The recession is pinching those who fly private jets.

Last month, 138 exclusive personal planes landed at Kona International Airport on the Big Island — down 18 percent from December last year.

But the economic doldrums haven't stopped all the rich from returning to West Hawai'i for the golf and sun.

Chauncey Wong Yuen, the district manager for the state Department of Transportation's airports division, says there were 51 private planes on the Kona airport apron as of Monday. The airport can accomodate up to 61 private planes at a time.

The annual private jet pilgrimage to Kona usually begins in November and lasts until New Year's.

The passengers stay on the Big Island for an average of two to five days.