Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Hawaii’s Green Fee bill was supposed to significantly increase tourism taxes to help fund “climate change” mitigation this year – but a judge has now put that provision on hold.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), along with a cruise ship supplier, filed a trial in early September challenge county tax and finance officials across the Aloha State, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
On December 31, the Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction pending appeal.
Historic monument to start charging foreign visitors amid crowded battles
It temporarily blocks the application of the tax on cruise ships while calls continuereported the Associated Press (AP).
The Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT) planned to increase the tax on tourists who stay in hotels in Hawaii while imposing a new 11% tax on cruises, according to the text of the bill.
Hawaii’s Green Fee tax on cruise ships was temporarily blocked by an injunction from the Ninth Circuit after the Cruise Lines International Association filed a lawsuit challenging the 11 percent tourist tax. (iStock)
Toni Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii attorney general’s office, told AP that the office “remains[s] confident that Bill 96 is legal and will be vindicated when the appeal is heard on its merits.”
Fox News Digital has contacted CLIA for comment.
Part of the revenue collected would be donated to the “Special Fund for Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience”.
The association previously told Fox News Digital that it “believes[s] the extension violates both the American Constitution and federal law, while imposing an additional financial burden on passengers already subject to significant fees and taxes.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
The association also highlighted the benefits that cruise tourism constitutes a major economic engine of the State.
“We remain confident that Act 96 is legal and will be vindicated when the appeal is heard on the merits,” said a spokesperson for the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“The extension of the TAT to cruise lines threatens to deter visitors whose spending fuels this economic engine, risking job losses and eroding the financial stability of tourism-dependent businesses,” CLIA added.
The lawsuit points out that counties across the state each add their own 3% surcharge on top of the state tax — bringing the total tax to 14%.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
A portion of the revenue collected would be donated to the “Climate mitigation and Resilience” and the “Special Economic Development and Revitalization Fund,” according to the bill.
Some 168,123 visitors traveled to Hawaii by cruise ship in 2024. (iStock)
The bill addresses invasive species, wildlife conservation and beach management and catering.
It will also help fund a “green jobs youth corps”, as well as areas of environmental concern.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In 2024, 168,123 visitors traveled to Hawaii by cruise ship, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The “Green Fee” is expected to generate $100 million per year, according to the press release.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
