Column: Green fee is step toward sustainability

Kainan Miranda

By Kainan Miranda

There are rare moments in public policy when government takes a bold step that demands attention. Seven years ago, Hawaii did just that with Act 15, committing the state to full decarbonization by 2045. With the passage of Act 96 this year, Hawaii once again stepped forward — taking bold, values-driven action. As climate change accelerates and many governments struggle to respond, Hawaii acted decisively. Our lawmakers made a clear, principled decision to invest in the long-term care of our environment and communities.

Act 96 establishes the nation’s first green fee funded by visitors. It ensures that the millions who travel to our islands and enjoy our beaches, forests, and biodiversity contribute to their protection. This fee provides a sustainable funding resource for conservation, restoration and climate resilience, easing some of the responsibility local residents have eagerly shouldered to care for the lands and waters that sustain us.

This landmark legislation reflects years of hard work across the state, but it wouldn’t have happened without the leadership of our governor and legislators. Their persistence, openness to evolving ideas, and willingness to engage diverse voices shaped a policy that reflects Hawaii’s priorities and is built to last.

Similar ideas have been proposed before. Green fees, conservation passes and environmental user licenses have been debated in hearings and legislation. Some advanced, others did not — but all helped refine the concept, test legal frameworks and build public support. Lawmakers who introduced those early proposals deserve credit for laying the groundwork.

Act 96 increases the transient accommodations tax by 0.75% and extends it to cruise ship passengers. These changes are expected to generate $90 million to $100 million annually. These funds will go directly to address urgent environmental challenges: flooding, erosion, wildfires, coral reef loss, invasive species and watershed protection. In a place where environmental threats grow more severe each year, this kind of investment is essential — not optional.

Importantly, this new funding stream does not come from local families already facing Hawaii’s high cost of living. That was a core principle throughout the policy’s development. It’s also a key reason for the strong public support behind the law, and why it is now seen as a model for other visitor destinations globally.

Passing the law is just the beginning. Thoughtful implementation — how funds are distributed, projects prioritized and transparency upheld — will define its success. Community engagement is critical, and decisions should be informed by both traditional indigenous knowledge and contemporary science.

No single policy can solve every environmental challenge. But Act 96 marks a significant step forward. It shows our lawmakers can lead with courage, act with foresight, and protect our islands in ways that are fair and sustainable. The benefits will ripple forward for generations.

Ultimately, the story of Act 96 is one of shared leadership. It reminds us that meaningful ideas take time, public will is built conversation by conversation, and when communities and policymakers work together real progress happens.

This moment belongs to everyone who contributed, especially the lawmakers who saw it through. They deserve our gratitude and our continued partnership in the work ahead.

Hawaii is leading. Others are watching.

Kainan Miranda is external affairs director for The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi Palmyra.