Hawaii eyes tourism jump from Japan's longer Golden Week

"Last year, the number of Japanese visitors to Hawaii dropped 1 percent to 1.59 million"

I don't think the volcanoes had anything to do with it. Could be the gouging that tour  groups like JTB do during Japanese holidays. The week before a holiday the average price is ¥70,000, during the holiday the price triples out of control. You give people no choice but pay a ridiculous price. I never travel on Japanese holidays.

Is that a misprint? $5,000 for one economy class air ticket? I get that Japan and Hawaii are 3850 miles apart, and California and Hawaii are only 2500 miles apart, but why would a ticket from Japan cost ten times as much?

Rather than $5,000 for a ticket from Tokyo to Honolulu, but a non-stop ticket to LAX for less than $500, then go on to Honolulu from LAX.

"Is that a misprint? $5,000 for one economy class air ticket? I get that Japan and Hawaii are 3850 miles apart, and California and Hawaii are only 2500 miles apart, but why would a ticket from Japan cost ten times as much?"

It's all about demand and Hawaii has been for many years a high-ticket destination. The lure of the tropics, the East-West fusion of food, relaxation (especially in the other islands), Japanese-speaking environment and so on. Yes, LAX is much farther but it doesn't have that appeal that Hawaii does. Hawaii also makes up nearly half of all arrivals in the U.S. each year, underscoring its appeal. Short-haul Guam, on the other hand, doesn't have the draw of Hawaii, though a good destination for first-timers. Now first-timers head to Taiwan or South Korea where the cost is much lower thanks to low-cost carriers.

some travelers have paid as much as $5,000 for one economy class airline seat

Some people have more money than sense. We'll be staying at home at going for days out in the local area.

I don't understand why anyone would pay that price. Even taking unpaid time off work and going before or after golden week would end up saving you half that money. Anybody who pays that, is a sucker. Its robbery.

Eric Takahata, managing director of Hawaii Tourism Japan, said some travelers have paid as much as $5,000 for one economy class airline seat. Most travelers are paying at least a 30 to 40 percent premium, he said.

Just talked to a woman who went to Hawaii last month--she's a dentist so she can take vacations any time she likes--and she and her girlfriends paid 4-man-en per ticket.

Ridiculous, Japanese love to spend money just to spend money. Found flights from Osaka to Manila and then a beautiful island elsewhere in the Philippines for 52K total for the 10 day holiday. Enjoy the teems of people, overpriced everything, and packaged tourism of Hawaii and Japan during GW!

I too love Hawaii, but in my experience it is possible to go there, have a good time, and not spend an arm and a leg.