Hawaii hotel
occupancy slid in May

Golden Week didn't glitter
as much for tourism this year

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

May maintained its usual role as a slow month for isle tourism, as hotel occupancy statewide dropped to 67.3 percent from 69.4 percent in May 1996, according to a new survey.

One reason was a shift in the Japanese "Golden Week" holidays this year, said Ernie Watari, chairman and chief executive of the consulting firm PKF-Hawaii, which does a monthly survey of the state's hotel industry.

The late April-early May holiday period this year included a few work days because of the way it fell in relation to weekends, Watari said yesterday. Many Japanese opted for shorter trips, such as to Hong Kong, Korea, Guam and Saipan.

Travel industry sources also say that Golden Week doesn't have as much appeal as it once did because Japanese recognize that tour package costs are higher then and they opt instead for cheaper deals before or after Golden Week.

PKF-Hawaii said that the statewide average daily room rate last month was $127.10, up 2.6 percent from $123.83 in May 1996. The increase was led by a 16.8 percent jump in room rates on the Big Island. Rates on other islands were only slightly higher.

The Big Island's Kohala Coast had the highest average room rate in the state, $184.44 last month, a jump of 16.5 percent. However, the hike didn't affect Kohala Coast occupancy, which averaged 58.3 percent, up from 53.7 percent a year earlier.

The Kohala statistics helped lift the occupancy of the Big Island as a whole to 57.4 percent, from 55.1 percent in May 1996, and the average Big Island room rate rose to $134.96, from 115.55.

The full-service hotels along Waikiki Beach averaged 77.1 percent occupancy last month. However, that was down from 79.3 percent occupancy in May 1996. Waikiki beachfront room rates averaged $147.15 a day, compared with $146.74 in May 1996.

Oahu as a whole had 72.8 percent occupancy, down from 74.7 percent a year earlier, while the average Oahu room rate last month was $116.20, up less than a dollar from $115.44.

Maui's May occupancy was 62 percent, down from 66.4 percent a year earlier, and the average Maui room rate was $146.78, compared with $145.88 in the previous May. Kauai's occupancy slipped to 66.2 percent, from 70.1 percent, and Kauai had an average room rate of $142.97, compared with $139.10 a year earlier. Occupancy on Molokai rose to 45 percent, from 39.9 percent, with an average room rate of $72.13, up slightly from $71.07.