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84 thoughts on “Dealing With The New Normal In Hawaii Vacations”

  1. KK

    We’re leaving in a week for 3 weeks in Kauai – at our timeshare, which we’ve had since 1995. We have one with a full kitchen and a large lanai, so if all else fails, we can be comfortable there and have good meals.
    We’ve been reading your posts for several months, and consequently, we have a reasonable cost car rental, restaurant reservations for the days and places we want, plus reservations for access to Ke’e Beach and a Kilauea Lighthouse tour.
    No, I’m not a travel agent, simply a Kauai-lover who has read all your emails and planned accordingly.
    Yes, it’s still possible to have the Kauai vacation of your dreams. And regardless of what some people say about timeshares, in a situation like this, its perfect. Plus, we haven’t had problems with the timeshare, for 25 years. Planning is the key.

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi KK.

      Funny you mention that because we just wrote a reply to another comment talking about being tenacious with travel planning. It has yielded so many wonderful travel experiences, worldwide, for decades. Have a great time on Kauai!

      Aloha.

  2. Cameron S

    Thanks for all you do to make travel to Hawaii easier and more predictable. It helps, and we appreciate it.

    2. Andrea

      Aloha Cameron, welcome to BOH!! 🐠🐢🌺🍍🥥🌎🏖🏝🛩🌞🌈🌊🕶🩴👒🛍👙Blessings to you! Psalms 91:11😇😍

  3. Paulc

    I’m coming back in October. Fortunately this time I’m staying with family so no condo or room to worry about. Or rental car. I’ll do what I need to do to get there and not complain. It’s 1000% worth it.

  4. BARBARA M

    I realize it costs $$$ – $80/seat – but we always opt for 11A/B or 11H/J when flying Hawaiian to/from to the mainland. Two “Extra Comfort” seats all to themselves – fabulous on their own for the isolation and the leg room but definitely psychologically relaxing during Covid-time! (Guess I need to add that usually those are the only $$$ we spend as we always travel on Rapid Rewards points.)

    1. Paulc

      Shhhh lol don’t tell everyone! Haha when I flew home in June I did just that. Totally worth the extra 80 dollars

    2. Laurie S

      Aloha and mahalo for all the up to date info on Hawaii travels. I’m returning in 3 weeks. I did not know about the airline wristbands so thanks for that. I was there in May and that wasn’t an option.
      I am curious about our dining reservations, however. I made 5 reservations a month ago, but now that capacity has been reduced how do they select whose reservations are canceled?
      Also, I used to attempt flight upgrades during early check in, but anymore 1st class and Comfort class seem to be sold out way in advance. (At least on Alaska).
      Thanks again

      1. Beat of Hawaii

        Hi Laurie.

        Yes, the airline upgrade situation isn’t an easy one. But it can work, and it has worked for us many times. If you are on a very popular route with many frequent flyers, like PDX or SEA, for example, it will be harder. As with car rentals, and pretty much everything else in travel – we just keep checking. We could share a lot of stories. One night finding a no-cost international first-class upgrade in the middle of the night – just being tenacious.

        Perhaps consider calling the restaurants to reconfirm your reservations?

        Aloha.

  5. Jan F

    We just finished a 2 week vacation to the Big Island. By following your wonderful tips and suggestions everything went so smoothly. Luckily, we had rented our car in January so our cost was normal. We look forward to booking another trip to the islands but the only negative for actually doing it now is the rental car price. We won’t be ripped off…
    Mahalo BOH for your numerous tips, suggestions and warnings on travel. Your site has now made our 3 trips amazing! We look forward to more and we recommend you to anyone we know going to Hawaii!

      1. Lopaka15

        A while back some visitors reported that some rental car companies did not hold their. reservations. ..,Does anyone ,who returned from The Big Island recently ,know if the major rental car companies there have enough vehicles and honoring reservations.

  6. Kelly

    Restaurants are still having trouble with staffing. Ken’s here on the BI has been running at 50% capacity because that is where their employment levels are.
    We only go to restaurants that are outdoors here on the Kona side of the island.
    As of this morning there was only one available icu bed in all of Hawaii.
    Readers should know this, knowing that if they need hospital care they could really be stuck.
    Do you see any way that we do not shut down again?
    Thank you.

    2. Lopaka15

      On this morning’s Hawaii news(Aug 16)Lt Gov (Doctor) Green spoke about the spread of the virus. I thought that it was informative and worth watching for anyone interested.

      Yesterday’s news reported that covid testing lines are very long in Hawaii, and that tests are getting scarce. Another article reported that someone reported waiting 5 hours for a test in Hilo. So it appears that the residents are very concerned about the spread.I hope that the State can get it under control soon.

  7. Ed. C

    I was uploading our vaccination cards to the Safe Travels website just now. After reading this post, and noticing you didn’t list AA as a wristband participant, I went to aa.com and discovered that they do indeed issue wristbands now. Hope it works as well as has been reported by others on BOH.

    4 weeks from today!
    Aloha BOH!

  8. Kathy S

    Thanks so much for keeping us up to date. I pushed my trip into Sept-oct to avoid COVID! That was a pipe dream!!!!
    Keep up the good work!
    Kathy

    1. Andrea

      Dear Kathy, I may postpone my 1st trip to Hawaii in April 2022. All of these cases going up is really concerning me. I may just push back into 2023 because I want to be safe. I haven’t decided yet.

  9. Patrice P

    Aloha, thanks for all th info. Can you explain how one can get this wristband you mentioned? Mahalo.

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Patrice.

      Check with your airline to see where they are issued. It could be at the gate or to be at a customer service location.

      Aloha.

      2. Bob L.

        Just to be clear, they would be at the airport for you FINAL flight from the mainland to Hawaii. Don’t look for the pre-clear from your departure airport unless your departure airport is the flight to Hawaii.

    2. Wayne C

      Yes they have cars. On October 12,
      after talking to someone in line at Alamo I was able to rebook my reservation. I did this while waiting in line. I went from $1300
      rental charge for 7 days to a total
      of $405 including taxes for 7 days.
      In a matter of minutes I saved $900.
      Try Hawaii Discount car rental site.
      Check it out near to time of pickup.
      These agencies do not require deposits thus they get lots of cancellations. This was at Kona airport.

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