Moloka‘i visitors, meanwhile, spent the least at $80 per day.

The Maui tourists spent more than those visiting Moloka‘i in all areas, including lodging, food, entertainment, transportation and shopping.

The difference in spending between the islands reflects the uniqueness and the types of visitors that travel to those islands, said Marsha Wienert, Gov. Linda Lingle’s tourism liaison.

While Maui’s hotels and resorts tend to draw high-spending vacationers, tourists to Moloka‘i often visit family and friends or stay at bed-and-breakfasts.

The latest data does not include O‘ahu statistics. Wienert said the state will release separate numbers on O‘ahu visitor spending in coming days.

Each Neighbor Island saw an increase in visitor spending compared with the first half of 2002, with the exception of Kaua‘i, which saw a 4.3 percent decline to $138 in average spending per person per day.

Visitor spending on Maui increased to an average of $169 per person per day from $157, the Big Island averaged $136 from $130, Moloka‘i averaged $80 from $79.

The state's goal is to get tourists to spend more during their vacations to generate more revenues without necessarily bringing in more people to the Islands.

When hotels come close to reaching full occupancy, there ?s really not much room for growth, Wienert said.