Flights to Hawaii have remained filled up through Thanksgiving, but the number of tourists booking holiday packages that include lengthy stays in island hotels has dropped by 35%, the visitor industry reports.

Take note, however, of Hawaii’s hotel prices, which have been pushed up, up, up to record-setting heights.

“The prices have been extremely high in Hawaii for months,” said Jack Richards, CEO of Pleasant Holidays, a travel wholesaler. The price per traveler per trip to Hawaii is up 32% over the same period in 2019. Isn’t that what the tourism industry promised to work for — higher prices and smaller crowds?