USA Today highlights Hawaii’s ongoing recovery from the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and 2026 Oahu floods, encouraging mindful tourism to support local economies. Visitor numbers have dipped following both disasters, prompting the state to launch a $2 million summer travel promotion.
- Hawaii’s tourism economy — nearly a quarter of the state’s GDP — has taken repeated hits from the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and severe March 2026 flooding on Oahu’s North Shore.
- Oahu visitor arrivals dropped 1.7% in March 2026 compared to the prior year due to flood-related cancellations and closures.
- The Hawaii Tourism Authority reports over 9.7 million tourist arrivals statewide in 2024, supporting 211,000 jobs and $20.72 billion in visitor spending.
- The state has launched a $2 million initiative to promote summer travel to Hawaii and reassure potential visitors.
- Maui business owners like those in Lahaina report a slow, difficult recovery nearly three years after the wildfire.
Source: USA Today
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