Latest news with #AlohaState
Motor Trend
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Bestselling Cars in Each State
Toyota Tacoma Hawaii We had a good time guessing what the bestselling car in Hawaii might be. With so many beautiful places to explore, we figured it might be the Jeep Wrangler. But when you consider that 9 to 10 million tourists visit Hawaii every year—that's more than six times the state's population—it might well be the Ford Mustang convertible, or at least the Mitsubishi Mirage (or, heck, even the Wrangler). Nope: Turns out Hawaiians are a practical lot, and the bestselling vehicle is the Toyota Tacoma, king of mid-size truck sales. Well, that makes sense; Tacomas are useful, practical, and all but unkillable. We're sure the Aloha State will welcome the new-for-2025 version of the Tacoma.
Fox News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Hawaii enacts 'green fee' on tourists to raise $100 million annually for climate, ecology protection
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) has signed into law a "Green Fee" bill that will raise tourist taxes to help fund "climate-change" mitigation. Senate Bill 1396 raises the tourist tax on Hawaii hotels to 11% starting Jan. 1 — which would then increase to 12% the following year, according to the text of the bill. Portions of the revenue raised would go into the "Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Special Fund" and the "Economic Development and Revitalization Special Fund," according to the bill. The bill addresses invasive species, wildlife conservation and beach management and restoration. It will also help fund a "green jobs youth corps" and areas of environmental concern. "Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi," said Gov. Green in a press release. The Aloha State governor added, "The fee will restore and remediate our beaches and shorelines and harden infrastructure critical to the health and safety of all who call Hawaiʻi home, whether for a few days or a lifetime." In 2023, 9.6 million visitors traveled to Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hawaii already has a 10.25% tax on short-term rentals. The state's counties each add their own 3% surcharge on top of the state's tax, according to FOX 13. "Hawaii already imposes what some believe are high taxes on the hospitality sector and short-term stays," said Travel Tomorrow. The Green Fee is projected to generate $100 million annually, according to the release.
Fox News
27-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
American honeymoon hotspot hit by highly contagious illness, health officials warn
While cases of measles continue to spread throughout the U.S., Hawaii is reporting a new type of infectious spread. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise at a "worrying rate" in the Aloha State, the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) confirmed last week in a news release. As of May 15, there have been 108 cases of pertussis reported, already exceeding the 84 total cases in 2024. The DOH labeled pertussis a "highly contagious respiratory disease" that spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Symptoms often resemble a cold but can progress to "intense coughing fits." For children, these coughing fits can be followed by a "deep breath" that makes a "whooping" sound. "Health complications can be serious and even life-threatening, especially for infants and young children who are not fully vaccinated," the DOH warned. Complications can include pneumonia, seizures, apnea, encephalopathy (a disease of the brain) and death. The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination, according to the DOH. The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine is administered to children under 7 years old and the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine is for older children and adults. Multiple doses are generally recommended for infants, children and adults. "High vaccination rates protect individuals and communities and prevent cases from becoming outbreaks," the agency noted. "However, vaccination rates for all routinely recommended vaccinations for school entry – including those for measles, pertussis, polio and varicella (chickenpox) – have declined nationally and in Hawaii since 2019." Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel confirmed that Hawaii is below the national average in terms of childhood vaccines, noting that the DTaP vaccine is "highly effective" in children, with close to 100% protection with appropriate dosages. "Pertussis is insidious, and can be easily mistaken for other respiratory diseases, including viruses," Siegel told Fox News Digital. "Pertussis, which is a bacteria, can be treated with antibiotics like doxycycline but is easily missed. The best protection is vaccination, including repeated boosters in teens and adults." Siegel explained that the "characteristic whoop" sound among children is caused by clogged airways that are not yet well-developed. About one-third of babies under 1 year who contract whooping cough are at risk of hospitalization, according to the doctor. "The best protection is for everyone around them to be vaccinated," he said. "Pertussis outbreaks are now connected to a drop-off in early childhood vaccination." "Pertussis outbreaks are now connected to a drop-off in early childhood vaccination." Neha Pathak, MD, WebMD chief physician editor, echoed that pertussis is "still a significant public health threat," especially for infants and people with weakened immune systems. "The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine offers strong protection to children — about 98 out of 100 children are protected for at least a year after the fifth dose, and about 70% are still protected for up to five years," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital. While vaccines like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) can provide lifelong protection, pertussis immunity decreases over time, which means boosters are necessary for adolescents and adults, Pathak noted. "The uptick in pertussis cases is concerning, but not surprising given what we are seeing with vaccine hesitancy," she commented. "Pregnant women should also get the Tdap vaccine during their third trimester to pass antibodies to their newborns, protecting them before they can be vaccinated," the doctor suggested. Hawaii confirmed two cases of measles in early April and concluded there was no further community spread. Despite the current situation being under control, the health department warned that measles exposure is still a threat among travelers. For more Health articles, visit "Measles cases in the United States continue to rise, with more than 1,000 cases already reported across 30 states this year," the department noted. "The risk remains high for future travel-related measles cases reaching Hawaii, and DOH recommends continued vigilance and efforts to increase the MMR vaccination rate." The DOH stressed its "strong" recommendation for children and adults to stay up to date with recommended vaccinations for disease prevention.
