The PKF-Hawaii consulting firm, which monitors the hotel industry, said the statewide occupancy decline of just under one percentage point was led by a drop on Oahu, particularly in the cheaper, off-beach hotels and condominiums in Waikiki, and a smaller decrease on the Big Island. Declines were balanced by rises on Kauai, Maui and Molokai.
The Hawaii Visitors Bureau has been reporting shorter stays this year, which could account for the occupancy decline despite an increase in the number of tourists.
The statewide occupancy average last month was 79.75 percent, compared with 80.51 percent a year earlier. The average room rate was $129.07, up 8.1 percent from $119.35 in March 1995.
The off-beach hotels and vacation condominiums in Waikiki slipped to 76.11 percent occupancy, from 86.17 percent a year earlier. The higher-priced, full-service hotels along the beach averaged 83.48 percent full in March, up from 82.31 percent.
Oahu as a whole averaged 82.02 percent occupancy at $117.01 a day, from 84.15 percent full at $104.57 a day in March 1995. Kauai had occupancy of 74.16 percent, compared with 67.13 percent, with a lower average room rate of $145.07, down from $150.81.
Maui had 83.1 percent occupancy at $153.41 a day, up from 82.4 percent at $146.36 a day. Big Island occupancy declined to 67.68 percent, from 69.39 percent, at an average room rate last month of $127.78, compared with $127.44.
Molokai hotels showed an occupancy increase to 49.72 percent, from 46.15 percent, but a room rate decline to $79.73, from $82.29.