204 thoughts on “Breaking: Kauai Proposes Complete Travel Shutdown”
ErdoganG
Kawakami is a political opportunist. His previous plan was rejected, now he is trying to take advantage of the passing away of the elderly gentleman to push his agenda of staying in the public eye again. If he wants to be transparent he should give the age and what other health problems the gentleman had before. Also his reasoning lacks logic in one sentence he says most of the spread is due to residents returning in the other he proposes to shut down tourism arrivals while keeping tier 4 for locals. Shutting down tourist arrivals will do nothing to prevent the spread by the returning residents because they are advised to quarantine at home with some local households having more than a dozen people living in crowded quarters. By removing the requirement of a negative test he is also allowing any resident who may be positive to come without testing and infecting both fellow passengers and everyone he comes into contact with until he goes to his residence to quarantine and nucleate a super spreader.
Nothing is perfect but the 14 day quarantine has proven to be safer for Kauai and has limited the cases.
Implementing the 14 quarantine puts the burden on the people who choose to travel rather than the people staying put. There is medical and workforces exemptions for people who actually do need to travel.
So very sorry about all of this. This so terrible plague (?), I’m saying brought to us from China, is destroying lives and many plans people have had for quite a while. I am sorry for us who had plans for a Hawaii Christmas; sorry for many who did, and for those who had Christmas plans for other places, now canceled! Do hope all of Hawaii is soon well and ready for all of us again. Praying for all of us to stay safe and well.
Who would take a chance coming to Hawaii until Covid is over with rule changes with every case of covid. I am writing from Mexico where we rebooked after cancellation of our Hawaii trip. No issues here. Taking all reasonable precautions but not draconian knee jerk reactions. I feel for the local businesses I hope they will still be there when we return in 3-5 years
We love spending time on Kauai and are saddened that we are unable to visit at this time but the welfare of the islanders must come first. I pray the economic hit everyone is taking because of this virus and shutdown will not be permanent. The people are so gracious and we await the time we can return..for at least a month when we can finally go. We wait as we wouldn’t want to be the the cause of anyone getting sick and I’m not convinced that pre testing will catch all inflicted since this virus hides well. To all the islanders, I wish you well and hope to return in the future for an extended visit. A complete shut down is only temporary…safety first.
Kauai has 9 ICU beds and about a dozen ventilators. If you sick there is nowhere to really go and the virus will spread quickly here. I support Mayor Kawakami and his request. As a resident I refuse to travel right now because I don’t want to spread the virus and our small island cannot handle large numbers of sick people. We do not have enough medical resources. We want to reopen but not at the human cost that will be paid. Please show aloha. Either don’t visit right now or quarantine to keep residents healthy.
Looking at this and the issue of Students getting appointments for tests on the mainland so they can return home for the holidays.
How are Hawai’s students on the mainland at Universities across the country as well as those with jobs on the mainland going to come home for the holidays if they must quarantine for 14 days? They surely cannot quarantine at home with family members as the Student Age Group are both one of the highest infection rates as well as the most asymptomatic.
I do not think stopping travel or imposing a 14 day quarantine which will stop visitors is the correct approach. As the Mayor says it is not a visitor problem and at least half of the infections are returning residents. What we do not know is how many are Kama’aina and how many are Malahini.
We need to strengthen the provisions re masks, social distancing and avoiding likely sources of infection.
Are visitors and returning residents abiding by the 3 day isolation or meeting friends and family? Are shops and restaurants /bars able to offer social distancing. Should we move to outdoors only? How many are doing the 3rd day testing, how many locals are getting regular tests just to be sure. I think there is a lot to be done obeying what the rules say to strengthen protection. Suddenly bannign Kauai travel will drive visitors to other islands and cause businesses to close as no one will look to risk visiting Kauai for a long time after.
14 day quarantine is a nice soundbite for politicians but making the existing system work properly and stopping people saying oh well who cares is not as punchy but will deliver more for Kauai. I remember Kauai after Iniki and people trying to get their lives back together. We do nto want to kill Kauai businesses.
We’re anxiously waiting for our “final” decision as to our up-coming trip Jan 7 thru 16 for the 7-day inter-island cruise..the constant changes to the travel restrictions are making it difficult. The vaccine may be available prior to our departure but will it make a difference to travel restrictions? We’ll also be tested prior to departure and numerous times during our visit..part of the tour will be to the Smith Plantation Luau on Kauai..maybe? Time is running out for us to either go or postpone this trip..purpose is/was to celebrate my 80th birthday Jan 8 2021.. Aloha ??
We are hopeful to visit Hawaii after my daughter graduates in 2021. Are nervous about booking the trip. Prayers that everything will improve so we can come.
We canceled our regular September trip. Booked a trip for December 1st thinking surely this mess will have ironed out by then. Just canceled that trip. We have another trip scheduled in February and I’m really beginning to wonder if that one will happen – even with a vaccine coming out.
I can understand the fear of the residents of Kaua’i because of the very limited medical resources there, but at some point Kaua’i will have to get on with living. The virus isn’t going to magically disappear on January 20th.
The one thing that has been made abundantly clear is how a large segment of Kaua’i really feels about tourists – and not in a good way.
Mahalo BOH for being the best source for Hawaii news.
“The one thing that has been made abundantly clear is how a large segment of Kaua’i really feels about tourists – and not in a good way.”
You should have been out here on far North Shore Kauai after the flood broke the road, and closed access to non-residents for 14 months. Was like Lord of the Flies on steroids.
I’m sorry but we’re no where near any financial gain yet…and I get it, businesses need to start up and thrive again, people need to make a living…Kauai took care to keep out the virus as much as possible and did so well…yes it was islanders returning home with the virus…thats a given when you leave home to the mainland where its infectious..Still, I would put a stop also, to regain stability for the island and lessen any more spread…pausing a little longer is worth saving a life till vaccinations. Just my thought.
If someone arrives by air to HNL with negative test uploaded and approved and then sails to Kauai either via charter or friend with a boat, would that be allowed? In other words, is there another “gatekeeper” besides Kauai Airport? Does the hotel even care when you arrive in Poipu if you’re clean and COVID-free?
Hotels most certainly care. And I’m sure they are held to strict rules. I arrived on Kauai with test results pending. 72 hours from my last takeoff wasnt enough time for my results to get back, it took 4 days. (The results were negative). Upon landing the national guard had me a sign mandatory self quarantine until the results were received, uploaded, and reviewed. That included where I was staying and other contact details. When I arrived at the hotel they asked for my qr code, and explained that because I did not have my results, that I would get a key that was good for a one time entrance to my room. No leaving until either results or the 14 day period were attained. You can only leave your room for medical services or an emergency. No room service was being offered, but food, extra towels, etc were dropped off at the door without answering the door. I received my results the 2nd day uploaded and called the number the gqurd gives you and was “free to go”. Finished a 3 day voluntary quarantine and retested with the quick test from amr. Both negative and continued my trip. Stayed at the Marriott on Kauai. Just my insight to answer your questions of hotels caring or not.
I know there is a bias based on a long ethnic memory. Europeans and mainlanders brought disease and destruction of the Hawaiian people. That might cause Kawai’ians to want to pull the plug on outsiders.
However Kawai’i mayor said that half the island’s cases were residents returning to the island. It is not visitors bringing the disease but Hawaiians.
Economic death is as horrible as physical death. If you save some lives but destroy the island livelihood you haven’t saved anything. The cure is indeed worse than the disease.
Well said! And very accurate! I posted an article from today’s The Garden Island…
“OnlyKaua‘i now has a cumulative case count of 119, of which 104 are confirmed locally, one is a probable case, and 14 are positive cases that were diagnosed elsewhere — with tests taken on the mainland where the positive results did not arrive until they were on-island.” They don’t say whether those 14 were tourists or returning residents. Nor how long a period of time it took to accumulate those 14 cases.
Ige needs to abandon the idea that the islands need to have uniform rules across them. What makes sense in Oahu, with significant healthcare capacity and already widespread community spread, does not make sense in Kauai right now.
Kauai should be allowed to enact their rules requiring a 3-day quarantine and a pre-travel test, then aggressively market towards longer-term travelers that want to avoid a COVID-filled mainland winter. This is not a normal year, there are many thousands of people that could potentially be interested in this sort of arrangement.
Normal short-term tourism is simply incompatible with Kauai during a pandemic. Ige needs to accept that and allow Kauai to make their own decisions until the vaccine rolls out.
CHRIS G…
I agree with the concept but face it – the old adage “when you’re working you have the money but not the time, when you’re retired you have the time but not the money”! Most people can’t leave their jobs, have their children leave their schooling, etc to be “long term” visitors.
The people of Kaua’i have a right to determine who may or may not visit the island, and under what circumstances. They even have a right to change their mind, via their representatives, about that whenever they so choose. BUT –
I believe it is economic suicide to continue the on-again, off-again approach adopted to date. Outsiders who truly love the island will do their best to understand and respect the will of the people, but even they will ultimately change their travel habits and vacation elsewhere, some of them forever. A great percentage of others will simply go elsewhere in the short term and likely even longer. I’m not an economist, but it doesn’t require that to see how the long term lack of tourist dollars will cause a snowball effect on business failures, and to the livelihood of islanders who are directly and indirectly linked to it.
As a former employee of Hawaii Pacific Health on Kaua’i, I think I understand the potential for an overwhelming situation should there be a large-scale increase in Covid cases, but living on Kaua’i has always posed the potential for health care inadequacies – for instance, last I checked, a person having a cardiac event requiring cardiac catheterization could not obtain that treatment on-island. That has been a fact of life on Kaua’i for a long time – a potentially fatal risk one must accept to live there.
I hope for everyone’s sake that this crisis turns a corner towards manageability for all and that islanders will not suffer financial fuin in its wake.
Whether they like it or not, they are part of the state of Hawaii (higher authority) who is a part of the United States (higher authority). Kauai is not private property.
That may be the case (all the islands are Hawaii) but having traveled all the islands they are so different from each other that they must be be looked at individually. It is so sad to see where things were under control to go so far bad as to now have a death. I want the welfare of the people to take precidence and will wait until it is safe for everyone.
We’re always very saddened by the unfortunate death that was described and of course the 58 case count. But, that doesn’t paint the entire picture. How many hospitalizations and how many mild or asymptotic cases have been discovered by all the testing. The way things are going and with the starting and stopping we will probably be canceling our biannual visit to Kauai. We typically stay 5-6 weeks and have loved it for the past 25+ years. Kauai will always be our second home, but maybe not in 2021, very sad. The Mayor has to start thinking about the results of another shut down of Kauai’s tourism and all the other health concerns that go along with it. The Cure shouldn’t be worse than the Virus itself. I’m not sure when his re-election comes up, but the people of Kauai may not forget what he has been asking for.
Good Luck to all my Kauai Family!!!!
He’s not up for re-election. If he was I think he might do things differently? But I don’t live in the state so not fair for me to judge. Just letting you know that he is not up again.
Thanks BOH for these updates on the clown show. Kawakami may be the biggest clown of all, which is saying something when the competition is Ige. Does Kawakami even understand his own statement? “Nearly half of our recent travel cases are Kauai residents who returned home.” Followed later by “we shouldn’t penalize our local people by restricting activities when that’s not the current source of infection.” Listen Mayor Brainiac, if half the cases are locals coming home then, yeah, locals are a big part of the problem. But I get it. He’s standing up for Kauai – you go brah!!!! – if he shuts out all visitors. After all, it’s never a bad move on Kauai to villainize visitors and outsiders.
Congrats to John A for pointing out the Mayor’s lapse in logical thinking that would be normally be avoided by any bright 4th grader–and not missed by most GI readers. I also like to think the Mayor’s grandstanding for higher office is also pretty transparent.
It seems to me the island had it under control and the ‘returning residents’ brought it from the mainland. Had they stayed in Kauai perhaps they wouldn’t have contracted it. Just saying..
Maybe he should give the “new plan” more than a day to work. The cases from “travelers” will likely die down once the negative tests have to be in hand before boarding the plane. If not, having everybody come without a test and quarantine isn’t going to help as they will all then come without a test. Why would you spend $150 to $200 to test if it doesn’t do you any good? Also, If you’re going to switch your plan, a little more notice than five days to a week away would be helpful! by the time the governor decides it could be after Thanksgiving, and December 1st is already next Tuesday. If you’re planning to come next Tuesday, you’ve likely scheduled your test already! By the way, love your articles — they really give me so much more news than the rest of the stories on the internet!
Just returned yesterday from 2 week stay at my condo. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the island. I could see this coming. The locals I know whose jobs depend on the hospitality industry were afraid that this would happen. I just don’t see how Kauai and perhaps the other islands will feel comfortable allowing tourism until there is a vaccine that has proven to work and enough people have been vaccinated. No matter how hard the efforts to stop the spread of COVID the only way to completely stop it is isolate the islands. I’m not endorsing that idea I just see it as the reality. I saw the increase in homeless while I was there. It’s sad but the reality of the lack of tourism income. I hope to be back if February or March. Time will tell.
I do have a follow up question for BOH cause this has confused me since opening, Can Kauai choose to pull out of the safe travels program at anytime if the mayor wants? Or does he have to have approval from the governor? When Hawaii was about to open it sounded like each county had the option to opt out? But then I was told since they opted-in, they can’t opt-out without governor sign off. But then when the kauai mayor gave his last 2 demands it sounded like he threatened to opt-out if they weren’t met.
I’m confused. Are they just trying to theeaten as much as possible to make people cancel they’re plans?
Good question. We aren’t sure. But here’s what we think. If the mayor had proceeded through the ‘tiers’ that were to determine what is open and what isn’t, including travel, then he ‘might’ not have needed additional approval. And, if the mayor could have opted out we ‘think’ he would have. The governor has been outspoken as recently as last week about any new rulings needing to be approved by the state. We’ll be learning more soon, that’s one thing we can count on. Thanks for all your comments.
Don’t be sorry. You guys at BOH are great! You’re always on top of what’s going on with travel to Hawaii. I always appreciate the info even when it’s not good. Takes the guess work out of whether or not to book a trip.
Much appreciation to you all.
Stay safe we’ll all get through this.
I so agree with you Donna! We are scheduled in February for 24 days. We will make our final decision mid January. I have not been since 2019 and I’m looking forward to being there again. But the anxiety of all these changes and that one could easily happen between our decision and travel day….has me second guessing my plans.
I’m brokenhearted to learn of the 58 covid cases on Kauai and especially the one loss of life. I am of the view that there is no way to guarantee or significantly minimize safety on the islands – especially during this horrific surge of covid on the mainland – with only a pre-flight covid test. We all know that results represent only a very narrow point in time. What happens to people during the 72 hours after they test? How many people are boarding flights who are actually positive? If there is no mandatory post-arrival testing and quarantining until that time, there is obviously significant risk of people bringing covid to Hawaii – especially now. I also question using valuable resources for covid testing for vacation purposes, when there are people with symptoms having a difficult time getting covid testing done on a timely basis. This is all a big mess. There needs to be support for the Hawaiian economy through state and federal assistance, vs. endangering people’s lives via tourism. I suggest going to invest.hawaii.gov for links to a number of online shopping opportunities for made-in-Hawaii products, which will help support the Hawaiian economy. It’s not the complete answer, but it’s something.
My thoughts and suggestions would be to replace wishy washy Hawaiian govt and have it be run by the federal government or an extension of another state ie Massachusetts or California.
These states are clear and concise with laws and for mostpart unwavering. Ideally South Dakota could govern hawaii with no restrictions on travel or residents and tourists. I dont see that happening with fear mongering though, but would be nice.
I agree most restrictions should have been federal across the board. But California is clear and concise? Thats a joke. I live in Alameda County, East Bay. We went from purple to red to orange in a matter of weeks. Opening up everything, but weeks later we’re told their is a “surge” which is largely southern CA, and the governor still put us in the bay area back to purple tier with a 1 day warning, even tho we still have close to the same average of cases daily, still at 2.8% postivity rate, oh and we have a lovely curfew. But its not truely a purple tier because they made a list of what can stay open that wasnt originally on the purple tier based on whatever they wanted to base it on. There is nothing clear and concise about CA. We are one of the strictest states with the most restrictions starting last March and yet still have the 2nd highest cases. No one should model CA or our governor. I’m a democrat and am embarrased by Newsome.
What is irritating is that Kauai had since March last year to bring in adequate hospital needs. Hawaii as a whole had since before August to October to get enough trustedpartners that should have been contracted to gaurantee test result within 48hrs to make the 72hrs a success. They should have required the negative test in hand to surpass the quarrantine from the start. But none of that happened. And no disrepect to Kauai locals but the mayor signed off with a tier proposal to be apart of the safe travels program & didn’t even get a month in or move tiers before requesting more demands. Then the 2nd test wasnnt approved but the negative test in hand was, so again the mayor moved forward. But now we are literally on day ONE of the negative inhand test and now he’s requesting to pull out all together. Sorry but WTF? He has never given the system a fair shake purposely blaming travel related cases, but they haven’t all been travel. Alot have, there’s no doubt that no system is 100%. But The death was not travel related. I’m not diminishing a life, any life is precious, but the elderly man had no travel relations but the mayors office still hints that it is correlated to travel.
“This latest death occurred during a period of significant rise in case levels on the island, most of which a were travel related.” “this means there is new community transmission of covid 19 on the island for the first time since July”
So what were the 20cases from July to October? Travel related? When everyone was quarrantined? Look, I believe covid is real. I believe it is horrible for our at risk people. But it is also a fact from the CDC that you can test postive after being infected for up to 90 DAYS after. Considering there was 58 were confirmed postive cases but there was no outbreak? 1-4 positives a day, all of those people’s close contacts were traced but little to no word of any of those traced people being positive and infected. The mayor has always looked for an out period.
I echo Lynde’s comment about inadequate hospital needs that have seemingly gone unaddressed. At the beginning of the pandemic, Kauai had only 9 ICU beds. Nine months later, there are still only 9 ICU beds on the island.
Kauai received $28,715,55 in CARES Act funds. I wonder why some of that money hasn’t been spent on even a modest increase in ICU capability on the island (physical hospital facilities, equipment and staffing). It would be an investment in meeting the short-term and longer-term health needs of residents and visitors – not only to deal with the COVID crisis but also to provide care for other health conditions needing intensive care (e.g., heart attacks, strokes, injuries due to accidents or natural disasters).
CARES Act funds have rightly been spent on improving the lives of Kauai residents who are out of work or hungry due to the collapse of the visitor industry. Wouldn’t upgrading the ICU capacity of the hospital system be a logical use of those funds? Perhaps it’s planned, but I haven’t seen any announcements to that effect.
“Opting out of the Safe Travels program would be independent of our tier system, which means we could stay in Tier 4 for a longer period of time. It makes no logical sense for us to move tiers while still allowing more travelers. We shouldn’t penalize our local people by restricting activities, such as youth sports, when that’s not the current source of infection.”
If the rest of the country had this mentality then nobody would be allowed anywhere. Every City, Every County, and Every State, or any other jurisdiction/community for that matter, will become a Private Membership-Only Golf Club. Is this the future of post-Covid America?
What if there is a spike in cases reported in Poipu, should Princeville prohibit “travelers” from Poipu? I see a slippery slope in the making.
Richard c its already gotten ugly. And now your making a direct threat to tourists to get off of kaui. Plain ignorant and wrong
If Hawaiians attack tourists as your suggesting the national guard will come in and locals could be segregated somehow from tourists. Its never happened before in recent history but i think that most people will follow us laws or face jail time etc as usual.
It would be radically turning back the clock and erasing any progress made in the state since monarchy days.
There’s been so many posts that basically say – “well, why don’t you just stay home” – and many of the more assertive ones have been from folks who live on Kauai. I’ve swallowed them all but now I just need to say something.
This summer would have been our 44th stay on Kauai in 25 years. Each stay has been between 2-3 weeks so you can do the math on how much time we’ve spent on the island.
We’re not privileged to live there – we have to live where we do – but for us Kauai is our escape, our safe place, our refuge. And I know that many of the posters here have talked about staying for month(s) or staying every year so they understand how we feel.
This summer I’ve had 7 surgeries, 8 days of hospital stays, septic shock with hallucinations that would blow your mind and as soon as that was over, having to deal with my husband’s episode of possible heart attack which was never resolved. We’ve dealt with being unemployed, being in lockdown, being bored out of our minds, simply watching our lives as we knew them disappear. We’re lucky. We’re surviving much better than most – obviously we can afford a Kauai trip – but everyone has lost something and our Kauai “bliss” is one of the things we’ve lost.
When I get off the plane in Kauai I always say “I just got my soul back”! And I was – am – so looking forward to that feeling of relief. Dancing hula in a studio is not the same as dancing on “our” beach! Laying under the stars at night off Poipu is undefinable.
We don’t come to Kauai to check another item off “1000 Places to See Before You Die”. We don’t come to Kauai to check off another waterfall or beach. We come to Kauai because it is where we find respite, delight, joy, calm and aloha.
I know traveling during the pandemic is probably not wise but at some point, we do have to try to take your life back.
I’m not sure exactly why I’m writing this but it seemed appropriate. Please don’t tell us to stay home – we’ll do everything possible to not do that!
Perhaps I shouldn’t have focused on the health issues as all is well at this point. But I just wanted to express how much Kauai means to a lot of us. It’s not just a “vacation”! It’s “going home” to a place of joy.
Like so many other states with a rise in cases government leaders need to take a firmer hand. pre-and post travel tests, with quarantines required between, have to be a necessary aspect of ALL travel. The expense can placed on to the traveler. Yes it will inhibit some travelers but better some safe island tourism than none at all. Tourism will increase as Island safety is more secure
Unlike the Mainland, you have the opportunity to stop this, as you did for most of the pandemic. Unfortunately, Kauai (and maybe Hawaii?) needs to lock down now. You can contract trace and quarantine the 58 cases and their contacts. In a month or so, you may be back down to a few cases. But if you continue to let tourists and even residents returning from the Mainland on the Island, you are facing a potential tsunami that you won’t be able to manage (hospitalizations). I agree with Letters to the Editor in the Garden News, Gov Ige needs to use some CARE funds to financially support Kauai until travelers and residents are vaccinated. Aloha
Aloha,
Our family trip to France this spring was cancelled due to Covid. Instead of spending our money in Europe, we decided to keep it within the US and spend it on the lovely island of Kauai. Our trip is in less than 20 days, but the ever changing requirements for travel to Hawaii are overwhelming. Open for tourism or don’t, but make a decision.
Kauai tried to open for people insisting on traveling during a pandemic both resident and visitor without the 14 day quarantine which was proven effective to stop the spread but the safe travels program has proven not to be so safe for Kauai and we could soon have an overwhelmed hospital (note the singular) with the capabilities to treat COVID-19 cases. The healthcare system on Kauai is already extremely limited and bringing the back the 14 day quarantine is the only the way to try and ensure that the island can ensure medical care for all with or without large numbers of COVID-19 cases.
This is less about tourism and more about traveling in general but yes it impacts the tourism industry must directly. While tourists are back that sector of the economy isn’t booming….. But after the Governor refused to provide an answer to Kauai’s mayor proposed
much safer two test program, the mayor ( who has support from his county council) was left no choose but to ask opt out! Maybe the governor will meet the mayor and country in the middle and approve us to try out the two test with 72 hour quarantine program rather granting his request to completely opt out?
Hope everything works out for you the way want it to but if you want a stress free pandemic travel experience trying to come to Kauai right now isn’t going to be it! If you really want to travel to the Hawaiian islands in 20 days maybe try a different island where the Mayor isn’t actively trying to opt out of the state’s current state travel program. Just a suggestion 😉
So sick of this back and forth. Really, all of these lockdowns really don’t seam to make a difference. Nobody really knows and those who profess to do dont know either.
A challenging situation for all parties and difficult to find a win-win for residents, travelers, airlines and, of course the various island businesses – from lodging to restaurants and all who survive on just the right combination of culture and commerce. We just submitted our Covid tests today to Azova and are hoping for the results before our Friday flight from Seattle to Lihue. A designated “trusted partner,” Costco/Azova, at considerable time, trouble and expense, we are pressing on in the hope that arrival before Dec 1 (on Nov 27), we will be able to enjoy our stay on the island through our return on Dec 8.
I applaud our Kauai mayor, he knows how this island can manage to get through the spiking covid cases before our hospitals are maxed out. And then open the doors up again so businesses can resume operation. Thank you Derek for common sense. I was on the mainland recently (it is crazy there), jumped through all the hoops to test twice, followed the cdc guidelines to a T. But as I go about on Kauai now I see many visitors congregated and not masked. One more thing, residents here help each other through times like this, no food? Come eat. The beauty of a small community.
Our thoughts… Oh well – there’s goes 01/07/21. I understand the conundrum but I also keep in daily touch with numerous FB friends on Kauai who are hurting financially like they never thought they would. You can’t have it both ways – tourist with $$$ but possible infections or no tourists and no $$$.
Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth… This is not just a tourist problem. Nearly half of our recent travel cases are Kauai residents who returned home.”
Kawakami is a political opportunist. His previous plan was rejected, now he is trying to take advantage of the passing away of the elderly gentleman to push his agenda of staying in the public eye again. If he wants to be transparent he should give the age and what other health problems the gentleman had before. Also his reasoning lacks logic in one sentence he says most of the spread is due to residents returning in the other he proposes to shut down tourism arrivals while keeping tier 4 for locals. Shutting down tourist arrivals will do nothing to prevent the spread by the returning residents because they are advised to quarantine at home with some local households having more than a dozen people living in crowded quarters. By removing the requirement of a negative test he is also allowing any resident who may be positive to come without testing and infecting both fellow passengers and everyone he comes into contact with until he goes to his residence to quarantine and nucleate a super spreader.
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint!
Nothing is perfect but the 14 day quarantine has proven to be safer for Kauai and has limited the cases.
Implementing the 14 quarantine puts the burden on the people who choose to travel rather than the people staying put. There is medical and workforces exemptions for people who actually do need to travel.
So very sorry about all of this. This so terrible plague (?), I’m saying brought to us from China, is destroying lives and many plans people have had for quite a while. I am sorry for us who had plans for a Hawaii Christmas; sorry for many who did, and for those who had Christmas plans for other places, now canceled! Do hope all of Hawaii is soon well and ready for all of us again. Praying for all of us to stay safe and well.
Who would take a chance coming to Hawaii until Covid is over with rule changes with every case of covid. I am writing from Mexico where we rebooked after cancellation of our Hawaii trip. No issues here. Taking all reasonable precautions but not draconian knee jerk reactions. I feel for the local businesses I hope they will still be there when we return in 3-5 years
We love spending time on Kauai and are saddened that we are unable to visit at this time but the welfare of the islanders must come first. I pray the economic hit everyone is taking because of this virus and shutdown will not be permanent. The people are so gracious and we await the time we can return..for at least a month when we can finally go. We wait as we wouldn’t want to be the the cause of anyone getting sick and I’m not convinced that pre testing will catch all inflicted since this virus hides well. To all the islanders, I wish you well and hope to return in the future for an extended visit. A complete shut down is only temporary…safety first.
Mahalo Kathy,
And you will be great with Aloha because you are showing the island Aloha!
I wish more people on this site had the same view as you about travel during the Pandemic!!!
Kauai has 9 ICU beds and about a dozen ventilators. If you sick there is nowhere to really go and the virus will spread quickly here. I support Mayor Kawakami and his request. As a resident I refuse to travel right now because I don’t want to spread the virus and our small island cannot handle large numbers of sick people. We do not have enough medical resources. We want to reopen but not at the human cost that will be paid. Please show aloha. Either don’t visit right now or quarantine to keep residents healthy.
Looking at this and the issue of Students getting appointments for tests on the mainland so they can return home for the holidays.
How are Hawai’s students on the mainland at Universities across the country as well as those with jobs on the mainland going to come home for the holidays if they must quarantine for 14 days? They surely cannot quarantine at home with family members as the Student Age Group are both one of the highest infection rates as well as the most asymptomatic.
I knew it this is going to happen. Kauai will start it, other Islands will follow. It’s probably best to do it that way.
I do not think stopping travel or imposing a 14 day quarantine which will stop visitors is the correct approach. As the Mayor says it is not a visitor problem and at least half of the infections are returning residents. What we do not know is how many are Kama’aina and how many are Malahini.
We need to strengthen the provisions re masks, social distancing and avoiding likely sources of infection.
Are visitors and returning residents abiding by the 3 day isolation or meeting friends and family? Are shops and restaurants /bars able to offer social distancing. Should we move to outdoors only? How many are doing the 3rd day testing, how many locals are getting regular tests just to be sure. I think there is a lot to be done obeying what the rules say to strengthen protection. Suddenly bannign Kauai travel will drive visitors to other islands and cause businesses to close as no one will look to risk visiting Kauai for a long time after.
14 day quarantine is a nice soundbite for politicians but making the existing system work properly and stopping people saying oh well who cares is not as punchy but will deliver more for Kauai. I remember Kauai after Iniki and people trying to get their lives back together. We do nto want to kill Kauai businesses.
We’re anxiously waiting for our “final” decision as to our up-coming trip Jan 7 thru 16 for the 7-day inter-island cruise..the constant changes to the travel restrictions are making it difficult. The vaccine may be available prior to our departure but will it make a difference to travel restrictions? We’ll also be tested prior to departure and numerous times during our visit..part of the tour will be to the Smith Plantation Luau on Kauai..maybe? Time is running out for us to either go or postpone this trip..purpose is/was to celebrate my 80th birthday Jan 8 2021.. Aloha ??
We are hopeful to visit Hawaii after my daughter graduates in 2021. Are nervous about booking the trip. Prayers that everything will improve so we can come.
We canceled our regular September trip. Booked a trip for December 1st thinking surely this mess will have ironed out by then. Just canceled that trip. We have another trip scheduled in February and I’m really beginning to wonder if that one will happen – even with a vaccine coming out.
I can understand the fear of the residents of Kaua’i because of the very limited medical resources there, but at some point Kaua’i will have to get on with living. The virus isn’t going to magically disappear on January 20th.
The one thing that has been made abundantly clear is how a large segment of Kaua’i really feels about tourists – and not in a good way.
Mahalo BOH for being the best source for Hawaii news.
Hi Ed.
Thanks. We look forward to welcoming you back again.
Aloha.
“The one thing that has been made abundantly clear is how a large segment of Kaua’i really feels about tourists – and not in a good way.”
You should have been out here on far North Shore Kauai after the flood broke the road, and closed access to non-residents for 14 months. Was like Lord of the Flies on steroids.
I’m sorry but we’re no where near any financial gain yet…and I get it, businesses need to start up and thrive again, people need to make a living…Kauai took care to keep out the virus as much as possible and did so well…yes it was islanders returning home with the virus…thats a given when you leave home to the mainland where its infectious..Still, I would put a stop also, to regain stability for the island and lessen any more spread…pausing a little longer is worth saving a life till vaccinations. Just my thought.
Greetings friends,
If someone arrives by air to HNL with negative test uploaded and approved and then sails to Kauai either via charter or friend with a boat, would that be allowed? In other words, is there another “gatekeeper” besides Kauai Airport? Does the hotel even care when you arrive in Poipu if you’re clean and COVID-free?
Thank you!
Hi Rob.
Yes we understand that hotels are asking to see your QR code. Not sure about sailing – perhaps someone else can comment.
Aloha.
Hotels most certainly care. And I’m sure they are held to strict rules. I arrived on Kauai with test results pending. 72 hours from my last takeoff wasnt enough time for my results to get back, it took 4 days. (The results were negative). Upon landing the national guard had me a sign mandatory self quarantine until the results were received, uploaded, and reviewed. That included where I was staying and other contact details. When I arrived at the hotel they asked for my qr code, and explained that because I did not have my results, that I would get a key that was good for a one time entrance to my room. No leaving until either results or the 14 day period were attained. You can only leave your room for medical services or an emergency. No room service was being offered, but food, extra towels, etc were dropped off at the door without answering the door. I received my results the 2nd day uploaded and called the number the gqurd gives you and was “free to go”. Finished a 3 day voluntary quarantine and retested with the quick test from amr. Both negative and continued my trip. Stayed at the Marriott on Kauai. Just my insight to answer your questions of hotels caring or not.
How many ICU beds in Kauai? 11 that’s right 11! Need I say more.The mayor is asking to save lives.
I know there is a bias based on a long ethnic memory. Europeans and mainlanders brought disease and destruction of the Hawaiian people. That might cause Kawai’ians to want to pull the plug on outsiders.
However Kawai’i mayor said that half the island’s cases were residents returning to the island. It is not visitors bringing the disease but Hawaiians.
Economic death is as horrible as physical death. If you save some lives but destroy the island livelihood you haven’t saved anything. The cure is indeed worse than the disease.
Ken do you own a rental?
Nasty does not help nor do assumptions. He makes a perfect t point. Do You have all the answers?
Correct!
KEN…
Well said! And very accurate! I posted an article from today’s The Garden Island…
“OnlyKaua‘i now has a cumulative case count of 119, of which 104 are confirmed locally, one is a probable case, and 14 are positive cases that were diagnosed elsewhere — with tests taken on the mainland where the positive results did not arrive until they were on-island.” They don’t say whether those 14 were tourists or returning residents. Nor how long a period of time it took to accumulate those 14 cases.
Ige needs to abandon the idea that the islands need to have uniform rules across them. What makes sense in Oahu, with significant healthcare capacity and already widespread community spread, does not make sense in Kauai right now.
Kauai should be allowed to enact their rules requiring a 3-day quarantine and a pre-travel test, then aggressively market towards longer-term travelers that want to avoid a COVID-filled mainland winter. This is not a normal year, there are many thousands of people that could potentially be interested in this sort of arrangement.
Normal short-term tourism is simply incompatible with Kauai during a pandemic. Ige needs to accept that and allow Kauai to make their own decisions until the vaccine rolls out.
CHRIS G…
I agree with the concept but face it – the old adage “when you’re working you have the money but not the time, when you’re retired you have the time but not the money”! Most people can’t leave their jobs, have their children leave their schooling, etc to be “long term” visitors.
The people of Kaua’i have a right to determine who may or may not visit the island, and under what circumstances. They even have a right to change their mind, via their representatives, about that whenever they so choose. BUT –
I believe it is economic suicide to continue the on-again, off-again approach adopted to date. Outsiders who truly love the island will do their best to understand and respect the will of the people, but even they will ultimately change their travel habits and vacation elsewhere, some of them forever. A great percentage of others will simply go elsewhere in the short term and likely even longer. I’m not an economist, but it doesn’t require that to see how the long term lack of tourist dollars will cause a snowball effect on business failures, and to the livelihood of islanders who are directly and indirectly linked to it.
As a former employee of Hawaii Pacific Health on Kaua’i, I think I understand the potential for an overwhelming situation should there be a large-scale increase in Covid cases, but living on Kaua’i has always posed the potential for health care inadequacies – for instance, last I checked, a person having a cardiac event requiring cardiac catheterization could not obtain that treatment on-island. That has been a fact of life on Kaua’i for a long time – a potentially fatal risk one must accept to live there.
I hope for everyone’s sake that this crisis turns a corner towards manageability for all and that islanders will not suffer financial fuin in its wake.
Wrong.
Whether they like it or not, they are part of the state of Hawaii (higher authority) who is a part of the United States (higher authority). Kauai is not private property.
That’s rediculous. Try to think a little deeper, brah.
That may be the case (all the islands are Hawaii) but having traveled all the islands they are so different from each other that they must be be looked at individually. It is so sad to see where things were under control to go so far bad as to now have a death. I want the welfare of the people to take precidence and will wait until it is safe for everyone.
We’re always very saddened by the unfortunate death that was described and of course the 58 case count. But, that doesn’t paint the entire picture. How many hospitalizations and how many mild or asymptotic cases have been discovered by all the testing. The way things are going and with the starting and stopping we will probably be canceling our biannual visit to Kauai. We typically stay 5-6 weeks and have loved it for the past 25+ years. Kauai will always be our second home, but maybe not in 2021, very sad. The Mayor has to start thinking about the results of another shut down of Kauai’s tourism and all the other health concerns that go along with it. The Cure shouldn’t be worse than the Virus itself. I’m not sure when his re-election comes up, but the people of Kauai may not forget what he has been asking for.
Good Luck to all my Kauai Family!!!!
He’s not up for re-election. If he was I think he might do things differently? But I don’t live in the state so not fair for me to judge. Just letting you know that he is not up again.
Thanks BOH for these updates on the clown show. Kawakami may be the biggest clown of all, which is saying something when the competition is Ige. Does Kawakami even understand his own statement? “Nearly half of our recent travel cases are Kauai residents who returned home.” Followed later by “we shouldn’t penalize our local people by restricting activities when that’s not the current source of infection.” Listen Mayor Brainiac, if half the cases are locals coming home then, yeah, locals are a big part of the problem. But I get it. He’s standing up for Kauai – you go brah!!!! – if he shuts out all visitors. After all, it’s never a bad move on Kauai to villainize visitors and outsiders.
Congrats to John A for pointing out the Mayor’s lapse in logical thinking that would be normally be avoided by any bright 4th grader–and not missed by most GI readers. I also like to think the Mayor’s grandstanding for higher office is also pretty transparent.
Grandstanding? Yes, Caldwell and Green have been getting all of the attention lately.
It seems to me the island had it under control and the ‘returning residents’ brought it from the mainland. Had they stayed in Kauai perhaps they wouldn’t have contracted it. Just saying..
Maybe he should give the “new plan” more than a day to work. The cases from “travelers” will likely die down once the negative tests have to be in hand before boarding the plane. If not, having everybody come without a test and quarantine isn’t going to help as they will all then come without a test. Why would you spend $150 to $200 to test if it doesn’t do you any good? Also, If you’re going to switch your plan, a little more notice than five days to a week away would be helpful! by the time the governor decides it could be after Thanksgiving, and December 1st is already next Tuesday. If you’re planning to come next Tuesday, you’ve likely scheduled your test already! By the way, love your articles — they really give me so much more news than the rest of the stories on the internet!
Hi Janet.
Thanks so much for saying that. Happy Thanksgiving.
Aloha.
Just returned yesterday from 2 week stay at my condo. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the island. I could see this coming. The locals I know whose jobs depend on the hospitality industry were afraid that this would happen. I just don’t see how Kauai and perhaps the other islands will feel comfortable allowing tourism until there is a vaccine that has proven to work and enough people have been vaccinated. No matter how hard the efforts to stop the spread of COVID the only way to completely stop it is isolate the islands. I’m not endorsing that idea I just see it as the reality. I saw the increase in homeless while I was there. It’s sad but the reality of the lack of tourism income. I hope to be back if February or March. Time will tell.
I do have a follow up question for BOH cause this has confused me since opening, Can Kauai choose to pull out of the safe travels program at anytime if the mayor wants? Or does he have to have approval from the governor? When Hawaii was about to open it sounded like each county had the option to opt out? But then I was told since they opted-in, they can’t opt-out without governor sign off. But then when the kauai mayor gave his last 2 demands it sounded like he threatened to opt-out if they weren’t met.
I’m confused. Are they just trying to theeaten as much as possible to make people cancel they’re plans?
Hi Lynde.
Good question. We aren’t sure. But here’s what we think. If the mayor had proceeded through the ‘tiers’ that were to determine what is open and what isn’t, including travel, then he ‘might’ not have needed additional approval. And, if the mayor could have opted out we ‘think’ he would have. The governor has been outspoken as recently as last week about any new rulings needing to be approved by the state. We’ll be learning more soon, that’s one thing we can count on. Thanks for all your comments.
Aloha.
I give up !! Even though I had resigned my self to not going to Hawaii until 2022. I caved and was looking at coming in early Spring.
But this Constant back and forth and always changing the rules has become ridiculous!! It’s not worth the headache. I’ll just stick with maybe 2022.
Thanks guys at BOH for always delivering the crazy news of Hawaii to us. Better days are ahead ….
I hope.
Mahalo
Hi Donna.
We are sorry to be harbingers of bad news. Yes, we concur, better days are ahead.
Aloha.
Don’t be sorry. You guys at BOH are great! You’re always on top of what’s going on with travel to Hawaii. I always appreciate the info even when it’s not good. Takes the guess work out of whether or not to book a trip.
Much appreciation to you all.
Stay safe we’ll all get through this.
I so agree with you Donna! We are scheduled in February for 24 days. We will make our final decision mid January. I have not been since 2019 and I’m looking forward to being there again. But the anxiety of all these changes and that one could easily happen between our decision and travel day….has me second guessing my plans.
I’m brokenhearted to learn of the 58 covid cases on Kauai and especially the one loss of life. I am of the view that there is no way to guarantee or significantly minimize safety on the islands – especially during this horrific surge of covid on the mainland – with only a pre-flight covid test. We all know that results represent only a very narrow point in time. What happens to people during the 72 hours after they test? How many people are boarding flights who are actually positive? If there is no mandatory post-arrival testing and quarantining until that time, there is obviously significant risk of people bringing covid to Hawaii – especially now. I also question using valuable resources for covid testing for vacation purposes, when there are people with symptoms having a difficult time getting covid testing done on a timely basis. This is all a big mess. There needs to be support for the Hawaiian economy through state and federal assistance, vs. endangering people’s lives via tourism. I suggest going to invest.hawaii.gov for links to a number of online shopping opportunities for made-in-Hawaii products, which will help support the Hawaiian economy. It’s not the complete answer, but it’s something.
My thoughts and suggestions would be to replace wishy washy Hawaiian govt and have it be run by the federal government or an extension of another state ie Massachusetts or California.
These states are clear and concise with laws and for mostpart unwavering. Ideally South Dakota could govern hawaii with no restrictions on travel or residents and tourists. I dont see that happening with fear mongering though, but would be nice.
I agree most restrictions should have been federal across the board. But California is clear and concise? Thats a joke. I live in Alameda County, East Bay. We went from purple to red to orange in a matter of weeks. Opening up everything, but weeks later we’re told their is a “surge” which is largely southern CA, and the governor still put us in the bay area back to purple tier with a 1 day warning, even tho we still have close to the same average of cases daily, still at 2.8% postivity rate, oh and we have a lovely curfew. But its not truely a purple tier because they made a list of what can stay open that wasnt originally on the purple tier based on whatever they wanted to base it on. There is nothing clear and concise about CA. We are one of the strictest states with the most restrictions starting last March and yet still have the 2nd highest cases. No one should model CA or our governor. I’m a democrat and am embarrased by Newsome.
What is irritating is that Kauai had since March last year to bring in adequate hospital needs. Hawaii as a whole had since before August to October to get enough trustedpartners that should have been contracted to gaurantee test result within 48hrs to make the 72hrs a success. They should have required the negative test in hand to surpass the quarrantine from the start. But none of that happened. And no disrepect to Kauai locals but the mayor signed off with a tier proposal to be apart of the safe travels program & didn’t even get a month in or move tiers before requesting more demands. Then the 2nd test wasnnt approved but the negative test in hand was, so again the mayor moved forward. But now we are literally on day ONE of the negative inhand test and now he’s requesting to pull out all together. Sorry but WTF? He has never given the system a fair shake purposely blaming travel related cases, but they haven’t all been travel. Alot have, there’s no doubt that no system is 100%. But The death was not travel related. I’m not diminishing a life, any life is precious, but the elderly man had no travel relations but the mayors office still hints that it is correlated to travel.
“This latest death occurred during a period of significant rise in case levels on the island, most of which a were travel related.” “this means there is new community transmission of covid 19 on the island for the first time since July”
So what were the 20cases from July to October? Travel related? When everyone was quarrantined? Look, I believe covid is real. I believe it is horrible for our at risk people. But it is also a fact from the CDC that you can test postive after being infected for up to 90 DAYS after. Considering there was 58 were confirmed postive cases but there was no outbreak? 1-4 positives a day, all of those people’s close contacts were traced but little to no word of any of those traced people being positive and infected. The mayor has always looked for an out period.
I echo Lynde’s comment about inadequate hospital needs that have seemingly gone unaddressed. At the beginning of the pandemic, Kauai had only 9 ICU beds. Nine months later, there are still only 9 ICU beds on the island.
Kauai received $28,715,55 in CARES Act funds. I wonder why some of that money hasn’t been spent on even a modest increase in ICU capability on the island (physical hospital facilities, equipment and staffing). It would be an investment in meeting the short-term and longer-term health needs of residents and visitors – not only to deal with the COVID crisis but also to provide care for other health conditions needing intensive care (e.g., heart attacks, strokes, injuries due to accidents or natural disasters).
CARES Act funds have rightly been spent on improving the lives of Kauai residents who are out of work or hungry due to the collapse of the visitor industry. Wouldn’t upgrading the ICU capacity of the hospital system be a logical use of those funds? Perhaps it’s planned, but I haven’t seen any announcements to that effect.
“Opting out of the Safe Travels program would be independent of our tier system, which means we could stay in Tier 4 for a longer period of time. It makes no logical sense for us to move tiers while still allowing more travelers. We shouldn’t penalize our local people by restricting activities, such as youth sports, when that’s not the current source of infection.”
If the rest of the country had this mentality then nobody would be allowed anywhere. Every City, Every County, and Every State, or any other jurisdiction/community for that matter, will become a Private Membership-Only Golf Club. Is this the future of post-Covid America?
What if there is a spike in cases reported in Poipu, should Princeville prohibit “travelers” from Poipu? I see a slippery slope in the making.
Close it down
Right on Lynde C. I totally agree with everything you said.
Aloha Guys
My guess is that the “We the People of Kauai” declaration has legs.
Can I make a suggestion to any tourists currently staying on Kauai who’re following this thread on BOH.
I’d make plans to get yourselves off that island before someone else dies of covid and this thing turns ugly.
Richard c its already gotten ugly. And now your making a direct threat to tourists to get off of kaui. Plain ignorant and wrong
If Hawaiians attack tourists as your suggesting the national guard will come in and locals could be segregated somehow from tourists. Its never happened before in recent history but i think that most people will follow us laws or face jail time etc as usual.
It would be radically turning back the clock and erasing any progress made in the state since monarchy days.
There’s been so many posts that basically say – “well, why don’t you just stay home” – and many of the more assertive ones have been from folks who live on Kauai. I’ve swallowed them all but now I just need to say something.
This summer would have been our 44th stay on Kauai in 25 years. Each stay has been between 2-3 weeks so you can do the math on how much time we’ve spent on the island.
We’re not privileged to live there – we have to live where we do – but for us Kauai is our escape, our safe place, our refuge. And I know that many of the posters here have talked about staying for month(s) or staying every year so they understand how we feel.
This summer I’ve had 7 surgeries, 8 days of hospital stays, septic shock with hallucinations that would blow your mind and as soon as that was over, having to deal with my husband’s episode of possible heart attack which was never resolved. We’ve dealt with being unemployed, being in lockdown, being bored out of our minds, simply watching our lives as we knew them disappear. We’re lucky. We’re surviving much better than most – obviously we can afford a Kauai trip – but everyone has lost something and our Kauai “bliss” is one of the things we’ve lost.
When I get off the plane in Kauai I always say “I just got my soul back”! And I was – am – so looking forward to that feeling of relief. Dancing hula in a studio is not the same as dancing on “our” beach! Laying under the stars at night off Poipu is undefinable.
We don’t come to Kauai to check another item off “1000 Places to See Before You Die”. We don’t come to Kauai to check off another waterfall or beach. We come to Kauai because it is where we find respite, delight, joy, calm and aloha.
I know traveling during the pandemic is probably not wise but at some point, we do have to try to take your life back.
I’m not sure exactly why I’m writing this but it seemed appropriate. Please don’t tell us to stay home – we’ll do everything possible to not do that!
Hi Barbara.
Thanks for your many comments. We’re sorry to hear about your health issues, and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Aloha.
Well said, Barbara! Sorry you have faced so many health challenges this year and Hopefully things are turning around.
LESLIE C…
Perhaps I shouldn’t have focused on the health issues as all is well at this point. But I just wanted to express how much Kauai means to a lot of us. It’s not just a “vacation”! It’s “going home” to a place of joy.
Like so many other states with a rise in cases government leaders need to take a firmer hand. pre-and post travel tests, with quarantines required between, have to be a necessary aspect of ALL travel. The expense can placed on to the traveler. Yes it will inhibit some travelers but better some safe island tourism than none at all. Tourism will increase as Island safety is more secure
Kiss you political asperations beyond Kauai good bye
Unlike the Mainland, you have the opportunity to stop this, as you did for most of the pandemic. Unfortunately, Kauai (and maybe Hawaii?) needs to lock down now. You can contract trace and quarantine the 58 cases and their contacts. In a month or so, you may be back down to a few cases. But if you continue to let tourists and even residents returning from the Mainland on the Island, you are facing a potential tsunami that you won’t be able to manage (hospitalizations). I agree with Letters to the Editor in the Garden News, Gov Ige needs to use some CARE funds to financially support Kauai until travelers and residents are vaccinated. Aloha
My thoughts? He’s a moron.
Aloha,
Our family trip to France this spring was cancelled due to Covid. Instead of spending our money in Europe, we decided to keep it within the US and spend it on the lovely island of Kauai. Our trip is in less than 20 days, but the ever changing requirements for travel to Hawaii are overwhelming. Open for tourism or don’t, but make a decision.
Hi Leslie,
Kauai tried to open for people insisting on traveling during a pandemic both resident and visitor without the 14 day quarantine which was proven effective to stop the spread but the safe travels program has proven not to be so safe for Kauai and we could soon have an overwhelmed hospital (note the singular) with the capabilities to treat COVID-19 cases. The healthcare system on Kauai is already extremely limited and bringing the back the 14 day quarantine is the only the way to try and ensure that the island can ensure medical care for all with or without large numbers of COVID-19 cases.
This is less about tourism and more about traveling in general but yes it impacts the tourism industry must directly. While tourists are back that sector of the economy isn’t booming….. But after the Governor refused to provide an answer to Kauai’s mayor proposed
much safer two test program, the mayor ( who has support from his county council) was left no choose but to ask opt out! Maybe the governor will meet the mayor and country in the middle and approve us to try out the two test with 72 hour quarantine program rather granting his request to completely opt out?
Hope everything works out for you the way want it to but if you want a stress free pandemic travel experience trying to come to Kauai right now isn’t going to be it! If you really want to travel to the Hawaiian islands in 20 days maybe try a different island where the Mayor isn’t actively trying to opt out of the state’s current state travel program. Just a suggestion 😉
Sounds like a confused state of affairs. Maybe the guvner needs to take a pandemic management course!
So sick of this back and forth. Really, all of these lockdowns really don’t seam to make a difference. Nobody really knows and those who profess to do dont know either.
A challenging situation for all parties and difficult to find a win-win for residents, travelers, airlines and, of course the various island businesses – from lodging to restaurants and all who survive on just the right combination of culture and commerce. We just submitted our Covid tests today to Azova and are hoping for the results before our Friday flight from Seattle to Lihue. A designated “trusted partner,” Costco/Azova, at considerable time, trouble and expense, we are pressing on in the hope that arrival before Dec 1 (on Nov 27), we will be able to enjoy our stay on the island through our return on Dec 8.
I applaud our Kauai mayor, he knows how this island can manage to get through the spiking covid cases before our hospitals are maxed out. And then open the doors up again so businesses can resume operation. Thank you Derek for common sense. I was on the mainland recently (it is crazy there), jumped through all the hoops to test twice, followed the cdc guidelines to a T. But as I go about on Kauai now I see many visitors congregated and not masked. One more thing, residents here help each other through times like this, no food? Come eat. The beauty of a small community.
Our thoughts… Oh well – there’s goes 01/07/21. I understand the conundrum but I also keep in daily touch with numerous FB friends on Kauai who are hurting financially like they never thought they would. You can’t have it both ways – tourist with $$$ but possible infections or no tourists and no $$$.
Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth… This is not just a tourist problem. Nearly half of our recent travel cases are Kauai residents who returned home.”
Kauai is not unique,we need a Statewide approach. This is so drastic for visitors,and residents are held hostage.