Hawaii is set to revive its push for a visitor fee in 2025, tapping into a strong global movement that demands travelers contribute to protecting the destinations they explore.
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Hawaii is set to revive its push for a visitor fee in 2025, tapping into a strong global movement that demands travelers contribute to protecting the destinations they explore.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
No doubt, for people to be anywhere, it impacts the natural habitat and environment.
Although, what does invasive species have to do with a tourist fee? Tourists are not bringing any new species to Hawaii that I know of.
Hawaii has been a bit troublesome for travelers for a long time. Preferred parking for locals. Violence on the waves for non-local surfers, the ridiculous approach to c-19 flu and now a surcharge on visitors? Of course this is in addition to the outrageous hotel room Taxes! Yes, taxation without representation.
Appointed leaders like ms Chang should be eliminated/dethroned and cast off.
No Federal money to Hawaii as long as these practices continue!
Contemplate that one Hawaii!
On our first trip to Kaua’i 13 years ago, we pulled into Salt Pond Park. There was some sort of political rally going on. Saw nothing but anti U.S. banners and signs. The one that we will never forget said “Hawaiʻi is NOT the USA and never will be.”
That sentiment has only gotten worse.
I really cannot blame the Real Native Hawaiians for feeling that way. They were taken over in a pretty horrible way, It was not that long ago. I feal that way as I live on the mainland and see the millions pf illegals allowed and the destruction it is doing. Hawaii is a reflection of the demise of the American states if this continues to be allowed.
If travelers are visiting friends or relatives would they pay a fee? I own a timeshare in Hawaii that includes land for 30 years. Taxes are paid annually would I pay a fee?
Sounds like a good idea. Until you realize those in government will just spend, spend, spend with little or no real accountability.
So what is purpose of tourist impact fee? If you are looking at trash and pollution on the beach, might want to look on your own back yard. The homeless camps are getting issues with cars leaking gas, oil leaks, human waste, trash, and drugs. So you are taxing tourist to pay for cleanup?
No added fee that comes from this governor will get my support. If he is worried about the environment, he should rid our beaches and parks of criminals and drug addicts . No toilets there and if there are, they get destroyed and cost us taxes . Do not believe in this governing
Markets shmarkets, there’s money to be taken! Sorry Hawaii, but I think the aloha is gone.
Do whatever you want. After 40 years of regular travel to to islands, we have decided we won’t be going back.
Mission accomplished governor.
The time to have imposed an environmental fee was when tourism was at it’s peak, not now when the outer islands are seeing a softening in tourist numbers and inflation- fighting travelers are going to Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica and other more reasonable places to visit. Combined with hefty resort fees and taxes, it is not a great idea to add to these expenses.
Find money for the environment elsewhere and wait for the next wave. Brooke N.
Brooke, people going to Mexico and Costa Rica. No thanks. There is way too much danger there. Just read how many tourists are kidnapped, murdered etc.
As much as I do not agree with the Hawaiin govt and tourist association, if I had a choice I would pay the $25 fee. My life is worth more that that.
Maybe the governor should declare 2025 “The Year of No Tourists”. He certainly seems to be doing his part to kill the #1 industry in the state.
One word biodiversity. Bio means persons profile and diversity means ethnic origin. Does this have to do with tracking one’s spending habits and where they shop. Demographically one group of tourists spending more at certain restaurants, shops, and the extravagance of their shopping. Does this environmental fee pay to gather tourists shopping habits and retrieve data? What shops and restaurants need to raise their prices to make others seem like all is in check. This green’s fee tells them where you are residing but do they really know where you’re spending money? Paid reservations for parks, beaches, whats next?
You would think the reservation fees would be enough e has to pay 30 bucks for every place we went and we’re only allowed a 2 hour time frame 🧐
No Hawaii law that state you can’t pack an air mattress in your suitcase. If hotels and STR’s, Air BnB’s , are to collect these fees at check-in then how many will pull the one in the front door and two in the back door game. Sorry can’t I have guests. I can’t believe the state is making the hotels, STR’s ,Airbnb’s do their dirty work. If you stay at multiple sites or move to another hotel you pay twice or more per person. Vacations are meant to be able to relax, enjoy, make memories and have a great time. Not to pay thousands to be miserable.
Mauvelous! Let’s get those visitors, make ’em pay for desecrating HI! Make ’em pay for all the homeless and air pollution they cause. Then there is the low wages at all those expensive hotels and restaurants they go to! Make ’em pay (not the hotels, of course) for better wages. And climate control? All those rental cars are killing the environment! Make visitors pay for fixing the air (???).
$25? Make it $100/per person! Serves ’em right for despoiling HI culture and disrespecting the state as a whole. Remember HI legislature, HI is so desirable that there is not limit to the cost visitors are willing to pay to stay a few days in ‘paradise.’
Dennis D
Just blame the tourist? Make the tourist pay. Wow. I don’t know whether to advise you to cry, pout, hide, or find the mainlands next island Las Vegas. I would look at public crime records for any said island and then decide who victimizes the community. You will find it’s not the traveling tourist.
Thank you BOH for always keeping us in the loop. The green fee wouldn’t be such a hard pill to swallow if only we could be assured that it won’t be used as play money for the politicians. What do they have to show for all the tax money they already collect from tourists? More transparency is needed.
Quite so. Tons of visitor money from tourism rolls into the state each year. Where does it all go? Seems there is no accountability for it. Must be nice being able to spend the budget on stuff that is close to your heart, with no one saying, ‘Is it okay to do that?’ So it just ‘disappears’ under headings like, ‘infastructure repair/development’ or ‘curtural impact studies’ and ‘research on housing costs’. Tough to trace that kind of thing, and whose brother-in-law got the contract.
Oh what a lovely idea in a declining HI economy! More fees will keep HI #1 industry in decline. Who cares about us locals ability to pay bills? Buy food or gas? What’s not to love about another anti-tourist policy as long as the corrupt politicians here get more money for themselves. This is another idiotic idea which will help ruin Hawaii’s #1 industry, the visitor industry… the goal of most in govt. Venezuela here we come!
Hawaii has dug its own ‘hole’ when it comes to its economy. The islands have too long ridden on the back of tourism, with no real effort to attract technology and industry to provide a solid base for a sound economy. As populations of visitor countries increase, so do the number of visitors to HI. Then the folks of HI complain about ‘all those visitors ruining the beauty of HI, clogging the streets and beaches, trashing the environment’, etc.. So the visitors don’t come (fat chance), and now it’s, “Wait!!! Come back! I need a job!’ But that’s not really the answer to the problems of Affordable Housing, Cost of Food and Gas, Rent, etc., is it?
Sorry, but Gov. Green has a hard time investing tax dollars for the initiative they were collected for. This will only be another tax shuffled off to general revenue to support the latest crisis. Many locals continue to ask where have all the other increased tourism tax dollars gone?
Yup, back to the basic question about tourism dollars: “Where does all that money go?”
Hawaii is already getting an anti tourist reputation. People are hearing or noting the high prices for everything from lodging to eating out. Many of the visitors that are trying to visit rely on using STVR’s that allow a more relaxed stay that includes a kitchen and other amenity’s. It’s quite evident that Hawaii has put that under attack. So now a Green Fee… doesn’t matter how much it is, it still gives the message of “let’s stick it to the tourist”. Don’t see how this is suppose to help revive the tourist industry. It is the tourist dollars that fund much of the economic activity in Hawaii. Wonder where the breaking point will be.
Those tourists…the root of all all Hawaii problems….oh and the solution to all their problems. They certainly are chasing people away.
This government would love to just take over Maui. The “elite” or more like “dirty scroundels” want to take it over and the governor is part of that group. He really does not care as long as his pocket is lined.
One thing is for sure about the Hawaii government that is Still completely controlled – is that they are still believing that they can tax the state into prosperity which has Never worked anywhere and Never will! The programs that they say that the funds will be used for are just more boondoggles that Only politicians can come up with! As the saying goes, you always get what you vote for and the prime example of that can be found on Oahu with the elevated rail system that they had to steal tax dollars from all of the other Islands in order to fund it while then allowing all of the other county governments to impose yet another tax to offset what they stole!
As was said… “I fully support the green fee. As a local, I see the impact of over-tourism every day. Our beaches, trails, and parks are overcrowded and littered. The funds from this fee could go a long way in maintaining our natural resources and ensuring they are here for future generations.”
— Leilani”
But will the money be used for any of that?
As an example… there is a charge to go to Waimea Canyon State Park. Has any of the money been used for the Canyon infrastructure? By looking the bathrooms, you wouldn’t think so.
While he’s at it the Gov should instill a $25 annual fee for every resident in the state, call it the “Money to pick up abandon cars and appliances along our roadways fee”, I guarantee not one tourist has left that garbage all over the islands, Maui in particular, we’re too busy ruining all the beaches, trails etc etc. Where’s that great Aloha spirit now.
The “Golden Nene” continues to be sliced, diced, and pulehu’ed by the clueless politicos I see…
Best Regards
Noble cause! Not worth it due to all the other fees. TAT, Resort Fee, Resort Operational Fee, Employee Healthcare Fee, Parking Fee, Check-in Fee, Check-out Fee, Mandatory 18% Tip on Take out food orders, airport taxes, etc. The list just does not stop. Now, they want to add another fee. All combined, it has become too much. Going to keep moving on to further out places. Tahiti, Mexico & Belize sounds very reasonable & affordable to me. Let someone else pay all those fees & taxes, but I am taking my vacations elsewhere. Aloha!
What a stupid idea. Just another reason to vacation and spend my money elsewhere. They do things like this and wonder why their largest private employer, Hawaiian Airlines, is on the verge of bankruptcy
Just another way to reinforce the perception that Hawaii does not want us to come there, and that already has been every time I come there. I’m from Nevada so I know a little about this type of subject. If it was up to me, I would pay a reward to every person that visits Nevada! Like it was mentioned the fees there are already high and the people who push this and that stupid reduction in the rental base will eventually keep most people away and then Hawaii can go back to the way it was a 100 years ago. If I was you I would also withdraw from the union, maybe even prohibit any airline traffic. You already get the fees you charge the tourists, plus fees for airlines landing there, car rental, the economy that the rentals and or stays in hotels. Ever hear the term, “killing the goose that laid the golden egg” ? Your on the right trackI have rentals here, a vacation rental in California, was the assistant GM at a hotel and casino, I know a little about this crap. Go ahead. charge more!
Should be paid by the counties from their ridiculous 3% County TAT fees. Because of their outlandish real-estate taxes, they have lots of money coming in. They wouldn’t even notice it. From other posts, it looks like it’s unconstitutional (USA) for Green and his accomplices to charge US citizens a fee to just enter the state.
This whole irresponsible mindset isn’t going to go away until the HI voters get sick of it. These people have screwed up over and over. Covid lockdown, lining their pockets with giant hotel $, appointing cronies to lead this latest ecological tourism fiasco and finally destroying Lahaina and killing a lot of innocent people.
After visiting the islands regularly for the past 40 years we are really close to pulling the plug on ever coming back. I feel the visitors are being treated like they are an invasive species.
We feel the same way when we visit Maui. But we still go for sure. No breaking us from visiting the most beautifull place on earth. Cheers!!
We are the invasive people, I have never felt really welcome there, except by people who have moved there and are part of the tourist business or people who own vacation properties. I love the people, whoever they are and wherever they come from, who visit my vacation rental at Lake Almanor in California. For the most part I never get that feeling when U vacation in Hawaii, too bad as I love Maui. They are and will kill the Golden Goose, US, by their short sightedness and poor attitude, and who will they hurt? The local people who depend on Tourism, Too Bad.
How do you say we don’t want tourists without saying it?
Our business has already suffered a significant downturn in visitors simply due to the overcharging for everything and negative publicity Hawaii has received over the past few years. This August was our worst month ever and it can be attributed directly to the lack of people visiting the island.
Where does it end, how high will unemployment have to go before the government realizes you cannot kill the golden goose and then expect it to keep employing people?
What if I am not doing the tourist thing, but flying home to see my ohana and grand babies? Am I going to be taxed for that?
Flying over on Business, which, is to help generate Sales Tax Revenue for the State, it’s business, not pleasure! Green, brought up Green, and he was told, he cannot Tax Citizens of States to travel Inter-State, it’s against the Law, so the lightbulb went Green. Governor Ige, took the other Counties Hotel Tax Revenue and placed in the States General Fund, so what happens there? Despite what has to be corruption, things ran pretty smoothly from 1957-1999.
Hawaii cannot impose an “entry fee” on US citizens/legal residents residing in other states. If it makes you feel any better, Wyoming cannot charge out of state residents a fee, either. And Yellowstone is on pace for the most tourists (several million) this year. New Zealand is a different country. They can charge visitors whatever they like. Many countries do this. The USA could do this (but not Hawaii, sorry). Some charge an “exit fee”, which is precious.
Aloha-
Mahalo for keeping us informed, as always, with the carious fees that are proposed, cancelled, reconfigured, etc.
As a past frequent visitor, who has stayed away since 2023, I have a few questions:
Will this be per visit? Per island? Per person? Per family? Per day? Will people traveling to visit local family members that live on island be exempt? Will we be given a sticker to wear reminding people we have paid the ‘green fee’ so we will be appreciated instead of derided?
Looking forward to one day being able to enjoy time with my family in Hawaii again.
Is it $25 per trip? $25 per day? If it’s per trip and the hotel is collecting it, what happens when I change hotels / islands? Do I have to pay another $25 fee because the new hotel will have no idea I already paid?
Typical government idea that is ridiculous and impossible to enforce or puts the onus on the private sector to do the government’s job for them. Just drive up to Waimea Canyon and look at all the people who don’t pay the parking fee….
Well, realistically, folks coming from out of state would be charged the fee, unless they could prove residency in HI (driver’s license, state ID card, etc.). Family visits would still have to pay, but inter-island flights would not be charged. It would be like a environmental impact fee, and go into (probably) a separate fund (vice: the General Fund), from which it could be, via legislation or Governer’s decree, transferred to the General Fund for ‘necessary expenses.’ Simple. Corruption rules!
Municipalities on the mainland routinely ask residents to add a penny to sales taxes to fund extra projects. These projects are identified with signs. The same could be done here. But there has to be some observable improvement. This fee smells like just another tax and spend scam. The problem is that Hawaii politicians have proven over and over again that they can’t be trusted. I suspect this mistrust will continue until there is closer to a 50:50 liberal:conservative ratio at both the state and county levels.
I understand to control invasive species plants but what is exactly biodiversity? Bio means profile of someone and diversity means variety of ethnic etc. So basically this means to charge a fee to research all the tourists and their profiles and how they get along etc.
IMO What a bunch of ********. Anymore lame justifications to just victimize the tourists. I get it charge the tourist’s a fee to pay for the real tourist’s Hawaii really wants?
Think of it as a sort of “resort fee.” You know, the thing you get charged for at hotels for things they didn’t charge for before, or you didn’t use or need.
Just like the Aloha Spirit. Pay a fee for something and get nothing back in return. Sounds like legal stealing to me. If you are a legal US resident you can’t charge to enter another US state.
How dare they even think about this when locals are struggling with the cost of living? They’re using tourists as a scapegoat instead of fixing the real issues.
This is stupid! Hawaii’s tourism industry is already suffering, and now they want to slap tourists with another fee? Visitors will just go elsewhere, and it’s the locals who will feel the economic blow.
Hawaii depends on tourism, and this will only hurt the economy. People are complaining that Hawaii is too expensive—this will just add fuel to the fire.
Fees are ok if they actually contribute to taking care of our fragile environment.
However, our elected officials are not great stewards of our money and there is too much waste and inefficiency as it is.
Just giving more money doesn’t solve things unless it is appropriately used. Money is a tool for the government to effect improvements and change. It should not be for personal enrichment.
Just wondering what my transient fee that I am already paying is supporting? I pay this when I stay at Aulan’i my time share and an additional tax and fees when I stay at a hotel in Waikiki. If I stay with my Ohana in Makakilo. Do I have to pay a fee???
It most likely will not affect me. I am so over the high prices [food, hotels and car rentals]; congestion; being fee’ed to death, etc. I am going to Tahiti or the Caribbean. Nothing in Hawaii that is so worth it anymore.
They have priced the little guy out and time to move on.
I have started visiting Hawaii less as well. Tried the Caribbean last winter and probably going to check out Tahiti on my next island trip. You’re spot on with changing things up.