Hawaii Announces New Fee for All Tourists Visiting Islands
If you're planning a trip to Hawaii in 2026, you'll have to pay a bit more money due to a new bill that's been passed.
On May 27, Hawaii officially established a climate impact fee. The current transient accommodations tax will be increased by 0.75% in an effort to help increase funding for environmental stewardship. That means hotels, cruise ships and vacation rentals will be a tad more expensive
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green believes Act 96 (Senate Bill 1396), which has been named the "Green Fee" bill, will improve the state's climate change resiliency projects.
"Today Hawaii ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation. Once again, Hawaii is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaii," Green said. "As an island chain, Hawaii cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future."
In 2024, Green formed the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) for Hawaii. CAT leader Chris Benjamin strongly approves of this historic bill.
"The Green Fee bill marks a historic investment in climate disaster resilience and environmental protection," Benjamin said. "Using the TAT to fund resiliency projects ensures that the financial burden of safeguarding our aina and people doesn't fall upon residents alone. We thank the Legislature, industry and countless community groups and individuals who advocated tirelessly for this bill."
The "Green Fee" bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. It's expected to generate $100 million annually.
Hawaii Announces New Fee for All Tourists Visiting Islands first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
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Micaela's appointment for her knee is just around the corner, and as she awaits treatment, she's heartbroken that MinnesotaCare might be revoked. To keep her spirits up, though it's exhausting, she says she'll keep coming to work.
