Hawaii Tourism Statistics

The travel outlook for Hawaii in 2026 presents a cautiously optimistic picture, with varying recovery trajectories across the islands, particularly for Maui following the 2023 wildfires. Here’s an updated overview:

Visitor Numbers and Spending:

• Economic Contributions: The tourism industry remains a vital component of Hawaii’s economy, with visitor spending anticipated to increase from $21.1 billion in 2023 to $23.6 billion by 2026.

Maui’s Recovery:

• Post-Wildfire Rebound: Maui continues its recovery from the August 2023 wildfires with efforts to rebuild and revitalize the tourism sector. While West Maui has reopened to visitors, the pace of recovery is gradual, and the area still faces challenges in restoring its tourism industry.
• Economic Impact: The wildfires significantly affected Maui’s tourism, with visitor arrivals and spending experiencing notable declines. Recovery efforts are ongoing, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure and restoring visitor confidence.

Island-Specific Outlooks:

• Oahu: Anticipated to experience steady growth in visitor numbers, with a gradual return of international travelers, including those from Japan, contributing to the island’s tourism recovery.
• Kauai and Hawaii Island: Both islands are expected to see continued growth in visitor arrivals and spending, with their unique attractions drawing steady interest from travelers.

Sustainable Tourism Initiatives:

• Focus on Sustainability: Hawaii increasingly emphasizes sustainable tourism practices, encouraging visitors to engage in eco-friendly activities and supporting local communities. This shift aims to preserve the islands’ natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations.

As Hawaii navigates the complexities of tourism recovery, travelers planning visits in 2026 and 2027 can look forward to a destination that is not only rebuilding but also striving to offer more sustainable and culturally enriching experiences.

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