Maui visitor fees and rules in 2026

How much is the hotel tax on Maui in 2026?

14% in accommodation tax: 11% to the State since January 1, 2026, plus 3% to Maui County, with general excise tax on top.

Act 96, sold as Hawaii's "green fee", raised the state transient accommodations tax by 0.75 points, from 10.25% to 11%, on hotels, vacation rentals and timeshares. The state estimates it will raise about $100 million a year for climate resilience and environmental protection, Maui Now reported. Maui County's own accommodation tax stays at 3%.

The general excise tax is a separate layer on most sales, tours included. Maui County added a 0.5% surcharge from 2024 to 2030, making it 4.5%, and the Department of Taxation allows businesses to pass it on visibly at up to 4.712%. Look for both lines when you compare room quotes.

Do you need reservations for Maui state parks?

At Iao Valley and Wai'anapanapa, yes, unless you're a Hawaii resident: book online and pay $5 per person plus $10 per car.

Both parks are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iao Valley State Monument requires advance reservations for out-of-state visitors; at Wai'anapanapa State Park every visitor needs one. Hawaii residents get in free with a Hawaii ID. Bookings are made on the state's gostateparks.hawaii.gov site, and showing up without one on a busy day can mean a wasted drive.

What does Haleakala National Park cost in 2026?

$30 per private vehicle for three days, or $15 per person on foot or by bike. Entering between 3 and 7 a.m. for sunrise needs a $1 vehicle reservation.

The National Park Service opens sunrise reservations 60 days ahead and closes them 2 days before. The Haleakala annual pass is $55 for US citizens and residents; non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful non-resident annual pass for $250. The 2026 fee-free days are for US citizens and residents only, and they do not cover sunrise reservations or entry between 3 and 7 a.m.

On the way up, the Haleakala zipline in Kula takes kids from 8.

Six ziplines on the slopes of Haleakala in Kula, on the way to the national park. Ages 8 and up.

★ 4.8 · 2 hours · from $178

Explore the Haleakala zipline → Tour details

Are any Maui parks closed after Tropical Storm Nolo?

Most reopened within days. Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area remains closed because of downed trees.

The State closed all Maui and Molokai state parks on Friday, September 25, 2026 as a precaution for Tropical Storm Nolo. Iao Valley has reopened, Wai'anapanapa reopened on September 29 once its water was back on, and Polipoli stays shut, according to the State Parks notices page. Check that page the day before any park visit.

In Lahaina, Banyan Court Park stays fenced off for about two more years, and three streets near the harbor are closed during dredging. Our Front Street update has the details.

What sunscreen is allowed on Maui?

Mineral only. Since October 1, 2022, Maui County allows only sunscreens with non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to be sold or used.

The rule comes from Maui County Ordinance 5306. Pack a mineral sunscreen before you fly, or buy one on the island. It matters on land too: on the off-road and zipline tours you're in the sun for hours, and the Lahaina ATV operator asks guests to bring reef-safe sunscreen. The rest of the kit is in what to wear on a Maui ATV tour.

Are Maui vacation rentals being phased out?

Some, from 2029 in West Maui. Bill 9 ends short-term rental use of many apartment-zoned units, but Bill 88 lets about 4,500 of the roughly 7,000 seek hotel zoning.

Bill 9 was signed into law in December 2025. It sets January 1, 2029 as the end date for apartment-zoned vacation rentals in West Maui and January 1, 2031 for the rest of the county. In June 2026 the County Council approved Bill 88 by 7 votes to 2, giving about 4,500 of those units a path to keep operating under hotel zoning, Civil Beat reported.

Nothing changes for stays in 2026 or 2027. If you're booking a West Maui condo for 2029 or later, ask the host how the unit is zoned.

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