Tourism statisticsRegion2026
Kona Tourism Statistics: 1.5M Visitors in 2024
Kona, in Hawaii, United States, recorded 1,526,167 overnight visitors in 2024, the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism reports. AirROI estimates 74,150 Airbnb stays in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026, with Kailua the most booked town. The busiest month was January.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 459,168
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 6.2 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- January
- From within the United States, among guests who left a review
- 84%
Key facts
Kona Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism puts Kona at 1,526,167 overnight visitors in 2024.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in Kona at 74,150 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Kona added up to 459,168 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in Kona lasted 6.2 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 76 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks January the busiest Airbnb month in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by February and March, with August the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the four busiest Airbnb months in Kona ran unbroken from December to March in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Kona ran longest in January, at 7.9 nights, against 4.5 nights in September, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 84% of Kona Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States, and Canada at 4.7% and Germany at 1.7% were the top countries abroad.
- Among Kona Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, Seattle was the top origin city at 3.1%, ahead of San Francisco at 2.5%, AirROI estimates.
By place
- AirROI estimates Kailua had the most Airbnb stays of Kona's 6 towns in the 12 months to October 2026, at 18,743, ahead of Holualoa and Kailua-Kona.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit Kona?
The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism counted 1,526,167 overnight visitors in 2024.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,526,167Overnight visitors | Overnight or longer air visitor arrivals visiting Kona | 2024 | Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in Kona
Kona had 3,208 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 74,150 stays and 459,168 nights. A typical stay lasted 6.2 nights and was booked about 76 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 6 towns it tracks in Kona; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 3,208
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 74,150
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 459,168
- Typical stay
- 6.2 nights
- Booked ahead
- 76 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in Kona?
On Airbnb, January was the busiest month in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026, then February and March. August was the quietest. The four busiest months run unbroken from December to March.
January ranks first, August last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: January, February, March, December, October, April, November, May, June, July, September, August.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.3% | 90 days |
| February | 9.8% | 93 days |
| March | 9.5% | 74 days |
| December | 8.8% | 82 days |
| October | 7.9% | 90 days |
| April | 7.9% | 74 days |
| November | 7.9% | 82 days |
| May | 7.9% | 67 days |
| June | 7.8% | 64 days |
| July | 7.7% | 70 days |
| September | 7.4% | 66 days |
| August | 7.3% | 65 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Kona Airbnb Guests Come From?
About eight in ten Kona Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States (84%), and the top countries abroad were Canada at 4.7% and Germany at 1.7%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Seattle was the top origin city at 3.1%, ahead of San Francisco at 2.5%. The figures rest on 237,578 reviews, written over many years.
84% from within the United States
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From within the United States 84%
- From abroad 16%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in Kona
Kailua, Holualoa and Kailua-Kona took 73% of Airbnb stays in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026. January is the busiest Airbnb month in 5 of the 6 towns, led by Kailua, and March in 1, led by Honaunau-Napoopoo. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 13% in Kahaluu-Keauhou to 18% in Kailua.
| Kailua | 18,743 |
| Holualoa | 18,526 |
| Kailua-Kona | 17,060 |
| Kahaluu-Keauhou | 15,108 |
| Captain Cook | 2,511 |
| Honaunau-Napoopoo | 2,202 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. US is the top origin in every town, among guests who left a review, so this column names the top country abroad. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in Kona
How many tourists visit Kona?
Kona had 1,526,167 overnight visitors in 2024, according to the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. AirROI estimates 74,150 Airbnb stays in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in Kona?
The busiest Airbnb month in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026 was January, then February and March. The four busiest months run from December to March.
What is the quietest month in Kona?
August was the quietest Airbnb month in Kona in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and September ranked 11th. Stays in August were booked about 65 days ahead, against 93 days for February.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in Kona?
A typical Airbnb stay in Kona lasted 6.2 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 76 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 4.5 nights in September to 7.9 nights in January.
Where do Airbnb guests in Kona come from?
Of Kona Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 84% were from within the United States, AirROI estimates. The top countries abroad were Canada at 4.7% and Germany at 1.7%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Seattle at 3.1%, ahead of San Francisco at 2.5%.
What is the most booked town in Kona on Airbnb?
Kailua was the most booked town in Kona on Airbnb, with an estimated 18,743 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Holualoa and Kailua-Kona.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism counts overnight visitors (1,526,167 in 2024). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 74,150 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 6 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 237,578 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.