Visitation to four national parks on Hawai‘i, the Big Island creates $175,579,100 in economic benefits

Date: April 23, 2015
Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs Specialist, 808-985-6018

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Royal Court at the annual Ho‘oku‘ikahi I Pu‘ukoholā Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival at Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site.

NPS Photo

Hawaii National Park, Hawai'i –A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 2,282,752 people in 2014 visited four national park units on Hawai'i, the Big Island, and spent $175,579,100 in communities near the parks. That spending supported 2,162 jobs on island, and had a cumulative benefit to the local community of $248,036,200.

The national parks of Hawai'i, the Big Island include:

Park Name	2014 Visitation	2014 Spending	2014 jobs	Total output
Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site	134,734	$7,556,400	95	$9,198,500
Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park	401,807	$22,534,600	285	$27,431,800
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park	154,206	$8,648,400	110	$10,527,900
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park	1,693,005	$136,839,700	1,672	$170,878,000
Total:	2,383,752	$175,579,100	2,162	$248,036,200

A fifth area managed by the NPS, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, does not track visitation. A section of the 175-mile trail runs through each of the island's national park units.

"The popularity of the national parks of Hawai'i Island is no surprise as Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is the most popular attraction on the island and sometimes the state. Hawai'i Island as a whole has seen increases in visitor arrivals, length of stay and total spending over the last few years and we can attribute this success to the popularity of these amazing attractions. We have a very strong relationship with the National Park Service and through this we can promote these assets and drive sustainable demand for Hawai'i Island," said Ross Birch, Executive Director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau.

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally;235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.

According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent).

To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Hawai'i and how the National Park Service works with Hawai'i communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/hawaii.

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