More than 5.2 million visitors dished out an estimated $340.5 million in around Hawaii’s national parks in 2014, according to a new report by the National Park Service.
More than 5.2 million visitors dished out an estimated $340.5 million in around Hawaii’s national parks in 2014, according to a new report by the National Park Service.
More than half that money, $175.6 million, was spent on the Big Isle, home to three parks and an historic site.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tallied both the highest visitor turnout and related spending, with 1.7 million people dishing out $136.8 million.
Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park brought in 401,807 visitors who spent a total $22,534,600. Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site saw 134,734 visitors spend $7,556,400, while Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park had 129,533 visitors spend $8,648,400, according to the report.
Statewide, the $340.5 million in expenditures supported a total of 4,200 jobs, $159.4 million in labor income and $417.3 million in economic output in the Hawaii economy, according to the report. Spending in and around Hawaii’s national parks jumped 9 percent over the $312.1 million spent in 2013.
In 2014, the National Park System received over 292 million park visitors, which spent $15.7 billion in communities within 60 miles of a park, according to the report. Nationwide, that spending supported 277,000 jobs and added $29.7 billion to the economy.