Hawaii decides on how to spend "green fees" to protect tourism and nature

Hawaii increases tax on cruise ships and hotels

Green fees raise $100 million per year

Priorities to be decided by the public

By Carey L Biron

Two years ago, these grasses fueled devastating wildfires on the island of Maui. More than 100 people were killed and $5.5 billion worth of damage was caused.

Riley, a leader of the environmental group Care for 'Aina Now and a coalition member, said: "You're literally increasing your vulnerability when you see these grasses growing."

But controlling the growth of invasive grasses, for example, can be expensive.

Hawaii's conservation funding gap is more than $560m a year - this is a growing concern in the tourism mecca known for its surf, reefs, and sacred mountains.

Hawaii, a nation-first, will now implement a "green fee" or climate impact fee on its 10 million visitors each year. The fee is expected to generate $100 million per year.

Riley explained that the money would not only fund conservation in the public sector, but it could also empower local communities so they can make their communities safer now.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Communities, businesses, and environmental groups started a process in July to decide the priorities for new funding. This process will be repeated annually and legislators will review it again in January.

Supporters of the green fee say it is an example of what local authorities could do in the face of the Trump administration's reduction in funding and priorities related to climate change mitigation efforts and sustainability.

"It is important for states to protect themselves at least temporarily and use their strengths. Our strength is tourism," said Gov. Josh Green, the man behind the new policy, spoke at a town hall in June.

He said that everyone should contribute to the maintenance of this beautiful place.

Green called for "a wide open public discussion" on how to spend the funds.

The Waipa foundation, a nonprofit organization that manages a 1,600 acre watershed in Kauai?i island, hopes the funds will be used to restore native forests.

In an email, Executive Director Stacy Sproat said that the foundation is focused on stream restoration and invasive plants management.

They wrote that "Secured funding is an important part of our ability to create resilient landscapes and communities."

TOURISM ECONOMY

Hawaii's main economic driver is tourism, which accounts for a quarter.

The green fee is a tax that will be imposed on all cruise ship passengers and hotel guests in January.

Jack Kittinger is a senior vice-president with Conservation International. He said that he helped to drum up interest for a green tax in Hawaii by highlighting how the gap in funding conservation threatened tourism.

Kittinger worked in Palau and received a similar payment in 2018.

Kittinger stated that "it's a serious threat to us all, to the communities and sectors that depend on these resources."

Green fees are a controversial topic.

Ted Kefalas is the director of strategic campaigns for Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

"Travelers discover new destinations and if taxes are raised, we risk driving visitors away."

Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association warned that these fees could harm an industry still recovering from pandemic.

After initially opposing the tax increases, another group, Hawaii Hotel Alliance, finally offered their support. They assured that the money could be used to fund priorities like beach restoration and public accessibility.

Kekoa McLellan, chief advocate of the Alliance, wrote in an email that any increase in cost for guests was not ideal.

McClellan, however, called the law "a strategic win" for the hotels as the funds would go to "critical area that will support the health and sustainability of Hawaii’s tourism industry on a long-term basis."

This law has attracted interest in other parts of the United States.

Oregon, also known for the beauty of its nature, is a state where campaigners hope to close a funding gap by charging tourists.

In Oregon, lawmakers debated this year a bill that would increase the lodging tax by 1 percent to raise $30 million per year for conservation.

The annual Winter Festival in Klamath attracts tourists who come to see the migrating birds, according to Danielle Moser of Oregon Wild.

Moser stated that the festival was cancelled for the past two years because of a lack in birds.

She said, "It's a direct effect on a small rural village that is now directly connected to species in decline."

The bill was passed by the state house, but it did not receive a final vote prior to adjournment.

(source: Reuters)