Federal ruling blocks Hawaii's climate change tourist tax on cruise ships
HONOLULU (AP) — A federal appeals court ruling on New Year’s Eve blocked Hawaii from enforcing a climate change tourist tax on cruise ships passengers, a levy that was set to go into effect at the start of 2026.
Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in a lawsuit, arguing that the new law violates the U.S. Constitution by taxing cruise ships for entering Hawaii ports. They also argued it would make cruises more expensive. The lawsuit notes the law authorizes counties to collect an additional 3% surcharge, bringing the total to 14% of prorated fares.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%96 =6GJ :?4C62D6D C2E6D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^92H2::\E@FC:D>\E2I\4=:>2E6\492?86\ghe5fg556`56b2e75eb4fe`e`h5f5`2dQm9@E6= C@@> 2?5 G242E:@? C6?E2= DE2JDk^2m 3FE 2=D@ :>A@D6D 2 ?6H “T E2I @? E96 8C@DD 72C6D A2:5 3J 2 4CF:D6 D9:A’D A2DD6?86C[ AC@C2E65 7@C E96 ?F>36C @7 52JD E96 G6DD6=D 2C6 :? w2H2:: A@CED] %96 =2HDF:E ?@E6D E96 =2H 2FE9@C:K6D 4@F?E:6D E@ 4@==64E 2? 255:E:@?2= bT DFC492C86[ 3C:?8:?8 E96 E@E2= E@ `cT @7 AC@C2E65 72C6D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 ?2E:@?’D 7:CDE DF49 =6GJ E@ 96=A 4@A6 H:E9 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^92H2::\E@FC:DE\E2I\:?4C62D6\4=:>2E6\492?86\e522aafhb72b`b4362_27ebg6f7`5gf5QmH2C>:?8 A=2?6Ek^2m[ w2H2:: v@G] y@D9 vC66? D:8?65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^92H2::\9@E6=\E2I\E@FC:DED\4=:>2E6\5dhaab5244f42d`bcf`3ff3345a3fhg2Qm=68:D=2E:@? :? |2Jk^2m E92E C2:D6D E2I C6G6?F6 E@ 562= H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^h__echh543e2chfg353`5`c_ebfd_dd_Qm6C@5:?8 D9@C6=:?6Dk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^92H2::\>2F:\H:=57:C6\E9:?8D\E@\<?@H\7e3e23`h5h367`_f27ge65cdc2de6fc7QmH:=57:C6Dk^2m 2?5 @E96C 4=:>2E6 AC@3=6>D] ~77:4:2=D 6DE:>2E6 E96 E2I H@F=5 86?6C2E6 ?62C=J S`__ >:==:@? 2??F2==J]k^Am
kAm&]$] s:DEC:4E yF586 y:== p] ~E2<6 =2DE H66< FA96=5 E96 =2H 2?5 E96 A=2:?E:77D 2AA62=65 E@ E96 hE9 &]$] r:C4F:E r@FCE @7 pAA62=D] %96 &]$] 8@G6C?>6?E :?E6CG6?65 :? E96 42D6 2?5 2=D@ 2AA62=65 ~E2<6VD CF=:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 @C56C 3J EH@ hE9 r:C4F:E ;F586D 8C2?E65 3@E9 C6BF6DED 7@C 2? :?;F?4E:@? A6?5:?8 E96 2AA62=D]k^Am
kAm“(6 C6>2:? 4@?7:56?E E92E p4E he :D =2H7F= 2?5 H:== 36 G:?5:42E65 H96? E96 2AA62= :D 962C5 @? E96 >6C:ED[” %@?: $49H2CEK[ DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 w2H2:: 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=VD @77:46[ D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=]k^Am
kAm%96 @C56C E6>A@C2C:=J 92=ED 6?7@C46>6?E @7 E96 =2H @? 4CF:D6 D9:AD H9:=6 E96 2AA62=D AC@46DD >@G6D 7@CH2C5[ 96C 6>2:= ?@E65]k^Am
kAm%96 =2HDF:E 492==6?865 @?=J E96 =2HVD 4CF:D6 D9:A AC@G:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmrCF:D6 {:?6D x?E6C?2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? DA@<6DA6CD@? y:> |4r2CE9J D2:5 96 H2D?VE DFC6 96 4@F=5 86E 4@>>6?E 7C@> E96 A=2:?E:77D 8:G6? E96 E:>:?8 @7 E96 CF=:?8 367@C6 2 9@=:52J]k^Am
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.