Hawaii’s governor said his environmental impact fee will raise up to $600M per year and simultaneously reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors.
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Hawaii’s governor said his environmental impact fee will raise up to $600M per year and simultaneously reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Aloha! While I am against this so called green fee, if we’re going to have it why not make it fair and equitable? Make it progressive, much like income tax. I find it unfair and discriminatory against people of lower economic means to levy a tax on them that is equal to what a wealthy person pays.
If people of lower income cease coming, that does not automatically mean that wealthy people will take their place so we’d actually lose revenue for our people here on island.
I look forward to the legal objections of this “green fee.”
Well, isn’t Hawaii time and time again referred to as “Paradise?” Right? Well…not everyone gets in to Paradise… only a select few do. That’s the nature of paradise – you need to earn your way in….
“They called it paradise, I don’t know why
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye”
(The Eagles, from the song “The Last Resort,” Hotel California)
Eldo, Hawaii may be considered by many as a paradise, I consider it the 50th State. As such I don’t have to Qualify or Agree to spend any amount of money there, I can live on a tight Budget if I choose. Hawaii is “Special” to me, however, many places that I have traveled to are just as “Special” and have cost considerably less. I will be supporting “other” destinations more from now forward and Hawaii much less. Despite having Family with an Extremely Large and Beautiful Residence to stay at for Free, why should I support Hawaiians appetite for Money that’s not theirs! Hawaii is the 50th State, remember that.
This is terrible! And, what Exactly is a ‘low-end visitor’? That sounds like discrimination! I hope it never happens, because everything is expensive enough over there as it is. You tack on yet Another’fee’ & people won’t be able to afford to visit. Greed is all it is…pure & simple!
C.D. you are Exactly Right. What’s a Low End Visitor? The “Average” Working Person, a Person, Persons, A Family, anyone that comes and is on a Budget or is Careful with their expenses. We, I include myself in the category, have been put on notice by Governor Green that we are no longer wanted there! Only the Wealthy and Extremely Well-Off need to come. I hope that answers your question and Hawaii’s Discrimination Policy. The 50th State, Hawaii.
Okay it’s time for me to profess that I am a Low End Visitor and must be prostrated and flogged many times (please) don’t make me Beg! I use the Beaches, the Water, Sewers, Food, gasoline and actually breathe the air. I cast shadows and steal the free tan, I’m Guilty! I even respect the land, customs and people so help me help myself to be better. I admit it all.
Seems as if Green is prepared to have “Spit Ball” Sessions over the $50.00 “Environmental Fee” on Visitors to Hawaii until he finds a Legal Way to Implement it. What happens when the Questions begin over what the Fee shall be spent on and Accounting for the Money, will it be as “Transparent” as everything else to do with Hawaiian Government and Finances? Just another Dismal and Dark Pit where the Money simply Disappears! The Status Quo cannot continue. Gov. Green deciding to “Cull” less desirable Tourists from the crowds has a Distinct Stench to it, possibly the Justice Department should weigh in on this form of Discrimination. Aloha for a Fee, how soon before that is increased too?
“reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors”???
Wow…just wow! I’ll be even more speechless if this green fee passes.
By the way, looking forward to our visit in a couple of months. We’re spending thousands of dollars on flights, thousands of dollars on lodging, about a thousand dollars on car (large family), and paid excursions and dinner reservations already in place for while we’re there. But we also plan on saving some money by doing some free activities and by making some meals in. Hopefully my family isn’t considered “low-end”. What the heck does that even mean?
Elizabeth, the simple fact that you are saving money by eating in a few times, sorry but you are in the “Undesirable” Class! Hoping that you will enjoy your last trip to the newly named “Judgemental Islands.”
“[$50] would reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors …”
Make it $5000 to really keep out the riff-raff.
New marketing slogan: “You Poors Stay Off From Our Shores”
LMAO!!!
New Mainland Policy: Hawaii charges only Half of what They will be charged for coming here!
Sounds like a plan. Perhaps some of the money collected could go to the public school system and state Hospitals where it is much needed. Seems like hitting the Plane ticket with it could work best as some may not stay at Hotels. I doubt it would curb tourism at all
What this $50.00 Fee will actually benefit, besides Politicians and their friends and family, should be interesting to see, don’t count on seeing much if anything. The Fee isn’t a make or break decision, it’s just another slap in the face to the Tourists that may, among some of them, cause an Effect that Hawaii isn’t ready for. Tourists are not ATM’S despite the thinking of Hawaiian Politicians and Certain Businesses. Hawaii is a “Welfare State” that Needs Tourists to keep the Money rolling into its coffers, without it Hawaii would become a run down dilapidated series of islands with nice beaches. Of course the 15% max of Hawaiians that are screaming now will be screaming then, they’re the troubled and Never Satisfied! Good Luck Hawaii 👍
So a Hawaii resident would be charged this too on their airfare returning from outside the state? Don’t know how you do otherwise. And be charged when they use a hotel room?
I can’t wait to see how this plays out. What if you are a visitor 4-6+ times a year? They will now take an upscale long weekend and make it not worth the value. Isn’t there a fee paid with every tourist dollar spent in the state be it meals, hotels and shopping? Living in California we have been blessed with being able to make multiple trips to the island a year but it is getting harder and costlier by the day. I love Hawaii but this new green fee is not showing me any aloha back. Might have to brush up on my Spanish and make MX our new quick getaway.
Mexico…Good Luck
Hey, some tourists make it back alive! 😛
They All make it back.
Staying within the confines of the Resorts keeps the Tourists safe. If there are organized tours outside of the resort, even browsing stores and shopping, they are well protected and organized. Not all of Mexico have Cartel problems and violence. You can’t believe Everything that you are spoon fed by the media, unless it has to do with Hawaiians ripping off tourists with ever increasing prices and fees to support their welfare State.
Please do. Perhaps they do not care if their residents pay to support your trip the way residents here do. You don’t even notice that we spend our resources on support of you.
So, there are many of us that own timeshares in Hawaii, as owners of properties would we be exempt from the “Green” fee. The only Green fees I like are on the golf course
John, I saw Nothing that indicates what you said, Exclusions weren’t stated. If there are exceptions and exclusions that would be interesting, this Fee is for Reparations to the Environment and should apply equally to every traveler whether a property owner, citizen or tourist.
I think Nevada should introduce a water fee for tourist’s, since the Hoover Dam is drying up…. Colorado, for brown cloud abatement actions and hiking trail maintenance…. Florida for senior care funding… Every state will have one….. Shutdown tourism if you don’t want it….
As opposed to your sarcasm, they should do it, as should HI.
Actually I believe that you are selling yourself short on the Fee Prices, at least triple it and put in coin operated showers/toilets/sinks! Imagine a Hawaiian Tourist fumbling in the shower covered in soap suds looking for quarters!
Ernie, that’s what happened to me. I was driving from LA to ALaska with my then girlfriend and dog. We camped out all the way. In 1976 over 900 miles of the Alaska HWy was unpaved. So much gravel and a bumpy ride.
It was my first time using a pay shower. So water on, water off, suds up. Water on for the rinse cycle. Problem was, the shower was paid for by the minute, not water used. I had to go back to the tent for more quarters so I could enjoy that final rinse.
Low end tourist? Wow! I guess everyone should go somewhere they are welcome.
Can’t you just feel the Love and Aloha?!?
Agreed, Robert! Last time I checked, low-income doesn’t equate to low-end.
What about the people who return to visit their own families?Tons of people in California and Nevada were raised in Hawaii but had to leave because of the high cost of living. The 9th Island is in Las Vegas after all.
Business travelers too?
Mary D., if they couldn’t afford to live in Hawaii and moved away then they would be some of the people that Governor Green is referring to. It’s a Sad Day when the Governor of a State talks about Discriminating against people so casually, an interesting beginning to his 4 year term.
Maginalizing some people to feed an ignorant ego is trending in this country, unfortunately. But it never works out they way they intended. I support what locals who hail from the islands want, not what the Silicon Valley tech behemoths want. If the people want us to go elsewhere, we can and should, elites included. Environmental and cultural impacts are real in every beautiful place. I hope the Gov gets a clue about his own entitlement issues.
Great idea. The world’s tourist are “loving Hawaii to death.”
Transparency will be key, to mitigate the inevitable attacks by anti-government factions.
I wish we could declare the whole State of Hawaii a national park, but that wouldn’t fly for obvious reasons.
Ultimately, only rising airfare and accommodation charges will “weed out” the low-middle class visitors and select out the smaller group of rich who can afford pretty much anything. Sounds elitist, sure, but it’s no different than top-tier restaurants weeding out budget-conscious diners who cannot afford $120 steaks and $45 Caesar salads.
Go help those of us who live here and provide essential service paying below the national average.
Seriously. What a joke.
Yep. Constitutionally dead on arrival.
Eldo, your wonderful musings of a serious problem being exacerbated by Your Governor are noteworthy, how and why I shall explain to you. You believe that what is about to occur is a wonderful idea, it may take some convincing but let’s say that the other 49 States decide to do the same, fly over 4 States and be charged $200 each way plus $50 to enter Hawaii, that’s saying You Qualify to travel. A Financial Statement will Suffice, Oops….you don’t have enough, you’re low-middle income scum, trash that can’t go anywhere, too bad. Watch what you wish for, you might just get it!
The difference between the 2 examples that You use Eldo are like comparing Oranges and Denture Cream. Hawaii is a State. A High-End Restaurant is a Commercial Enterprise that offers a wide variety of Upscale Foods prepared by a Chef and Experienced Staff at a Higher than Average Price. Very Much Different, No Comparison At All!
I really like the National Park idea, please do it. Then Anyone could afford Hawaii and the yapping that is trying to drive tourists away would cease. I Like It!
So the governor’s $50 fee, he hopes, “would reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors”? So I guess we’re not to visit the islands anymore, because we are those “low-end” visitors. We were able, 19 years ago, to buy a timeshare. We pay every year for all the fees & taxes. In 2004 we rented a car for one week for <$100 but this time the same one week will be $400, that's partly because of the additional $100 fees. We enjoy visiting every two years, we volunteer when we can, we enjoy the island's beauty, and we honor & respect all of the islands that we've visited. We visit to relax & enjoy the peacefulness. And we do it on our "low-end" budget. Terrible that someone, the governor, believes only rich should visit.
They can put up a sign at the mainland airport gates for flights to Hawaii that read “If your wallet is not at least this thick, you cannot board” – like the minimum height to ride signs amusement parks have (or used to, I haven’t been to one in years).
The Governor and the 15% (maximum) of the whining complainers that demand “Their Islands” be returned to them. See how much that I support their culture and Native Hawaiian Businesses from this day forward. Enough of this Fake Aloha too!
So the Governor doesn’t want “low-end” visitors. Does this apparent economic illiterate know that the rich vacationers have other places to visit? And, a fee like that proposed will send those who can afford it to go to a more welcoming destinations. Leaving Gov Green with a higher proportion of those smelly “low-end” visitors,like me.
That is until the fee heads north of $100 per person.
Our family is bailing on Hawaii. We visit “home@ at least twice a year. We are going to Japan and New Zealand this year. Now there is Rarotonga, Tahiti, and Fiji. Why would I pay $50 to visit a dirty, homeless filled place full of trash and burned out cars?
Excellent Point! Makes plenty of sense to me.
Regarding the “Green Fee” seems like substantial legal hurdles. Wouldn’t raising airport passenger fees be a better workaround? Perhaps also offering a rebate for Hawaiian residents? Aloha
I can’t wait to see the government bureaucracy that comes along with it. The unions, pensions and highly paid politicians will love it. Be careful what you wish for. Let’s double it for for Hawaiians flying to the mainland, we don’t want any low end people coming over here, LOL!! And since when is anyone going to Hawaii poor, we have our last trip planned this May, bought before the pandemic but I think it will be our last time, we’ve been coming for over 40 years but so many other places to see. We have always practiced Mahalo spirit and only ever received Mahalo spirit from everyone on Hawaii but it reaches a point where your money is spent better elsewhere. Remember this when you are on the government dole looking for handouts.
There honestly shouldn’t be any rebates for anyone. Flying causes environmental damage, it doesn’t matter if you are a tourist or resident. Pay up!
The only entities getting any “green” will be the lawyers involved with all the lawsuits that will be filed. Adding $50pp to the cost of a Hawaiian vacation won’t deter singles or couples, but would add up for families. So much for family values.
Governor Green is trying to minimize “low end” visitors today. It will be “low end” residents tomorrow.
I was considering writing that, you’ve made the point very well.
If this “visitor’s fee” is going to happen, when is the soonest you envision it being charged to vacationers? What about the people that have already agreed to the terms, booked and paid for their next vacation? Would they be charged if the visitor’s fee gets enacted before they arrive?
Added onto Air fare? What about returning residents? Will they pay as well?
I am curious as to what constitute a low -end tourist. Is it someone who saves for several years for a trip of a lifetime but doesn’t stay at a high end resort. If you are not careful the only people able to come will be the uber rich, oh wait they are buying up everything
This is Absurd!!!
Shame on the State for nickel and diming visitors! Its bad enough that accommodations, forced daily resort fees, car rental and food rates have increased up to 50%. How can they justify adding another ridiculous $50 entry fee??
This is in direct violation of our US Constitution of forcing people to pay entry to a state.
This high makamaka attitude will surely destroy the Aloha Spirit and tourism.
Stop biting off the hand that feeds you!
Aloha,
This is exactly what Hawaii tourism wants!!!
Phase out the common visitor for the high spenders they cherish!!! This has been in talks and known for a long while now, the states government is only concerned with money and lining their pockets… Those whom try to make a vacation cheaper will be sent packing to other locations and all the prices in state will rise and rise as the higher class visitors come in…
I’ve no problem paying a small fee that 100% would go back to preserving the environment… If that’s what it actually was for!!!
What about us whom visit multiple times a year and stay on multiple islands and hotels or vacation rentals every year???
What about locals??? Do they have to pay the same fee or not???
I see the inbound airlines and cruise ships being assessed the fees based on passenger count and having it passed along to the passengers. Given those are the main (or for now only) ways of getting to Hawaii, nobody will be spared. Exemptions may be granted to those passengers with Hawaii ID to satisfy the critics and maybe the kids will be spared.
This has eerie similarities to this “California Environmental Fee” levied against employers here in Calunicornia. For companies employing more than 999 employees in a calendar year, the fees went from $16,000 in 2022 to $54,000 in 2023, to $108,200 in 2024. Just as a comparison, the fee for those under 1,000 employees is less than 1/3 of these amounts. A tax for exhaling.
“Low end”.
So that’s what they think about economy travellers who save up 10 years for a trip?
I 100% agree with charging visitors a green fee, with the proceeds going toward required pro-active environmental education for the visitors. Perhaps something along the lines of a video accompanied by a questionnaire, which provides information on Hawaii’s ecosystems and wildlife, the dos and don’ts,, and the fines you would be awarded if you violated protective laws. Visitors would have to pass the questionnaire before they could check into their flight to Hawaii.
This would help eliminate the ignorant visitors, like the man I saw who came out of the water at Turtle Bay and said he was trying to touch the sea turtle “but it didn’t want to play”.
Kelly, your authoritarian attempt at fleecing visitors will not grant these folks common sense, no matter how much the government tries to pick their pockets.
So what is a “low end” visitor? I find that extremely insulting and elitist. So the poor everyday Joe that busts his butt for a low wage does not deserve to visit as much as the wealthy? Just another reason why I won’t be coming back after being respectful return visitors for 26 years. Maui fills my soul, but I will eagerly search for another fulfilling destination. I guess the governor is getting what he wants in less visitors, but I certainly don’t consider myself low-end. Maybe he does.
What kind of a comment is this for a Leader of the State to make: would reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors and “the total number of tourists.” So now the “Aloha State” has no Aloha, unless you have many many dollars to spend in Hawaii? Shameful absolutely shameful!
Our vacation dollars will be going somewhere else from now on. We’ve enjoyed many trips to the islands but no longer feel welcome and the ever growing price gouging that continues. Aloha!
My mom and I go to Hawaii every year. Sometimes twice a year. I love the islands so much. We pick up trash while we’re there, give the homeless food and really respect the culture. We’re not rich, but we make it work. It’s getting harder and harder to justify going there nowadays. Now we’re going to be slapped with a $50 dollar green fee for spending 10 days there when you have locals that are there destroying their own island on a regular basis. I was there last month and watched a local throw a lit cigarette butt from his car onto the road. But we’re the ones to blame??? Give me a break!!
Wow. Totally completely illegal plan. And “low end visitors?????”
Looks like Hawaii got a ” low end governor” who thinks he is better than others since he is a doctor
Perhaps the government should consider the impact of all the abandoned cars there are . A visual and environmental detriment
Wow, just wow. “… reduce the quantity of Hawaii’s “low-end” visitors and “the total number of tourists.”’ What does this mean exactly? You only want the zuckerburgs and Larry Ellisons of the world? And the gall to propose this without any accountability of the dispersal of funds? The insanity of this state is beyond comprehension…I’m going to the Florida Keys and will never be back in Hawaii. Good luck…
Let’s not forget Oprah and Obama
“Low-end visitors”… says everything we need to know about the state of the spirit of Aloha. Shameful.
Just one more reason I’ll travel and spend my money elsewhere. Let’s just see how well Hawaii functions when most of the tourists decide the same thing, just go elsewhere, you just might be appreciated. Trying to recoup all the money they lost and all the local businesses that shut down because of all the enforcement of the covid ruse. I own vacation property in the the state of Hawaii and have been used to coming over 2-3 times a year, not anymore. I’m fed up and done with travel to Hawaii. I no longer feel the Aloha from our 50th state.
Now if we can convince the Japanese to rebel!
I see problems ahead regardless of how they finally decide to impose the fees. First…will it cost more in legal fees than they will collect due to the lawsuits that will undoubtedly follow such a fee being levied? Second….what kind of compensation will the state offer the hotel and/or airlines to do their dirty work for them? Third…if they settle on the airlines being tasked with charging this fee, what about those who live on the islands but travel to other places for business or pleasure? Will they be forced to pay this every time they fly home? How about those who are returning to the islands to visit or care for a relative? One way or the other innocent parties are going to be affected in the long run.
So let’s charge Hawaii residents to come to the mainland.
You already do. Ever drive from Vegas to Palm Springs and take the old roads? You pay $25 just to drive through a park, whether you stop or not. HI is not the only state suffering from infrastructure issues, nor is it the sole place in the world suffering from over-tourism.
But the solution is sending tourists to the abandoned islands where the lizards will eat them.
And this is on top of the various reservation and parking fees imposed on only visitors, not residents? Maybe make it an activity fee that would raise money and also cover some of the other visitor parking, resevation fees. Like hotels hit you with activity fees whether you use their tennis courts and other venues. We love Hawaii, but feel very put off by all the hits to visitors. And the comments about cutting down on “low end” tourists is very insulting. Basically they want only the rich. Time to get out of our time share and travel elsewhere.
Speaking of Timeshares, they’re building lots more of them. The Politicians are attempting to bring in people that can afford to purchase a week or two, us low enders aren’t buying! Governor Green is simply helping the industry and for Free, Gratis, Nada! What a guy.
And the Aloha continues to fade away. Heaven for video low end visitors visit. Ugh. Not sure I feel very motivated to continue our annual visits.
I only hope Nevada, Ca also add “Green “ fees
to Hawaiian visitors No end or shame in the ability to dream up fees and taxes while spending the money with no oversight or conscience. Enough!
Low end tourists. This is absolutely hysterical. Before you know it, you’ll need to submit an income verification statement and a credit report. We’re no low end tourists by any means but what a slap in the face to people who will continue to be priced out of visiting the islands. I could say that there needs to be same said fees for locals to visit the mainland but I’d probably be labeled a racist. So I won’t. Good luck Hawaii.