Hawaii’s hotel occupancy for the first quarter of 2009 was 69%, the lowest percentage since Hospitality Advisors and Smith Travel Research began surveying the Hawaii hotel market in 1987.

Room rates were down 12.4%, sinking to an average of $188 per night for the quarter. That figure represented a 12.4% drop when compared with 2008’s numbers over a similar period.

The Big Island took the biggest occupancy hit, plunging to 58.9%, while room rates slid $27, to $194. Kauai had a first-quarter occupancy of 65.1%, and room rates fell $20, to $196.

Rates on Maui sank $37, to $255. Occupancy there was 69.2%.

Oahu, again, seemed to fare best with regard to occupancy (72.6%). Room rates averaged $154 a night, a decrease of $21.