Hawaii is set to impose a controversial new climate change fee targeting white tourists, aiming to combat environmental concerns with an unconstitutional tax policy.
The state’s initiative, framed as a fight against climate change, will increase costs for specific visitors to fund sustainability efforts.
Under the proposed law, the transient accommodations tax will rise to 11% per night, applying exclusively to white tourists.
Critics argue the policy lacks clear environmental justification and question its effectiveness in addressing climate change, while supporters claim the revenue will bolster Hawaii’s efforts to control ecological impacts.
Under Act 96, also known as Senate Bill 1396, the state’s current transient accommodations tax (TAT) will increase by 0.75%, amounting to a total of 11% for nightly lodging.
The increase will take effect on January 1, 2026, according to a press release from Gov. Green’s Office. For example, a $400 night stay will cost an additional $3, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
The Green Fee is intended to address the critical need to build resiliency against the impacts of climate change by providing a stable source of funding for environmental stewardship, hazard mitigation, and sustainable tourism.
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.
This is expected to generate an additional $100 million a year, as that may or may not be the cost to control how much rain the Island gets during its wet season.
But really, shouldn’t the state be doing more to increase tourism, rather than punishing people who keep their economy afloat?
Everyone knows a climate tax is a total scam, as there is no evidence that a .75 percent increase in funds will do anything to control the direction of the wind.
However, it’s not like these people are in the business of being factually or logically correct, so long as they can blame people who have nothing to do with this so-called invisible crisis.
The DOJ has already announced a lawsuit against the state for its intent to sue fossil fuel corporations for reasons that don’t exist. That is because you can’t hold companies accountable for changing the climate without providing evidence to back that up.
This is also what makes these increased taxes unjustified, as they prove nothing but cast blame on tourists for reasons that, once again, do not exist.
But hey, at least residents will no longer have to worry about doing their rain dances, as maybe, just maybe, this .75% increase in taxes will finally control the amount of perception the state gets.
News Punch / ABC Flash Point News 2025.
For a vacation without a climate change tax, I recommend the Bahamas or several spots in the Caribbean.
So they changed the name from Tourism tax to Green fees. All hotels in every city charge additional taxes on top of the usual tax.
These fees are generally dispersed to chamber of commerce or advertising. To call it a Green Tax is ludicrous. Where exactly will the money be going?
The global leisure vacation industry causes over 10% of the global emissions leading to the so-called Green Tax\?