Just popping in. Hawaii saw record visitor numbers in April (Image Ken Bradshaw)

Visitor numbers to Hawaii reached a record high in April, pushing year-to-date tourism arrivals to the state up nearly ten per cent.

According to figures released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the Aloha State welcomed a record 647,194 visitors in April this year, beating the previous record of 618,230 set in 2006.

The 11.3 per cent year-on-year increase in April arrival numbers also saw a record US$1.17 billion pumped into the state’s economy, with visitor spending climbing 26.8 per cent over the year before.

Leading the way in growth was Hawaii’s top international market, Japan, whose arrival numbers during April rose a whopping 36.2 per cent to 86,685. Spending by Japanese visitors surged 45.8 per cent to $153.7 million.

During the first four months of 2012, visitor numbers rose by 9.4 per cent to 2.6 million visitors, while spending rose by a healthy 16.7 per cent to US$4.78 billion.

“It is important that we continue to support efforts that help to balance airlift and room availability for the overall benefit of our state's tourism economy,” HTA president and chief executive Mike McCartney said.

“The increases in airlift to the Hawaiian Islands with new routes, as well as the move to larger aircraft, were significant contributors to a robust April.”