Posts in category: Policy & Enforcement

Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee moves ahead with a 10-member advisory council—now tasked with figuring out how to spend the $100M a year the tax will generate, even as questions linger over where the money will really go.

Maui’s Bill 9 inches forward while Honolulu’s 90-day rental rule remains stalled, leaving Hawaiʻi’s vacation rental regulations stuck in limbo.

Maui’s Bill 9 hearings stretch into extra days as testimony crawls forward, spotlighting fierce debate over converting short-term rentals amid a housing market where only 4% of homes are affordable.

Honolulu collected just 4% of $29M in illegal rental fines last year, prompting the city’s first-ever foreclosure attempt as officials crack down on operators rivaling full-sized hotels.

Hawaiʻi’s TAT jumps again in 2026, pushing visitor taxes past world-leading levels and adding cruise passengers to the mix, as lawmakers earmark new revenue for climate resilience.

Maui’s plan to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals is stalled as the County Council awaits impact data, leaving the island’s housing crisis and visitor market in an uneasy holding pattern.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers weigh a 1.75-point TAT hike that pushes visitor taxes to nearly 20%, plus a $20 nightly fee on loyalty stays—highlighting how “politician math” masks a 17% tax jump.

Hawaiʻi eyes a $25 green fee in 2025 as Gov. Josh Green pushes a tourist tax expected to raise $68M, but questions over collection and rising visitor costs fuel debate.