By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Maui visitor arrivals fell 5.5% in August 2026 to 201,789, and visitor spending dropped 9.6% to $416.9 million, according to preliminary state data released September 30, 2026. The average number of visitors on Maui on any given day fell 20.2%. Year to date through August, arrivals are still up 6.0%.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and I focus on South Maui condos and short-term-rental zoning. Monthly Maui visitor arrivals data matters to anyone buying a condo with rental income in mind, and it also matters to the wider island economy that supports jobs and home values. Here’s what the August numbers show, what likely drove them, and how I’d use them if you’re weighing a purchase this fall.

How many visitors came to Maui in August 2026?

Maui welcomed 201,789 visitors in August 2026, down 5.5% from 213,639 in August 2025. The figures come from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), which released its preliminary August report on September 30, 2026.

Maui, August (preliminary)	2026	2025	Change
Visitor arrivals	201,789	213,639	-5.5%
Visitor spending	$416.9 million	$461.3 million	-9.6%
Average daily census	40,885	51,265	-20.2%
Average length of stay	6.28 days	7.44 days	-15.6%
Spending per person per day	$328.9	about $290	+13.3%

Source: DBEDT, August 2026 visitor statistics, released September 30, 2026. The 2025 per-day spending figure is derived from DBEDT’s reported 13.3% increase.

Statewide, the picture was similar. Hawaiʻi had 772,039 visitors in August 2026, down 5.6%, and total spending fell 9.7% to about $1.59 billion.

Why did Maui visitor numbers drop in August 2026?

Two storms hit during the month, on top of what DBEDT called “an already soft summer season.” Hurricane Lala passed south of the islands August 14–16, 2026, causing flooding, landslides, power outages and flight cancellations across the state. Tropical Storm Moke followed August 22–24, bringing heavy rain and wind to parts of Hawaiʻi Island and East Maui.

One caution: DBEDT’s release doesn’t break out how much of Maui’s decline came from the storms versus other factors. I’d treat August as a month with unusual disruption rather than a clean read on demand.

What is the average daily census, and why does it matter more than arrivals?

The average daily census is the number of visitors on the island on a typical day, and it’s the closest public figure to how full Maui’s lodging was. It fell much faster than arrivals, down 20.2%, because visitors stayed an average of 6.28 days instead of 7.44.

For a condo owner, that’s the number to watch. Fewer guest nights means more empty nights to fill across hotels, timeshares and vacation rentals. On the other hand, the visitors who did come spent about 13.3% more per person per day, which suggests spending held up better than headcount.

How is Maui tourism doing for the full year 2026?

Through the first eight months of 2026, Maui is still ahead of last year. DBEDT reports January–August arrivals of 1,819,840, up 6.0%, and spending of $4.30 billion, up 8.1%.

Maui, January–August	2026	2025	Change
Visitor arrivals	1,819,840	1,716,286	+6.0%
Visitor spending	$4.30 billion	$3.97 billion	+8.1%
Average daily census	52,560	55,461	-5.2%
Average length of stay	7.0 days	7.85 days	-10.6%

Source: DBEDT, as of the September 30, 2026 release.

Even before August, the year-to-date census was below 2025 because stays were shorter. That’s a pattern worth noticing. More people are coming, but each stays fewer nights.

What do Maui visitor arrivals mean for condo prices and rentals?

Visitor trends are one input among several, and right now zoning matters even more. Under Bill 9 (Ordinance 5909, signed December 15, 2025), vacation rental use in apartment-zoned Minatoya List buildings ends January 1, 2029 in West Maui and January 1, 2031 elsewhere in Maui County. The rezoning process for some complexes is still moving through the Council and Planning Commission, as I covered in my post on the 32 shoreline condo complexes headed to the Planning Commission.

Meanwhile, buyers have been active. The REALTORS® Association of Maui reported 72 condo sales countywide in September 2026, up 56.5% from a year earlier, at a $660,000 median. I break that down in my September 2026 Maui market report.

My Take: What I’m Telling Condo Buyers and Owners

If you’re buying a condo partly for rental income, I’d build your projections on a lower occupancy assumption than a seller’s past performance shows. A 20% drop in the daily visitor census in one month doesn’t mean that’s the new normal, but it’s a reminder that Maui’s visitor flow can swing quickly with weather, airfares and the economy. If the numbers only work with strong occupancy, the price may not leave enough cushion.

Second, check the building’s zoning before you look at any rental history. A hotel-zoned unit and a Minatoya List unit can sit a mile apart and have completely different futures. For a Minatoya unit, I’d run a second set of numbers as a long-term rental after the Bill 9 deadline, and I’d make sure that version still works for you. My guide to Maui vacation rental taxes covers the tax side of those projections.

For sellers, softer visitor numbers can make rental-focused buyers more cautious. Clear documentation helps: actual rental statements, association fees, and the building’s zoning in writing.

DBEDT’s September report, expected in late October, will show whether August was storm-driven or the start of a longer slowdown. I’ll be watching the daily census closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visitors came to Maui in August 2026?
DBEDT’s preliminary count is 201,789 visitors, down 5.5% from August 2025.

How much did visitors spend on Maui in August 2026?
About $416.9 million, down 9.6% from $461.3 million a year earlier, per DBEDT.

Is Maui tourism up or down in 2026?
Arrivals are up 6.0% through August, but the average daily census is down 5.2% because visitors are staying fewer days.

Did the August 2026 storms affect Maui tourism?
Hurricane Lala (August 14–16) and Tropical Storm Moke (August 22–24) disrupted travel statewide, but DBEDT didn’t quantify the storms’ specific effect on Maui.

Should visitor numbers change whether I buy a Maui condo?
They’re one input. Zoning, association finances and a long-term-rental fallback usually matter more for a condo purchase.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re weighing a condo purchase and want to talk through the numbers, including zoning and a conservative rental scenario, I’m happy to help. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and you can call or text me at 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (August 2026 visitor statistics, released Sept. 30, 2026); Maui Now; REALTORS® Association of Maui; County of Maui (Bill 9, Ordinance 5909).