Hawaii Tourism Spending Soars 15% in Q1 2026 on Mainland Flight Boom

Hawaii's visitor industry kicked off 2026 with a bang, as total spending reached $4.17 billion through February, up 14.8% from $3.63 billion in the same period of 2025, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). February alone saw 787,024 arrivals across Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island, a 3.6% increase year-over-year, with air arrivals at 760,790 and cruise passengers numbering 26,234. Per-visitor spending jumped roughly 11%, driven by longer stays at luxury hotels, fine dining and paid activities amid rising demand from mainland travelers on expanded direct routes.