Christine Hitt
Hawaii is experiencing a downturn in tourism, according to a report released by the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii, which also warned that the state is heading toward a mild recession.
"Tourism in Hawaii has softened this year," the report stated. "Oahu has seen notable declines, while Maui continues its gradual recovery from the 2023 wildfires. International markets remain weak, with Canadian visitors down sharply. There has been a welcome uptick in the number of Japanese visitors, which nevertheless remains well below its pre-pandemic level."
Some of the causes the report cited include "adverse effects on potential visitors of the trade war and general global slowing."
It also said that although the government shutdown ended prior to the holiday season, it negatively affected tourism, potentially delaying trips to Hawaii or causing some travelers to cancel.
"The near-term picture for Hawaii tourism remains poor," the report continued.
Looking ahead, it said visitor arrivals and the average daily census are expected to decline in 2026 before recovering the following year.