Proposed Tourist Tax Could Help Hawaii Deal With Climate Change Impacts…Legislative leaders want to bump up taxes that could be assessed on the kinds of things sought by higher-spending tourists and travelers.
Some leading House lawmakers are proposing new fees on ground transportation that is used by tourists as a way to raise cash to balance the state budget in the short term, and to help cope with the impacts of global warming in the longer term.
The first draft of House Bill 433 does not indicate exactly how large of a tax increase lawmakers have in mind. When Hawaii visitor arrivals and car rentals are near their peak, a $1 per day increase in the existing car rental surcharge can raise $10 million or more per year.
