Hawaii’s latest tourism numbers are more nuanced than the early-year surge suggested. According to DBEDT’s April 2026 visitor statistics release, the state pulled in $7.89 billion in visitor spending through the first four months of 2026 — an 8.0% increase over the same period in 2025. Total visitor arrivals reached about 3.38 million, up 2.7% year over year.

April itself was softer on headcount: 828,959 total visitors, down 0.5% from April 2025. But spending still rose 4.8% to $1.77 billion because visitors spent more per day. DBEDT notes that April air-service statistics are limited because of a data-processing delay, so treat the April release as preliminary rather than a fully detailed island-by-island report.

The key numbers from DBEDT’s April 2026 release:

• YTD visitor spending: $7.89 billion through April (up 8.0% from 2025)
• YTD visitor arrivals: about 3.38 million visitors (up 2.7%)
• April visitor spending: $1.77 billion (up 4.8% year over year)
• April total arrivals: 828,959 visitors (down 0.5%)
• April air arrivals: 801,335 visitors, with 27,624 arriving by out-of-state cruise ships
• Average daily spending: $278 per person in April (up 14.1%)

April’s growth was strongest in the U.S. East and Japan source markets by arrival count. U.S. West arrivals fell, but U.S. West spending still rose because average daily spending jumped. Canada — historically Hawaii’s second-largest international market — remained the weak spot, with both arrivals and spending down year over year. Canadian arrivals have been pulling back since late 2025 over a combination of currency, tariff, and political tensions.

Per-person daily spending is now running well above last year. Some of that is inflation. Some of it is mix: travelers booking higher-tier hotels, dining out more, and spending more on activities and tours even when total arrival counts are flat or slightly down.

The pattern is consistent with what hotel and restaurant operators have been reporting for months: fewer budget travelers, more premium ones. Several factors are driving it.

The Maui rebound shifted upmarket. After the August 2023 wildfires, Maui’s visitor base reset. Budget travelers and value-seekers were slower to return; honeymooners, anniversary trips, and luxury travelers came back first. The result: higher per-visitor spending but slightly lower total counts than pre-fire baselines. February data confirms Maui’s spending climbed sharply while arrival counts remain below 2023 highs.

Hotel inflation is real. Average daily room rates across the state have been running higher year over year, with luxury properties on the Kohala Coast and in Wailea pushing the high end. Multiply that across a week-long trip and the spending number climbs even if behavior is identical.

Activities and tours are pricier. Helicopter tours, sunset cruises, snorkel charters, and luaus have all raised prices in the past year. New park entry and reservation fees at Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, Waianapanapa, and other sites add to the per-trip total.

Higher-income visitors stayed loyal. Travelers who spend $5,000+ per trip are less price-sensitive than those who spend $1,500. When inflation hits, the budget end thins out first; the premium end keeps booking. That mathematically pushes per-visitor averages up.

Demand is real, even if the storms briefly spooked the booking window. Two back-to-back kona low storms in March and April triggered a wave of trip cancellations and softened June bookings briefly. The booking window for summer deals is still open, but the April year-to-date data confirms the underlying spending demand is still strong. Soft pockets in summer inventory can fill back in quickly as storm coverage fades.

Hotel rates are not coming down. If you have been waiting for prices to drop before booking summer, the data does not support that strategy. With year-to-date spending up 8.0% and high-end properties still drawing demand, expect rates to hold or climb through July. The exception: shoulder weeks (early June, late August) and properties with new rooms or recent renovations may discount to fill.

Restaurant reservations matter more than ever. Higher per-visitor spending means more people are eating at the top-tier restaurants. Reservations at Mama’s Fish House (Maui), Merriman’s locations, Roy’s, the Beachhouse on Kauai, and other in-demand spots are booking out 2-4 weeks ahead in summer. Use OpenTable or Resy and book before you fly.

Activity availability is tighter. Helicopter tours, swimming with manta rays, sunrise Haleakala tours, and other peak experiences are selling out 1-2 weeks in advance during summer. Don’t expect to walk up the day-of and find space. Book the big-ticket activities before you arrive, whether through a comparison marketplace or directly with operators.

Tipping the cost ladder. If your budget is tight, consider trading down a hotel category and trading up an activity or two. A mid-tier hotel plus a helicopter tour delivers a better trip than a luxury hotel and no activities. The data says people are doing the opposite this year.

Oahu — Spending and arrivals both up modestly. Waikiki is full but not insane; non-Waikiki neighborhoods (Ko Olina, Kailua, North Shore) have more flex. Restaurant waits are up across the board.

Maui — The biggest spending growth in absolute dollars. Wailea and Kapalua resorts are running near full at premium rates. South Maui (Kihei) and the North Shore (Paia, Haiku) have more value options. Road to Hana requires planning ahead more than ever — rental car shortages, road closures from recent storms, and reservation requirements at Waianapanapa State Park all add friction.

Big Island — Kohala Coast resorts are doing very well, especially the recently renovated Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Four Seasons Hualalai. Hilo side and Volcano remain the value alternative, with strong demand from travelers wanting to see the ongoing Kilauea Episode 44 eruption.

Kauai — Quietest of the four islands by visitor counts but spending per visitor is among the highest. Princeville and Poipu are full at premium rates; the Coconut Coast (Kapaa) and Wailua remain the value plays.

A few things to watch in the weeks ahead.

Storm recovery and booking confidence. The March and April weather events were not long-term tourism disruptions, but they did create short-term cancellation clusters and booking hesitation. The storms have not changed underlying demand, but they are a reminder that summer travelers should keep some flexibility in flight, hotel, and activity plans.

Summer airfare ceilings. Beat of Hawaii reported summer 2026 fares from many gateways are unusually high. Delta’s expanded JFK-HNL daily service and ongoing California-Hawaii competition should help, but airfare is still the single biggest cost most travelers face.

The Canadian market. If Canadian visitors continue to pull back, Hawaii loses its second-largest international source. Hotels and tour operators have been compensating with U.S. domestic and Asian growth, but a deeper Canadian decline would force pricing adjustments — likely downward in midmarket properties on Maui and Kauai.

The next DBEDT releases. DBEDT says April 2026 air-service statistics are limited because of a data-processing delay, with more detailed visitor statistics expected in upcoming months. Those releases will matter for island-specific summer planning because April’s statewide topline does not tell the full island-by-island story.

Hawaii’s 2026 numbers through April tell a clear story. The visitor market is not simply “more crowded.” It is more expensive and more spending-heavy. The budget end is thinner. Hotel rates remain high. Activity and restaurant availability is tighter at the top. The real story is not only whether Hawaii is busy — it is whether you book ahead of the demand curve or get stuck booking into it.

For summer travelers, the practical advice has not changed: lock in flights and hotels now if you have not already, book big-ticket activities before you fly, make restaurant reservations 2-3 weeks out, and build flexibility into your itinerary so weather disruptions do not derail the whole trip. Our free trip planning tools can help you map the logistics.

You will need a rental car for almost any Hawaii trip outside Waikiki — book that early too, as inventory tightens with overall demand.

• DBEDT Visitor Statistics Hub
• DBEDT February 2026 Visitor Statistics Release
• Office of the Governor — News Release
• DBEDT Visitor Research Hub
• Honolulu Star-Advertiser coverage