WAIALUA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The climate has dried out and the skies have cleared over Oahu. But did the back-to-back kona storms have an effect on customer numbers? And given the injury, is it nonetheless a good time to go to the islands?
“Hawaii is open for business. We are welcoming our visitors here,” mentioned Hawaii Tourism Authority chief administrative officer David Uchiyama.
However, the HTA additionally says vacationers ought to keep away from the hardest-hit areas.
“We’re asking for the respect of our visitors to stay out of those areas in respect for residents — Waialua, Mokuleia, parts of Haleiwa,” mentioned Uchiyama.
Some vacationers need to have a look at the injury
Not everybody appears to have gotten the message.
“We’re going through a catastrophic time right now in our community, and to see them come through, to be here for their vacation — one, it’s not the right time, and two, I have family members talking to me, friends, that they’re even complaining about ruining their vacation because of what happened,” Waialua resident Shayden McCandless instructed Hawaii News Now.
Businesses hit by declines
Officials are strolling a fine line, attempting to assist these communities whereas ensuring the state’s fundamental financial driver isn’t impacted. Parts of the North Shore and Waialua are open, however enterprise has taken a hit.
“Visitors are welcome because our business dropped about 90 percent,” mentioned Reba Martin, who owns a enterprise on the outdated Waialua Sugar Mill. “If they don’t come soon, I think maybe we’ll cut down on our manpower.”
“Just like when we had the Lahaina fire, people thought the whole state was closed down,” mentioned Jerry Agrusa, a professor with the U.H. School of Travel Industry Management. “Even after the Lahaina fire, a lot of people said, oh, we shouldn’t go to Maui.”
Visitor arrivals dipped a little throughout storms
According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, customer arrivals from the continental U.S. dipped a little throughout the storms:
- On Friday the thirteenth throughout the first kona low, passenger counts at HNL dropped to 7,829, whereas the statewide depend was 18,187.
- Five days later, these numbers bounced again to 14,629 on Oahu and 25,276 statewide.
- The numbers dipped once more throughout the second kona storm, however not as a lot, with 10,530 passengers arriving on Oahu and 21,237 statewide final week Friday.
- Those numbers rebounded once more Tuesday to 14,015 on Oahu and 25,150 statewide.
Could the storms have a long-term influence?
“Overall, I think it’s too hard or too early to tell for sure,” Uchiyama mentioned.
“I believe most of those folks that already booked, booked,” mentioned Agrusa. “Maybe they’re adjusting, but they’re not totally canceling.”
Some guests are lending a hand
Some guests have additionally headed to the North Shore to help within the recovery.
“We had two people from South Carolina that were here,” mentioned Kailua resident Frank Romaguera, who himself went to Waialua to assist. “They dropped their bags at the hotel, they came right up here to assist. So they didn’t come up here to gawk. They didn’t come here to do anything like that. They came up here to help.”
“Just lend a helping hand wherever you can, whether it’s picking up trash, shoveling mud, you know — just anything to help the people right now,” mentioned McCandless.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
