House Committee Boosts Neighbor Island Share Of Hotel Tax

Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties would get bigger pieces of the revenue pie, but not Honolulu.

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(AP) 鈥� The House Finance Committee wants to give more hotel tax revenue to neighbor island counties.

The committee on Thursday voted unanimously to boost the Big Island’s share of transient accommodations tax revenue to $31 million from $19 million. Maui County’s share would go up to $38 million from $23 million.

Kauai County’s share would rise to $24 million from $15 million.

Chair Sylvia Luke and Majority Leader Della Au Belatti are greeted at Speaker Saiki鈥檚 office before editorial meeting.
Rep. Della Au Belatti, left, and Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke at the Capitol. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

House Majority Leader Rep. Della Au Belatti says she believes the measure will pass the full House. She says members knew they had to address the issue after the state last year increased the statewide transient accommodations tax to help pay for Oahu’s rail line.

Honolulu’s share is unchanged at $45 million.

She says House members need to talk to senators about passage in the other chamber.

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