Democrat Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, has officially signed the first climate change tax in the U.S. into law.
Labeled a “green fee,” the tax will target tourists on Hawaii Island, requiring them to contribute for their carbon footprint.
Cruise ship passengers will also be… pic.twitter.com/wpX2pTN60Q
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) May 29, 2025
Hawaii becomes first US state to charge ‘Green Fee’ on tourists – Hawaii became the first U.S. state to establish a climate impact fee on Tuesday, placing an additional tax on tourists to fund climate change resiliency projects and environmental stewardship within the islands.
As the country’s inaugural “Green Fee,” Act 96 will raise the state’s current transient accommodations tax (TAT) by 0.75% for a total of 11% placed upon the nightly lodging rate, effective Jan. 1, 2026, according to a press release by Governor Josh Green’s office.
The fee will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term vacation rentals and for the first time ever, cruise ships. For a nightly hotel rate of $300, that would be an extra $2.25 each night.
NY Post: Hawaii enacts ‘green fee’ on tourists to raise $100M annually for climate, ecology protection
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, has signed into law a “Green Fee” bill that will raise tourist taxes to help fund “climate-change” mitigation.
Senate Bill 1396 raises the tourist tax on Hawaii hotels to 11% starting Jan. 1 — which would then increase to 12% the following year, according to the text of the bill.
Portions of the revenue raised would go into the “Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Special Fund” and the “Economic Development and Revitalization Special Fund,” according to the bill.
The bill addresses invasive species, wildlife conservation and beach management and restoration.
It will also help fund a “green jobs youth corps” and areas of environmental concern.
“Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi,” said Gov. Green in a press release.
The Aloha State governor added, “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.”
In 2023, 9.6 million visitors traveled to Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Hawaii already has a 10.25% tax on short-term rentals.
