By Kevin Knodell for Honolulu Star-Advertiser

As 2025 came to an end, a climate report released by the Council on Strategic Risks outlined how climate change could threaten both Hawaii’s civilian and military communities, and how cuts to programs that monitor weather and other environmental threats could leave both more vulnerable.

The report by CSR — a non-partisan security policy institute based in Washington, D.C. — warns that “with its diverse landscapes and geographic isolation, Hawai‘i is exceptionally vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Shifting rainfall and seasonal patterns affect local food security and biodiversity; heat and drought stress water supplies, impacting human health and increasing wildfire risk; and coastal flooding and inundation threaten economic security, including infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism.”

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher for The Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal appeals court ruling on New Year’s Eve blocked Hawaii from enforcing a climate change tourist tax on cruise ships passengers, a levy that was set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in a lawsuit, arguing that the new law violates the U.S. Constitution by taxing cruise ships for entering Hawaii ports. They also argued it would make cruises more expensive. The lawsuit notes the law authorizes counties to collect an additional 3% surcharge, bringing the total to 14% of prorated fares.

By Ashley Mizuo for Hawaiʻi Public Radio

The state’s Green Fee on hotels and cruise ships to pay for climate resilience projects will go into effect in the new year. A court ruling largely dismissed a lawsuit by the cruise ship industry challenging the policy.

The Green Fee increases the state’s visitor tax by 0.75 percentage points to fund climate resiliency and sustainable tourism projects.

It also levies the tax on cruise ships docking in Hawaiʻi, which previously did not have to pay the state transient accommodations tax, now at 11%.

By Nathan Christophel for Big Island Now

U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi earlier this week dismissed a majority of claims challenging the state’s Act 96, signed by Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green in May, and denied a plaintiff motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the act from taking effect at the beginning of next year.

“In short, the court declines at this stage to halt the implementation of the transient accommodation tax on cruise ships in Hawai‘i,” wrote U.S. District Judge Jill Otake in her ruling, which she issued Tuesday (Dec. 23).

As a result, the state’s new “Green fee” will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, as planned. It also means the lawsuit — which was filed Aug. 27 — will likely still be undecided even as Act 96 is put into action.

By Allison Schaefers for Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii’s so-called green fee is set to take effect as scheduled Jan. 1 after a federal judge dismissed most of the cruise industry’s legal challenge to Act 96 and denied its request to block implementation.

U.S. District Court Judge Jill A. Otake on Tuesday rejected the bulk of claims brought by the Cruise Lines International Association and the federal government, allowing the state to move forward with implementing the new tax. While several issues will continue in court, Otake’s decision for now allows the law to extend the transient accommodations tax to cruise ships.

By Michael Tsai for Spectrum News

“We must protect and preserve Hawaii’s natural resources and safeguard the health of our residents,” said Gov. Josh Green, in a statement released on Tuesday. “Visitors who benefit from our island’s resources have a shared responsibility to help preserve them. The Green Fee ensures that the resources needed to protect Hawaii are available for future generations.”

Act 96 (formerly Senate Bill 1396), passed by the state Legislature and enacted by Green earlier this year, establishes the nation’s first climate impact fee. The new law increases the existing transient accommodations tax rate by 0.75% beginning in 2026 and levies, for the first time, the TAT on cruise ships that port in the state.

Funds generated by the Green Fee will be used to build resiliency against the impacts of climate change by funding environmental stewardship, hazard mitigation and sustainable tourism.

By HNN Staff

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After clearing legal hurdles, a new state law imposing higher taxes for tourists is on track to go into effect in the new year.

The Green Fee will increase the transient accommodation tax (TAT) for visitors by 0.75%, raising it to 11%. Counties can also tack on a 3% surcharge.

For the first time, the new rule will also require cruise ship passengers to pay the TAT, in addition to visitors staying in hotel rooms and short-term rentals.

On Tuesday, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced a federal judge dismissed most of the lawsuits filed against the Green Fee.

By Kevin Chang for Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Is care of ‘aina a major priority of Hawaii and its people?

To determine this, we could look at our Legislature’s budgets for malama ‘aina efforts. Historically, our government has barely ever designated over 1% of the state budget of $20.5 billion toward conservation. Our Legislature does not prioritize aloha ‘aina. Like it or not, this pattern is our current political landscape and inheritance.

But look at when the state’s Division of Conservation and Enforcement (DOCARE), under the Department of Land and Natural Resources, opened its inaugural officer academy application portal. It was inundated with applications within hours. A few classes have successfully graduated and expanded the capacity and effectiveness of DOCARE to protect our ‘aina.

By Victoria Budiono for Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii is facing a rapidly escalating insurance crisis driven by climate change, aging housing, and a sharp retreat by private insurers, according to a new report released by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.

The analysis, “Who Pays for Climate Disasters? Case Studies on Regulatory Responses to Climate Change-Related Disasters,” concluded that Hawaii’s property insurance market — particularly for condominiums — is becoming increasingly unstable. Nonrenewals across the state jumped 216% between 2018 and 2023, while premiums for homeowners rose an average of 12% from 2021–2024. Condominium associations saw even sharper increases, averaging 16%, with some buildings reporting fee hikes of more than $2,000 per unit.

Appleseed Executive Director Will White called the situation a “flashing red light.”

By Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board

The transient accommodations tax (TAT), including a portion newly assessed as the state’s climate impact fee, or “green fee,” stands to be an important source of revenue for the state as federal help for environmental protections and a clean-energy transition dwindles. Beginning Jan. 1, the green fee’s 0.75% add-on to the TAT will bring the total daily accommodations tax to 11%, assessed against all transient accommodations — including, for the first time, cruise ships, based on the days spent at state ports.

By Green Fee Advisory Council

Beginning October 15, 2025, the Green Fee Advisory Council (GFAC) will be accepting ideas from the public for projects that could receive Green Fee funding to implement. Ideas and suggestions may be submitted through a digital portal available via GFAC’s website, greenfeehawaii.org.

For each idea, members of the public are requested to provide information about the potential project including but not limited to impact area(s), cost, geography and potential partnerships with local government agencies. A preview of the full list of questions is available now for download.