Isle hotel occupancy hit
13-year high for August
Hawaii hotel occupancy hit a 13-year high for the month of August, thanks mainly to record-setting visitor arrivals from the U.S. mainland.
Average hotel and resort condominium occupancy across the state rose 3 percentage points to 84.1 percent last month from 80.1 percent in the same month last year, according to the latest monthly survey by PKF-Hawaii LLP.
"Led primarily by travelers from the U.S. mainland, nearly all islands (with the exception of Molokai) sustained occupancy increases from July through August, and thus provided a strong finish for the summer months," said Ernest Watari, chief executive of PKF-Hawaii.
In an encouraging sign, room revenues also rose, up 4.7 percent to $131.82 from $125.93 last year.
Maui led the state, with 87.2 percent occupancy compared with 82.2 percent last year. Maui's Kaanapali resort area had the strongest regional showing, with 91.6 percent occupancy.
Kauai followed the Valley Isle with 86.4 percent occupancy, up from 83.1 percent last year.
Oahu occupancy reached 84 percent, up from 80.9 percent last year. The Big Island's occupancy increased to 81.9 percent, up slightly from 80.9 percent last year. On Molokai, occupancy fell to 42.4 percent from 48.9 percent.
Revenue per available room, a key financial indicator, rose on all islands except Molokai. For the year, statewide room revenue has increased 4.8 percent.
The state expects visitors will spend $10.56 billion in Hawaii this year, up 5.7 percent from nearly $10 billion last year.
State visitor arrivals in August rose 1.3 percent from last year, but were down 3.1 percent from August 2001, because of a continuing slump in Japanese travel
