Hawaii travelers may not even realize they’re paying these. Here’s what to expect.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Leave a Comment
198 thoughts on “New Hawaii Fees Starting in 2026 | The Price of Paradise?”
Hawaii travelers may not even realize they’re paying these. Here’s what to expect.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Hawaii and it’s residents, locals and government can do as they please. If the tourist don’t agree or are not willing to pay the fees, taxes, surcharges, etc. Don’t book. Refuse. Who wins then? How much will it increase if tourism thins out? Is Hawaii a destination or just becoming a gigantic tourist trap?
I just went and read the bill, but aside from selling “licenses” at some retail establishment, I’m unsure how it’s intended to be enforced. Will I need to start carrying my ID while I swim, just to prove I belong at the beach?
And legislators act concerned that tourism is dying. This should make everyone feel super-welcome.
Without identification IMO the license would be hard to prove that it’s yours. Maybe lifeguards will be able to issue citations instead of beach patrols. Maybe a photo on the license if printable is a better solution with an expiration date. Other than that IMO a citation money grab. Welcome to Hawaii.
Ridiculous! I already won’t play golf in Hawaii because they charge exorbitant fees for non-resident. Now, I may just forgo taking a vacation there entirely. If they are not going to welcome us and show some love, I’ll keep my money. They will be sorry later when all tourism dries up.
Interesting no transparacy so you don’t know how much this green fee is. Green fee trust will never seen that money
The Hawaiian government’s mismanagement and greed is simply a marvel. Not to mention, what do they ever put back to help Hawaii itself or the visitors or their own population – nothing! Never going back there’s a big world out there folks go discover one that is not so bizarre and unconscionable.
You win. I’ll bring the family to the mainland for future visits. Too bad I Already purchased airfare and lodging for 2026.
Aloha
We love Hawaii, especially Maui but enough is enough. These new fees in addition to the uncertainty of STRs are making us rethink our planned time in February and March 2026. If the Green fees and added taxes really went to help the land and the people, instead of raising politicians salaries, we would not hesitate to support our Hawaiian friends and Maui.
Aloha Hawaii
We have enjoyed our many years on MAUI but it’s time to say enough is enough. If all these fees were really going to help the environment and Hawaiian people I might return but Green fees and taxes are only raising politicians salaries.
We love the people and Maui and will miss them.
Will this new fee effect timeshare owners as well?
I find the new fees very disappointing. It already costs too much to visit our fiftieth state. We were planning another trip in March but we may change destinations you definitely not get me to volunteer and I will expect exceptional service if iI do
Much better this way: taxing tourists us perfectly justifiable as they add to various burdens on the islands (shipping extra goods and food to the islands, which adds to pollution, additional car traffic and road damage, additional trash, additional encroachment on conservation areas, , etc.), but the taxes must match that additional burden and an explanation of why and how should be provided in all the various pamphlets given to tourists. For us residents, a yearly report should be made available that details how much money was thus collected and, more importantly, how it was spent.
Count me as one less burden for your little state to have to hear. This late fall, I’ll be in the Bama-FL Gulf Coast seeing the barrier islands, USS Alabama, Naval Air Museum, eating amazing cheap seafood in a relatively dirty cheap condo in Orange Beach. And I only have to drive 2+ hrs in my Tundra to get there…and get to feel better where I’m spending my money (a Whole lot less money than if I’d flown to Hawaii). Sad, since I enjoyed my 12/06 visit there immensely and had been planning for another visit to make up for things not seen nor done last time. Oh well, seems the older I get, the more things change for the worse. Makes me kind of sad.
“…to BEAR,” not ” to here.” (Autocorrect…ugh!)
The government is going to impoverish so many people that nobody will be able to come to hawaii anymore. The government doesn’t need to get bigger or pay themselves more. They need to reduce the cost of living and reduce taxes.And that goes on all levels to everyone. It’s absurd to charge people to go into mother nature.Just because the state calls them state parks. On this island the state and the county do littleton nothing to keep parks up. There are no maintenance costs because they don’t maintain.Shouldn’t ever cost money to go in the nature. Nature is free for all. God gave it to all of us not just to the government and the government doesn’t have a right to charge us for what god gave us for free. I think sometimes we would be better off if the government just dissolved and went away. It’s lawless right now, and becoming swiftly completely immoral.
Exactly! Down with Big Government ☮️
sigh…I understand the green fee as tourists have done some major damage in addition to climate change, etc… I am late 70’s and over the politics. This new poltical climate has broken my spirits as there is not one business that has not or is not planning on getting on the greed wagon. There’s no going back. I can’t afford to keep up and just hope I am not starving some day. Hawaii Islands were my go-to. Now we stay home or go to Fla. Even that is unaffordable now.The prices are no different than anywhere else in the world. It takes money to attract the wealthy and the wealthy are only ones to benefit. There is no more middle class fun. Period.. Forever..
I started coming to Maui regularly in 2019. My last visit was in 2024. The costs are getting too high for me to return. I understand the increases. A friend of mine sold her condo before the prices started dropping. She past away in April. We took a lot of photos and will enjoy the memories.
How very sad.
With many of the regular quests not coming back to Hawaii, I would like to know how you get $100 million in your pockets.
At the rate you are taxing the blue collar quests, most of us like to come back but cannot afford it.
Also I wondered that the times we were harassed by Hawaiian youngsters in the middle of the day, should they not be in school?(we used to come in February) and if they were somewhat older, would they not be working?
We have 3 grandsons, they go to school and work all summer. They happen to be very nice young people, and would not have the time or desire to harass visitors.
Hawaii advertises with your beaches, the ocean and beautiful nature, yet you are your own worst enemy.
Aloha used to be such a nice expression, now it’s meaning is “pay up or get out”
It’s about time, for too long We the residents have been dealing with the expenses and hassle of cleaning up after visitor’s messes and intrusions. They make the mess They should pay for or do clean up their own messes. The new laws still doesn’t address the trespassing of restricted public or private properties by visitors to access tourist destinations (that are legally open or not).
Hawaii residents complaining about cleaning up after visitors – the cost 100 million. Hawaii residents dumping their junk by the side of the road. Priceless. Hawaii residents and their politicians deserve each other.
With this money grab, on top of all the expenses involved in getting and staying there for a visit, you won’t have to worry about trespassing for much longer.
We visit Maui/Kauai 2-3 times a year. I do not mind paying a little more to help the land and people of the islands; however, HI is like CA – no accountability for where the money goes. Like the gas tax in CA – it was supposed to fix our roads, but it has gone to things like Medi-Cal/SNAP benefits. HI, politicians are known for corruption – so this additional tax may or may not be for the water, trails, parks, beaches, or wildlife. I hope they don’t tax visitors away, as many locals depend on tourists for their livelihoods.
Your article asks what should visitors take away from this. It’s another government slush fund that’s been created to make people feel good but will have no impact on the Hawaiian experience. I live in a beach town in New England and this region relies on tourism much like Hawaii. We’re able to keep our trails maintained (and open!) our parks in good shape And Our Bathrooms Clean without putting surcharges on the people we rely on for business. It’s another way for Hawaii to squeeze out middle class travelers and make people feel unwelcome. The aloha spirit is either dead or on life support.
You are correct, but there is another side to these fees, noone talks about. There is a lot of graft in the islands. Way too many layers to grease some bodies palms to get anything done. Not much money is left for it’s intended destination.Takes a long time to build anything because of the many fingers in the till!
I understand the idea of these increases.
Coming from the visitors view, prices on vacation rentals have gone up so much in the past 10 years or less, doubling, it makes coming to visit questionable. Many of us visitors have commented to each other whether we know each other personally or not, the prices have or almost have outgrown most of us. Making trips with less time spent there, we found coming still possible, but with these new taxes added, possibly not. I think with these new taxes added it makes the regular guy and more fortunate think twice or back away completely of future plans to come and will take away from the spending funds The normal Joe has and is being weeded out of the privilege is coming and seeing your beautiful paradise by costs in all areas going up. Rentals of both accommodations and crazy car rentals being among the top deterrents.
I am guessing you are aiming for the wealthy who don’t flinch at any costs. We have visited 13 times and hope to come again.
If they decide to charge vistors to use the beaches thay may want to remove the homeless camps from our public beaches.
Not sure how a Wailua Park fee would be done or if it’s really something to pay for?. This , I think a fee too far.
They dont know when to stop. They think they can keep piling on all these fees and the tourists are still gonna keep coming. Everything has it’s breaking point. Hope they have a plan for when the number of tourists coming to Hawaii plummet…..gonna laugh when the front page says the annual visitor count is drastically down. SMH.
Probably a good time for (another?) honest expose by Beat of Hawaii on just where the tax money (already paid for years by tourists) is Really going in Hawaii. Just saying, a little light can sometimes really scare those cockroaches, and watch where they scamper! I say this because the answer is usually somewhere in the middle of all the speculation, and I think transparency in government (and business too, by the way) is in everyone’s interests. Once we see the numbers and the connections, we can all judge more fairly beyond our own ideas, experiences, and limited knowledge.
Where are the facts on past, present, and future spending of tourist taxes in Hawaii?
Make it a affordable vacation and they will come. Keep raising fees and they will find other places to vacation. Good Maui you are going to need it.
It’s comical that they want to keep nature as intended, but dredge in coral spoils in and onto Waikiki beach as published in many tourist travel brochures as picturesque.
However mother nature works it’s own magic, depending on currents, wind and tides redistributes the lighter “sand” to other areas and over time with storms. Eventually it will fill itself back in. In the meantime the high dollar tourist industry can’t afford the loss of tourists who stay and play and to seek other alternatives. Make no mistake they want the tourist dollar, through heavy taxes and fees, but who is going to pay for these when they beat feet and boycott Hawaii? The local residents? Who is left to support the small mom and pop shops? The locals? Fat chance they can support them off season or a downturn in tourism.
Another fee that’s returns will never see the light of day. We go to the islands every year and continue to find the infrastructure constantly declining. Obviously the numerous taxes and fees that are charged to tourists are only to line someone’s pockets. Its an absolute shame to very very seldom see any positive results.
We used to go once if not twice a year to various islands. After maui fire we canceled and haven’t been back. I dont see myself going to Hawaii again as they are pricing themselves out of the marketplace, with a fee here and and fee there. There are other beautiful places to visit that appreciate the business and are easier on the wallet. I feel sad as I loved going there but next trip Costa Rica for me
Lived in Hawai’i for 16 years. Sounds like the Outdoor Circle is thriving!
Skip Hawaii, lots of better options out there. Too expensive and you are treated poorly. Lots of beautiful spots in Asia and Mexico where you get treated with respect and cost 1/2 as much.
Ironic how you expect people in Asia and Mexico to welcome you when you don’t do the same for them in the US. Good luck! Let’s see how long that will last.
Apparently, Eva B, you are not an American. You aren’t from Hawaii either as you claim to be.
You are alteady losing tourism through the transfer of Hawaiian air to Alaskan. As of Sept 250 employees will lose their jobs. This can’t be good for the people but I understand wanting to protect your islands. Hopefully the powers that be will rethink this move and add some balance to the proposed fees.
There is no “transfer” of Hawaiian to Alaska. Alaska bought Hawaiian as it was going deeper into debt towards bankruptcy.
Hawaii hates tourists but loves their money! What do the Hawaiian people produce…? If not a tourist/Vacation destination what is Hawaii’s identity.
Voters will need to ensure that these new tourist taxes are both justified and spent on appropriate projects that help locals while also enhancing the tourist experience.
There’s always some resentment in interdependency; tourists want to experience the magic advertised by travel companies and the state needs tourism to survive.
Finding a balance that lets tourists go home feeling contented and that also provides a decent living wage to locals in a place that has an inherently high cost of living is a never-ending struggle, but Hawaii does not hate tourists, nor do tourists hate the islands! Sadly, it takes only a few discontented people on each side to create bad feelings.
Apparently, Eva B, you are not an American. You aren’t from Hawaii either as you claim to be. I dislike hypocrisy.
Polluted bays with fecal matter, homelessness, welfare, high cost of living, angry
people, constant theft, trash everywhere, abandoned vehicles, billionaire compounds with locked gates…I learned all this right here on the Beat of Hawaii.
Yeah, keep heaping fees and taxes on the visitors. Hawaii has perfected the art of taxation without representation.
We travel nearly 6-months per year including a month in Hawaii. Our travel includes destinations where we feel safe, where we are treated well, have access to beautiful scenery and are encouraged to return.
Hawaiian leadership is sending the wrong message. If we begin to feel uncomfortable for any reason, future Hawaiian travel is at risk.
We can hardly wait to miss the ever-increasing Taxes the government is hell-bent on imposing on visitors. We got the message, Josh!
Another 100 million that will go unaccounted for just like the over a billion dollars from Spring of 2023 for infrastructures.
This new lodging fee how does it affect timeshares? Will they pay an additional 11 percent? As we already pay taxes and losing tax?
I love Hawaii it is where I go to get my feeling of peace and tranquility to recharge.
Hawaii has got issues, no doubt! But when you start adding fee after fee after fee….(my rental car reservation has over $300 in taxes, fees, etc….) people will stop coming. And when the state sees a decline in their visitors and starts crying (have they not already expressed some concerns?) it may be to late. Then what will the unemployed Hawaii residents do when the restaurant does not need as many servers, or the vacation rentals don’t need to be cleaned because they are empty?
What is that saying about bring the hand that feeds you? I own two times in Hawaii and I’m about to sell one of them. I can see the handwriting on the wall and I’m not a good enough visitor for Hawaii. No problem Hawaii, there are 49 other states and a few other countries….
They shouldn’t have called it climate resilience fund. Calling it that, the gonna come after it. “Get rid of it, or we withhold billions in infrastructure funding.” Wait for it.
Just shaking our heads in disbelief.
Wondering if Green and the rest of the state govt. has ever had an economics class ???
If you keep alienating by continuing to nickel and dime the middle/working class who make up the largest group of visitors, you are just asking for a financial disaster.
Relying upon the rich/elite to give you alot lower crowds with maximum $$$ spent, good luck you’re gonna need it.
Every college business class I had said that the absolutely worst thing any business could do was to totally anger your largest group of customers.
Enjoy the rich $$$ people Green, seriously doubt this will end well and if the state govt. will completely mismanage the extra taxed income.
Just unbelievable how you all cannot see the horrible damage you’re causing.
Feel so sorry for our local Ohana and friends.
Aloha
Don’t blame it on the local people who are struggling to survive. The blame goes directly on the greedy government of the state. Do you think any of these fee increases are going to benefit any of the local people or protect/preserve the aina? That money will all go into their greedy pockets. It is way past time to get rid of the “old boy network” that is ruining our state
Good luck Hawaii. You are going to need it.
Great job. I totally agree with you! It will definitely damage our ohana we have in Maui.
It’s completely ridiculous that these politicians think they can continue doing the bare minimum to address major problems like homelessness, crumbling roads, and lack of police presence—yet still expect tourists to pay even more in taxes just to visit.
It’s frustrating and honestly heartbreaking to see how Hawaii has been reduced to nothing more than a revenue stream for out-of-touch leaders. What’s worse is that some of them are local, and should know better.
These tax hikes aren’t just going to hurt tourism—they’re going to hurt local families who rely on that industry to survive.
Having read the comments, I can’t help but wonder if the Governor or other politicians ever read them…They should!! Maybe they’d learn something!
Stopped going to Hawaii years ago! Even before COVID many locals made it clear tourists were not really welcomed but just tolerated! With the extremely high prices there are many alternatives with beautiful water and beaches!
So you stopped going to Hawaii years ago, yet you are following what’s happening in Hawaii …why? I used to travel to Florida because I lived on the East Coast ..it was closer and cheaper, but I have no desire to visit Florida again. Therefor, I am not following anything happening with the tourists or locals there …people seem to be fascinated by Hawaii! Interesting …
Florida is in no way Hawaii. So there’s that. I am interested in Hawaii because I have traveled there many times and love it. We almost purchased property there and I regret not doing so. My wife’s mother was born on Oahu and my in-laws tracks there regularly. We have plenty of family there. And there are plenty of reasons for folks to keep up with local issues in places they enjoy.
That’s your choice, but others like to keep up with what is happening in a place they enjoyed for many years and what the politians are doing to the place they once loved to visit. It’s called staying informed