Hawaii Adds ‘Green Fee’ to Hotel Stays to Combat Climate Change

Key Points

• Hawaii has enacted a new 0.75% 'green fee' on the state's accommodations tax, raising it to 11% for hotel stays and cruise ship cabins.
• The fee is expected to generate around $100 million annually for disaster preparedness and environmental protection projects.
• State officials and lawmakers emphasize the fee as a shared responsibility to maintain Hawaii's natural resources amid climate change.

Summary

Hawaii has introduced a new 'green fee' that increases the accommodations tax on hotel stays and cruise ship cabins, aiming to address climate change impacts and support environmental initiatives. Expected to raise about $100 million per year, the surcharge will fund projects such as shoreline protection and wildfire prevention. State leaders describe the measure as a way to share the responsibility of preserving Hawaii's natural resources with the millions of tourists who visit annually.