Kauaʻi County Council approves taxi fare increase to support local drivers

The Kaua‘i County Council has approved an ordinance to raise taxi rates across the Garden Isle, marking the first major fare adjustment in years for local drivers.

Bill 2974, introduced by Council Chair Mel Rapozo, updates the county’s regulations under Chapter 23 of the Kaua‘i County Code, which governs the operation of taxis and related trades.

The recently approved bill will significantly raise Rate 2 fares for chartered or touring taxi services. The starting meter cost for up to two hours will jump from $120 to $180. Similarly, the additional 15-minute rate will rise from $15 to $22.50.

Standard metered rates under Rate 1 will remain unchanged, keeping the initial meter reading at $3.50 and each additional one-tenth mile or 45 seconds of waiting time at 45 cents.

Passengers will still pay $1 per piece of baggage and $5 for oversized items such as surfboards or bicycles.

Līhuʻe Airport lists the following approximate taxi fares to popular destinations, including: Poʻipū ($42.00–$52.50), Wailua-Waipouli ($22.00–$27.60), Kauaʻi Hilton ($12.00), Līhuʻe-Kukui Grove ($9.00–$12.75) and Princeville-Hāena ($88.50–$118.50).

The ordinance will maintain a 20% discount on metered fares for seniors, students and passengers with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to transportation services.

The County Council agreed that rate adjustments were necessary to help taxi operators keep up with increasing living and vehicle maintenance costs, while also maintaining fair fares for riders.

“This is long overdue,” Rapozo said. “Iʻm not sure how you guys got by with the cost of gas going up so much.”

The average cost of a gallon of regular gas for the past year on Kauaʻi has hovered near $5, according to AAA.

He added that the bill was “one we probably should revisit a lot sooner, every eight years or so,” he said.

Councilmember Felica Cowden said: “Itʻs easy for me to support this.”

“Whenever I travel, I always take cabs rather than Uber because I really appreciate all that it takes to become a cab driver, and I appreciate all the education Iʻve gotten from our cab driver community,” she said.

The new ordinance also includes standard legal provisions, confirming that if any part of the law is found invalid, the remaining portions will remain in effect.

The changes take effect immediately upon the mayor’s approval and will be incorporated into the Kaua‘i County Code.

Once implemented, the revised fare schedule will make Kaua‘i’s touring and chartered taxi rates among the highest in the state.

Click here to estimate your fare or use the taxi fare calculator.