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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199 thoughts on “Hawaii Visitor $50 “Green” Fees: How, When, Where?”
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.
I would like to know how the Green Fee is spent and most imprtant how it is charged. We sometimes stay at more than one resort on the same island. Will we be charged more than once? We already pay a daily fee ( in taxes ?) when we stay at a timeshare. Now they are charging for beach use and beach parking. We are being hit pretty hard. Does this state only want to cater to the rich?
I see that in realestate and that seams be the thing.
No doubt this “Green” Fee (AKA Tax), Will Not be used to improve water supplies, quality and water infrastructure nor to improve sewage treatment which then would improve the environment. Rather, it will be sucked into the state’s general fund and wasted on some sort of vote-buying scheme. This is the same in every one of the 50 states with the exception of several that have fiscally conservative governors and legislatures.
Just wondering when all flights will be first class only seating.
Green should just call the unwanted poors “Deplorables”.
Oh wait …
Pretty interesting how the diversity thing doesn’t seem to apply in Hawaii. I am not a coupon clipper and have spent quite a bit of money Staying at the Kahala, Hilton, Turtle Bay, and Halekulani as well as the Four Seasons, Hyatt and Grand Wailea on Maui. I lived in Lahaina for almost 8 years in a home off Front Street and lived at the Waipuna in Waikiki and 909 Kapiolani. I’ve bought well over 100k of artwork around the islands.
I have to say this attitude is not exactly Aloha. What it says to me as a visitor is we will sell you fake aloha for a price but otherwise pound sand. I’m not naive enough to believe this hasn’t gone on before but the openness about it is pretty disturbing. Doubt I’ll ever be back.
Liam G, were you part of the discussion when a Restaurant Server actually said, “if you can’t afford to tip 20%, then don’t come or eat in a restaurant”!
No but not suprising. I know there are certain groups that waiters don’t like to wait on as they have a stereotype of bad tippers and cheap.
Assuming a (very cheap) airfare from the US west coast of $450 per person, car rental for six days at $500, lodging for six nights at $ $750: that’s a subtotal of $3,050 for a family of four. An additional $200 Green Fee ($50 each x 4) represents a 6.6% surcharge. Although in reality likely less because actual lodging cost would be much higher than my estimate above.
Is that really excessive? I don’t think that it is. Check your cell phone bill next time and see how many surcharges the telecommunications companies have added. And cell phones can be considered essential items, not optional luxuries like Maui beaches and Kauai hikes.
It’s always interesting to see how other people think an increase in others’ vacation budgets really isn’t that much.
In the middle of June, when kids can come on vacation the lowest nonstop fare from LAX is $568, plus 60 for the first bag, per Google. So, now we’re at 628 per person -where’s the 200 green liars fee supposed to come from.
And, add another 140 to 210 to park the car for a week. Eating out every day will certainly add another 80 per day for the family over eating at home.
A day at the Polynesian Cultural Ctr figure 300 for the family with no extras. Add a luau and we’re at 972. I forgot the Gov want no more “low budget” visitors.
Please spend your own money, don’t count mine.
One way, and maybe the ‘only’ way to get the $50.00 per visitor is to make it a Status Symbol and have the Hawaii government issue a Plastic Green Card to each person who Donates to the cause. It would be like saying “I care; I voted, I Give to good causes, I’m investing in Hawaii, I’m proud to be a donator, etc. Perhaps it could a Green Card face and symbol on a Visa that the banks offer too, so it would be seen a lot and become popular.
Einstein once said:
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
Obviously, the $50 ‘Green’ fee falls into the latter category… sadly, it’s just the latest sign of lame leadership who can’t come up with a better idea to thwart the onslaught of the poor, “low end” visitors who just want to enjoy their time in ‘paradise’, maybe even enjoy a beautiful sunset while sipping on their Bud Light.
If you really want to stop the “low end” visitor from enjoying ‘paradise’, let’s make the “Green” fee $500 or so… heck, why not charge them $500 to enter and $500 to leave? The idea is about as sound as thinking the $50 “Green” fee will actually keep people from coming to Hawaii.
Don’t worry, I believe that the Fee will keep increasing until it does thwart tourists from coming to Hawaii. Having the Exit Fee is a tougher call unless it is collected when the tickets are purchased. Surely they have considered everything to keep the undesirables away.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement_under_United_States_law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
hmmmmmm … In Paul v. Virginia, 75 U.S. 168 (1869), the court defined freedom of movement as “right of FREE ingress into other States, and egress from them.”[1] However, the Supreme Court did not invest the federal government with the authority to protect freedom of movement. Under the “privileges and immunities” clause, this authority was given to the states, a position the court held consistently through the years in cases such as Ward v. Maryland, 79 U.S. 418 (1871), the Slaughter-House Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1873) and United States v. Harris, 106 U.S. 629 (1883).[2][3]
So, despite Hawaii being wrong in charging the Fee, Hawaii is responsible for enforcing. A real screw up there! Maybe the Supreme Court will take a 2nd look.
The Green Fee is Designed to Increase with the target fee determined by the amount of average wealth tourists excluded from Hawaii. Everyone knows of the extensive construction projects slated through 2032, additional time share units need Many owners. The Industry seeks over qualified “Fresh Blood” to sell to, Governor Green should be Employee of the month for years to come as this policy/fee benefits the Resort/Timeshare/Hotel Industry almost Exclusively. Hawaii Voters have an amazing intellect when electing politicians that will continue past policies and forward even worse ones, that They are exceptionally good at. Spoiled, Boisterous, Hawaii people need to be coddled, pull up a volcano and hug it!
Whether Gov. Green has the airlines, hotels or vacation rental owners collect his $50 fee, the elites he wants to visit will be the ones who don’t pay. Drive by the airport and see all the private jets the ultra rich arrive in with friends and family members accompanying them, and many if not all those people head to their privately owned homes. No airline or hotels involved. I see multiple lawsuits ahead for the state if they try to impose this fee, and I feel that the terminology (discrimination) used in the governor’s proposal will hurt his chances of getting this fee imposed even more than the unconstitutionality of the fee itself.
Sheryl B, one can only Pray that will be the case.