As early as last December, there were signed as the Hawaii domestic visitor count far exceeded expectations, which results even surprised us. Even that, however, didn’t tell the whole story of what’s now unfolding.
Before we even knew the word Covid and all of its implications, Hawaii had record-breaking visitor arrivals throughout 2019 and into early 2021. Then it all ground to a halt for what seemed like an eternity.
Read more about what this means for your travel plans and see our best tips at the end of today’s post.
Airline hiring spree speaks to unprecedented Hawaii tourism demand in 2022.
Today, bellwether Hawaiian Airlines launched a big statewide campaign to hire 600 new employees “to support the carrier’s growth as travel demand continues to improve.” This is across a wide range of support positions on all of the islands. In addition, “Hawaiian is also seeking Honolulu-based pilots, flight attendants and corporate team members as it prepares to welcome a new fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft and return to its international markets.”
During Covid, Hawaiian faced huge cuts, and furloughed a significant percentage of its staff. Operations came to a virtual standstill. This is a huge turnaround. In addition, newcomer Southwest Airlines is running very short-staffed and is trying to deal with the onslaught.
In a nutshell, it is going to be busy. Very busy.
Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism said that “as long as Hawaii remains a safe destination we can regain our momentum with visitor arrivals to recover in the second quarter of this year.”
International visitors still have not returned in any meaningful way, but that is coming soon too.
Hawaii’s whiplash-wild tourism rebound.
Hawaii travel’s faster than expected return is just getting started. The upcoming spring break and upcoming peak summer season will be telltale. Prices, for everything except to some degree airfare, have gone up. In some cases, way up. Vacation rentals especially on the neighbor islands, are in high demand and are selling out quickly as arriving visitors wanted more space and less interaction.
Hotels are jumping up in price too. On Hawaii car rentals, there is some better news. While they experienced the same issues of being priced dramatically high or being entirely unavailable, worse on the neighbor islands, it is improving. There appears to be better availability and somewhat lower prices ahead. With that, it isn’t clear what will become of the whole new industry that was spawned when people created their Turo vehicle rental fleets. We understand there is a glut of those cars for sale now.
Best Tips For 2022 Hawaii Vacations
How to find the least crowds and the lowest prices this year. Get planning now for your vacation in Hawaii. Can you vacation off-season after spring break to early June and August 15 to Thanksgiving? If so, that will be the best to avoid all problems.
Save money and avoid these pitfalls.
Read Hidden Costs Of Hawaii Vacations + What You Can Do. You’re clearly spending more visiting Hawaii. From accommodations and car rentals to restaurants and more, here are some more great tips to help you keep your vacation budget in check.
Updated 3/10/22.
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Ane T says
Coming? its here! cant park at the beach or store, cant get into restaurants, cant turn left, etc etc etc.
enough to make we want to just stay home.
JenB says
Leaving in 5 days for our trip to Oahu (after forcing to cancel in 2020)! Even with safe travels requirements and mask mandates, we are so excited to come for the first time! I think as restrictions continue to loosen more people will come back. Thanks BOH for keeping us in the loop about traveling to HI!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jen.
Thanks. We’re happy to hear you’re about to enjoy a vacation in Honolulu!
Aloha.
Liam G says
After seeing how many people look with mask off I’m starting to be a fan of mask on well for most people 🙂
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Liam.
LOL. Thanks.
Aloha.
Liam G says
Action plan step 1 wait. End of steps.
tdbear says
High fuel prices are going to discourage travel to the islands. Coupled with higher inflation then the mainland as just about everything has to be shipped in by boat. I don’t see a repeat of the summer 2021 insane hotel and car rental prices as that was fueled by cheap airfares and pentup demand. This is a best case view and if Biden cause Putin to send of Russia’s oil to commie china then Katy bar the door, as there will have to be rasioning as no way the supply gap that would cause to make up
Curtis C. says
Checked rental car prices through Costco for 10 days in Maui, in late August. $1365. That’s about 60% higher than pre-pandemic. Hope it gets better.
Laim G says
Lol why are people going? This is ridiculous but hey to each his own.
Lee S says
My advice for anybody planning to fly between now and November is to book your flight now. I understand that air fares fluctuate, but finding fares rise by $200 in just two days prompted me to book our November flights now. I also booked our rental car. It was slightly more expensive that last year, even though we booked for 7 days instead of 10. I booked our condo earlier in the month, so we’re set. With fuel prices skyrocketing, I’m wondering how high the air fares will go. Thanks BOH.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Lee.
Thanks. Good suggestions.
Aloha.
George K says
I always purchase my airfare to Hawaii at least 10 months prior to our dates of travel. This year we hotel reservations in early November. Early January I purchased the airline tickets. After reading the article I looked to see the cost today. I guess I am fortunate my same airfare in a period of 2 months has increased $50. The real concern is the amount to pay for a car rental. The cost of the same size car for the same time of year has increased 30%.
Katherine P says
AN N95 has a filter in it that filters out more virus particles then a cloth mask.
Alfred H says
In the context of civility, we were on a delayed American Airlines flight from HNL-DFW last night. Scheduled 9:30pm departure, cancelled, and the reinstated, we left at 12:20am. Through it all, the American Airlines agents working the desk and the passengers were all civil and calm. No hysteria, no yelling, it’s too bad that this kind of stuff doesn’t get posted on social media, and if it did, everyone would ignore it for not being interesting.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Alfred.
Glad to hear you made it out. Thanks for sharing, and happy travels!
Aloha.
Richard C says
Off subject, tonight I walked into a high end grocery store to grab some sushi in nor-cal I was the only person without a mask. Every one looked at me like I was crazy, yet all them only had a cloth mask on none of them had an N95 mask on. So who’s the crazy one me without a mask or them wearing a mask that doesn’t work against covid
David B says
Suffered through two flights/corresponding airports yesterday. Precious few N-95s. Just cloth. Flight attendant scolded me because mine (obtained at Bozeman airport) had fallen off my nose. I was out of practice (hadn’t worn one since early December). Hers (cloth) was half-off much of the flight. I threw mine in trash when I got outside at LIH, but was scolded again by security dude. Takes time to transition back to mask culture after being in maskless culture.
Jeanne F says
Vaccinated,boosted,followed the”science” ,now feel their is Covid Theater—
Rod W says
Richard – just what every govt wants – compliant sheep. If we the people will wear masks that do nothing, imagine the govt demands we will obey when it comes to other issues.
Paulc says
Lol yeah and you walking around maskeless protects you and others how? Answer it doesn’t
Liam G says
What??????
Rod W says
PaulC,
Well in my specific case, I’d had the 2 base shots and the booster.
So, I think I’m well protected and not a danger to others.
As to masks – they do nothing. The govt know, the CDC knows and most people know it.
Dan L says
Not sure why you surprised that 2019 visitors spent 25% more than 2021 visitors. It’s the “southwest affect”. Cheaper fares bring cheaper visitors. They paid their cheap fares, they still cheap when they get here, not supporting local businesses.
Rod W says
Dan L – Cheap, or frugal, or spending what they can afford. For many, this is the only chance in their lives that they will be able to come here. Would you rather they stay away and not spend a dime in Hawaii.
Even those with just a little money, once they get to Hawaii they spend on hotels (and only local hotels are cheap), they buy food, they use the buses, they buy souvenirs, go to a luau, take a tour.
Show a little respect for the folks that come – rich or not so rich.
David B says
I hear you, Dan.
How dare people travel to Hawaii who aren’t loaded with cash. What do they think this is – America??
By the way, a lot our our neighbors out here on North Shore are those same type of people. They are taking up space on Kauai without adequately “supporting” local businesses. Sounds like they should be deported to mainland on Southwest.
Curtis C. says
Did you read the article Dan L? The stats that BOH listed are the exact opposite of what you said in your comment.
Liam G says
The rich ones are cheapest. Those without figure it’s there only time there so spend away deal with it later.
Paulc says
Well huh. I was one of those who got the cheap fares and I spent alone (was with a group of four including me) about 3500 at local businesses. The rich people don’t go to the small local shops
Rod W says
PaulC,
“The rich people don’t go to the small local shops.” Is that assertion the result of some scientific study?
Chris S says
Amen Dan
SW effect has definitely brought a different demographic to our islands. I for one agree with you 100%!
Minnow G says
Gotta keep your eyes open for deals all the time. I scored a car rental with Hotwire on January 10, just one week before I departed for Muai. It was an economy car for two weeks through Enterprise for $301, including taxes and fees! Haven’t gotten a price like that since the early 2000s.
Mona says
Use Turo. Any kind of car I want for great price. Gonna be driving a Range rover on my trip to Oahu in july
David B says
We are chilling out at Vegas airport, waiting to board SWA flight to Lihue.
The wristband took less than 30 seconds. Show your government issued ID (like voting in a red state or eating indoors in a blue state), and let her scan your QR code. She puts on the wrist band. That’s it.
your mileage may vary.
Paulc says
Gee
If you read at least half the commentary you’d think that no one was coming to Hawaii. Great to see so many like myself that see the entry restrictions as just a bump on the road to paradise.
Roy H says
Aloha Guys
I have the feeling that as other places in the world get open after covid, Hawaii’s tourist numbers will drop back down to a more reasonable number.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Roy.
Yes, we think so too. There are still other factors at play so it is still quite early in that process.
Aloha.
Paulc says
Maybe maybe not I don’t think that will happen at least for a couple of years
Cathy says
Where are you getting your statistics, because they do not match what is being publicly announced by DBEDT. “A total of 753,670 visitors arrived by air service to the Hawaiian Islands in December 2021, primarily from the U.S. West and U.S. East. In comparison, 236,575 visitors (+218.6%) arrived by air in December 2020 and 952,441 visitors (-20.9%) arrived by air and by cruise ships in December 2019.” Overall, visitor arrivals remains about 20% lower than pre-pandemic. Please check your info.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Cathy.
The information came from the governor’s office and is correct.
Aloha.
Rod W says
BOE,
With Omicron declining do you still expect the Gov to go with a booster mandate?
Thank you.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Rod.
Isn’t that the million-dollar question. He says yes and Lt. Gov. now says no. What can we do?
Aloha.
Rod W says
BOE, I guess we wait and see. I have 23 people planning to arrive on the 18th of Feb. Most do not have the booster and most have not had their 2nd shot at least 6 months before the 18th.
Minnow G says
Isn’t that why the booster mandate was put off–to give people plenty of time to get their shots? At least there’s still the option for them to provide negative tests in order to get to Hawaii.
David B says
Ige wants you to take lots of shots. Whether you want them or not, or whether they do you any good for the 3-4 months that they last (something like that) is no consequence at all. Maybe Pfizer is sponsoring Hawaii?
OT – I have working wifi on a SWA flight over the pacific ocean. First for me.
Laim G says
Maybe a tough sell now that not being able to wait 75 years that cats out of the bag 🙂 and this is just the beginning
Erika says
There are too many people already and considering that isn’t counting international visitors this is ridiculous for other locals who have to tolerate the attitude we are experiencing from them. There have to be limits.
Steve G says
Erica,
I believe that goes both ways. I just returned home yesterday from Maui after a wonderful 23 days. While i did indeed see inconsiderate tourists, I also experienced many inconsiderate locals. Please note this was a very small minority but more than I have ever seen before. The inconsiderate ones should be taught how to be a better tourist and respect the land, but that is not going to happen if they are treated poorly. We simply should respect each other and treat others like we want.
Mary M says
Aloha Erika, to what “attitude” are you referring? What proposed limits do you propose? Mahalo.