Kauaʻi Vacation Rental Supply Lowest Statewide for July, HTA Reports

Hawaiʻi vacation rentals statewide reported substantial increases in supply and demand and average daily rate (ADR) in July 2021 compared to the same time last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Hawaiʻi Toursism Authorityʻs monthly report. However, the 2021 data compared to 2019 show vacation rental supply, demand and ADR were down while occupancy rose slightly due to a reduction in supply levels.

While the state continues to be plagued with COVID-19 cases, it hasnʻt deterred visitors. Vacation rental supply on Kauaʻi had the fewest number of available unit nights in July at 85,600, an increase of 53% over 2020 and a decline of 25.3% compared to 2019.

Unit demand was 68,700 unit nights, an 889.2% rise over 2020 but a decline of 23.1% compared to 2019. This resulted in a 80.2% occupancy for the month of July, a 67.8% increase from 2020 as well as a slight rise of 2.3% compared to 2019.

An ADR of $321 showed an increase of 14.9% from 2020 but a decline of29.9% in 2019.

Kauaʻi hotels reported ADR at $369 and occupancy of 83%.

In July 2021, the total monthly supply of statewide vacation rentals was 592,900 unit nights, an increase of 49.3% over 2020 but a decrease of 33.7% in 2019. The report indicated a monthly demand of 485,300 unit nights, an increase of 767% compared to 2020, but a decrease of 30.1% compared to 2019. That resulted in an average monthly unit occupancy of 81.8%, which was an increase of 67.8% over 2020 and a slight increase over 2019 at 4.2%.

The ADR for vacation rental units statewide in July was $251, an increase of 27.3% over 2020 but a decrease of 27.3% compared to 2019. By comparison the ADR for hotels was $368 in July 2021. Unlike hotels, HTA noted that units in vacation rentals are not necessarily available year-round or each day of the month and often accommodate a larger number of guests than traditional hotel rooms.

In July, legal short-term rentals were allowed to operate in Maui County and on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi as long as they were not being used as a quarantine location.

In July 2021, most passengers arriving from out-of-state and traveling inter-county could bypass the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine with a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT test result from a Trusted Testing Partner prior to their departure to Hawaiʻi through the Safe Travels program. In addition, individuals who were fully vaccinated in the United States could bypass the quarantine order beginning July 8, 2021. There were no inter-county travel restrictions in July.

HTAʻs Vacation Rental Performance Report was compiled by Transparent Intelligence, Inc.