Can A New Tax Save Downtown Honolulu’s Small Businesses?

The proposed fee could improve safety and cleanliness in the area, but critics say it won’t fix the underlying challenge facing downtown.

Civil Beat | By Stewart Yerton
Published August 27, 2025

The Honolulu City Council is considering imposing a new fee for downtown properties to help revitalize what was once a bustling commercial center. But some small downtown business owners say the proposal won’t address what they need: more customers, specifically office workers who previously were the lifeblood of the area’s economy.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/08/can-a-new-tax-save-downtown-honolulus-small-businesses/