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Hawaii hotels
continue
strong run

Waikiki led the way
in October occupancy

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Star-Bulletin staff

October marked the 10th consecutive month of growing patronage at Hawaii's hotels and resorts, with the average occupancy rising 2.7 percentage points over the year-earlier level, thanks in large part to Waikiki.

Occupancy statewide hit 78 percent, up from 75.3 percent in October 1999, according to hotel industry consulting firm PKF-Hawaii , which surveys hotels every month. Stronger numbers also allowed hotels to bump their average room rates up 2.5 percent to $145.78 a day from last year's $142.29 a day, PKF-Hawaii said yesterday.

"Occupancy for the month of October was the highest October since 1988, boosted primarily by strong results from the island of Oahu and more particularly Waikiki," said Ernie Watari, PKF-Hawaii chairman and chief executive. "The continued upward trend through the end of the year should produce a record year in tourism for Hawaii."

For the year-to-date, statewide occupancy has risen 4.8 percentage points to 78.8 percent from 74 percent in the year-earlier period. Average daily room rates were up 5.6 percent to $151.40 from $143.40.

Broken down by island, Oahu's occupancy in October rose 5.8 percentage points to 80.2 percent, now the highest level in the state. In Waikiki, beachfront properties skyrocketed to 84.7 percent occupied, up from 75.7 percent last year.

On the Big Island, Hilo's long-suffering occupancy levels were boosted 7.9 percentage points to 62.4 percent from 54.5 percent last year. In Kona, however, occupancy fell 3.8 percentage points to 78.1 percent from 81.9 percent. Occupancy also rose on Kauai, but faltered on Maui and Molokai.

While Hawaii's hotel rooms generally fared well in October, food sales at their restaurants dipped, however. Guests spent an average of $26.75 a day on food at hotel restaurants, down nearly 1 percent from $26.94 a day in October 1999, PKF-Hawaii said.