Latest news with #SenateBill1396
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourists Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii
In a landmark piece of legislation, Hawaii has become the first state to enact a 'green fee' – or a tax on tourists, aimed at fighting future climatological disasters – set to go into effect January 1st, 2026. The tax, specifically, will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term rental homes, and cruise ships. And how much exactly? The transient accommodations tax (TAT) will be increased by 0.75 percent – translation: a nightly rate of $300 in a hotel will have an extra $2.25 per night added to the bill. Senate Bill 1396 was signed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green earlier this week, enacting what they are calling the 'Green Fee,' the first-of-its-kind for any state, going into effect next year. Governor Green said via press release: 'Today Hawaiʻi ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation. Once again, Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi. As an island chain, Hawaiʻi 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.'Of course, Hawaii is one of the world's most trafficked hubs for tourism. And all those people take a toll on the historic, and culturally significant island chain. So, this tax is an attempt to get ahead of future environmental impacts the islands may experience – a reserve, of sorts, for future disasters. 'I mahalo the tourism industry for stepping up and collaborating on this initiative, which will preserve Hawaiʻi for kamaʻāina and visitors alike,' continued Governor Green. '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.' If you're traveling to Hawaii, and you're staying in a hotel or short-term vacation rental, starting in 2026, it's gonna cost you an extra $2.25 per day to surf. But, instead of an extra fee, consider it an investment in the natural beauty and the future prosperity of this sacred Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii first appeared on Surfer on May 30, 2025
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waikiki tourists voice support for extra fee for ‘a good cause'
An upcoming increase in the state hotel room tax of less than 1 %—or $3 more per night for a $400 room—won't deter any of nearly two dozen Waikiki tourists from coming back, especially if it provides money to restore beaches, fight erosion and prevent future wildfires, they unanimously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday. 'It wouldn't discourage me, ' Sam Powell, 33, of Roanoke, Va., said on Kalakaua Avenue in the middle of his first trip to Oahu with his wife, sister, brother-in-law and nephews. 'It's just another $3 a night.' Visitors up and down Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues unanimously supported the increase in the state's Transient Accommodations Tax that begins Jan. 1 and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday as Act 96. The increase applies to everyone who stays in a Hawaii hotel, cruise ship or other paid lodging—including local residents. Green previously told the Star-Advertiser that residents who receive kamaaina discounts would pay less out of pocket compared to tourists who typically book more expensive room rates. Under Act 96, Hawaii's TAT—more commonly referred to as the hotel room tax—will increase Jan. 1 by 0.75 %—to 11 % up from 10.25 %. Before signing Senate Bill 1396 into law Tuesday, Green used a hypothetical $400 a night hotel room rate to say that the higher TAT would add $3 on the current TAT, or $30 for every $4, 000 spent on lodging across the islands. The Star-Advertiser on Wednesday incorrectly reported a higher TAT on a $400 a night room. Green called it the first effort of its kind in the nation to mitigate climate change and the risk of future wildfires that could serve as a road map for other parts of the country that face wildfires and climate change. Boyfriend and girlfriend Adam Vasquez, 23, and Kaylee Bertolino, 22, came from Long Island, N.Y., for their first trip to Waikiki. Bertolino said the upcoming TAT increase will go 'to a good cause ' and would not deter them from a future trip to Hawaii. Vasquez called Green's example of a $3 per night increase on a $400 per night hotel room 'not too bad.' Most of the visitors who spoke to the Star-Advertiser had no idea how much they were paying in hotel costs, so they could not calculate how the upcoming TAT increase would have affected their current bills. But the TAT represents just one of the many fees that visitors and residents already pay for lodging, including the state's general excise tax, parking and 'resort ' fees that include internet and fitness center access. Green's $400 a night example runs on the high side of nightly hotel rates on Oahu, which are generally less expensive than neighbor island hotels, said Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai 'i Hotel Alliance. Waikiki room rates are currently running from $250 to $450 a night, Gibson said. 'Normally, in summer, they go up, ' he said. 'But so far its a weak-looking summer, so I think those will be the rates.' Every booking also includes a state general excise tax that's slightly higher on Oahu compared to the neighbor islands. Neighbor islands' lodgings have to assess a GET of.04167 %. Honolulu's GET also includes half a penny for the city's rail project, meaning Oahu lodgings assess a GET of.04667 %. Each county also has its own TAT of an additional 3 %, meaning the combined state and county TATs and GET starting Jan. 1 will add up to 18.167 % on the neighbor islands and 18.667 % on Oahu, Gibson said. In addition, Hawaii hotels also typically charge a parking fee that ranges from $20 to $60 a night, Gibson said. Separate resort fees also vary from $20 to $50 a day and include about 10 to 15 different privileges such as access to body boards and surf boards and hula lessons, Gibson said. Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association, told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that the organization supports the increase in the TAT 'because it has a clearly defined and purposeful intent that we can all agree on—to protect Hawai 'i's environmental resources, which are vital to our state's resilience, sustainability, cultural heritage, and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters. Just as importantly, there is a strong and direct nexus to the visitor industry—ensuring that this additional tax revenue will help preserve the natural and cultural assets that make Hawai 'i a world-class destination and support the infrastructure of our state's number one economic driver.' Hannemann said the new law 'reflects transparency and thoughtful balance, and we appreciate that the input of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association and the broader visitor industry was seriously considered by both the Legislature and the Administration.' He agreed with Gibson that 'the actual cost to guests is often significantly higher once taxes and fees are applied.' Sarah Thomas, 30, and her girlfriend, Selina Ramirez, 41, of San Jose, Calif., have been paying $280 a night to stay at the Park Shore Waikiki on Kapa hulu Avenue for their first trip to Oahu. So if they return to the Park Shore after the TAT increases on Jan. 1, their nightly additional TAT cost would fall well below Green's $3 a night example. But they don't mind paying more to help address climate change in Hawaii. 'We're from California, so we understand the need to protect the infrastructure, ' Thomas said. Following this year's devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Ramirez appreciates Hawaii's efforts to mitigate future wildfires following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui inferno that killed 102 people, devastated Lahaina and caused $13 billion in damage. So Ramirez called herself '100 %' behind the plan to collect an additional $90 to $100 million annually to restore beaches and prevent further erosion and wildfire risks. And the couple 'would not hesitate ' to come back to face the higher TAT in the future, she said. They have already fallen in love with Oahu's beauty and the aloha spirit they feel. 'We've had a gracious welcoming, ' Ramirez said. Natalie Miller, 27, of Chicago, flew into Oahu from Kona on Wednesday morning with her husband and won't mind paying a little extra if and when they take another Hawaii vacation. 'I don't think I would even notice, ' Miller said. Her husband, Mitch Miller, 28, said 'another $3 won't stop me from traveling.' On the makai side of Kala kaua Avenue, Huma Mohammad, 36, of Redwood City, Calif., agreed that a higher TAT won't discourage her and her family from a second trip to the islands. 'I don't think so, if it helps the beaches, ' she said. 'That's what you come for.' She and her husband, Shawn Mohammad, 35, brought along their 2-1 /2-year-old son, Keyian. Shawn Mohammad said they've enjoyed learning about Hawaiian culture, along with the scenery. 'That's why trips like this are good, ' he said. Outside the Park Shore Waikiki—where she's staying with her husband and four others—Arlene Carwile, 50, of Hicksville, Ohio, said she would gladly make her second trip to Hawaii even if it means paying a higher TAT to protect Hawaii's environment. 'I would definitely come back, ' Carwile said. Everyone in the group agreed, especially Carwile's friend, Cynthia Smith, 77, of Ossian, Ind. Smith has fallen so hard for Oahu that she joked that she won't have to return because she has no intention of leaving. 'They're going to have to drag me away, ' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: When will I get electric vehicle license plates?
Question : What is the current status of electric vehicle license plates ? I bought a new electric car back in February and was told at the time that the city ran out of license plates for electric vehicles, and I would be notified when the permanent plates came in. But to date no word. Answer : The city's Motor Vehicle Registration Branch started the notification process this week. 'The updated electric vehicle plates with the word Hawai 'i spelled correctly, with the 'okina along the top center of the license plate, will be mailed to register owners who completed their transaction at a car dealership. Other electric vehicle owners, whose transaction was done at a satellite city hall, are being contacted and offered the option to have the updated license plate mailed to them, or picked up at a preferred satellite city hall location. Whether the transaction was done at a dealership or satellite city hall, these electric vehicle owners will not have to pay the $5.50 fee for replacement plates, due to the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen delay in the production and delivery of the updated electric vehicle plates with the word Hawai 'i spelled with the 'okina diacritical mark, ' Harold Nedd, a spokesperson for Hono lulu's Department of Customer Services, said in an email Wednesday. Not all EV owners need replacement plates—this process is for those who were unable to get EV plates this year amid a shortage that occurred after a state law took effect Jan. 1 requiring that newly issued Hawaii license plates carry the 'okina. Along with the addition of the 'okina, the new EV plates have the words 'electric vehicle ' arranged vertically, rather than horizontally as on existing EV plates. This creates room for more characters (letters and numbers ) per license plate, which will allow county DMVs to keep up with demand for EV plates. Electric vehicle registrations increased about 62 % over the past three years, according to Honolulu's Department of Customer Services. Q : The governor talks about having the visitors pay the extra tax with the climate tax. He does not mention if local residents with a staycation are exempt, or will we be taxed again after paying our state taxes ? A : There is no exemption for Hawaii residents in Senate Bill 1396, which Gov. Josh Green signed into law Tuesday as Act 96. The law increases the rate of the state's transient accommodations tax by 0.75 % starting in 2026 and, for the first time, applies the state TAT to cruise fares ; it already applies to hotels and other nightly lodging. The measure is expected to raise up to $100 million a year to help mitigate the effects of climate change in Hawaii. Read it at. Q : It's nice that the pedestrian bridge to Ala Moana beach opened by Memorial Day, in time for the lantern-floating crowd. How much did the bridge end up costing ? A : The final price is still to be determined, but may reach about $26 million, including funding from federal, state and private sources. The construction contract amount was $17.8 million, but costs for construction management consultants and potential approved change orders may add about $3.1 million, driving the final cost of construction to $20.9 million, according to the state Department of Transportation. Federal funds will pay 80 % of that cost. In addition, Victoria Ward Limited accrued about $6 million in costs, for design, environmental and cultural monitoring, and the value of the land donation, a DOT spokesperson said. The Ala Moana Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge opened May 22, spanning six lanes of traffic to provide safe crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists to and from Kakaako (mauka ) and Ala Moana Regional Park and Kewalo Basin (makai ). The elevated pathway crosses Ala Moana Boulevard between Ward Avenue and Kamakee Street.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waikiki visitors undeterred by fee increase
An upcoming increase in the state hotel room tax of less than 1 %—or $3 more per night for a $400 room—won't deter any of nearly two dozen Waikiki tourists from coming back, especially if it provides money to restore beaches, fight erosion and prevent future wildfires, they unanimously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday. 'It wouldn't discourage me, ' Sam Powell, 33, of Roanoke, Va., said on Kalakaua Avenue in the middle of his first trip to Oahu with his wife, sister, brother-in-law and nephews. 'It's just another $3 a night.' Visitors up and down Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues unanimously supported the increase in the state's Transient Accommodations Tax that begins Jan. 1 and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday as Act 96. The increase applies to everyone who stays in a Hawaii hotel, cruise ship or other paid lodging—including local residents. Green previously told the Star-Advertiser that residents who receive kamaaina discounts would pay less out of pocket compared to tourists who typically book more expensive room rates. Under Act 96, Hawaii's TAT—more commonly referred to as the hotel room tax—will increase Jan. 1 by 0.75 %—to 11 % up from 10.25 %. Before signing Senate Bill 1396 into law Tuesday, Green used a hypothetical $400 a night hotel room rate to say that the higher TAT would add $3 on the current TAT, or $30 for every $4, 000 spent on lodging across the islands. The Star-Advertiser on Wednesday incorrectly reported a higher TAT on a $400 a night room. Green called it the first effort of its kind in the nation to mitigate climate change and the risk of future wildfires that could serve as a road map for other parts of the country that face wildfires and climate change. Boyfriend and girlfriend Adam Vasquez, 23, and Kaylee Bertolino, 22, came from Long Island, N.Y., for their first trip to Waikiki. Bertolino said the upcoming TAT increase will go 'to a good cause ' and would not deter them from a future trip to Hawaii. Vasquez called Green's example of a $3 per night increase on a $400 per night hotel room 'not too bad.' Most of the visitors who spoke to the Star-Advertiser had no idea how much they were paying in hotel costs, so they could not calculate how the upcoming TAT increase would have affected their current bills. But the TAT represents just one of the many fees that visitors and residents already pay for lodging, including the state's general excise tax, parking and 'resort ' fees that include internet and fitness center access. Green's $400 a night example runs on the high side of nightly hotel rates on Oahu, which are generally less expensive than neighbor island hotels, said Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai 'i Hotel Alliance. Waikiki room rates are currently running from $250 to $450 a night, Gibson said. 'Normally, in summer, they go up, ' he said. 'But so far its a weak-looking summer, so I think those will be the rates.' Every booking also includes a state general excise tax that's slightly higher on Oahu compared to the neighbor islands. Neighbor islands' lodgings have to assess a GET of.04167 %. Honolulu's GET also includes half a penny for the city's rail project, meaning Oahu lodgings assess a GET of.04667 %. Each county also has its own TAT of an additional 3 %, meaning the combined state and county TATs and GET starting Jan. 1 will add up to 18.167 % on the neighbor islands and 18.667 % on Oahu, Gibson said. In addition, Hawaii hotels also typically charge a parking fee that ranges from $20 to $60 a night, Gibson said. Separate resort fees also vary from $20 to $50 a day and include about 10 to 15 different privileges such as access to body boards and surf boards and hula lessons, Gibson said. Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association, told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that the organization supports the increase in the TAT 'because it has a clearly defined and purposeful intent that we can all agree on—to protect Hawai 'i's environmental resources, which are vital to our state's resilience, sustainability, cultural heritage, and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters. Just as importantly, there is a strong and direct nexus to the visitor industry—ensuring that this additional tax revenue will help preserve the natural and cultural assets that make Hawai 'i a world-class destination and support the infrastructure of our state's number one economic driver.' Hannemann said the new law 'reflects transparency and thoughtful balance, and we appreciate that the input of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association and the broader visitor industry was seriously considered by both the Legislature and the Administration.' He agreed with Gibson that 'the actual cost to guests is often significantly higher once taxes and fees are applied.' Sarah Thomas, 30, and her girlfriend, Selina Ramirez, 41, of San Jose, Calif., have been paying $280 a night to stay at the Park Shore Waikiki on Kapa hulu Avenue for their first trip to Oahu. So if they return to the Park Shore after the TAT increases on Jan. 1, their nightly additional TAT cost would fall well below Green's $3 a night example. But they don't mind paying more to help address climate change in Hawaii. 'We're from California, so we understand the need to protect the infrastructure, ' Thomas said. Following this year's devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Ramirez appreciates Hawaii's efforts to mitigate future wildfires following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui inferno that killed 102 people, devastated Lahaina and caused $13 billion in damage. So Ramirez called herself '100 %' behind the plan to collect an additional $90 to $100 million annually to restore beaches and prevent further erosion and wildfire risks. And the couple 'would not hesitate ' to come back to face the higher TAT in the future, she said. They have already fallen in love with Oahu's beauty and the aloha spirit they feel. 'We've had a gracious welcoming, ' Ramirez said. Natalie Miller, 27, of Chicago, flew into Oahu from Kona on Wednesday morning with her husband and won't mind paying a little extra if and when they take another Hawaii vacation. 'I don't think I would even notice, ' Miller said. Her husband, Mitch Miller, 28, said 'another $3 won't stop me from traveling.' On the makai side of Kala kaua Avenue, Huma Mohammad, 36, of Redwood City, Calif., agreed that a higher TAT won't discourage her and her family from a second trip to the islands. 'I don't think so, if it helps the beaches, ' she said. 'That's what you come for.' She and her husband, Shawn Mohammad, 35, brought along their 2-1 /2-year-old son, Keyian. Shawn Mohammad said they've enjoyed learning about Hawaiian culture, along with the scenery. 'That's why trips like this are good, ' he said. Outside the Park Shore Waikiki—where she's staying with her husband and four others—Arlene Carwile, 50, of Hicksville, Ohio, said she would gladly make her second trip to Hawaii even if it means paying a higher TAT to protect Hawaii's environment. 'I would definitely come back, ' Carwile said. Everyone in the group agreed, especially Carwile's friend, Cynthia Smith, 77, of Ossian, Ind. Smith has fallen so hard for Oahu that she joked that she won't have to return because she has no intention of leaving. 'They're going to have to drag me away, ' she said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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
