The State of Hawaii has released final numbers from the Department of Tourism regarding tourism in August, largely following the Lahaina fire. Without the decrease in Maui travel, everything has changed. In total, 769K visitors came to Hawaii, which was down 7.3 percent compared with 2022. Hawaii travel is still only 83% recovered following Covid.
And even as costs continue to skyrocket, most notably for accommodations, Hawaii’s total visitor spending was $1.58B, down 9.2% compared with 2022 and up 5.4% compared with 2019.
Terrible messaging decimated much of Hawaii travel following Lahaina fire.
When the Lieutenant Governor asked visitors to leave all of Maui and discouraged all travel to the island, it wreaked havoc on the travel industry and its visitors. Even the state finally acknowledges that, in a limited way, saying, “This messaging may have impacted travel to other islands.” (Editor’s Note: Oh boy, are they ever late to the party).
In August 2023, Hawaii visitor arrival results were highly mixed:
- Oahu – 507,702 visitors, +11.0% – partly Maui fire-related.
- Big Island – 152,951, +4.1% – true increase.
- Kauai – 131,628 visitors, +9.0% – true increase.
- Maui – 112,259 visitors, -57.8%. – fire-related.
Our sense is that the visitor count on Oahu was largely inflated in the period following the evacuation of visitors from Maui. We say that anecdotally since BOH editors were on Oahu the week following the fire, and it was mobbed with visitors who had left Maui but, prior to the fire, had no intention of visiting Oahu.
Visitors from the US Mainland shunned Hawaii in August.
In August 2023, just 392K visitors came from the Western US, down 16.0% compared with 2022. California visitors were down even more at 18%. East Coast visitors were similarly impacted while representing smaller numbers. 183K visitors arrived, down 16% compared with 2022. International visitors, notably from Japan, remained depressed, with 64K arrivals, still down 60% compared with before Covid. Canadian visitors, who complain regularly about the poor exchange rate, were down 21% at 29K.
Visitor spending has soared in Hawaii since Covid. Room rates have risen up to 71%
On Kauai, for example, the state reported that visitors coughed far more money on nightly hotel room rates in August 2023 compared with before Covid. “Kauai hotels led the counties (islands) in August 2023. The average daily room rate is up 71% on Kauai compared with 2019.”
The average nightly rate on Kauai was $444 prior to taxes and fees. Even then, visitors were willing, with occupancy rates at over 80%. The Big Island reported similar costs, albeit with 10% less occupancy than Kauai.
How much does it cost to stay at Kauai’s largest hotel?
While the average nightly rate is one thing, on checking the island’s largest hotel, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, however, we found something different. The cheapest nightly rates this fall are starting at over $800. And that’s prior to almost 18% taxes, plus a $45/nightly resort fee. It effectively brings their lowest room rate up to about $1,000/night.
Could a shift to fewer returning visitors come next?
We suspect that trend may already be in progress, while not yet reflected in the state’s data. We’ll be watching for that ahead. But for August, at least, a whopping 79% of arrivals had been to Hawaii previously.
Maui continues lackluster performance following West Maui reopening.
When West Maui travel resumed last weekend, it looked as if visitors to the island overall were no more ready to return than some residents are ready to welcome them. The Maui visitor arrivals count on opening day and since is following in a tight range, hovering at about 4,000. Normal for this time of year is nearly double that. A continued downward adjustment in expectations seems in order. The August performance was the lowest Maui visitor count since Covid.
What are your travel plans for Hawaii in the next 12 months, and where are you headed?
hta-august-2023-hawaii-hotels-performance-final-1Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Hawaii has been on my bucket list for so long. I will get there!
We’re coming back first week of January 2024 to visit our son at UH and will split time at Royal Hawaiian and turtle bay but we’re really disappointed in the hotel pricing.
We will go low budget on eating out.
We got good round trip air fare though.
Jim m
Like manyhere, I had been a regular visitor to Kauai for many yrs (pre-Covid), usually visiting in early December. These price increases — up 71%? — are absurd. I’ve been to Moorea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, etc. — expensive islands, true, but now Hawaii seems determined to catch up. Is that wise? Prices are exorbitant, and yet occupancy appears to be full. Who are these people?
I have been wondering the same thing. The Hyatt is now 1,000 per night (in the low season). The cheap hotels are $500. The Princeville airbnbs used to stay at went from $250 to $550 p/n.
Hi Bobby: The market is making adjustments, at least at many nice condos that you can find on VRBO or Airbnb. You can also sometimes save by booking directly with an owner, or with a management company. We, along with other owners, have brought our prices down to “meet the market”. Not certain what the hotels are doing or planning, but I know for a fact that there are a number of very nice places to stay on Kauai in the range of $200-$300 a night.
Yes!
When I stayed at the Islander on the Beach, I stayed with the hotel (the Aston chain) the 1st couple of times, but then switched to KrellersIslanderGetaway, which has several rooms at the Islander, nice rooms, & well-priced.
I believe Krellers has since been absorbed by another, bigger vacation rental outfit.
But, Yes, this is the way to go, if one can.
I have nothing but praise for the folks I dealt with in going the condo route. I returned year after year. I spent a considerable amount while there, too, on meals, activities, helicopter flights, etc. so I like to think I contributed to the local economy as well.
Kaui is gorgeous, and the locals struck me as remarkably tolerant and forgiving. And welcoming.
I’m visiting Kauai and Maui next week. Had planned to stay in Kaanapali but cancelled reservation and booked in Wailuku. I’m a first time visitor and have followed your site for information since the fire.
Yes! I usually – or used to, any rate – stay at the midrange Astin Islander on the Beach, in Wailua. I paid $200 for oceanfront, as recently as 2017. I believe they’re now charging more than double that, though I’ve not checked recently. Could be even higher than that.
What I don’t understand is where the guests are coming from at these prices. Even in 2017, I couldn’t help but notice the property was largely empty, admittedly low season, in early December. (Still a great time to get away from the northern winter.)
Whatever the Hyatt is charging, it is definitely Not worth $800. (A different argument could be made for the Princeville, I suppose, which is very high-end, in a Johnny Depp kind of way.)
More on the Hyatt: I would arrive on a night flight, around 10pm. From the left side of the plane, you can literally — as in literally — see into people’s rooms (oceanfront, so presumably the highest priced) from the left side of the plane as you’re landing. 99% of the guests had their blinds/curtains closed, and who can blame them? Not to mention what I imagine would be constant noise from flight arrivals. (Takeoff tends to be in the other direction, fortunately for hotel guests, depending on the winds).
All this, for $800 a night? Plus add-ons? Seriously?
Fine article, by the way. Well-researched, and really up-to-date. Good on whoever wrote it, and good on Hawaii Beat. I’ve become a fan!
Hi Alex.
Thanks and welcome!
Aloha.
You’re booked at valley high on Kauai for the week of May 3rd to May 10th. This will be my fourth time and my friends first time.
Kauai and its people hold a special place in my heart. Since my first trip, I couldn’t wait to bring new family and friends to fall in love with this beautiful island.
The prices just seem to skyrocket. I know that they are called the Hawaiian Islands but when hardly anyone can afford them anymore then maybe rename them Fantasy Islands like the tv show because prices are out of reality.
Have reservations in Kauai starting 7-31-24 for a week and then a week in Kona from 8-7-23 to 8-14-23. Kiwanis will have a convention in Kona from 8-10-23 to 8-14-23 at the Sheraton Keauhou. Bringing our whole family and their families. Now just looking for the best price on airfare – on Alaska since they have the best connections out of San Diego. Can’t wait.
Between 2020 and 2021, my family visited Hawaii a total of 16 weeks. We had been regular, annual visitors for the past 30 years. Regrettably, the islands are not on our radar due to the inflation and maybe greedflation. It’s sad.
Aloha. Will be on Big Island Thanksgiving week followed by 3 weeks on Kauai. Reservations made one year ago. Annual schedule gor us.
February 2024, to the Caribbean
June 2024, to Scotland, Ireland and England.
Hawaii not on the radar!!
Headed to Maui in December (fourth trip there in 2023) with my brother and his family for an 18 day stay. It is getting pricier by the minute to enjoy the islands. Love Maui🌴but pretty soon I will hit the $ ceiling and may start looking elsewhere with my tourism dollar.
I’m heading to West Maui Oct 23. Almost cancelled after multiple changes on the ‘opening day’ schedule. I’m glad to have waited longer because now I can offer my support to the local businesses and any volunteer work that is permitted to help the residents in need. Stay Strong Maui! Your always in our hearts.
Hello:
Would just like to point out that there are still a wide selection of places to stay that are well under the prices of the hotels on Kauai. My husband and I own a lovely condo on Kauai, listed with a management company. When we saw the nightly rates that “price labs” said we should be charging, we decided that they were way too high, especially in the current economy, so asked that they be reduced to something more affordable. We are not alone in doing this, I am sure. So there are some very nice condos in great locations on Kauai, with lots of amenities, for less than half the price of the big name hotels. Hope this helps those who are discouraged with the ultra high pricing in your article. Thank you.
Heading to Oahu in Feb. Then on to Kauai next. Was there years ago but now with our adult daughter and her family. Excited to see any changes. Hope prices aren’t too high.
When is Hawaii going to wake up and realize its economy is based on tourism? Families and young people can simply not afford the prices being charged! They are tired of the gouging and will go somewhere else. Your stats are already showing that to be true, fire or no fire!
I’m headed home to Kaneohe in early spring. I usually visit in late summer and winter as well but I’m going to try something different this year. Perhaps the Med region. I’m getting pretty tired of watching the unfolding chaos in the state (driven in large part by the pandering politics and the pain of seeing the sheer economic misery for a huge chunk of our population) and watching what little is left of the Hawaii of my youth being systematically destroyed in the name of “Growth and Progress”…
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer here but compared to the Hawaii of 50 years ago the islands are almost unrecognizable to me both physically and socially. I think most long time residents would probably agree… Very sad.
Best regards
Headed to Poipu next week
My wife and I are still planning to be in Honokowai Maui for a week at the end of February. We hope we can convey good Aloha to everyone. We are looking forward to it.
I can think of many places to go for less than $1000 a night that would be a lot better than Kaua’i.
TBH Kauai is overloaded with the combination of recent (think |covid work from home” new residents) as well as an excess amount of tourism which clearly the infrastructure of this island can not reasonably handle. Almost every restaurant and hotel is short staffed. Poor Hanalei gets absolutely overrun almost daily now. These inconveniences combined with extra high vacation rental prices will hopefully bring some middle ground.
Hotel/AirBNB rates in Kauai are 2X what they used be before Covid. I keep waiting for them to come down but that hasn’t happened. It’s going to be hard to keep visiting at these prices. It puts international travel in the same price point.
We have been visiting Kauai for over 20 years and typically stay at the Grand Hyatt, when we visited this Aug/Sep Kauai seemed to us that there was a different type of visitor than usual and just did not feel the same.
We did visit with some Kauai locals staying at the hotel for a weekend getaway, and they expressed to us how grateful they were for visitors. It felt as though they were aware of the anti tourism sentiment and wanted to let us know not all locals feel that way.
Prices at the hotel did seem higher and my wife and I made the observation that if prices are going to be that high we were going to consider other options such as 1 Hotel or Bora Bora. As nice as the Grand Hyatt is, there are better options in that price range.
because of the insane rates that now exist i don’t see us ever coming back after almost a 30 year tradition. sorry.
Hawaii will become a paradise for only the rich elite who can afford it. Sad …after being stationed there at KMCAS in the sixty’s and living there from ‘67 to ‘81 ….there is no more beautiful place on earth and all should be able to visit at least once.
Not even sure if it will be a place for the rich… when you reach that price point it opens up a lot of options, there are other locations where accommodations are nicer and do a better job of catering to that demographic.
I feel like as beautiful as Hawaii is, it just happens to be more convenient than equally beautiful locations in the Fiji islands or Thailand, to name a couple of locations.
I think the prices are going to tip the scales for a lot of people that didn’t want to spend more time on a flight and pay the additional cost of a flight to those locations, it is a lot easier to justify now.