HONOLULU — Some 776,375 visitors came to Hawaii in May 2022, 91.6% of the total number of visitors to the state in May 2019, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

May's pandemic recovery rate is lower than that of April 2022, during which visitor totals represented 96.3% of April 2019 totals. However, it is the second highest monthly recovery rate since March 2020.

While overall visitor totals have not bounced back all the way, monthly visitor spending is higher than pre-pandemic levels. In May, visitors spent $1.56 billion in the state, an increase of 10.6% over visitor spending in May 2019.

“Hawaii’s visitor industry continued to see gradual recovery in May, primarily fueled by increased visitor spending from the U.S. and Canada,” said Hawaii Tourism Authority president and CEO John De Fries. “These visitors infused dollars into our economy that circulated in our shops, restaurants, accommodations, activities, attractions and community-based festivals and events. Additionally, it supported small businesses while providing ample career opportunities for kamaaina families throughout Hawaii.”

All but 2,231 visitors arrived by air, mainly from the U.S. east and west.

Visitors last month also stayed longer. The average length of stay by all visitors in May 2022 was 8.87 days, up from 8.37 days (+6%) in May 2019.

Arrivals from Japan remain far below pre-pandemic levels. Last month, 7,167 arrived from Japan, collectively spending $15.6 million. Two years ago, 113,226 visitors came from Japan, spending a total of 162.4 million.

Through the first five months of 2022, total visitor spending was $7.39 billion, up 2.3% from $7.23 billion in the first five months of 2019.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.