Keawakapu Beach in South Maui is shown on July 10. Both hotel occupancy and visitor arrival numbers at the start of the summer travel season have been behind last year’s numbers, reports show. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Maui County hotels continued to reflect a slower start to the summer travel season as revenue and occupancy rates in June fell behind last year’s numbers, just as they did in May, according to a recent report by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.

Last month, Maui County hotels saw a 67.2 percent occupancy rate, which is down 3.6 percentage points compared to June 2022 when occupancy was at 70.8 percent.

Revenue per available room in June was $418.74, which was down 8.7 percent versus 2022, when room revenue was at $458.60.

Even the average daily rate of $623 at Maui County hotels in June lagged behind 2022 numbers by 3.8 percent compared to the $647.63 average daily rate at the same time last year.

Statewide, however, hotels were roughly on par with last summer. Occupancy was slightly up at 76.7 percent in June, an increase of 0.9 percentage points versus June 2022 when Hawaii saw a 75.8 percent occupancy rate.

Revenue per available room statewide last month was $298.10, down by just 0.8 percent versus 2022, which saw room revenue at $300.65.

The average daily rate in June was $388.83, down 2 percent compared to the $396.73 average daily rate seen at the same time in 2022.

Compared to pre-pandemic numbers, occupancy statewide and in Maui County still lagged behind, though revenues and room rates were higher than in 2019.

Maui County hotels’ occupancy last month was down 13.4 percentage points versus June 2019, which saw an 80.6 percent occupancy rate. But average daily rates were 58.1 percent higher than 2019, when the average rate was $393.97. Revenue per available room was up 31.9 percent from June 2019, which saw revenues of $317.57.

Maui’s luxury region of Wailea again led the state in highest average room rates and highest revenue per available room in June, though both had declined compared to last year.

The average daily room rate in Wailea was $939.09 in June, which is down 8.6 percent compared to the $1,027.57 average daily room rate seen in 2022 but up 52.3 percent compared to 2019, when the average rate was $616.71. Revenue per available room at $624.03 is down 5.1 percent versus June 2022, which saw room revenue of $657.86, but up 11.1 percent compared to $561.61 in June 2019.

Occupancy in Wailea was 66.5 percent occupancy in June, up 2.4 percentage points from 64 percent occupancy rate in June 2022. The past two summers are still well below June 2019, when hotels saw a 91.1 percent occupancy rate.

For Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua hotels, occupancy was 69.3 percent in June, down 4.7 percentage points versus June 2022 and down 12 percentage points versus June 2019.

The average daily rate last month for the area was at $565.08, down 3.1 percent compared to June 2022, when the average daily rate was $583.01, but 70 percent higher than June 2019, when it was $332.40.

Revenue per available room for the West Maui hotels was $391.43 in June, down 9.3 percent versus June 2022 when room revenue was at $431.37, but up 44.9 percent compared to June 2019, when it was $391.43.

Across the state, Oahu saw the most gains from last year compared to the other counties.

Oahu had an occupancy rate of 82.9 percent in June, up 5.5 percentage points from June 2022. Average daily rate on Oahu in June was $291.48, up 3.2 percent versus June 2022. Revenue per available room in June was $241.50, up 10.5 percent from 2022.

On Hawaii island, occupancy last month was 69.7 percent, down 4.8 percentage points compared to 2022. The average daily room rate was at $410.39, down 3.5 percent versus 2022, while room revenue was $285.96, down 9.7 percent compared to June 2022.

On Kauai, occupancy was at 74.8 percent in June, down 7.7 percentage points compared to 2022. The average daily rate was $434.13, up 3.3 percent compared to June 2022, while room revenue was $324.70, down 6.3 percent versus June 2022.

For the first six months of 2023, total statewide hotel revenues were $2.9 billion, which is up 6.6 percent compared to 2022 and up 30.4 percent compared to 2019.

In comparison to other top U.S. markets, the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest first half 2023 room revenue at $285, with New York second at $205 and Miami at $187.

The Hawaiian islands also led the U.S. markets in the first half of 2023 with average daily rate of $380 — second was New York at $264 and Miami at $249.

But for the first half of 2023, Las Vegas topped the country in occupancy at 78 percent, followed by New York at 77.6 percent and Orlando at 76.4 percent.

The Hawaiian Islands had an occupancy of 74.9 percent for the first half of 2023, which was ranked sixth in the nation.

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