The Hawaii Tourism Authority reports strong numbers for August including “double-digit increases” in visitor arrivals and spending for the month and year-to-date.

Visitor spending was up 14.6 percent and arrivals rose 11 percent.

HTA says that through August 2012, Hawaii has welcomed 5.38 million guests. That’s a 20 percent or $1.6 billion growth in total visitor expenditures, translating to $1.04 billion in state tax revenue, the agency reports.