Hawaii Considers Public Funding for Michelin Guide

State lawmakers weigh using tax dollars to bring the prestigious restaurant ratings to the islands.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Hawaii lawmakers are considering using state general revenues to pay Michelin, the renowned restaurant rating organization, to evaluate and publish a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the Hawaiian islands. The proposal comes as other regions have spent over $1 million to bring the prestigious Michelin Guide to their areas.

Why it matters

The Michelin Guide is seen as a major boost for a region's culinary reputation and can drive significant tourism and economic activity. However, the use of taxpayer funds to subsidize a private company's ratings has raised concerns about government overreach and the appropriate use of public money.

The details

The proposal would have the state of Hawaii pay Michelin an undisclosed amount to send inspectors to evaluate restaurants statewide and publish a Michelin Guide for the islands. Other regions that have brought the Michelin Guide to their areas, such as California's Bay Area, have spent over $1 million in public funds to do so.

  • The Hawaii state legislature is currently considering the proposal to fund the Michelin Guide.

The players

Michelin

Michelin is a renowned French company that publishes the Michelin Guide, a prestigious restaurant rating system used worldwide.

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What’s next

If approved, the state would need to negotiate the contract terms and funding amount with Michelin before the restaurant evaluation and guide publication could begin.

The takeaway

The debate over using public funds to bring the Michelin Guide to Hawaii highlights the tradeoffs between boosting a region's culinary reputation and the appropriate use of taxpayer money to subsidize a private company's ratings system.