#Visitors

Back-to-back Kona Low storms in March hobbled Hawaiʻi’s tourism economy, triggering an estimated $300 million in lost revenue as flooding, flight cancellations and attraction closures disrupted spring break travel across the islands.

The resort finally got tentative approval to add 137 new rooms but must meet over 30 conditions related to water, traffic and protection of potential burials.

The new program will charge visitors $10 a day, $50 a week and $150 a month to park at Kīhei beaches, with priority parking for locals on weekends and holidays.

Twenty-five months after the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires, there were 184,201 visitors to Maui in September 2025 compared to 165,322 visitors (+11.4%) in September 2024. Visitor spending was $436.4 million in September 2025 compared to $364.1 million (+19.9%) in September 2024.

As the phased reopening of West Maui officially begins Sunday, the County of Maui is distributing a series of videos for the Maui community and its visitors.

Entering 2018, the report shows positive signs for the economy, including the financial sector distributing bonuses and a raised minimum wage rate.

Hawaii will get additional airlift from Australia, later this year, when JetStar reinstates service from Honolulu to Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city.

According to a new survey by CheapHotels.org, Wailea ranks as the tenth most expensive US destination, in terms of hotel costs.

Last Thursday, HB 2078 bill requiring non-resident vacation rental owners to hire local property managers was passed by the Senate Tourism Committee.

State lawmakers have deferred the controversial vacation rental bill that would have made it law for out-of-state vacation rental owners to use a local rental managers.

Two controversial bills, SB 2089 and HB 1705, would require non-resident vacation rental owners to hire local property managers.

United Airlines announced today that it will begin daily, non-stop service from Honolulu to Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport.

The Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii has named Angela Nolan general manager for The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, located in north Kaanapali area.

In wake of the release recently of President Obama birth certificate by the White House, Aqua Hotels & Resorts announced yesterday a unique 15% discount to guests who can produce their birth certificate upon arrival.

New York and Honolulu came in first and second in Forbes magazine’s list of the 2011 top ten most expensive cities to visit in America.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. announced yesterday plans to reduce capacity and take other cost savings measures due to the rise in fuel costs, possibly affecting Maui and other Hawaii and Guam routes and seats.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., today reported operating revenue increase of 16% to $34.8 million and operating income increase of 39% to $22.4 million over the same quarter a year ago.

Ranchers and livestock operators on all islands are being strongly encouraged by the state Dept of Agriculture to review their biosecurity practices to prevent the virus from being transmitted to their farms and ranches.

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and the Four Seasons Resort Maui (Wailea) were among only three properties statewide to receive the prestigious five diamond rating from AAA Hawaii for 2011.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority released 2010 preliminary visitor arrivals by United States region data this week showing that California leads the nation in Maui visitor arrivals.