Two House committees Thursday passed a bill that would impose more user fees to nonresidents who visit specified state parks and trails.
The House Tourism and Water and Land Committee passed the latest version of Senate Bill 439, which would allow the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to select certain state parks that would require a user fee, be adjusted over time for inflation and contribute to the state parks special fund.
Currently, there are 10 state parks with parking and entry fees, four of which have advance reservation systems for regulated access and collecting fees, according to written testimony by Dawn Chang, state Department of Land and Natural Resources chair.
Chang said another five park units are being evaluated for parking and entry fees and reservation-based access.
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At Thursday’s hearing, Tourism Committee Chair Rep. Adrian Tam (D-Waikiki) said the bill would be passed with amendments, including one that would allow the state DLNR to consider seasonal pricing to its trails and parks.
“I know that they’re trying to do that now, but hopefully that language would provide them cover,” Tam said.
Chang wrote in her testimony that DLNR’s Division of State Parks is consulting with the Hawaii Tourism Authority to obtain data to implement the seasonal pricing comparable to the airline and hotel industry.
The “green fees” are in the interest of the organization Kua‘aina Ulu ‘Auamo, which advocates for biocultural, meaning natural and cultural, heritage in Hawaii. KUA advocate Olan Leimomi Fisher and Executive Director Kevin Chang wrote in supportive testimony that the bill aligns with the state Constitution, which “requires the protection and enforcement of Native Hawaiian rights, including the traditional and customary practices that are intrinsically dependent on our threatened natural resources,” according to their statement.
“The funds collected through this bill could help offset some of the environmental and community well-being degradation caused by our historically overly-extractive tourism industry by infusing the state’s (DLNR) with much-needed funds dedicated to the protection, management, and restoration of Hawaii’s natural resources,” Fisher and Kevin Chang wrote.
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However, the bill fails to explicitly exempt Native Hawaiians, according to Native Hawaiian resident Cat Orlans, who said in written testimony that the bill would require entry fees for her family members who live on the mainland.
Native Hawaiians, she wrote, “possess inherent rights under both state and federal law to access lands for traditional, cultural and religious practices.”
“Imposing fees, regardless of their residency status, could undermine these protected rights,” Orlans wrote. “This exemption is critical to honor the rights and protections afforded to Native Hawaiians under the state Constitution.”
The push to charge tourists with “green fees” is nothing new, as previous legislative sessions saw a flurry of bills aimed at charging visitor fees. During the 2022 campaign trail, some candidates for governor highlighted the initiative as a way to curb tourism in the post-COVID-19 economy.
According to supportive written testimony from organization Coalition Earth, Hawaii’s current per-tourist investment in its natural environment is approximately $9 per tourist, compared with Palau’s $92, New Zealand’s $188 and the Galapagos Islands’ $373.
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“New Zealand, the Maldives, Cancun, and Venice, and numerous other countries have green fee programs for visitors, which vary from $1 per night to a $100 entrance fee for the purpose of environmental conservation,” the organization wrote. “We need to catch up.”
At UH Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
This column is by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In her columns, Pele shares Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This column is on Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), celebrated every February to honor the Hawaiian language.Pelehonuamea Harman
Each year, the month of Pepeluali marks Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a time dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the Hawaiian language. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
While Pepeluali gives us a focused moment of celebration, the Hawaiian language should not live only within a single month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi thrives when it is used every day.
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One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to begin is by pronouncing the words we already encounter daily with accuracy and care. Hawaiian is an oral language carried through voice and relationship. When we take the time to say words correctly, we demonstrate respect for the language and for the poʻe (people) who have worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.
Across our own campus, we have opportunities to do this every day.
Let us honor the names of our places by using them fully:
An attendee at celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanakaʻole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after beloved educator Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (Photo: UH System News)
Kanakaʻole Hall, not “K-Hall.” (Formally Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after our beloved kumu.)
Waiʻōlino, not “CoBE,” for our College of Business and Economics. (Formally Hānau ʻO Waiʻōlino; waiʻōlino literally means sparkling waters, alluding here to bringing forth waters of wellbeing and prosperity.)
These names are not merely labels for buildings. They carry ʻike (knowledge), history, and meaning. Speaking them in their entirety acknowledges the stories and values embedded within them.
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Using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi does not require fluency. It simply requires willingness. Each of us already knows words we can begin using more intentionally.
Greet one another with aloha.
Express gratitude with mahalo whenever possible.
Small choices like these help normalize Hawaiian language in our daily interactions and strengthen UH Hilo’s identity as a place grounded in Hawaiʻi.
One of the most common questions I am asked is: How do you respond in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when someone says “mahalo” to you?
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Here are three simple and appropriate responses:
ʻAʻole pilikia — It’s no problem.
He mea iki — It is just a little thing.
Noʻu ka hauʻoli — The pleasure is mine.
There is no single correct answer. What matters most is participating in the exchange and allowing the language to live through conversation.
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Aerial view of the UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the distance. UH Hilo’s commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed. (Archive photo)
UH Hilo holds a unique and important role as Hawaiʻi Island’s university. Our commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed.
You do not need to wait until you feel ready. You do not need to know many words. The language grows stronger each time it is spoken.
So during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and throughout the entire year I encourage the UH Hilo ʻohana to:
Use the Hawaiian words you already know.
Pronounce names and places with intention and care.
Greet others with aloha.
Share mahalo often.
Because when we use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are doing more than speaking words, we are helping to perpetuate and uplift the native language of our home.
E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Let the Hawaiian language live.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Trevell Jordan and Louis Sakanoko put up a triple block against BYU Cougars Trevor Herget during Wednesday’s NCAA men’s volleyball match at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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Kainoa Wade came on strong to lead another balanced Hawaii attack with 16 kills and the third-ranked Rainbow Warriors responded to a rare set loss in a big way to defeat No. 6 Brigham Young 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 tonight.
A Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,800, who showed up for a match scheduled just three weeks ago as a late addition to the schedule, saw Hawaii (13-1) drop the second set despite hitting .538.
UH had full command of the rest of the match and finished the night hitting .460 as a team. Louis Sakanoko added 15 kills, six digs and three aces and Adrien Roure had 14 kills in 24 swings.
Middle Travell Jordan posted a season-high seven kills in 11 swings with four blocks and Ofeck Hazan, who came into the match to start the third set, had four kills and two blocks.
Trent Moser had 18 kills to lead the Cougars (13-3), whose previous two losses came in five sets against No. 4 UC Irvine.
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UH’s loss in the second set was just its sixth of the season and third in its 13 wins. Hawaii has won 10 matches in a row.
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The two teams will play again on Friday night at 7.
