LIHU‘E — A “green fee,” which would require visitors to pay $50 per-person to use beaches, parks and trails in Hawai‘i, drew firm backing from state voters in a new poll with results released Monday.
The survey showed 63 percent of voters support the idea of requiring the “green fee” as a means to help protect natural and cultural resources in the island chain. A total of 32 percent opposed the idea, while 5 percent were undecided.
“We welcome visitors to Hawai‘i. We want to share all our islands have to offer, and we want our visitors to share the responsibility of caring for our island home,” said Gov. Josh Green in a statement on Monday.
“This latest poll reaffirms that it is time for visitors, given the profound impact that 9 to 10 million annual travelers to Hawai‘i have on our natural resources, to more equitably protect, preserve and restore our natural and
cultural resources.”
The survey comes on the heels of “green fee” proposals currently being considered by the state Legislature.
Companion proposals, Senate Bill 304 and House Bill 1162, would establish a visitor impact fee program within the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the department would collect a fee, according to descriptions of the bills.
The fee would be for a license to visit a state-owned park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area, as designated by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Given the millions of people who visit the Hawaiian Islands each year — a figure that topped 9 million in 2022, tourism data shows — the fee has the potential to generate millions of dollars in revenue on a yearly basis. Of note, a total of approximately 1.34 million people visited Kaua‘i in the same annual period.
“Hawai‘i is one of the richest places in the world when it comes to natural beauty and biodiversity. The islands’ natural assets, coupled with irreplaceable culture and values, are what makes Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i,” said Carissa Cabrera, project manager of Hawai‘i Green Fee, in a statement.
“It is clear that Hawai‘i residents take their kuleana of caring for the islands seriously. Our natural and cultural resources provide us with so much, and it’s up to all of us to ensure that they can recover and thrive for generations to come,” she said.
Hawai‘i Green Fee is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to conserving Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources by building visitor stewardship and investing in green infrastructure.
The survey was commissioned by Hawai‘i Trust for Public Land, Resources Legacy Fund, and The Nature Conservancy. The survey, which was conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz &Associates (FM3) of Los Angeles, took place in January.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
