Who Visits Hawaii the Most? Top States & Countries Revealed

Who visits Hawaii the most? If you're picturing a mix of travelers from everywhere, the reality is much more lopsided. Most visitors are not coming from overseas at all.

They're coming from the U.S. mainland, and one region drives the crowd more than any other.

In our research, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's monthly reports show roughly 9.6 million arrivals in 2023, still just under the 2019 peak of 10.4 million. That data still uses 2019 as the official comparison baseline as of 2026. Let's break down exactly where those visitors come from and what it means for each island.

Who visits Hawaii the most?

The answer to who visits Hawaii the most is U.S. mainland travelers.

They make up about three quarters of all visitors.

Californians send the largest share of that group.

Japan remains the top international source despite slower recovery.

Canada ranks second among international arrivals.

How Hawaii Counts Visitors and Why 2019 Is Still the Baseline

If you've ever wondered how Hawaii knows who visits, it's not guesswork. Our research shows the state uses a consistent system built around air arrivals and surveys. That consistency is why you can compare years apples to apples.

Visitor arrivals are counted when passengers land on direct flights to Hawaii. The Hawaii Tourism Authority publishes the Monthly Visitor Statistics Report, and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism houses the long term data. They also run the Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey to capture origin, purpose, and island choices.

You'll also see a term called visitor origin market. It groups travelers by where they live, not their passport. So U.S.

West means travelers from the 12 western states, and U.S. East covers the rest of the mainland.

Why does everyone still talk about 2019? Because it was the last full year before the pandemic disrupted travel. As of 2026, HTA and DBEDT still benchmark every new report against 2019, not just the previous year.

That helps you see real recovery, not just year over year bounce.

In short, don't compare 2024 to 2023 alone. Compare it to 2019 to understand whether a market is truly back or still lagging.

The Real Numbers: U.S. Mainland Dominance vs International Recovery

Here's the big picture. Hawaii is overwhelmingly a domestic destination. International visitors are important, but they are a much smaller slice than most people assume.

Per HTA and DBEDT data, the split looks like this in recent reports. U.S. mainland visitors account for roughly 74 to 77 percent of all arrivals since 2021. International visitors make up the rest, around 23 to 26 percent in a normal year, though that share fell much lower during border closures.

That domestic dominance grew after 2020. When Japan and other international markets were still restricted, U.S. travelers filled the gap. Now international share is climbing again, but it has not returned to its pre pandemic mix.

U.S. West and California: The Largest Share by Far

The U.S. West is the engine of Hawaii tourism. This segment alone is often 48 to 55 percent of total visitors to Hawaii.

And within the West, California is king.

California typically sends 30 to 35 percent of all U.S. visitors to Hawaii. That's more than the next several states combined. Washington, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado usually round out the top states.

In our research, repeat visitation explains a lot of this. About 65 to 70 percent of U.S. West visitors have been to Hawaii before.

They know the islands, they stay longer, and they often skip Oahu for the neighbor islands.

Japan, Canada, South Korea and Australia: Top International Markets

Japan is still Hawaii's number one international market, but the story has changed. In 2019, Japan was about 15 to 18 percent of all visitors, with roughly 1.5 to 1.6 million arrivals. In 2023, that fell to about 5 to 7 percent, under 600,000 arrivals.

Our analysis of aggregate recovery reports points to three reasons. The yen has been weak against the dollar, direct airlift from Japan has been slower to return, and outbound travel demand from Japan recovered more slowly overall.

Canada is now a steady number two internationally, at about 2 to 3 percent of total arrivals. South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand form the next tier, followed by smaller European markets like the United Kingdom and Germany. You will see seasonal spikes too, like Japan during Golden Week and Canadians in winter.

State-by-State and Country-by-Country Breakdown

You don't need to memorize every number. Focus on the tiers. They tell you who you'll actually see on the ground.

Here is how the visitor mix typically breaks down when you compare the 2019 baseline to the 2023 to 2024 recovery period. Numbers are rounded ranges from HTA and DBEDT reports to show share, not exact single day counts.

A few patterns are worth noting if you're planning around crowds.

• Californians and other U.S. West travelers peak in summer and winter holidays. They also travel heavily during spring break.
• U.S. East visitors are more likely to be first timers and more likely to stay on Oahu.
• Japanese visitors concentrate heavily on Oahu, especially Waikiki. That is why Waikiki can feel international while Maui feels more mainland American.
• Canadian and Australian visitors often favor Maui and the Island of Hawaii in winter months.

If you are a business owner or planner, this tier view matters more than a single total. A high volume market like California behaves very differently from a high spending but lower volume market like Japan.

Island by Island: Where Different Visitors Actually Go

Not every visitor spreads evenly across the islands. Where you go changes who you will be traveling alongside.

Oahu gets the most visitors overall by a wide margin. It is the main air gateway through Honolulu, and it holds Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, and most large scale resorts. Our research shows first time visitors and international visitors, especially from Japan, are most likely to stay on Oahu.

If it is your first trip, you'll probably start there too.

Maui is next, and it draws a different crowd. It skews heavily toward U.S. West repeat visitors and honeymooners.

Families and couples from California and Washington who have done Oahu before often choose Maui for the second or third trip. Average length of stay is longer here, often 8 to 9 days.

The Island of Hawaii, often called the Big Island, attracts U.S. West travelers looking for nature and space. Think volcanoes, stargazing, and larger resort properties with more room.

It has a higher share of vacation rental and resort stays than Oahu.

Kauai draws the most U.S. West repeat visitors looking for a quieter stay. Party sizes tend to be smaller, stays are a bit longer, and visitor density is lower.

Lanai and Molokai see a very small, niche share, mostly luxury or culturally focused travelers.

What does this mean for you? If you want fewer crowds from the biggest source markets, consider timing and island choice together. Summer on Maui will feel very Californian.

Late spring on Kauai or the Big Island feels more spread out. And if you are visiting Oahu, expect a more international mix than anywhere else in the state.

What the Post-Pandemic Shift Teaches Us About Hawaii Tourism Trends

The pandemic reset Hawaii's visitor mix almost overnight. In 2020 and 2021 international arrivals nearly disappeared. U.S. mainland travelers carried the recovery and pushed domestic share above 75 percent.

That shift taught planners a clear lesson. Heavy reliance on one region brings both strength and risk. When California and the U.S.

West kept flying, hotels stayed full and revenue held. When airlift tightens or the mainland economy softens, the whole state feels it quickly.

Japan's slower return is the second lesson. Even as U.S. numbers bounced back by 2022, Japanese arrivals stayed below 40 percent of 2019 levels through 2023. Our research ties that lag to a weak yen, fewer nonstop flights, and slower outbound recovery in Japan.

As of 2026 that gap is closing, but it still shapes occupancy and retail in Waikiki first.

Spending patterns shifted too. Japanese visitors typically spend more per person per day, especially on shopping and dining. U.S. families tend to stay longer and spread spending across lodging, groceries, and activities.

So total arrival counts do not tell the full economic story.

What this means if you're planning or forecasting:

• Summer and winter holidays will stay U.S. heavy, with California driving peak crowds
• Waikiki will feel the Japan recovery before the neighbor islands do
• Maui, Kauai, and the Island of Hawaii will stay dominated by repeat U.S. West travelers

If you want thinner crowds, use the trend to your advantage. Late April to early June and September to early November often bring lower density. And if you want a quieter mix overall, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii still see far fewer first time international groups than Oahu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who visits Hawaii the most by state?

Californians visit Hawaii the most by state. They account for about 30 to 35 percent of all U.S. visitors to Hawaii. Washington, Texas, and Oregon usually rank next.

Californians are also the most likely to be repeat visitors who stay longer on the neighbor islands.

Which country visits Hawaii the most?

Japan is the top international source for Hawaii. In 2019 Japan sent about 1.5 to 1.6 million visitors, roughly 15 to 18 percent of all arrivals. Canada ranks a distant second among international markets.

South Korea and Australia round out the next tier.

Do more Americans or international travelers visit Hawaii?

More Americans visit Hawaii by a wide margin. U.S. mainland visitors make up about 74 to 77 percent of arrivals in recent reports. International visitors are the remaining quarter in a typical year.

That gap widened during border closures and is now narrowing slowly.

Which Hawaiian island gets the most visitors?

Oahu gets the most visitors of any Hawaiian island. Honolulu is the main air gateway and Waikiki holds the largest hotel base. First time visitors and international travelers concentrate there.

Maui is second and draws more repeat U.S. West visitors and honeymooners.

Are Japanese visitors to Hawaii back to pre-pandemic levels?

No, Japanese visitation has not fully returned to 2019 levels. Arrivals were under 600,000 in 2023 compared with about 1.5 million in 2019. Numbers improved through 2024 and 2025 but still lag the baseline.

A weak yen and reduced nonstop airlift have slowed the rebound.