Maui visitor arrivals rise 10.5% in September, but shorter stays trim spending

More people visited Maui in September than a year earlier, but they stayed fewer days and spent slightly less overall, according to preliminary state figures released Thursday.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reported 190,404 visitors to Maui among those who arrived in Hawaiʻi by air in September, up from 172,327 in September 2025. September marked three years and one month since the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

Maui visitors spent $409.3 million in September, down 1.5% from $415.4 million a year earlier. The department attributed the decline to shorter stays, which averaged 6.48 days, down 10.8% from 7.27 days. Daily spending per visitor was essentially flat at $331.60, compared with $331.80 in September 2025. Spending per visitor per trip fell 10.8%, to $2,149.60 from $2,410.80.

The average daily census on Maui, the average number of visitors present on the island each day, was 41,145. That was down 1.4% from 41,741 a year earlier.

Through the first nine months of 2026, Maui recorded 2,010,244 visitors, up 6.4% from 1,888,613 in the same period of 2025. Spending for that period totaled $4.71 billion, up 7.2% from $4.39 billion.

Statewide declines

Statewide, visitor spending totaled $1.41 billion in September, down 9% from September 2025, according to the department. The figures are in nominal dollars, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation. Arrivals fell 3.6%, to 672,990 visitors from 697,986. Average daily spending rose 5.4%, to $283 per person.

The state said Hurricane Lowell, which passed close to the islands Sept. 6-8, caused flight cancellations, re-routings and delays. It also kept some cruise ships from visiting all of their scheduled ports. Hurricane Nolo later passed just south of the islands in late September, and its outer rainbands brought heavy rain to Kauaʻi.

Among the islands with available data, Kauaʻi recorded the largest percentage declines in arrivals and spending. Arrivals fell 35%, to 60,224 visitors, and spending fell 44.3%, to $105.4 million. Damage from Lowell closed Nawiliwili Harbor from Sept. 7-17. The average daily census on Kauaʻi dropped 45.2% from 21,027 to 11,520.

Oʻahu had 413,341 visitors, down 7.6%, with spending of $669.8 million, down 6.3%. Hawaiʻi Island had 117,823 visitors, down 0.2%, with spending of $214.4 million, up 1.1%. The department said limited data prevented it from reporting September figures for Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

Air service

The department reported 3,819 nonstop domestic flights with 802,236 seats from the continental US in September, up 3.3% in flights and 2.8% in seats from a year earlier. International air capacity fell 15.6% in flights and 17% in seats. The release did not include a Maui-specific air-service breakdown.

Kauaʻi recovery

In a statement included with the release, department Director James Kunane Tokioka said recovery efforts are underway on Kauaʻi. The state and the department funded a business recovery grant program, administered by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, that offers $5,000 and $10,000 grants to non-agricultural small businesses and nonprofits affected by the storm.