Updated: October 10, 2022
In Hawaiʻi, 4,929,610 people visited eight national park sites annually, which generate $745,000,000 in revenue for the state per year.
During 2020, there’s been almost a 25 percent decline in visits to the National Park System; however, even with social distancing orders in place, outdoor recreation COVID-safe activities have been highlighted.
Researchers at Outdoorsy looked at data from the National Park Service’s National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics and ranked states based on the number of NPS-managed parks that are partially or fully contained within the state. They also included the annual visits to the NPS parks in each state, a measure of the economic benefit from NPS park tourism, and the name of the most visited park in each state.
The analysis included the following summary for Hawaiʻi:
- Number of NPS parks*: 8
- Annual visitors to NPS parks: 4,929,610
- Economic benefit from NPS park tourism: $745,000,000
- Most visited NPS park (& visits): Pearl Harbor NMEM (1,716,535)
*Some parks are listed in more than one state; parks include national parks, national preserves, national monuments, and national memorials, among others.
National Park sites in Hawaiʻi include: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on Hawaiʻi Island; Haleakalā National Park on Maui; Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island; Honouliuli National Historic Site; Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokaʻi; Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park; Pearl Harbor National Memorial; Puʻukoholā Heiau and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on Hawaiʻi Island.
The following are statistics for the entire US:
- Number of NPS parks: 422
- Annual visitors to NPS parks: 327,516,619
- Economic benefit from NPS park tourism: $41,700,000,000
- Most visited NPS park (& visits): Golden Gate National Recreation Area (15,002,227)
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Outdoorsy’s website: https://www.outdoorsy.com/blog/national-park-trip-states
Original source: https://mauinow.com/2020/12/21/hawaii-generates-745-million-from-8-national-parks-sites-annually/