Hawaii’s Green Tax for Tourists: A New Strategy to Mitigate Climate Impacts?

Tourist activity affects Hawaii's beautiful, yet finite resources. Photo credits: Jess Loiterton

By Yuxi Lim

Home to hundreds of beautiful islands and endangered wildlife species, Hawaii is lovingly known as the Aloha State. It is a globally popular tourist destination, attracting millions of tourists each year.

According to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism’s (DBEDT) annual visitor research report, more than 9.7 million people visited the Hawaiian Islands in 2024. 

The Cost of Paradise

Unsurprisingly, tourism makes up a significant portion of Hawaii’s economy. In 2020, it accounted for about 17% of the state’s GDP. However, its environmental footprint cannot be overlooked. The large volume of visitors to the state places significant stress on its fragile land and marine ecosystems and generates a substantial amount of waste and pollution, which puts a strain on the state’s natural resources. 

Since human activities exacerbate the climate crisis, Hawaii’s reliance on tourism increases its vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme weather events, which are often intensified and made more frequent by climate change. In 2023, the deadly wildfires that swept across West Maui resulted in the state discouraging tourism for two months, costing the island an estimated $4-6 billion. 

Click here to read the full story from the Oct. 31 article on Impakter.com