Support Care for ‘Āina Now

TNC’s Renee Miller on Waikamoi Preserve boardwalk, Maui. © Ian Shive

Hawai‘i’s state legislators need to hear from residents about the importance of natural resource funding this year. Visitor taxes or fees can help offset environmental impacts and enable locally-driven solutions with dedicated funding to our natural resources.

An Environmental Stewardship Fee of $25–$50 per visitor can finance environmental protection, restoration, and resilience. Similar tourist destinations have successfully implemented this concept and supported large-scale conservation efforts, wildfire prevention, coastal protection, and climate resilience.

Repeated public opinion polls show that 97% or more of Hawai‘i residents believe it is their responsibility to protect our oceans and lands. And in a January 2025 poll, more than three-quarters of visitors said establishing an environmental stewardship fee is acceptable. Most visitors said such a fee would not impact their likelihood of visiting Hawai‘i and in fact, one quarter said such a fee would make them more likely to visit.

Contact your Hawai‘i state legislators today. Tell them you support a visitor Environmental Stewardship Fee to help close Hawai‘i’s $560 million conservation funding gap and protect our natural and cultural resources.

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Hawai‘i’s ecosystems and natural and cultural resources provide over $6 billion to our economy annually, supporting our communities, our livelihoods and our culture. But we only commit 1% of our state budget to natural resources each year. With a growing number of natural disasters including wildfires, storms, and floods, more funding is needed to preserve and protect what makes Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i.

A dedicated new funding source for natural resources protection and restoration would support climate resiliency, community safety from fires and floods, and community-based conservation. It would create economic opportunity for residents through ‘āina-based jobs, preserve Hawaii’s irreplaceable native plants and animals, and protect our health by providing clean air and water for our families.

I support an environmental stewardship fee, or visitor fee, and the efforts of the Care for ‘Āina Now (CAN) Coalition. Establishing this fund is long overdue. Please pass an environmental stewardship fee this year.

Mahalo,

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{user_data~City}, {user_data~State or Province}

This letter will be delivered via email to:

Your Hawai‘i State Senator

Your Hawai‘i State Representative

Please note: In order for your petition to submit, your street address must be in Hawai‘i and must be recognized as valid by the U.S. Postal Service. If your address is not recognized for any reason—and thus your petition does not submit—you can alternatively locate and contact your Hawai‘i state legislators here. We apologize for any inconvenience!

Pass an Environmental Stewardship Fee for Hawai‘i This Year

Hawai‘i’s ecosystems and natural and cultural resources provide over $6 billion to our economy annually, supporting our communities, our livelihoods and our culture. But we only commit 1% of our state budget to natural resources each year. With a growing number of natural disasters including wildfires, storms, and floods, more funding is needed to preserve and protect what makes Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i.

A dedicated new funding source for natural resources protection and restoration would support climate resiliency, community safety from fires and floods, and community-based conservation. It would create economic opportunity for residents through ‘āina-based jobs, preserve Hawaii’s irreplaceable native plants and animals, and protect our health by providing clean air and water for our families.

I support an environmental stewardship fee, or visitor fee, and the efforts of the Care for ‘Āina Now (CAN) Coalition. Establishing this fund is long overdue. Please pass an environmental stewardship fee this year.

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