The 558,253 visitors to the islands during the month represents the second strongest April on record, surpassed only by last year's exceptional results. Growth in U.S. visitor arrivals made up for declines in visitors from other destinations.

Year-to-date, a total of 2,281,912 visitors have come to the islands, just shy of the record 2,294,966 visitors for the same period last year. Total visitor days year-to-date are down 1.0 percent compared to a year ago. 

"It is very encouraging that overall we are still keeping pace with the outstanding results of last year," said DBEDT Director Seiji Naya. "It is also good news that U.S. visitor arrivals continue to show strength despite the slowdown in the U.S. economy this year."

Hotel Occupancy

Hotel occupancy fell in April 2001 based on preliminary data from Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisor LLC. Statewide occupancy was 69.9 percent during the month compared with the 73.9 percent in April last year. Maui hotels with 78.0 percent reported the highest occupancy rates, followed by Kauai (70.8%), Oahu (67.6%) and the Big Island (62.8%).

Visitors Arriving on Domestic Flights

Domestic visitor days compiled from flights originating in U.S. cities declined 2.4 percent in April 2001 due to a 1.5 percent drop in arrivals and a shorter length of stay (down to 9.24 days from 9.32). Year-to-date domestic visitor days eased slightly by 0.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

The U.S. market, which accounted for 92 percent of all domestic visitors, actually increased 1.7 percent over April a year ago with the growth coming from the Pacific Region (+4.8%), West North Central Region (+1.4%), and New England (+16.9%). The drop in total domestic arrivals to 371,154 visitors was the result of decreases in the smaller Europe, Asia, Central America, South America and Oceania domestic segments. 

Compared to last April, single-island visits rose on Oahu (+9.3%), Maui (+1.9%), Molokai (+22.0%), Lanai (+6.2%) and Kauai (+0.8%), but fell for the Big Island (-7.4%).

More domestic visitors came to honeymoon (+9.9%), for a vacation (+0.4%), for other business (+3.8%) and to visit friends and relatives (+7.2%), while fewer came for meetings, conventions and incentives (-32.9%) than the previous April. The number of repeat domestic visitors rose 1.3 percentage points to 65.8 percent from April a year ago.

Visitors Arriving on International Flights

International visitor days (compiled from flights originating outside the U.S.) increased 3.4 percent as lower arrivals (-4.1%) were entirely offset by a longer average length of stay (up to 7.30 days from 6.77). 

More international visitors went to multiple islands (+8.0%) this April compared to last year. Visitations surged on Molokai (+121.9%), Lanai (+124.1%), Maui (+20.2%) and the Big Island (+10.5%), but fell on Oahu (-7.9%) and Kauai (-15.2%).

MCI travelers rose (+18.0%), but honeymooners (-2.2%) and vacationers (-6.5%) declined compared to April a year ago. Year-to-date MCI travelers (+14.7%) and honeymooners (+11.3%) continue to show strong growth. First-time international visitors represented 56.3 percent of all international visitors this April, 3.3 percentage points higher than April a year ago. 

Island Highlights

Lower visitor arrivals in April 2001 resulted in decreased visitations to Kauai (-10.7%), the Big Island (-7.8%), Lanai (-7.0%), Oahu (-4.3%), and Maui (-1.5%). Arrivals on Molokai rose 1.7 percent over the previous April. Year-to-date arrivals on Molokai (+24.9%), Lanai (+10.8%) and Maui (+1.2%) improved over the same period last year.

Compared to the previous April, domestic visitors on Oahu stayed the longest at 7.16 days (+4.7%), followed by Maui at 7.08 days (+2.0%), the Big Island at 6.69 days (+3.6%), Kauai at 6.40 days (+2.3%), Molokai at 4.60 days (+0.4%) and Lanai at 4.40 days (-0.1%). 

In April 2001, international visitors stayed the longest on Oahu at 6.24 days (+7.1%), followed by Maui at 5.23 days (+8.6%), the Big Island at 4.47 days (+13.8%), Kauai at 3.14 days (-16.6%), Lanai at 2.25 days (-161.1%) and Molokai at 1.72 days (-343.1%).

Visitor Characteristics

More visitors came for government and military purposes (+20.1%), to visit friends and relatives (+5.2%), for other business (+12.0%) and to honeymoon (+1.7%) during April compared to last year. Fewer came for MCI travels (-23.0%) and for vacation (-1.9%). Year to date, the number of honeymooners increased (+8.1%), and vacationers remained stable while MCI travelers declined (-10.1%) over the same period last year. 

Hotels remain the primary choice for lodging, accommodating close to 68 percent of all visitors this April. However, the number of visitors staying in hotels fell 4.4 percent while lodging in timeshare units (+17.2%), with friends and relatives (+12.6%), in bed and breakfast (+5.2%) and on cruise ships (+3.0%) rose compared to April a year ago. First time visitors to Hawaii accounted for 41.6 percent of the total visitors during the month, slightly higher than 41.5 percent last April.

Cruise Ship Visitors

Visitors arriving by air to board cruise ships rose 3.0 percent this April to 9,448 passengers.

Three foreign cruise ships visited Hawaii this April, compared to six last year. Despite fewer cruise visitors (-28.9%) during the month, a longer length of stay (up to 9.33 days from 6.50) resulted in a 2.1% increase in visitor days. Year-to-date cruise visitor days climbed 51.9 percent over the same period a year ago.

U.S. West Visitors

U.S. West visitor days rose 1.8 percent in April 2001 as increased arrivals (+3.2%) entirely offset a shorter length of stay (down from 9.12 to 9.00 days). Year-to-date visitor days were 0.9 percent higher than the same period last year.

Arrivals from the U.S. West totaled 221,959 with 76.3 percent being repeat visitors to the islands, higher than the 75.8 percent of a year ago. A surge of visitors came to honeymoon (+19.5%) during April when compared to a year ago. More visitors were also here to vacation (+4.2%) and to visit friends and relatives (+9.4%), while fewer came for MCI travel (-22.6%) compared to last April. Year-to-date growth was seen in the number of vacationers (+3.5) and honeymooners (+3.2%), while MCI travelers declined (-8.8%).

Compared to April a year ago, visitations rose for Oahu (+2.3%) and Maui (+4.2%) but decreased for Lanai (-15.3%), the Big Island (-9.0%), Kauai (-6.3%) and Molokai (-4.2%).

U.S. East Visitors

U.S. East visitor days fell 2.3 percent due a 3.6 percent drop in arrivals that offset a longer average length of stay (up to 9.42 days from 9.29). Year-to-date U.S. East visitor days declined 2.6 percent over the same period last year. 

Of the 133,176 visitors from the U.S. East, 49.4 percent were first-timers to the islands, up slightly from the 48.6 percent of a year ago. More visitors came to honeymoon (+12.0%) and for vacation (+1.3%), while fewer came for MCI travels (-32.1%) than in April a year ago. Year-to-date, the number of honeymooners (+5.1%) and vacationers (+1.9%) rose, while MCI travelers declined 20.6 percent.

All islands experienced growth in single-island visitations in April led by Molokai (+105.9%), Lanai (+8.2%), Kauai (+4.4%), Maui (+3.2%), the Big Island (+2.9%), and Oahu (+2.9%).

Japanese Visitors

Japanese visitor days rose 7.0 percent when compared to last April, as a longer average length of stay (up to 6.39 days from 5.52) completely offset a 7.5 percent decline in arrivals. Hawaii welcomed 128,243 Japanese visitors during the month; of these 57.1 percent were first time visitors, up from the 55.8 percent of last April. Year-to-date visitor days were 0.5 percent higher than the same period last year.

The majority of Japanese visitors (93%) still preferred hotels as their lodging choice. However, when compared to April a year ago, fewer Japanese visitors stayed in hotels (-7.6%), condos (-16.7%), and on cruise ships (-95.5%), while more stayed in timeshare properties (+816.7%), with friends and relatives (+536.6%) and in bed and breakfasts (+38.6%). 

More Japanese visitors came for MCI travels (+16.9%) and to visit with friends and relatives (+32.3%). Fewer were here to honeymoon (-4.0%) or vacation (-11.0%). Year-to-date growth in the number of MCI travelers (+19.5%) and honeymooners (+9.4%) remains strong compared to the same period last year.

Oahu reported lower arrivals (-7.7%), while visitations to Lanai (+1160.5%), Molokai (+494.8%), and Maui (+15.8%) surged dramatically from last April. Visitations to Kauai also rose 5.0% during the month. Except for Oahu, which experienced a 2.3 percent drop in visitations year-to-date, all neighbor islands reported strong growth over the period a year ago.

Canadian Visitors

Canadian visitor days declined 19.8 percent as a result of lower arrivals (-13.0%) and a shorter length of stay (down to 11.97 days from 12.98). Year-to-date Canadian visitor days fell 10.7% compared to the same period last year.

Except for Lanai that reported a 160.4% growth in visitations, all other islands experienced decreases in arrivals during the month compared to last April. A total of 22,641 Canadian visitors came to the islands, 46.1 percent were first time visitors, up from 41.1 percent in the previous April.