trash out of the marina on a few occasions but for the most part its usually polluted ). I also think the boats dump their ” waste ” directly into the marina as I’ve never seen a pumping boat ever servicing any of the boats there.
I think the fee is a good idea. Allot of states add tourist fees and travelers have no problem paying those. I don’t see why Hawaii should do the same thing. Great idea.
If you are spending the big bucks to visit Paradise (which I have done so since 2010 excluding 2020/Covid) spend another $50.00 for the Universal fee. Enjoy the Islands.
I guess paradise is different to some. The last 30 years hasn’t changed paradise in Hawaii for the good.
The $50 fee that is once again on the table “could” benefit the people in many needed ways. It’s also considered by many that the Money will be diverted for “other” uses as has been the case with other programs, what will be different this time? In the State Budget why isn’t there Funding to build Affordable Housing Projects? Other projects that directly benefit the Residents? They are Needed! This and the Homeless Issue are part of the Lt. Governor’s Job, what is He Doing about Both? Seriously! Answers and Action are Needed Immediately.
I like the idea of implementing a climate impact fee. I grew up on Oahu and have been back several times since I moved away 30 years ago. The tourism industry has both a positive and a negative impact on Hawaii. There definitely needs to be some sort of help to reduce the waste and environmental impact issues that come along with such an industry.
Where would I find how the extremely high short term rental taxes are being spent by the government, including the new Maui County 3% added to each and every reservation?
One specific group should not be penalized, taxed more, be it visitors, specific businesses or sectors. Because the root issue is simply too too many tourists, a well thought through lottery system keeping the body count relatively steady would pose a better solution. Everyone shares in both the gain and the pain.