Hawaii´s Hotel Occupancies Keep Soaring

Hawaiian hotels saw a 3-percentage-point increase in occupancy rates, to 80.5 percent, during the week of Oct. 16, compared with the same time period in 2004.

Average room rates rose 10.6 percent to $160.68 for the week, according to a report by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors LLC.

The report surveyed 99 properties representing 38,570 rooms, or 60 percent of the state´s total hotel rooms for properties with 20 units or more.

Oahu, Maui and the Big Island saw their rates go up 11.6 percent, 13.3 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. Kauai´s room-rate increase was 1.6 percent to $181.59.

During the week, the occupancy rates on Kauai declined 6.8 percentage points to 78.3 percent, similar to the 78 percent occupancy rate on Maui.