Hawaii

Hawaii Lodging Taxes Could Hit 20% As New Fees Loom

Published

10 months ago

March 17, 2025

Hawaii Lodging Taxes Could Hit 20% As New Fees Loom

Travelers to Hawaii may soon face higher lodging costs if Governor Josh Green’s latest legislative push succeeds. Proposed increases to the transient accommodations tax (TAT), alongside a new statewide green fee, aim to raise $500 million annually for climate change and wildfire mitigation—largely a cost to be borne by visitors.

The plan is said to be part of a broader response tied to the devastating August 2023 fires that destroyed Lahaina and claimed 102 lives. While versions of this idea have surfaced in past sessions even as the bills died in the legislature, this year’s push has gained some fresh urgency and traction.

What is the Hawaii accommodation tax, and what’s changing?

Hawaii’s current statewide TAT sits at 10.25%, with each county adding its own 3% surcharge. That brings the total accommodation tax to 13.25% before adding the 4.712% general excise tax. Altogether, lodging taxes have already approached 18%.

Senate Bill 1396 would increase the state TAT from 10.25% to 12% in 2026. With existing add-ons, total taxes on hotel rates could climb to nearly 20%.

Governor Green initially proposed a 1.7% increase but scaled it back to 1% after industry opposition. He called the new proposal a compromise.

“People will still come,” Green was quoted in a recent interview. “People are still coming in giant droves. I’m meeting the hotel industry halfway.”

How Hawaii compares to other destinations.

Hawaii already ranks among the highest in the U.S. for lodging taxes. Las Vegas, for example, imposes hotel taxes between 13% and 14%, while New York City adds just over 14%. Some international destinations, like Paris or Rome, charge the equivalent of only a few dollars per night as a flat fee.

These comparisons help, in part, explain growing traveler frustration. For many, Hawaii’s cost—especially for lodging—is starting to resemble European rates, often without the perceived value. Cynthia, a reader, commented on a recent Beat of Hawaii article, “We’ve started looking at Portugal instead. Flights are longer, but once we’re there, we spend less. And we aren’t nickeled and dimed like we are in Hawaii.”

Industry pushback grows louder.

The visitor industry remains skeptical of continued tax hikes, particularly when tourism remains in recovery mode. Critics argue that taxing visitors while simultaneously investing in tourism promotion sends mixed signals.

Some industry voices are now warning that visitors are growing wary—not just of pricing but also of the lack of clarity surrounding where the money goes. One hotel executive recently noted that without transparency and coordination, even well-intentioned measures could backfire. The concern isn’t just financial—it’s reputational.

Tom Yamachika of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii wrote: “We wonder if lawmakers aren’t thinking that the transient accommodations tax is like duct tape, in that it fixes everything.”

Several bills this session propose tapping into the same revenue stream. In addition to SB1396 and its near-identical counterpart HB1077, there is also still-active HB504, which suggests an unspecified TAT hike and an added $20-per-night charge for rooms booked through loyalty programs, such as when visitors use points or miles.

Industry groups warn that these combined efforts could overreach, creating a tax burden that deters repeat visitors and increases the appeal of competing destinations.

What is the green fee?

Governor Green’s original vision included a broad-based tourism climate fee, which is where the so-called green fee name came from. Variants of the idea include annual visitor climate licenses, per-entry charges to popular Hawaii state parks or beaches, or bundled fees tied to accommodations or even airfare.

So far, no single version has advanced. However, it remains a legislative possibility and could emerge as a companion measure to the TAT increase.

Other destinations have implemented similar programs, including Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee, which is $100 per night. Different models may influence Hawaii lawmakers as they refine details, and Beat of Hawaii is currently visiting and exploring destinations envisioning similar fees.

Hawaii residents pay, too.

Because interstate commerce laws prevent states from taxing out-of-state visitors differently, kamaaina (residents) will also feel the impact of the higher TAT. Governor Green has suggested a potential tax credit to offset the cost for residents, but no concrete plan has been finalized.

For now, residents booking staycations, visiting family or doctors, or attending events that require overnight stays would face the same tax hike.

How this could impact travelers.

These changes add to an already complex cost structure for visitors. That includes resort fees, parking charges, taxes, environmental fees, and rising nightly rates, which all combine to create sticker shock—especially for first-timers.

Fee fatigue is real. Between resort charges, cleaning fees, parking, and taxes—often layered and poorly explained—many travelers report a sense of distrust that wasn’t present in past years. That sentiment is beginning to show up in reduced stay lengths and shifting loyalty patterns.

These costs are leading some to modify Hawaii plans. Travel agencies report shorter stays, off-peak travel, and increased demand for budget options.

Will the legislation pass?

SB1396 is still alive but far from guaranteed to succeed. Similar bills failed to move forward in the past two legislative sessions. However, the Lahaina fire has shifted the political climate and placed renewed pressure on lawmakers to act.

Some argue that Hawaii’s dependence on tourism necessitates bold investment in climate resilience. Others worry that piling new taxes on visitors without transparency on how funds will be used risks undermining confidence and return travel.

The bill outlines two special funds—one for climate initiatives and one for economic revitalization—but offers few details about oversight or performance metrics.

The bigger question for Hawaii tourism.

As Hawaii grapples with balancing sustainability and affordability, travelers and residents alike will feel the impact of these proposed changes. Whether visitors are willing to pay more for vacations in paradise—and whether lawmakers can ensure the funds are used effectively—will shape the future success of Hawaii tourism.

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Hawaii

Hawaii suffers first defeat of the season against Loyola Chicago | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

9 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii suffers first defeat of the season against Loyola Chicago | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

The second-ranked Hawaii men’s volleyball team expected a different Loyola Chicago team to show up Friday night in the rematch of Thursday’s 94-minute sweep by UH.

They were certainly correct in that assessment.

Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said flatly the Ramblers were better after No. 7 Loyola Chicago handed Hawaii its first home loss in January in two years in a 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27 win before a season-high crowd of 5,811 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Aleksandar Sosa put down a match-high 19 kills and setter Ryan McElligott set the tone with four of his five aces in the first set for Loyola Chicago (1-1), which out-served and out-blocked the Rainbow Warriors.

“I thought they touched a lot of balls on the block and those first two sets, the first set, we had three or four balls back on our side to score some points and we didn’t,” Wade said. “We kind of screwed it up. We weren’t quite as crisp and efficient and against a good team, we let them hang around and they come back and make some plays late.”

Hawaii looked done for the night trailing 20-13 when it mounted a furious comeback in the third set to avoid a sweep.

Loyola Chicago had five match points in the fourth set and finally put the contest away with a double block of Ofeck Hazan to complete the upset.

“I think they served way better and we really struggled passing their serve,” said Hazan, who started in place of Trevell Jordan in the middle. “They were more creative out of system. (Thursday) they just hit into our block and today they just found the touches or just played better.”

Louis Sakanoko led Hawaii with 18 kills and set a career high with 12 digs, and Kristian Titriyski added 16 kills before sitting out the fourth set. UH hit .254 for the match and had six aces to the Ramblers’ eight. Loyola Chicago hd 15.5 blocks to Hawaii’s 10.5.

“We weren’t clicking on all cylinders and I’m not trying to use this as an excuse, but (setter) Tread (Rosenthal) didn’t practice all week. He had a back that tightened up,” Wade said. “Trevell’s back tightened up and I thought Ofeck played pretty well and he gave us a nice spark, but you’re just a little off rhythm there. Kristian was kind of grabbing his back late and obviously we made the decision to go with Kainoa (Wade) to give us a spark and he gave us that.”

Kainoa Wade and Sakanoko each served three straight points for UH in the third set after it fell behind 20-13 and Finn Kearney came off the bench to serve the final two points that ended in blocks to get UH back in the game.

Hawaii hit just .171 in the fourth and made eight service errors. It had 20 serving errors for the match and served in at less than 80%.

“Obviously it’s a work in progress. We’re in game four of the year,” Kainoa Wade said. “We got a lot of work to do, but we’ve got to trust what we know. We’ve served a lot of balls in our lives, all of us, so we know we can go on runs and make plays.”

The Ramblers gave Hawaii a taste of its own medicine in the opening set with McElligott building a strong poker hand of aces during an 8-0 run during which Charlie Wade used both timeouts.

McElligott had three aces after Jake Read’s kill put him behind the service line, and despite two Hawaii timeouts and the media timeout, he poured it on until UH caught a break with a Loyola Chicago net violation on an overpass that almost certainly would have been a Ramblers point.

Sakanoko followed with back-to-back kills, including a deep tip into the far corner over a triple block that prompted Loyola Chicago to call timeout leading 17-14.

Hawaii extended the run to 5-0 after Titriyski put down a kill following a long rally to pull UH within a point.

The Rainbow Warriors got back to even at 22-all on Kainoa Wade’s ace as a serving sub. The set was tied once more until a Rosenthal service error and a McElligott ace for his fourth of the set handed UH its first set loss of the season.

Rosenthal wasn’t able to spin serve all night due to the back injury.

Neither team separated by more than a point in the second set until Justin Todd had two aces during a 4-0 UH run to put the ‘Bows ahead 13-10.

Hawaii led 21-19 when the Ramblers scored six of the next seven points to go up two sets to none.

UH’s only point during the final 6-1 run came on a Loyola Chicago service error. The Ramblers scored three of their points on errors by UH and another on their sixth ace of the match.

The Rainbow Warriors will have four days off before playing four matches in three days next week.

Hawaii has doubleheaders against Roberts Wesleyan and Rockhurst in reverse order on Wednesday and Friday.

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2026 Sony Open field is announced. See who’s playing in Hawaii

Published

21 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

2026 Sony Open field is announced. See who’s playing in Hawaii

The Sony Open in Hawaii has the honors of being the kickoff event to the 2026 PGA Tour season after the cancellation of The Sentry at Kapalua this season.

Instead of Maui, the Tour debuts in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Jan. 15-18, at the Seth Raynor-designed Waialae Country Club, where Nick Taylor prevailed in a playoff over Nico Echavarria last year.

Among the changes this season is the field size, which was reduced from 144 to 120, and, there is no longer is a Monday qualifier offering four spots. Will that help with pace of play? Stay tuned.

The field includes the following notables in addition to Taylor and Echavarria: Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Michael Brennan, Corey Conners, Tony Finau, Chris Gotterup, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Billy Horschel, Robert MacIntyre, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Sahith Theegala, Gary Woodland and 62-year-old Vijay Singh.

Here’s the full field for the Sony Open, which will be live on Golf Channel all four days as well as NBC with early-round coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s Sony purse is $9.1 million and the winner also will receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

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