The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), in partnership with the destination’s industry partners, introduced a $2 million campaign designed to restore consumer confidence in the aftermath of the March Kona Low storms.
“These funds are about supporting Hawai‘i’s economy, local businesses and the people who depend on the visitor industry for their livelihoods,” said Hawaii Governor John Green, whose office provided the funds.
“We want visitors to know that Hawai‘i warmly welcomes them and that their visits help fuel our recovery,” he added.
The areas hit the hardest by the Kona Low storms were the North Shore of Oahu, West Maui, Molokai and the Big Island.
“The initiative comes as Hawai‘i’s visitor industry continues recovering from the March storms, which disrupted travel during the critical spring break period through flight delays and cancellations, temporary attraction and business closures, cruise itinerary disruptions and slower bookings,” Hawai‘i officials said, adding that visitor arrivals throughout the state were down 1.7% in March 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
Visitor spending, meanwhile, dropped 1.6% to $1.96 billion, while the “statewide average daily visitor census also declined 5.1% year over year,” according to tourism officials.
“This campaign enables the welcoming messages from the people of Hawai‘i to come through clearly and genuinely, so visitors can be confident that their visit will be both memorable and appreciated,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of HTA.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
