Oahu's North Shore was one of the areas affected by the March floods. Photo Credit: Paul for Adobe Stock
The Hawaii Visitors and
Convention Bureau has launched a $2 million marketing campaign, funded by the
Hawaii Tourism Authority, to counteract travel cancellations in the wake of the
severe storms that caused devastating flooding in parts of state. The two March “kona
low” storms, which affected Oahu’s North Shore, West Maui, Molokai and the
island of Hawaii, saw the state lose $300 million in tourism revenue with drops
in visitor arrivals and spending. According to Hawaii’s Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism, the storm caused numerous flight delays and
cancellations, trip disruptions and the temporary closure of many visitor
attractions.
While figures for losses and
cancellations from the meetings market were not available at press
time, Northstar/Cvent’s Spring 2026 Incentive PULSE Survey revealed a slight
drop in incentive bookings for Hawaii compared with figures from 2025; the
current survey was fielded in April, one month after the floods.
On March 31, one week after
the storms stopped, Northstar Meetings Group’s sister publication TravelAge West
reported that Hawaii was “open and operational.” It also reported that The Ritz-Carlton, Turtle Bay
— one of the major meeting and incentive properties on Oahu’s hard-hit North
Shore — had suffered no damage from the flooding.
A statement from the HVCB
states that "while initial storm impacts were localized and short-term, the
broader effect has softened booking momentum among travelers actively planning
summer travel. The campaign aims to re-engage and convert travelers before they
commit to other destinations."
"This campaign is designed to drive immediate
economic activity in support of local businesses and jobs across Hawaii, while
also reinforcing the kind of visitor engagement that creates lasting
connection," said Dr. Aaron J. Salā, president and CEO of the HVCB.
Caroline Anderson, interim
president and CEO of HTA, stated that "while conditions across much of
Hawaii have returned to normal, some travelers may still have questions
following the storms, and that uncertainty continues to affect local businesses.
This campaign enables the welcoming messages from the people of Hawai'i to come
through clearly and genuinely, so visitors can be confident that their visit
will be both memorable and appreciated."