tourism in hawaii graph

Hawaii Top Things to Know Explore Now →

Kauai Guide

Big island guide, essential travel tips.

• Which Island to Visit? →
• Best Time to Visit →
• Hawaii Must See & Do →
• Hawaii Itineraries →

Travel Information

• Hawaii Weather →
• What to Pack? →
• Best Hawaii Island to Visit →
• Hawaii Safety Tips →

Hawaii Resources

• Hawaii Airports & Terminals →
• Hawaii Maps →
• Hawaii Travel News & Blog →
• Hawaii Visitor FAQ →

View our Hawaii Visitor Guides →

Hawaii Accommodations →

Lodging by island.

• Oahu Lodging
• Maui Lodging
• Big Island Lodging
• Kauai Lodging

Where to Stay

• Where to stay on Oahu →
• Where to stay on Maui →
• Where to stay on Big Island →
• Where to stay on Kauai →

When to Visit

• Best Time to Visit Oahu →
• Best Time to Visit Maui →
• Best Time to Visit the Big Island →
• Best Time to Visit Kauai →

Explore Hawaii Hotel Deals & Specials Search Now

• Hawaii Things to See & Do →

Tours by Island

• Big Island Tours
• Kauai Tours

Hawaii Attractions

• Oahu Attractions →
• Maui Attractions →
• Big Island Attractions →
• Kauai Attractions →

Hawaii Must See & Do

• Oahu Must See & Do →
• Maui Must See & Do →
• Big Island Must See & Do →
• Kauai Must See & Do →

Explore all Hawaii Tours Search Now

Hawaii Tourism Statistics

Handpicked Tours & Activities

Discount Hawaii Car Rentals

Hawaii Visitor & Traveler Data

Hawaii Visitors by Island 2022

If it's Hawaii tourism data you're looking for, then you're in the right place. We'll cover the latest tourism trends (within the last 1-3 years) on the Hawaiian islands and provide a series of graphics and summarized data to give you a good idea of what's happening by the numbers.

The adjacent graph shows the  Total ARRIVAL Data in 2022  to each island (including multi-destination/island arrivals). You can also view our historical 2018 data graph ,  2016 data graph , and  2006 data graph  for comparison. A pie chart is not truly the best format to display the visitor totals for the various islands as the number of visitors shown in the chart is greater than the true total, as many visitors go to more than one island. However, for our purposes, it should give you an idea of how many visitors (percentage-wise) are arriving/visiting each island. Just keep in mind the actual arrival numbers are "inflated" a bit. A more accurate way to look at this is 'Visitor Days,' per island, but these percentages seen here provide an accurate overview of each island's visitation.

Latest DBEDT Tourism Updates

Department of business, economic development and tourism - monthly summary.

December 2023 Visitation & Spending

December 2023 Update

In December 2023, Hawaii marked the fifth consecutive month with declining visitor expenditures, experiencing a slight dip in both visitor arrivals (860,831 visitors, -1.3%) and spending ($1.96 billion, -1.2%) compared to December 2022. Despite this, the overall visitor spending for 2023 showed an increase from the previous year.

Visitor Arrivals and Spending : December 2023’s visitor count represented a 90.4% recovery from pre-pandemic levels in December 2019. The majority of visitors arrived by air service from the U.S. West and East, with a notable increase in arrivals by sea.

• U.S. West and East : Visitors from these regions showed a decrease in arrivals and spending compared to the previous year, but an increase from 2019.
• Japan and Canada : There was a significant increase in visitors from Japan compared to 2022, though numbers were still lower than in 2019. Canadian visitor numbers decreased from both 2022 and 2019.

Island-Specific Numbers :

    •     Oahu : Received 514,345 visitors with $885.1 million spent.     •     Maui : 196,402 visitors marked the highest number in five months post-wildfires, with $464.4 million spent.     •     Kauai : Saw 120,290 visitors, with spending reaching $266.0 million.     •     Hawaii Island : Welcomed 163,133 visitors and saw $309.5 million in spending.

The year 2023 concluded with an increase in total visitor spending to $20.78 billion, and total arrivals rose by 4.4% from 2022.

Official Press Release

November 2023 Visitation & Spending

November 2023 Update

Visitor Arrivals and Spending : In November 2023, Hawaii experienced a slight increase in visitor arrivals but continued to see a decrease in spending compared to the previous year. A total of 731,233 visitors represented a modest 0.3 percent increase over November 2022, yet spending decreased to $1.53 billion, down 2.4 percent from the previous year.

Source of Visitors : The majority of visitors came by air service, mainly from the U.S. West and East. There was a small increase in visitors from Canada, and a significant surge from Japan compared to 2022, though numbers remained much lower than in 2019.

Key details from the Island in November 2023 :

    •     Oahu saw a rise in visitors to 440,049 but a drop in spending to $652.9 million.     •     Maui had 161,522 visitors, recovering from wildfire impacts, with spending at $375.5 million.     •     Kauai hosted 106,907 visitors, with spending increasing to $212.7 million.     •     Hawaii Island welcomed 135,645 visitors with spending reaching $262.7 million.

Overall, there was a year-to-date increase in total visitor spending and arrivals, with $18.82 billion in spending and 8,783,688 arrivals, indicating growth from 2022.

October 2023 Visitation & Spending

October 2023 Update

In October 2023, Hawaii continued to see a decline in both visitor arrivals and spending compared to 2022, marking the third consecutive month of downturn following the Lahaina wildfires.

Visitor Arrivals and Spending : October 2023 saw 734,582 visitors, a 3.2% decrease from October 2022, but a 92.3% recovery compared to pre-pandemic October 2019. Total visitor spending was $1.51 billion, down from $1.54 billion in October 2022 but up from $1.33 billion in October 2019​​.

Source of Visitors : The majority of visitors arrived by air service, primarily from the U.S. West and U.S. East. The U.S. West contributed 362,258 visitors, a decrease from 2022 but an increase from 2019. U.S. East saw a decline in arrivals compared to 2022 but an increase from 2019. Visitors from Japan increased significantly from 2022 but were much lower than in 2019. Canadian visitor numbers decreased from both 2022 and 2019​​.

Numbers by Island :

• Oahu : Received 448,096 visitors, a 14.7% increase from October 2022, with spending reaching $673.3 million, slightly up from the previous year​​.
• Maui : After the wildfires, visitation dropped to 132,909, a 42.3% decrease from 2022, and spending fell to $326.2 million, down 25.2% from the previous year​​.
• Kauai : Saw a stable visitor count at 109,337, virtually unchanged from 2022, but spending increased to $233.2 million, a significant rise of 34.1% from the previous year​​.
• Hawaii Island : Had 133,081 visitors, a 6% decrease from October 2022, with spending of $246.1 million, an 8% increase from the prior year​​.

September 2023 Visitation & Spending

September 2023 Update

In September 2023, Hawaii experienced a decrease in both visitor arrivals and spending compared to the same period in 2022, partly due to the aftermath of the Lahaina fires on Maui. The total number of visitors was 651,286, marking a 7.4% decrease from September 2022, yet showing an 88.5% recovery from pre-pandemic levels of September 2019. Total visitor spending was $1.37 billion, a reduction from the $1.52 billion in September 2022 but an increase from September 2019's $1.25 billion.

The majority of visitors arrived by air, predominantly from the U.S. West and East. The U.S. West sent 329,187 visitors, a decrease from 2022 but an increase from 2019. U.S. East saw 153,635 visitors, down from 2022 but up from 2019. Visitors from Japan increased significantly compared to 2022 but were much lower than 2019 numbers. Canadian visitor numbers and spending also decreased compared to 2022 and 2019.

Visitor demographics varied across the islands. Oahu welcomed 433,209 visitors, Maui received 94,221 visitors, significantly impacted by the wildfires, Kauai hosted 115,305 visitors, and Hawaii Island saw 129,444 visitors. Each island exhibited unique trends in visitor arrivals and spending, reflecting diverse attractions and visitor experiences.

August 2023 Visitation & Spending

August 2023 Update

In August 2023, Hawaii's tourism was notably impacted by the Lahaina wildfires, leading to a 7.3% decrease in total visitor arrivals compared to August 2022. This figure represented an 83.0% recovery from the pre-pandemic levels of August 2019. The total number of visitors was 769,163, with a significant decline in arrivals to Maui due to the wildfires. Visitor spending for the month was $1.58 billion, lower than the $1.74 billion spent in August 2022, but still higher than the $1.50 billion from August 2019.

The majority of visitors, 766,023, arrived by air service, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East, with an additional 3,140 coming via a single cruise ship. The average length of stay for all visitors was 8.67 days, slightly less than in August 2022. The statewide average daily census was 215,020 visitors.

Visitor arrivals to different islands varied. Oahu saw an increase in visitors, with 507,702 arrivals. Hawaii Island and Kauai also experienced increases in visitor numbers. In contrast, Maui faced a significant drop in visitor arrivals, with only 112,259 visitors, less than half the volume of August 2022, primarily due to the Lahaina wildfires which led to the cancellation of 88 direct transpacific flights to Kahului.

Visitor demographics from different regions showed mixed trends. The U.S. West sent 392,427 visitors, a decrease from both 2022 and 2019. However, their spending, although lower than in 2022, was higher than in 2019. Visitors from the U.S. East also decreased compared to both 2022 and 2019, but their spending increased from 2019 levels. Visitors from Japan increased dramatically from 2022 but were much lower than 2019 figures. Canadian visitor numbers and spending decreased compared to 2022 and 2019.

There were 103,589 visitors from other international markets, including Oceania, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Guam, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands. This figure was an increase from 2022 but a decrease from 2019.

July 2023 Visitation & Spending

July 2023 Update

In July 2023, Hawaii’s tourism showed a positive trend, with 932,713 visitors marking a 1.5% increase from July 2022 and representing a 93.7% recovery from July 2019. Visitor spending reached $2.05 billion, exceeding the figures from both 2022 and 2019. The majority of visitors, 929,386 in total, arrived by air, primarily from the U.S. West and East. The average length of stay for all visitors was 9.06 days.

From the U.S. West, there were 499,029 visitors, a decrease from 2022 but an increase from 2019, with spending of $972.1 million. Visitors from the U.S. East were comparable to 2022 numbers and higher than in 2019, with spending of $628.4 million. Visitor arrivals from Japan saw a significant increase compared to 2022 but were still lower than 2019 figures, with spending of $83.2 million. Canadian visitors slightly exceeded 2019 levels, with a total spend of $68.2 million.

The visitor count from other international markets, including Oceania, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, was 100,912, showing a modest increase from 2022 but a decrease from 2019. Total trans-Pacific flights servicing the islands were slightly fewer than in 2022 and 2019.

For the first seven months of 2023, total visitor spending amounted to $12.83 billion, showing an increase from both 2022 and 2019. Total arrivals during this period were 5,897,424, higher than in 2022 but lower than in 2019.

Island-specific details reveal that Oahu welcomed 528,585 visitors with a spending of $870.7 million. Maui received 293,681 visitors, with spending of $623.4 million. Kauai had 139,771 visitors and a spend of $264.5 million. Hawaii Island saw 171,957 visitors, with a spending of $263.0 million.

Visitor demographics varied, with a significant portion of U.S. West visitors being repeat visitors, and a majority staying in hotels. The first seven months of 2023 saw 3,110,046 visitors from the U.S. West, spending $6.05 billion. The U.S. East contributed 1,563,393 visitors, spending $4.05 billion. From Japan, there were 267,131 visitors, spending $427.5 million, and from Canada, 284,544 visitors, spending $726.2 million.

These statistics reflect a steady recovery in Hawaii’s tourism industry, with significant contributions from various international markets and a strong showing from U.S. visitors.

The tabular chart shown further below gives the breakdown of visitors in the islands on a month by month basis (color coded per island), based on data from 2019 & 2022 visitor reports.

Visitor Days & Visitor Expenditures

In considering the "health" of the tourism market, one must also put emphasis on the two factors that are the most important: "visitor days" and "visitor expenditures." 

Mahalo for the tip by 'amberloo' at TripAdvisor. In her words, " If there are more visitor days and more money being spent annually over the long-term, the industry is healthy regardless of any other factors; such as mere arrival totals. The goal of many government planners is to increase "days" and "spending" while limiting (or even decreasing) arrival counts. "

Why limit arrival counts you might ask? One has to consider tourism "capacities" of the islands and how that will affect future trends. Maui and O'ahu likely reached their carrying capacity (for visitors) years ago, thus have few remaining competitive development opportunities and will not have the statistical fluctuations or upside growth potentials seen on Kaua'i. In fact, due to growth in recent years, Kaua'i has now about reached its own carrying capacity pending completion of on-going development.

Estimated Hawaii Visitor Arrivals by Month 2019 & 2022

Individual Hawaiian Island Data

These statistics are "arrival" data - meaning visitors who arrived in the islands (either from the mainland US, abroad, or from another island).

When viewing these statistics, we encourage visitors to keep the geographic size of the islands in mind. For example, the Big Island and Kauai have very similar trends in arrivals. However, the Big Island is significantly larger geographically speaking than Kauai (in fact, it is larger than all of the other islands combined) so these visitor numbers alone cannot tell the complete story. Kauai and the Big Island may very well have the exact same number of visitors any given month, but the size of the island will also determine how "crowded" it feels.

Big Island of Hawaii Visitor Data

The largest in the chain typically ranges between 100,000-175,000 arrivals each month. Excluding the summer "hump" felt through all the islands, the number of arrivals fluctuates much less than some other islands in the chain, so visitation is usually about the same in Hawai'i. The events we noted on the  best time to travel to Hawaii  page, that are held each spring and fall, can increase visitor ratios on the island. The volcanic eruption that began in May 2018 is also to have likely affected arrival numbers for this period.

Maui Visitor Data

The second largest island in the chain typically ranges between 210,000-300,000 arrivals each month. The summer "hump" is by far the largest period of arrivals, but there are also significant spikes at other times during the year, most notably around the Christmas holidays.

Kauai Visitor Data

The fourth largest island in the chain typically ranges between 100,000-140,000 visitors each month. Kauai, in general, is a much quieter island (arrival wise) when compared to the likes of the other islands in the chain. But that may be due to its size and "theme" (all things green). The summer "hump" is the only really busy time on the island, though it's not as distinct as the "hump" Maui and Oahu experience. The 2018 winter and spring storms and subsequent closures on Kauai likely affected visitor arrivals after this period.

Oahu Visitor Data

The third largest island in the chain typically ranges between 450,000-570,000 visitors each month. As you can quickly see, that number quickly dwarfs the other islands arrival data. Oahu is widely popular with visitors abroad, and given that 75% of the state's population lives on this single island, the arrival data can skew accordingly.

Typical Hawaii Visitor Timeline

Typical Visitor Planning Timeline

More Information:

Hawaii Weathe r page or Selecting a Hawaiian island to visit

If you want even more detailed tourism specifications, please visit the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism .

Molokai & Lanai Visitor Data

These two islands only make up slightly more than 1% of all visitor arrivals combined. If you're heading to either of these two islands and are curious about this data, we suggest you look at the detailed statistics provided on the  Hawaii Tourism Authority  website.

You may also be interested in...

Terms of use & disclosures.

This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms , conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. All partners and related links comply with our Advertising Disclosures . For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not cost you anything and help provide the necessary funding to maintain this website. Mahalo!

Article Published/Updated: 03-18-2024

Download our Hawaii Map Packet

Includes most major attractions, all major routes, airports, and a chart with estimated driving times for each respective island..

Our popular Summary Guidesheets are now included.

Download your copy of our... 2024 Hawaii Travel Guide

Hawaii-Guide.com has been featured in...

Hawaii Visitor Information...

Try out our new AI Powered Search & Chatbot →

Plus & Premium Benefits

Donate and remove ALL the ads

Mahalo for your support!

By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms . Mahalo!

• Our Supporters

Neighborhood Boards To Get Active Shooter Training After Alarming Incident At Meeting 

Details Emerge On New Billion-Dollar Undersea Cable Project

Ben Lowenthal: The Surprising Persistence Of Conservatism In True Blue Hawaii

Union Says Big Island Wastewater Plants Are Dangerously Understaffed

This State Agency Transformed Kakaako. Should It Do The Same For Lahaina?

• Special Projects
• Mobile Menu

9 Charts That Show How Hawaii Tourism Is Changing

Editor’s Note: “Tourism’s Tipping Point” is an ongoing Civil Beat series that looks at the future of the vacation industry in Hawaii, its impact on our lifestyles and environment, and its sustainability.  

On the surface, these are heady times for the tourism industry.

This year, Hawaii is expecting to draw a record 10.2 million visitors, with continued growth expected in the future. The industry now accounts for 125,000 jobs — roughly one in five jobs in Hawaii. Airlines are expanding flights into Hawaii.

10 Million Visitors: Can Hawaii Survive Its Own Popularity?

But understanding where the industry is headed is more complicated. Visitors are spending less per capita than three decades ago, including on places to stay, often choosing vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods. And they’re increasingly opting for cheaper activities like hiking. And as crowds grow, so too does the possibility of a public backlash, according to recent surveys.

Here’s a look at Hawaii tourism by the numbers:

Visitors to Hawaii soared during the 30-year span from 1960 to 1990, rising to 6.7 million from less than 1 million. Over the next two decades, visitor counts grew modestly before taking a dive because of the Great Recession. Now the numbers are rising dramatically with no end in sight.

As the number of visitors to Hawaii has grown, so have the number of jobs that depend on the industry . No private sector industry is more important. In sheer numbers, government jobs rival the leisure and hospitality sector. So does a sector called “retail, trade, transportation and utilities,” the bulk of which are retail jobs. But when factoring in the number of retail establishments that cater to tourists, the tourism industry’s importance becomes even more enormous.

In 1939, just 520 passengers came to Honolulu on trans-Pacific flights, according to Robert C. Schmitt’s “Historical Statistics of Hawaii.” Back then, a round-trip ticket between Honolulu and San Francisco cost $556, more than $10,000 in today’s dollars. It’s no wonder passenger numbers were small. It took nearly 30 years for the air passenger count to reach 1 million.

Since then, the numbers have grown exponentially. And while the bulk of visitors still come from the western U.S., as they did during the days of Pan Am’s first flights to the islands, Hawaii’s roughly 10 million visitors come from all over the world.

A striking statistic is that even as Hawaii’s visitor count has risen significantly, the number of people staying in traditional hotels — or the number of hotels — hasn’t grown much. So where are these millions of additional people staying?  In vacation rentals, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority

But the category of “vacation rentals” doesn’t tell the whole story. There’s yet another hard-to-count category, the properties advertised on sites like Airbnb, which the authority calls “individually advertised units.” These totaled 30,000 statewide, according to a lengthy appendix to the authority’s inventory of visitor accommodations. The growth in vacation rentals and individually advertised units is noteworthy because people staying in those accommodations tend to spend less overall that other visitors, HTA has reported.

Despite ever-growing visitor numbers, Paul Brewbaker, an independent economist, has long pointed out a less positive trend. When adjusted for inflation, visitor expenditures now are only where they were in 1989, even though we have about 2.5 million more tourists than we had then. That means more side effects — stresses on roads, reefs, trails and beaches — to generate the same economic benefits.

It’s not surprising that visitors renting Airbnb or other vacation houses spend, on average, less for lodging than people staying in hotels. But according to HTA, they also spend less on food and beverages, shopping and other entertainment and recreation. In fact, people staying in hotels spend more across the board.

Industry officials say the recreational interests of visitors are changing.

One example: a rising popularity of hiking to Instagrammable trails and a decline in the popularity of golf. Back in 2002, visitors from Hawaii’s most popular market, the U.S. West, golfed about as much as they hiked. Just under 20% hit the links then, while 21% hit the trails. But by 2017, the percentage of golfers had declined by about 50 percent, while the percentage of hikers increased by about 36 percent. The trend is consistent across most of Hawaii’s markets.

It’s significant not just because it shows travelers have less expensive tastes. Golfers tend to pay large fees, which go to using and maintaining courses; hikers typically pay little or nothing to maintain the trails they use.

Hiking And Recreational Area Rescues (2016-2018)

One of the presumed costs of all the tourists hitting the hiking trails is the cost of rescuing them.  As the interactive map above shows, trails that seem to attract large numbers of tourists — even easy ones like the paved path up Diamond Head and the mostly gentle trail to Manoa Falls trail — have the most rescues.

HFD statistics show at least 130 rescues at Diamond Head from 2016 through 2018. That amounts to more than one per week. In three years alone, there were 995 rescues with more than a tenth occurring on Diamond Head alone.

As the crowds grow and the impacts on beaches, roads and once hard-to-reach places are felt far beyond Waikiki, locals have grown more wary of the state’s most economically important industry. A significant, but declining majority still agree that tourism provides net benefits to Hawaii. But an even stronger majority believe the island is now being run for tourists at the expense of locals.

“Tourism’s Tipping Point”  is part of Civil Beat’s year-long series, “Hawaii’s Changing Economy.” That work is supported by a grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation  as part of its CHANGE Framework project.

--> Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed. --> Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed.

Before you go.

Civil Beat is a small nonprofit newsroom that provides free content with no paywall. That means readership growth alone can’t sustain our journalism.

The truth is that less than 1% of our monthly readers are financial supporters. To remain a viable business model for local news, we need a higher percentage of readers-turned-donors.

Will you consider becoming a new donor today?  

About the Authors

Top Stories

More Like Cops Than Clerks? 911 Dispatchers Push For Recognition As First Responders

Lawmakers Rejected A Bill To Bail Out HECO. Now What?

Naka Nathaniel: We Should Make Every Aug. 8 A Hawaii Day Of Service

Ex-Honolulu Investigator Tells Jury He Swore To Facts In Theft Case He Had ‘No Idea’ About 

Officials Tout Progress On Maui Housing Projects For Fire Survivors As Funding Deadlines Loom

The Maui Fires In Photos: April 2024

Get in-depth reporting on hawaii’s biggest issues, sign up for our free morning newsletter.

You're officially signed up for our daily newsletter, the Morning Beat. A confirmation email will arrive shortly.

In the meantime, we have other newsletters that you might enjoy. Check the boxes for emails you'd like to receive.

• Breaking News Alerts What's this? Be the first to hear about important news stories with these occasional emails.
• Special Projects & Investigations What's this? You'll hear from us whenever Civil Beat publishes a major project or investigation.
• Environment What's this? Get our latest environmental news on a monthly basis, including updates on Nathan Eagle's 'Hawaii 2040' series.
• Ideas What's this? Get occasional emails highlighting essays, analysis and opinion from IDEAS, Civil Beat's commentary section.

Inbox overcrowded? Don't worry, you can unsubscribe or update your preferences at any time.

• Topics ›
• Domestic tourism in the U.S. ›

U.S. Tourists Outnumber Hawaiians 5 To 1

Tourism can be a valuable source of income for countries, regions and cities, but a high influx of visitors can cause problems with energy supply, infrastructure and general cost of living for the native inhabitants of said areas. Hawaii, for example, is one of the most popular tourist destinations for travelers from the United States and Japan and many of its inhabitants have long been critical of the islands' booming tourism industry. According to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the U.S. Census Bureau, the annual number of tourists from the U.S. alone is five times higher than the population of the tiny island group.

As our chart illustrates, the number of U.S. travelers visiting islands like Hawai'i, O'ahu or Maui has been rising continuously since 2014, crossing the 7-million mark for the first time in 2022. Even in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, roughly two million U.S. Americans flocked to the island state, which was annexed by the United States in 1898 against staunch resistance by the native population.

Hawaii has also been a popular holiday destination for the Japanese for decades, even though tourist influx from the country is only slowly picking up steam again since 2020. The relationship between Hawaii and Japan is a fraught one though: On December 7, 1941, Japan's air force attacked Pearl Harbor on O'ahu , effectively prompting U.S. involvement in World War II.

In 2019, the overall number of visitors to Hawaii stood above the 10-million threshold, a development cut short by Covid-19. Between January and June 2023, around five million people visited the islands for an average duration of nine nights, spending $10.7 billion in the process. Roughly $8.5 billion of the total amount was spent by the 3.9 million visitors from the United States.

Description

This chart shows the countries with the most visitors to Hawaii per year and the population of Hawaii.

Can I integrate infographics into my blog or website?

Yes, Statista allows the easy integration of many infographics on other websites. Simply copy the HTML code that is shown for the relevant statistic in order to integrate it. Our standard is 660 pixels, but you can customize how the statistic is displayed to suit your site by setting the width and the display size. Please note that the code must be integrated into the HTML code (not only the text) for WordPress pages and other CMS sites.

Infographic Newsletter

Statista offers daily infographics about trending topics, covering: Economy & Finance , Politics & Society , Tech & Media , Health & Environment , Consumer , Sports and many more.

Related Infographics

Solar eclipse, solar eclipses to hit major u.s. metros within the century, sponsored post by booking.com, the how of improving social cohesion with local tourism, the us remains the largest domestic travel market, atmospheric river, the scale of california's pineapple express phenomenon, tourism & hospitality, the top destinations of indian tourists, cities with the highest domestic tourism spending: 2032 forecast, travel and tourism, how often do americans travel, business travel isn’t going anywhere, despite growing digital connectivity, domestic spending in tourism eclipses international for the major cities, domestic gives way to international travel: 2032 forecast, short-term rental, which u.s. cities have high airbnb densities, billionaires, the billionaires' brand emporium.

• Who may use the "Chart of the Day"? The Statista "Chart of the Day", made available under the Creative Commons License CC BY-ND 3.0, may be used and displayed without charge by all commercial and non-commercial websites. Use is, however, only permitted with proper attribution to Statista. When publishing one of these graphics, please include a backlink to the respective infographic URL. More Information
• Which topics are covered by the "Chart of the Day"? The Statista "Chart of the Day" currently focuses on two sectors: "Media and Technology", updated daily and featuring the latest statistics from the media, internet, telecommunications and consumer electronics industries; and "Economy and Society", which current data from the United States and around the world relating to economic and political issues as well as sports and entertainment.
• Does Statista also create infographics in a customized design? For individual content and infographics in your Corporate Design, please visit our agency website www.statista.design

Any more questions?

Get in touch with us quickly and easily. we are happy to help.

Feel free to contact us anytime using our contact form or visit our FAQ page .

Statista Content & Design

Need infographics, animated videos, presentations, data research or social media charts?

More Information

The Statista Infographic Newsletter

Receive a new up-to-date issue every day for free.

• Our infographics team prepares current information in a clear and understandable format
• Relevant facts covering media, economy, e-commerce, and FMCG topics
• Use our newsletter overview to manage the topics that you have subscribed to

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Hawaii Tourism Is Way Up — and It’s Just Getting Started

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

While the pandemic pummeled Hawaii in its early stages, the Aloha State’s tourism industry is back, and by some metrics, bigger than ever. The number of tourists from the U.S. mainland is higher than it was before the pandemic — and average spending per trip is also higher.

More demand means higher prices — and the increase in demand is just getting started. Travelers from Asia, who previously comprised a significant portion of Hawaii tourists, have not returned to Hawaii in pre-pandemic numbers, due in large part to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

But with recent border reopenings in Asia, coupled with some big changes coming to the Hawaii tourism scene (including Disney cruises and a clampdown on tourist accessibility), the future for Hawaii travelers will likely be competitive — and expensive. Still, there are ways to visit that allow you to avoid crowds, minimize over-tourism and save money.

Tourism in Hawaii is at record highs by some metrics

More than 700,000 people visited Hawaii in September 2022, representing a 95.5% recovery from the same month in 2019. But while overall tourism numbers haven’t exceeded pre-pandemic levels, many other metrics have been blown out of the water, according to data from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Here are some of the most significant changes in Hawaii tourism between September 2019 and September 2022:

Overall tourism spending in Hawaii is up 18.5%.

The average trip length is up 5.9%.

The number of tourists visiting from the rest of the U.S. is up 29%.

Increased spending might be partly due to inflation. The average cost of airfare increased about 8% nationwide between September 2019 and September 2022, while hotel prices increased 5%, according to a NerdWallet analysis of Consumer Price Index data . But in that period, the nationwide increase in inflation — up 16% — is less than the 18.5% spending increase specific to Hawaii.

Stays in Hawaii are longer than they were pre-pandemic — possibly because of an increase in workcations . The average stay in September 2022 spanned 8.9 days, up 5.9% from the average 8.4-day stay in September 2019.

People are also spending more on daily activities like hotels, tours and food than they did pre-pandemic. Average spending per person, per day in September 2022 was $236, up 17.1% from the same month in 2019.

Of all the islands, Oahu has seen the sharpest increase in average daily visitor spending since pre-pandemic times, up 25%. Oahu has also seen some significant investment in tourist-minded improvements — many of which put a fresh emphasis on Hawaii’s culture and history.

The Ford Island Control Tower. (Photo courtesy of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum)

For example, the Ford Island Control Tower at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum opened this summer after a restoration project that took over a decade. The Polynesian Cultural Center’s Ali'i Luau had its official relaunch in August 2022. (It initially launched not long before pandemic shutdowns in fall 2019.) Seth Casey, a marketing manager at the Polynesian Cultural Center, says it’s the only luau in Hawaii that features a historically accurate Hawaiian cultural presentation.

And tourists are responding well to such additions. More than two-thirds of tourists from the U.S. and Canada participated in activities centered around history or culture in the first quarter of 2022, according to DBEDT.

Supply might not grow — which could put more pressure on prices

For all the demand, there might not be much of a supply increase. The majority of Hawaii residents say they don’t want more lodging to be built.

While 77% of residents want to clamp down on illegal vacation rentals, 64% don’t want any new vacation rentals, period. That’s according to DBEDT’s Spring 2022 Resident Sentiment Survey, which interviewed nearly 2,000 Hawaii residents between May and July 2022. And it’s not just vacation rentals; 66% said they didn’t want to allow the building of any additional hotels, condos or timeshares.

Kamaole Beach, south shore of Maui. (Getty Images)

There are also caps on activities for Hawaii travelers. For example, a pilot project from Park Maui this winter will restrict parking access at Maui's Kamaole Beach parks on weekends and holidays before 10 a.m., allowing only Maui County residents to park. Non-residents can park there after 10 a.m. — for a fee. (Meanwhile, resident parking is free.)

Such changes stem in part from rising anti-tourism sentiment. In 2009, 78% of residents said they at least somewhat agree that tourism brings more benefits than problems. But that figure has been steadily decreasing. In 2022, it’s just 54%.

But some residents are more receptive to tourism than others. On Oahu — which saw the largest increase in average visitor spending of all the islands versus pre-pandemic — pro-tourism sentiment has recently increased, reversing a downward trend that began before the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents on Oahu and the Big Island were more likely than those on Maui or Kauai to say that tourism should be actively encouraged, according to DBEDT data.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of residents on Maui and Kauai have stated that their island “is run for tourists at the expense of local people,” and that the “economy is too dependent on tourism.” Residents of those islands are more likely to want to stop building hotels or approving vacation rentals. They’re also more likely to call for resident-only days at parks and beaches.

Still, Hawaii tourism will likely continue to explode

While the number of tourists in Hawaii is at about 96% of its pre-pandemic levels, signs point to 2023 far exceeding that.

For starters, the number of tourists from the rest of the U.S. has already massively increased, up 29% in September 2022 versus September 2021, according to DBEDT data. Meanwhile, tourism from other countries is still down — most notably from Japan.

In 2019, more than 1.5 million tourists came from Japan, representing about 15% of all tourists to the state. For now though, Japanese tourism is still down 83%.

That figure could shift, as Japan recently reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers following nearly three years of heavy pandemic restrictions. Travelers can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance — and likewise, it’ll be far easier for people from Japan to get to Hawaii. Direct flights between the two destinations only resumed in August 2022 after a pandemic hiatus, making convenient travel to Hawaii from Japan possible again.

A cruise ship lingers over Nawiliwili Beach Park in Kauai. (Getty Images)

Then there are cruises. Hawaii paused cruise ship arrivals during the first two years of the pandemic. Then, in the first nine months of 2022, 26 out-of-state cruise ships arrived, bringing 40,658 tourists, according to DBEDT. That’s far fewer than the 44 cruise ships carrying 95,149 tourists that arrived during the same period in 2019, but cruises are coming back.

Beginning in October 2023, the Disney Wonder will offer the fleet’s first-ever South Pacific itineraries, which either start or end in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

Just this year, Disney Cruise Line announced its first-ever cruises through the South Pacific, which will take visitors between Honolulu and Sydney, with stops that include American Samoa and Fiji.

Should tourists go to Hawaii? Yes, but mindfully

There are plenty of ways to cut down on contributions to Hawaii tourism problems and save money. Here’s how to minimize both costs and overtourism when traveling to the islands.

Patronize historically accurate visitor experiences: While residents are mixed on tourism’s benefits, most agree that educating visitors about the islands’ cultural and natural resources is crucial. Tourist activities like the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Ali'i Luau are trying to tackle that.

When the show went into development in 2019, Casey says the creators went to painstaking efforts to make sure they got feedback from cultural experts to ensure it was accurate.

The luau is a tribute to Hawaii's last ruling monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. Performers onstage tell her story in her own words and play original compositions she wrote.

Ditch rental cars for mass transit: Don't be intimidated by the idea of exploring Hawaii without a rental car. It can be done. Oahu is generally the easiest Hawaiian island to navigate without a car, given its public transportation system, TheBus, and the privately owned Waikiki Trolley that stops at most major tourist attractions. On other islands, try taking small group tours rather than renting a car and fighting traffic on your own. For experiences like Maui’s famous winding Road to Hana, paying someone else to drive while you enjoy the scenery might be ideal anyway.

Respect natural resources: While you can spend time in nature for little to no cost, it's important to be mindful of the environment. Don't carve your name in trees or leave trash behind, and stay on trails whenever possible.

The Courtyard Oahu North Shore is among the hotels with no resort fees. (Photo courtesy of Marriott)

Seek out hotels that don’t charge resort fees: Resort fees are one of the most brutal — and increasingly common — aspects of travel found in popular destinations like Hawaii. These semi-hidden fees purport to cover the costs of expenses such as the fitness center or pool, but they’re non-negotiable. Even if you don’t use the amenities, the fees are still charged.

But some hotels have opted out of charging them. Courtyard Oahu North Shore, for example, offers standard amenities like a swimming pool and waterfall, plus cultural activities like ukulele and hula classes with no additional fee.

“We look at it from a guest perspective,” says Dave Betham, the property’s general manager. “We like the idea that there are no surprises.”

Making Hawaii tourism better for residents and locals

Hawaii tourism is growing — and it looks set to reach new highs beyond even pre-pandemic times.

For tourists, Hawaii can be a prime vacation destination. It can be an escape from colder climates and an opportunity to explore a different culture through new foods, activities and historical sites.

Zipline riders on Oahu. (Photo courtesy of Climbworks Keana Farms)

Many of those within Hawaii’s tourism industry say they want to offer activities that still respect the land. That includes folks like Betham, mentioned above, as well as Aaron Campbell, who owns Climbworks Keana Farms, a zipline company on Oahu’s North Shore.

“We want visitors to come, but we want them to come responsibly,” Campbell says.

During the 10-minute ride to the mountain top, tourists are taught about Hawaii's history, culture and farming. Educational exhibits are sprinkled along the zipline tour itself.

“As we now look at this push for tourism that we’ve gone through, we’re reexamining the value of tourism,” Betham says. “How do we make that experience better for the guests, better for us, better for the Hawaiian people?”

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Maui Travel Updates

News Releases

Hawai‘i tourism authority launches new campaigns to stimulate meaningful travel demand.

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2024 HTA Release (24-11)

24-11 HTA Launches Marketing Campaigns.pdf

Research Shows Strong Return On State’s Strategic Marketing Spending In 2023 HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) has launched new targeted campaigns as part of its global marketing and visitor education efforts. The purpose of these initiatives is to reinvigorate responsible travel demand from key markets around the world to the Hawaiian Islands. “We are being more assertive in our messaging strategy with inspiring campaigns that spotlight Hawai‘i’s people, culture and experiences unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA board chair. “We need to ensure that the Hawaiian Islands stay top-of-mind among travelers amidst the competitive global market, especially as we head into the summer and fall.” “The People. The Place. The Hawaiian Islands.” uplifts Hawai‘i’s musicians, lei makers, chefs, farmers, culturalists, fashion designers, and others in their sectors that rely on a vibrant visitor industry. Some of the individuals who will be featured in the campaign in the coming months include Chef Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery; Meleana Estes, Creative Director and Author of Lei Aloha; and Kainani Kahaunaele, Musician and Educator; with others to follow. “The People. The Place. The Hawaiian Islands.” is aimed at the Hawai‘i target traveler, defined as those who are eco-conscious, mindful of safety precautions, interested in learning about the culture of the places that they visit, and want to protect the Islands’ natural resources. The campaign will be deployed in the continental U.S. first through an integrated marketing effort leveraging earned, digital, social media, and travel trade education. While this campaign will have a heavier emphasis on supporting Maui, it will also build on each island brand and will be utilized by HTA’s global marketing teams in their respective markets and Hawai‘i partners worldwide. “The People. The Place. The Hawaiian Islands.” will be live in-market mid-May. In Japan, the “Beautiful Hawai‘i” and “Yappari Hawai‘i (“It’s Gotta be Hawai‘i”) campaigns are already underway with an integrated mix of digital and TV advertising, social media, earned media, partnerships and trade education to drive bookings. “Beautiful Hawai‘i” shares the characteristics and key experiences within the Hawaiian Islands to inspire visitors from Japan to return, emphasizing the notion that “travel can make the world beautiful.” “Yappari Hawai‘i (It’s Gotta be Hawai‘i)” has generated more than 61 million impressions to date, including on taxi and bus signage, social media, and digital banners on Yahoo! Japan and Google. In addition, HTJ garnered participation from 22 industry partners with special offers as a part of the campaign. “Redeveloping our higher-spending international markets, including Japan, is key to balancing our visitor mix throughout the state,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO. “The campaigns promote regenerative tourism by encouraging visitors to support our local businesses and enjoy a range of experiences that are accessible to them, while strengthening The Hawaiian Islands’ brand and travelers’ perceptions about Hawai‘i. These campaigns build upon the concept of educating visitors to mālama — care for Hawai‘i — which remains at the core of our efforts.” According to industry-standard research by SMARInsights commissioned by HTA, every dollar spent on strategic, paid placement of campaigns in the U.S. and Japan in 2023 resulted in $399 of visitor spending and $31 of state tax collections. Development and deployment of the new campaigns are under HTA’s management through its global marketing teams: Hawaiʻi Tourism United States and Hawaiʻi Tourism Japan. The new campaigns mark the evolution in visitor education messaging focused on sharing the stories of Hawai‘i’s people, cultures and customs. In 2019 with “Hawai‘i Rooted,” HTA and its global marketing teams educated visitors prior to their arrival, while the “Kuleana” travel tips video series educated travelers on-island about how to visit safely and responsibly. In 2021, in the wake of the global pandemic, “Mālama Hawai‘i” was launched, inspiring visitors to take part in caring for the Islands and the community. Following the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, “Mālama Maui” encouraged travelers to return with respect and compassion. For tourism to best support the post-wildfires recovery, “Mākaukau Maui” launched to support residents who were ready to return to work by assuring visitors that Maui is ready to welcome visitors.

Media Contacts:

T. Ilihia Gionson Public Affairs Officer Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (808) 973-2255 (o) [email protected]