Hawaii plans to increase hotel tax to help it cope with climate change

Hawaii is raising its tourist tax to fund climate work, writes the Guardian. The law is the first of its kind in the US, according to experts.

Hawaii is raising its tourism tax again so that the extra revenue can be used to protect the environment.

Hawaii increases hotel tax to help state cope with climate change

Gado/Getty Images (HONOLULU) — Hawaii has passed legislation to increase people staying at hotels to help the islands cope with the increasing pressures from climate change. The bill, SB1396, adds a 0.75% levy to existing taxes on tourist lodging within the state — including hotels rooms, timeshares and vacation rentals starting Jan. 1, 2026. It also imposes an 11% tax on cruise ship bills for each night the ship is in a Hawaiian port. The new l…

State tourist tax by popular vacation destination would pour funds into 'climate change' mitigation

A bill to raise the tourist tax to 11% in 2025, increasing to 12% in 2026, has been passed by the Hawaii Senate, with funds to be allocated to climate resilience and economic development initiatives.

Hawaii increases hotel tax to help cope with climate change - The Points Guy

The state of Hawaii has increased its tax on accommodations, including for hotels and other short-term rentals, intending to use the revenue generated to address climate change. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Hawaii will increase the state’s Transient Accommodation Tax from 10.25% to 11%, according to the governor’s office. Each county may also impose an extra 3% tax, which Gov. Josh Green said they will do, bringing Hawaii’s total TAT to 14%. The incre…

Hawaii Legislature ends 2025 session on sour note

The last day of the legislative session ended Friday just like it did in 2023: with House Republicans snapping at one another on the House floor shortly after senators walked across the state Capitol, held hands with House members and sang “Hawai‘i Aloha.” Then, moments later, Republicans began squabbling openly among themselves over the latest version of Senate Bill 1434, which provides state funding for “universal” immunization, which prompted…