This $100 million tourist fee may shape the future of Hawaii. Will it rebuild trust—or just become another charge with nothing to show for it?
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55 thoughts on “Will Hawaii’s New $100M Climate Fee From Tourists Actually Fix Anything?”
I have been many times (20+), got married there, have an extended family of 6. Last stay, three weeks split between Big island (Manago) and Oahu (Hilton Hawaiian Village). Maui just isn’t fun with the local boy. My friends all moved to the 9th island and I won’t be coming back. I’ll spend my money where I’m welcome. It’s a common thread among those I know that used to enjoy all the islands and the amazing aloha that almost everyone exhibited. I miss it and Uncle Billy .
as a former travel executive in Hawaii I am very opposed to this new tax. With the constant taxes on a visitor we are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. While I agree that Hawaii can not support to many tourists as has happened in the past we must reach a decision as to what type of visitor is the best for our islands.
Is this just another way to fund excessive abuse of money to line the pockets of politicians and their cronies? Who in government will insure these dollars do go to fixing many areas for the better?
A couple of examples are our Honolulu airport and lack of public restrooms. Visitors arrive to stay in expensive hotels, pay a great deal for food and activities. The airport is dirty. Another example is the many people that stop at “Turtle Beach” in Haleiwa and no restroom? Were do you think all these people go to relieve themselves…..in the water!!
The road to hell was paved with good intensions
You’re right and There’s a reason the Japanese developed Guam.
I think Hawaii started this of wrong. If they wanted us to buy into the premise they should have put the first $100m into the fund and started the projects immediately and then let the tax replenish the fund. In that way we could all see the immediate benefits of the plan. This wait and see approach breeds distrust and any one time visitor paying the tax in the near term will never see any benefit from the extra money they spent.
I believe in history. History shows us these “fees” end up in HI general Fund so the legislature has more of other people’s money to spend. Ever hear about money trees? We’ve got them here in abundance.
After being a regular visitor to Hawaii… I cannot afford to visit anymore. You’re taxing me out.
Aloha Hawaii.
About to arrive to Oahu next week, and just booked our trip for next June as well. But the non stop assault on tourists pocketbooks is having me think a change in summer travel is needed. Being from CA, I am extremely familiar with tax on top of tax on top of tax for this that and the other, with little to no results. Hawaii is feeling the same. Plane tickets are double that they were in 2019. Car rental is 30% more. Don’t even get me started on a Luau experience, a full day at Disneyland is actually cheaper, and I think that is ripoff.
CA learned a lesson, they decided more taxes on businesses and the rich, it will help offset our deficit and fund this and that. Well, businesses left, wealthy moved, and oops, we funded more things and have less taxes coming in than before. Hawaii is on the same path. And it doesn’t take a genius to see a trend in the politics of the two states.
The funds raised from the Josh Green Climate fee will go into the Hawaii General Fund. That means there will be no accountability once the funds are collected…they go straight into the General Fund.