Your next visit to the Aloha State may be a tiny bit pricier.
Hawaii just raised the price of its tourism tax from 10.25 percent to 11 percent on January 1, with each county able to tack on an additional 3 percent levy on top of the overarching rate. The so-called green fee, the first of its kind, aims to raise money for potential changes on the islands caused by climate change, according to Travel + Leisure.
The increased Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) is predicted to bring in $100 million, according to Governor Josh Green. “As an island chain, Hawaiʻi cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action,” the official said in a statement last year. “We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future.”
The levy will affect hotels and vacation rentals, causing rising prices per night at those accommodations. The green fee was also supposed to apply to cruises and their passengers, too, which makes up a large part of the Hawaii tourism scene, but a federal judge recently blocked Hawaii from enforcing the levy on the floating behemoths, according to CBS. Cruise Lines International Association had sued the state over the next tax, alleging that the fee violates the Constitution and would increase prices onboard. And for now, at least, cruise lines don’t have deal with the new levy. The Hawaiian government, meanwhile, is planning to appeal the decision.
“We remain confident that Act 96 is lawful and will be vindicated when the appeal is heard on the merits,” a spokesperson for the Hawaii attorney general’s office told Travel + Leisure.
Tourism taxes popped up all over the globe throughout 2024 and 2025. Many of the levies, though, are focused on combating overtourism and keeping visitors away, not on climate change specifically. Venice began charging visitors an entry for visits during peak season, while Amsterdam has also hiked its tourism levy. And it doesn’t seem like these higher prices are keeping the crowds at bay, with many destinations still logging record visitor figures along with sky-high demand. Let’s see if those new fees keep any tourists from visiting Hawaii, then.
