College students from other countries spent about $117.6 million in Hawaii last year, according to the annual Open Doors report from the Institute for International Education.

The amount of money is down 5 percent from the 2006-2007 academic year, when international students spent an estimated $123.8 million.

The report estimates there were 5,645 international students studying here last year, a 6.4 percent drop from the prior academic year.

Most were from Japan, but other countries sending students include South Korea, Taiwan, China and Germany.

They mostly came to study business, but science, education, humanities, art, agriculture and intensive English language studies also attracted students here.

Scott Stensrud, vice president for enrollment management at Hawaii Pacific University, said he suspects the decrease is due to fluctuations in the number of students who come to Hawaii to improve their English skill.

HPU saw a slight decrease in international student enrollment last year, Stensrud said. But enrollment increased this year, and applications are up for next year.

“;We're not seeing any less demand right now,”; he said.

The report lists HPU in the top 10 among master's-degree universities for its population of international student populations. Brigham Young University Hawaii and the University of Hawaii at Hilo are in the top 10 for bachelor's-degree universities, and Kapiolani Community College has the 30th-largest international student population among community colleges.

“;It doesn't surprise me,”; said Linda Johnsrud, UH vice president of academic affairs. “;We've got a culture that's open and welcoming. We've got a very diverse population.”;

Stensrud said the economic impact of international students is far greater than just their direct spending.

“;It just kind of scratches the surface,”; he said. “;It doesn't show you the dollar value of the families that come here to vacation at graduation time. It doesn't show you those students who come back to Hawaii as repeat visitors because after four years here they have a connection to the state.

“;What about those that establish business ties here?”; he asked. “;We have alumni that are taking Hawaii products back to their home countries and setting up import-export businesses.”;

Since HPU gets its students from other countries, the U.S. mainland and locally, Stensrud said he is watching the economy closely.

A weaker U.S. dollar has made Hawaii a more attractive place to go to school for foreign students, he said.

“;We're still a bargain compared to a year ago,”; he said.

But in the longer term, a weaker economy here and overseas could hurt enrollment, he said.

Even a drop in tourism could hurt enrollment, he said, noting that students from the mainland and Japan come here as tourists with their families, see the HPU commercials on television and start to think about coming here for school.

“;It definitely helps us when tourism is up,”; he said. “;If we have fewer families visiting, then fewer families are exposed (to coming to Hawaii for school).”;