In 1922, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Jones’ discriminatory legislation on the grounds that Alaska was a territory, not a state. But even when Alaska finally became a state — in 1959, along with Hawaii — the economic and social harm continued.
Cruising in Hawaii: How the federal government's 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act has limited the Aloha State's tourism potential
Ocean cruising is a natural for Hawaii’s tourism industry, but federal law has held it back for more than a century. The report reviews the history of the federal 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act, including its relationship to Hawaii, and concludes that changes are needed if tourism in the Aloha State is to reach its full diversified potential.
The protectionist federal maritime law known as the Jones Act costs the average Hawaii family almost $1,800 a year, according to this groundbreaking independent study. The law overall costs Hawaii $1.2 billion annually, including 9,100 jobs and $148 million in taxes.