Overview

• Hawaii legislators are considering legislation requiring tourists to pay an entrance fee to visit state parks and trails.
• The fees would be the first of their kind in the U.S. and aim to generate funds for conservation and preservation of Hawaii's natural environment.
• Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for the damage their sheer numbers inflict on the land, like destruction of coral reefs and native forests.
• Fees would fund efforts to curb invasive species, protect endangered wildlife, and repair worn-out hiking trails and beaches.
• Officials believe entrance fees follow the lead of other tourism hotspots worldwide and would ensure stable funding for environmental protection, regardless of yearly budget changes.