As Desperation Ensues, Hawaiian Airlines Speaks on Restarting Tourism Now | Waikiki Beach

As Desperation Ensues, Hawaiian Airlines Speaks on Restarting Tourism Now

There is still no date set to resume all-important mainland tourism. Extreme frustration is emanating from all corners, while the rest of the country is in various phases of reopening. Hawaiian Airlines, the state’s largest employer, and only flag carrier airline is now saying what they believe should happen next in order to reopen tourism.

This comes while Hawaii bound travelers for later in 2020 and beyond become increasingly frustrated and desperate for answers. We see that in comments and emails from you, travelers who rightly need to know now what is going to be happening. Also, in predictions that tourism will be down by perhaps 70% this year, and may now take through 2025 to recover! Either a plan is set now, or visitors will be rapidly canceling their Hawaii vacations well into the future.

The lead time to restart Hawaii travel according to airlines and hotels, is up to 60 days. Currently the 14-day isolation period keeps getting extended and is now through June 30. How can you even plan, not knowing what happens starting in July and thereafter?

Beat of Hawaii: visitor patience on lack of information has evaporated.

Hawaiian Airlines has been noticeably quiet and patient, at least publicly, during all the discussions of what it will take to resume Hawaii travel. But now they are stating what they believe should happen:

Hawaiian Airlines:

“Until tests become readily available to all who wish to travel, we believe a system of layered protections that begins with temperature screening at TSA departure checkpoints, continues with health and sanitization protocols at check-in and on-board the aircraft, and is followed by rigorous contact tracing post-arrival will be the most effective means of providing the confidence needed to re-open Hawaii.” Hawaiian Airlines said they would like to see all screening protocols be part of a nationwide system.

Beat of Hawaii’s concerns:

1. Temperature screening is of questionable value. Johns Hopkins just said “People may be taking over-the-counter fever-reducing medications (like Tylenol for headaches) that would alter the temperature reading by suppressing the fever… Fever screening can be one part of a wider system, but it’s still unclear how much marginal benefit there is.”

Hawaii is in the process of investing $36 million in funding on thermal camera scanning equipment.

2. A plan for reopening simply cannot wait. Muffi Hannemann, CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association said, July is critical and waiting say until September would “likely lead to defaults, foreclosures and bankruptcies.” Not mentioned, is that these hotels contribute hundreds of millions to Hawaii’s tax base.  Also, unemployment and other measures will soon come to an end, and we are looking down the barrel of sure financial catastrophe here in the islands. This hasn’t quite hit home yet, but it is definitely about to.

3. Hawaii officials can’t act decisively. The lieutenant governor just said that we might consider starting by opening tourism to New Zealand, Australia, and Japan first, while the governor said about reopening plans, “I just said, we don’t have a hard timeline.”

Are you planning a no-Hawaii vacation this year or waiting to see what happens next before deciding what to do?

219 thoughts on “As Desperation Ensues, Hawaiian Airlines Speaks on Restarting Tourism Now”

  1. What happens on day 15? Do you get a t shirt, arm band, or cool hat?Who tells the rental car company and hotel that you’ve out lasted this process?

  2. This Is just very sad , I’m disappointed in Hawaii. We were supposed to go to Maui end of May but the trip was cancelled. We will not be rebooking, its obvious we are not wanted. We will be supporting the US states by going to Florida instead. Maybe hawaii will come to their senses.

  3. My daughter and i are coming to visit this summer FOR SURE, as this will be her first time! We will happily self isolate for 14 days and/or do whatevet else is required. We are planning to spend the majority of our money at local, smaller shops and farmers markets, and where it is most beneficial for local residents!

    1. I don’t think they are even allowing tourists to shop. No rental cars are allowed. You have to literally stay inside for 14 days. I was supposed to bring my daughter too. We’ve all been tested with negative results. We are going to Key West most likely now.

    2. 14 day quar antine means staying inside, Not allowed to go to any stores, no grocery stores, no pool, no beach.

  4. Have been planning a beach wedding for late September and scared to death we won’t have the dream. Frustrating that the government has turned the businesses into the police of the police state. So much for herd immunity.

  5. The lack of plan, the lack of tentative dates, Governor, Lt Governor on different pages is a cluster. The Governor coming out and saying he is extending the quar antine has just cost Hawaii 100’s of millions and tanked their economy longer than required. I’m all for safety and distancing and wearing masks etc. but extending the quar antine makes no sense without a plan on how and when travel will be allowed.

    We had 18 days planned 3 islands. 2 hotels stays, 1 timeshare, Hawaiian Air, rental cars, restaurants, excursions. Can’t recover that revenue. The unfortunate part is that Hawaiian Air employees will be losing good paying jobs that Wont come back. Hotels will have no choice to reduce staffing levels, restaurants will shuttered, and local business may not come back. Grocery store pricing will go up, supply chains will be impacted and on and on.

    I’ll be either selling my timeshare at some point or walking away from it.

  6. Had to cancel my Maui vacation set for June 30-July 6th. Would love to have known the plan so that I could postpone and rebook. Unfortunately my money will now be spent elsewhere. This would have been my sixth trip to Maui.

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