Arrivals at start of 2022 doubled compared to same time last year

Spending more than tripled from last year, though still not at pre-pandemic levels

Visitors to Maui in January more than doubled compared to the same time last year, and spending more than tripled from 2021, though the numbers still trailed arrivals and spending prior to the pandemic.

Maui saw 183,278 visitors in January, up nearly 174 percent from the 66,925 visitors in 2021, according to preliminary statistics released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism this week.

Arrivals have steadily grown but have not yet reached the pre-pandemic levels seen in January 2020, when Maui had 243,086 visitors, and in January 2019, when the island totaled 233,422 visitors, still well over this year's numbers.

In January of this year, visitor spending on Maui was $424.5 million, up nearly 230 percent from the $128.7 spent in January 2021. Prior to the start of the pandemic on Maui, visitors spent $517 million in January 2020 and $474 million in January 2019.

Molokai also saw an increase in its visitor market, going from 819 arrivals in January 2021 to 2,886 in January of this year. Spending rose from $600,000 in January 2021 to $2.4 million this year. Lanai's visitor arrivals went from 953 to 3,873, while spending climbed from $1.4 million to $5.8 million.

Statewide in January, there were 574,183 visitor arrivals, compared to 171,976 visitors during the same time in 2021.

Of the total visitors in January this year, 567,179 came via air, mainly from the U.S. West and East regions. But cruise ships, which signed agreements with the state Department of Transportation, resumed operations in January, with seven cruise ships to the islands bringing 7,004 visitors.

In January 2021, there was no cruise ship service, with all of the 171,976 visitors coming by air.

Total visitor spending in the state in January was $1.4 billion, up 251 percent from January 2021 with spending at $397.9 million.

"Hawaii began the year with positive gains in total visitor spending and per person, per day visitor spending for January, which are two of the Hawaii Tourism Authority's overall key performance indicators as outlined in our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan," said HTA President and CEO John De Fries in a news release. "Both measures contribute to the meaningful economic growth needed for our state's recovery."

While Maui saw a sizable gain in visitors as compared to January 2021, other islands saw more significant jumps in visitor arrivals in January, though all totals were still below pre-pandemic levels.

Oahu saw 277,228 visitors in January, which was an increase of 251 percent from 78,967 visitors in January 2021.

Kauai saw the biggest gain in visitor arrivals among all the islands with a more than 2,000 percent increase over 2021 numbers, going from 3,987 visitors last year to 84,828 visitors in January this year.

Hawaii island saw 110,697 visitors in January compared to 34,288 visitors in 2021.

Overall, Lanai and Maui saw the highest per person, per day spending in the state in January. On Lanai, per person, per day spending was nearly $264, with Maui at $237. They were followed by Oahu at $233, Kauai at $203, Hawaii island at nearly $201 and Molokai at $86.

While international travel to Hawaii has yet to make a full comeback, arrivals from the Mainland are already exceeding 2019 numbers.

"With the existence of the omicron variant, visitor arrivals in January 2022 was over 70 percent of the January 2019 level, indicating that the demand for Hawaii visitation remains strong, especially from the U.S. Mainland," DBEDT Director Mike McCartney said. "Visitation by the U.S. visitors has been surpassing the 2019 levels since May 2021."

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.