Hawaii's Green Fee and Tourist Taxes Explained (2026)

On 1 January 2026 Hawaii became the first US state to put a dedicated climate charge on tourism. It is called the Green Fee, and it is already on every hotel bill in the islands. It is small, but it sits on top of some of the highest lodging taxes in the country. Here is exactly what visitors pay in 2026, what the money is for, and how much it adds to a trip.

11%State hotel tax since 1 Jan 2026

18.7%Total tax on a hotel room

$100MExpected each year for the environment

$2.25Extra per night on a $300 room

What is the Green Fee?

The "Green Fee" is the popular name for Act 96, which Governor Josh Green signed in May 2025. Despite the name, it is not a separate fee. It raised Hawaii's state Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), the tax on hotel rooms, vacation rentals and other short stays, by 0.75 percentage points, from 10.25% to 11%, from 1 January 2026. It also extended the tax to cruise ships for the first time.

There is no Green Fee at the airport, no charge on arrival and nothing to pay separately. It is collected by your hotel, vacation rental host or cruise line as part of the tax on your bill. Earlier ideas, such as a flat fee on every visitor or a licence for hiking trails, were debated for years but not adopted in this form.

How much tax will you pay on a hotel room?

A hotel or vacation rental bill in Hawaii now carries three taxes:

Tax	Rate	Who collects it
State Transient Accommodations Tax (with the Green Fee)	11%	State of Hawaiʻi
County Transient Accommodations Tax	3%	Each county
General Excise Tax (passed on to guests)	4.712%	State, with a county surcharge
Total	about 18.7%

Rates in force in 2026 on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and the Big Island. The general excise tax is 4.5% for businesses; the maximum they may pass on to customers is 4.712%.

In practice, a room advertised at $300 a night costs about $356 once taxes are added. Resort fees, which can run $40–75 a night, are taxed too. The Green Fee itself is only a small part of this: the 0.75-point increase adds about $2.25 a night on a $300 room, or around $16 over a week.

What the money pays for

The state expects the Green Fee to raise about $100 million a year, earmarked for climate change mitigation and disaster resilience. Projects are chosen as the money comes in, across three broad areas:

Environmental stewardship: protecting native forests, watersheds, reefs and the trails and parks visitors use.
Climate and hazard resilience: preparing for wildfires, hurricanes, flooding and sea-level rise. The 2023 Lahaina wildfire, the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, was a key reason for the law.
Sustainable tourism: managing the places where visitor numbers put pressure on fragile sites.

This matters to visitors directly. In 2026 hurricanes damaged trails and parks on Kauaʻi and in Maui's forest reserves, and many popular sites still depend on reservation systems and repairs. Our guide to visiting Hawaii respectfully explains how to tread lightly.

Does it apply to cruises?

Yes. Until 2026, cruise passengers paid no accommodation tax in Hawaii, even when their ship spent days sailing between the islands. From 1 January 2026 the 11% TAT also applies to cruise fares, prorated by the share of the cruise the ship spends in Hawaiʻi ports. The tax is included in what the cruise line charges, so passengers do not pay it on arrival.

Other taxes and fees visitors pay

Rental cars: a state rental motor vehicle surcharge of $7.50 per day in 2026, plus general excise tax and airport concession fees.
Restaurants and shops: general excise tax of up to 4.712% is added to most bills; some resorts also add a service charge of 18–22%.
State parks and beaches: non-residents pay entry and parking fees at many popular sites, for example $5 per person plus $10 parking at Diamond Head, and $25 at Hanauma Bay.
National parks: $30 per car at Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Non-US residents pay $250 for the annual America the Beautiful pass.
Resort fees and parking: not taxes, but often $40–75 and around $50 a night respectively.

Hawaii residents pay lower fees, or none, at most state parks and beaches. The difference is deliberate: it helps pay for the upkeep of places that welcome millions of visitors a year.

Why Hawaii charges visitors

About 9.6 million visitors came to Hawaii in 2025, in a state of around 1.4 million residents. Visitors bring most of the islands' income, but they also put pressure on beaches, reefs, roads, water and trails. The idea behind the Green Fee is simple: that the people who come to enjoy Hawaii's nature should help protect it.

For a visitor, the Green Fee costs about the price of a shave ice per night. Seen that way, it is one of the smallest and most useful costs of a trip. For the full picture of what a holiday costs, read how much a trip to Hawaii costs.

Quick answers

What is Hawaii's Green Fee?

The Green Fee is Act 96 of 2025. From 1 January 2026 it raised Hawaii's state Transient Accommodations Tax from 10.25% to 11% and extended it to cruise ships, raising about $100 million a year for climate resilience and environmental protection.

Do tourists have to pay the Green Fee at the airport?

No. There is no separate fee at the airport or on arrival. It is collected as part of the tax on your hotel, vacation rental or cruise bill.

How much tax will I pay on a hotel in Hawaii?

About 18.7%: the 11% state Transient Accommodations Tax, a 3% county tax and the 4.712% general excise tax. Resort fees are taxed too.

How much does the Green Fee add to my trip?

Very little: about $2.25 a night on a $300 room, or roughly $16 for a week.

Are there other visitor taxes in Hawaii?

Yes. Rental cars carry a $7.50 a day state surcharge in 2026, and many state parks and beaches charge non-residents entry and parking fees.

Keep planning: how much a trip to Hawaii costs, a Hawaii trip for two, a family of four, a week in Hawaii, Hawaii on a budget and the Green Fee and tourist taxes.

Prices checked October 2026 and rounded. Hawaii prices move with the season, fuel costs and demand, so treat these as a planning guide and check live prices before you book.