VISITOR ACCOMODATION UNITS RISE IN STATE, DROP ON MAUI & MOLOKAI

The number of visitor accommodation units statewide in 2008 rose 1.3 percent from the year before according to a report just released by the state.   Kaua`i had the largest percentage increase of 5.9 percent to 9,203 units. Maui decreased slightly by .8 percent to 19,055 units while Moloka`i witnessed a 21 percent decline due to the closure of the Lodge & Beach Village at Moloka`i Ranch. The visitor unit count on Lana`i remained unchanged.  Hawai`i Island reported an increase of 1.6 percent to 11,240 visitor units. O`ahu reported a 1.5 percent increase to 34,081 units, boosted by newly renovated Waikiki properties being added back into the inventory and the continued expansion of timeshare units in Ko `Olina.  Hotels continued to comprise the majority (57.2 percent) of visitor units statewide and condominium hotels accounted for the second largest share of visitor units at 22.1 percent. The number of hotel visitor units decreased slightly (-.3%) while condominium visitor units increased by 10.2 percent. Timeshare units grew by 4 percent and individual vacation units decreased by 5.1 percent.

(Posted by Wendy Osher:  Monday, January 12, 2009)