Federal judge upholds Hawaii's new climate change tax on cruise passengers

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Updated 5:41 PM EST, December 24, 2025

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge’s ruling has cleared the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake denied a request Tuesday that sought to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.

In the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation in May that raises tax revenue to deal with eroding shorelines, wildfires and other climate problems. Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually.

The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, starting next year, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-green-fee-tax-tourist-cruise-5e4b8333eccf915f8a0fb836c9ef3361

[Sneederbunk]

1. Fly in on a kerosene burning jet and avoid the tax.