March 2026 Visitor Spending and Visitor Arrivals were Impacted by the Kona Low Storms

News Release from DBEDT, April 30, 2026

HONOLULU—Total spending by visitors in March 2026 was $1.96 billion (measured in nominal dollars), a 1.6 percent decrease compared to March 2025, according to preliminary statistics from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). There were 888,349 total visitors in March 2026, down 1.7 percent compared to March 2025 (903,891 visitors).

Two Kona Low storms impacted the Hawaiian Islands March 10-15 and March 19-24, 2026. These storm systems occurred during spring break which varies across the U.S. Visitors who arrived by air service to Hawaii during the storms were affected by flight delays and cancellations. Many visitors who came by out-of-state cruise ships could not visit all scheduled ports on the itineraries. Most national and state parks and other popular visitor attractions were closed due to the severe weather.

Note: In March 2026, limited statistics from visitors who came by air service were published due to a delay in data processing. More detailed visitor statistics will be published in the upcoming months.

There were 869,063 visitors in March 2026 who arrived by air service, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East. Additionally, 19,286 visitors arrived via out-of-state cruise ships. In comparison, 890,010 visitors (-2.4%) arrived by air and 13,882 visitors (+38.9%) came by out-of-state cruise ships in March 2025.

The average length of stay by total visitors in March 2026 was 8.14 days, compared to 8.43 days in March 2025. The statewide average daily census¹ in March 2026 was 233,203 visitors compared to 245,813 visitors (-5.1%) in March 2025.

In March 2026, 424,581 visitors arrived from the U.S. West, a 7.4 percent decline from March 2025 (458,570 visitors). In March 2026, total spending by U.S West visitors was $882.1 million, the average daily spending was $270 per person and the average length of stay was 7.71 days. In March 2025, U.S. West visitors recorded total spending of $931.1 million, the average daily spending was $252 per person and the average length of stay was 8.07 days.

For the month of March 2026, there were 271,291 visitors from the U.S. East, a 13.9 percent increase from March 2025 (238,163 visitors). In March 2026, total spending by U.S. East visitors was $696.8 million, the average daily spending was $296 per person and the average length of stay was 8.69 days. In March 2025, U.S. East visitors recorded total spending of $619.9 million, the average daily spending was $289 per person and the average length of stay was 9.01 days. Many U.S. East visitors arrived in early March for their spring break and arrived before the Kona Low storms.

In March 2026, 67,014 visitors arrived from Japan, growth of 8.8 percent from March 2025 (61,605 visitors). Of the 67,014 visitors in March 2026, 66,778 visitors arrived on international flights and 236 visitors came on domestic flights. In March 2026, total spending by Japanese visitors was $97.0 million, the average daily spending was $248 per person and the average length of stay was 5.84 days. In March 2025, Japanese visitors recorded total spending of $91.9 million, the average daily spending was $248 per person and the average length of stay was 6.00 days.

In March 2026, 47,490 visitors arrived from Canada, an 11.4 percent decrease from March 2025 (53,621 visitors). Of the 47,490 visitors in March 2026, 41,203 visitors arrived via direct air service from Canada and 6,287 visitors came on domestic flights. In March 2026, total spending by Canadian visitors was $128.2 million, the average daily spending was $218 per person and the average length of stay was 12.39 days. In March 2025, Canadian visitors recorded total spending of $134.0 million, the average daily spending was $222 per person and the average length of stay was 11.23 days.

There were 58,687 visitors from all other international markets in March 2026, which included visitors from Oceania, Other Asia, Europe, Latin America, Guam, the Philippines, the Pacific Islands and other countries. In comparison, there were 78,052 visitors (-24.8%) from all other international markets in March 2025.

Air capacity to Hawaii in March 2026 (5,562 transpacific flights with 1,247,294 seats) increased compared to March 2025 (5,486 flights, +1.4% with 1,189,430 seats, +4.9%).

Flights and Air Seats to Hawaii

Domestic Flights

There were 4,674 nonstop domestic flights with 1,019,099 seats from the continental U.S. in March 2026, compared to 4,529 flights (+3.2%) with 951,631 seats (+7.1%) in March 2025.

U.S. West: For the month of March 2026, 4,154 scheduled flights with 879,833 seats serviced Hawaii from U.S. West.

Air capacity increased from March 2025 (3,981 flights, +4.3% with 805,791 seats, +9.2%). Fewer scheduled seats from Anchorage, Everett, Wash., Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose were offset by growth in seats from Denver, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

U.S. East: For the month of March 2026, 511 scheduled flights with 138,346 seats operated to Hawaii from U.S. East.

Air capacity decreased from March 2025 (532 flights, -3.9% with 143,298 seats, -3.5%). Growth in scheduled seats from Atlanta and Dallas was offset by fewer seats from Chicago, Houston, New York JFK, Newark, Washington D.C. and discontinued service from Austin, Texas and Boston, Massachusetts.

International Flights

In March 2026, there were 888 nonstop flights with 228,195 seats to Hawaii from international points of origin including Japan, Canada, Korea, Oceania, Guam, Manila and many other Pacific islands. Air capacity decreased compared to March 2025 (957 flights, -7.2% with 237,799 seats, -4.0%).

Japan: In March 2026, there were 358 scheduled flights with 105,335 seats from Japan.

There were fewer flights (370, -3.2%) but slightly more seats (104,350, +0.9%) compared to March 2025. Discontinued service from Fukuoka and was offset by growth in seats from Haneda, Narita and Osaka.

Canada: There were 280 scheduled flights with 51,260 seats from Canada in March 2026.

Air capacity decreased compared to March 2025 (313 flights, -10.5% with 56,779 seats, -9.7%) due to fewer schedules seats from Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver.

Oceania:

Australia: In March 2026, there were 44 scheduled flights with 12,244 seats from Sydney, Australia. Air capacity decreased compared to March 2025 (61 flights, -27.9% with 17,102 seats, -28.4%) due to discontinued service from Melbourne and fewer seats from Sydney.
New Zealand: In March 2026, there were 26 scheduled flights with 7,189 seats from Auckland, compared to 23 flights (+13.0%) with 6,499 seats (+10.6%) in March 2025.

Other Asia:

China: There have been no direct flights from China to Hawaii since service ended in early February 2020.
Korea: There were 71 scheduled flights with 22,713 seats from Seoul in March 2026, compared to 77 flights (-7.8%) with 22,871 seats (-0.7%) in March 2025.
Taiwan: Direct air service from Taipei to Hawaii ended in April 2020.

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