Tourism

... tax "may have invited a legal storm" ....

... Senate Bill 1396 increases the TAT rate by 0.75% beginning in 2026 and levies, for the first time, the TAT on cruise ships that port in the state ....

... could potentially open up a huge legal can of worms based on historical layers of fraud, mislabeling and mishandling of so-called "Ag" land ....

"Federal courts (including the Supreme Court) have consistently ruled for over a century that fees or taxes imposed on vessels by non-federal entities are prohibited."

... There were 903,891 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in March 2025, up 3.0 percent from the same month last year ....

... The Nature Conservancy (TNC) renewed Hawai‘i’s coral reef insurance policy for 2025 with Munich Re Group. TNC initially purchased the policy in 2022, the first in the U.S., to fund rapid coral reef repair and restoration ....

... At this time, no new CUPs will be issued ....

... In addition to the TAT-related bills — HB504 and SB1396 — our state legislators also are considering a big tax increase — via HB202 — on all Hawaii businesses through a stealthy redefining of what is considered an adequate reserve fund of the state's unemployment insurance program ....

... Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state-issued identification card to board domestic flights and enter some federal buildings ....

"...Parker Executive Search, the national firm assisting UH Mānoa with the search, is actively recruiting top candidates from across the country...."

... the policy could also reduce visitor spending by nearly $900 million annually, resulting in job and income losses, declining property values and an estimated $60 million drop in county property tax revenues ....

... the bills replace the current 10.25% tax rate with a blank ....

... In February 2025, the average daily census of 20,686 Canadian visitors decreased from February 2024 (20,977 visitors, -1.4%) ....

... For the third year in a row, Hawaii policymakers are considering a bill that suggests they believe tourists are an endless source of funds ....

... The state must now open the historic Haleakala Trail for public access, putting an end to a decade-long fight for it to be declared a public right of way ....

... rising poverty rates, persistent displacement, and limited job opportunities continue to hinder full economic recovery ....

... is the new law — Act 17, based on SB2919 — legally sound?  ....

... The downward adjustment was mainly due to the expected slowdown in tourism growth, higher projected consumer inflation and increasing policy uncertainty at the national and international levels ....

... some lawmakers think the TAT fixes everything ....

... Hawaiʻi’s resident drowning rate is the second highest in the nation behind Alaska ...

... Honolulu, with its 10.25 percent tax rate and an average tourism tax of $51.70 per night, came out on top ....

... 35 Years of Stagnation: Tourism Income Flat Since 1988 ....

... Few ideas are as tenacious as the myth that we can make tourists pay for major programs without affecting locals ....

... DOT’s lawsuit alleges that Southwest’s chronic flight delays were an illegal unrealistic scheduling practice ....

... 770,940 visitors in November 2024, growth of 5.3% compared to the same month last year. Total visitor spending measured in nominal dollars was $1.55 billion, up 2.0% ....

... Hawaii leads the nation with 88,703 passengers per 100,000 residents. This is 11 times the national average of 7,746 ....

... The statewide average daily census was 208,032 visitors in October 2024 ....

"...There had been some turmoil behind the scenes, it's not my place to air anyone's dirty laundry'" - Hawaii Governor Josh Green....

... Real visitor spending as of today is actually below where we were in the late 1980s ....

... Department of Accounting and General Services and the Stadium Authority announced the approval of Aloha Halawa District Partners (AHDP) as the preferred offeror for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) ....

... the best recovery rate since the Maui wildfires ....

... Will OHA transfer control of Kahana Valley to one of its LLCs? ....

"...implemented sustainability strategies that have significantly reduced our carbon footprint and saved millions of dollars...."

... The aquarium pet industry has finished the environmental review process to seek up to seven commercial aquarium permits for collection in West Hawai‘i ....

... In late 2022, Congress passed a law that significantly increased the cost of liability insurance for a small subset of the small-passenger boating industry ....

"This August registered as the lowest performing month during the summer season."

... Hawaiʻi Supreme Court’s unanimous decision of Rosehill v. State of Hawaiʻi, Land Use Commission, where the court held that farm dwellings in the agricultural district cannot be used as short-term vacation rentals under Hawaiʻi law ....

... a not-for-profit buying a for-profit subsidiary...where have we heard that before? ....

... protect value of rewards, preserve critical flight service, ensure Honolulu hub access, enhance customer benefits, and lower costs for military families ....

... DBEDT kept its economic growth projections for 2024 unchanged from the previous quarter, at 1.3 percent ....

... Haleakala Park saw a 27% decrease in visitors in 2023 compared to 2022 ....

... The number of visitors is down 1% from July 2023. But spending by tourists, when adjusted by inflation, is up 2.6% from last year at $207 billion ....

... A Great Leader of the Hawaiian People Who Occasionally Sells Poison to their Children ....

... The time period for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to complete its regulatory investigation has expired ....

... UH provided the State of Hawaiʻi’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) with concept options for the state’s largest harbor for small boats ....

... The Grand Wailea Resort in Maui will make monthly contributions to fund projects ....

... Just 10% of voters support bans on all short-term rentals ....

... Maui experienced the most significant decline in visitors, falling 21.8% from year to year ....

“The Department of Justice is unlikely to approve its planned $1.8 billion sale to Alaska Air. The antitrust regulator is preparing to challenge the combination.”

... the Hawaii Department of Transportation “has no authority to impose or enforce regulations regarding air space and aircraft operations under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration” ....