Visitor arrivals in February outpace same time last year

Spending by tourists on Maui approaching pre-pandemic levels

Maui hosted more than double the number of visitors in February than in the same month last year and saw similar tourist spending levels as it did in pre-pandemic days.

According to preliminary visitor statistics released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Thursday, Maui hosted 193,232 visitors in February of this year, compared to 92,608 visitors in February 2021 while the state had travel requirements and restrictions.

These rates are still lower than pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, when there were 234,823 visitors to the island, and in 2019, when there were 221,603 visitors.

Visitor spending seems to be rising again and nearing pre-pandemic levels. Maui visitors spent a total of $402.8 million in in February of this year, $135.4 million in February 2021, $458.5 million in February 2020, and $413.2 million in February 2019.

"With the lifting of the Safe Travels program, Hawaii will need to prepare for hosting a different mix of visitors," said DBEDT Director Mike McCartney in a news release. "There will be demand by local businesses; from restaurants, transportation, retail, activities and lodging, to attract and retain a quality workforce for Hawaii which will bring more certainty to the economy. There is now an opportunity for Hawaii's small businesses to attract and retain quality workers and employees."

A total of 630,647 visitors came to Hawaii in February, with 623,691 visitors arriving by air, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East, and an additional 6,956 visitors arriving by cruise ships.

Total spending by visitors statewide in February this year rose to $1.31 billion, compared to $397 million spent in February 2021.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hawaii's quarantine requirements for travelers, the state had record-level visitor expenditures and arrivals in 2019 through February 2020, according to DBEDT, and it seems as though that the island chain is headed back that direction.

About 1.2 million visitors arrived in Hawaii in the first two months of this year, which is "nearly triple the number of visitors from the same period last year (407,259)," the report said.

Year-to-date data shows that the first two months of 2022 totaled $2.71 billion in visitor spending across the state, up significantly from the $795 million spent in the first two months of 2021. However, it was still less than the $3.19 billion spent in the first two months of 2020 and $3 billion in the first two months of 2019, according to the report.

For January and February combined, total visitor spending on Maui was $827.2 million, which is nearing pre-pandemic levels for the island. Last year, the report shows that about $264 million was spent in the first two months while about $975 million was spent in the first two months of 2020, much higher than 2019 at about $887 million.

There were a total of 376,510 visitors to Maui through the first two months of this year, a 136 percent increase from the first two months of 2021 (159,533 visitors), but still slightly lower than 2020 when there were 477,908 visitors in the first two months of the year. There were 455,025 visitors in the first two months of 2019.

Maui still trailed Oahu's numbers in February.

Unsurprisingly, Oahu had the highest visitor arrivals in the state, seeing 308,705 tourists in February this year, which is an increase from the 105,424 visitors that came in February 2021, but still lower than the 467,959 visitors in February 2020 and 454,687 visitors in February 2019.

Visitor spending on Oahu was up to $540 million in February, compared to $164 million in February 2021, but still a tad lower than pre-pandemic levels at $601.7 million in February 2020, and $609 million in 2019.

Kauai and Hawaii islands are also seeing a recovery in visitor arrivals and spending rates.

There were 88,428 visitors to Kauai in February of this year, compared to 7,349 visitors in February 2021, 110,478 visitors in February 2020 and 104,445 visitors in February 2019. Visitor spending was about $149 million in 2022, a nearly 400 percent increase from the $29.7 million spent amid the pandemic in February 2021.

There were 122,480 visitors to Hawaii island in February of this year, compared to 46,558 visitors in February 2021, 148,204 visitors in February 2020 and 138,387 visitors in February 2019.

Visitor spending was about $199 million, an increase compared to $62.9 million in February 2021, $218 million in February 2020 and $192 million in February 2019.

"As (Hawaii Tourism Authority) refines and implements their Destination Management Plans, it will take a collaboration with the counties to find the balance and ensure that the community is an integral part of the process as we all move towards a regenerative visitor industry," McCartney said.

"There is still a need to continue to be vigilant and remember that public health is the key for a healthy economy," McCartney added. "Even though the formal Safe Travels program has ended we hope that everyone takes responsibility to keep Hawaii safe."

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.