A New York Times article caught our attention that has direct implications for Hawaii. We’ve already seen a significant uptick in both inquiries and reservations for Hawaii vacations later this year. The wave of renewed interest is beginning with those in the 65+-year-old bucket. It is being coined a silver-haired lining to the COVID cloud. Hawaii visitors 60+ previously made up about 15% of visitors. That number is now set to increase.
As those inoculated begin to examine life’s possibilities, Hawaii is facing a gray travel boon. As we continue to hear from so many of you who canceled your planned Hawaii vacations and instead were hunkered down in your homes, many of you are ready to vacation in Hawaii again.
Hawaii has always been a popular destination for seniors, which will be more true now than ever. Those who are 65+ are among the first to receive COVID vaccines, and with that is coming to an immediate renewal of interest in Hawaii travel.
Given that those in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s are the most vulnerable and have to a large degree been locked inside for the past year, this is no real surprise. Order Americans wonder just how many more years of Hawaii vacations they have in front of them, now more than ever. People don’t take things for granted in the same way as before COVID.
With Hawaii COVID vaccination passport travel to be announced in the coming weeks.
This is about to get much better for those who have been vaccinated. Until then, for all Hawaiian islands, except Kauai, travel requires a COVID test within 72 hours of travel. Kauai travel will remain largely off the travel radar, at least for now, having opted out of the statewide Safe Travel program.
As older travelers receive their first vaccinations, we continue to hear from hotels, airlines, and other stakeholders that older Americans lead the pack to Hawaii.
Hawaii travel and hospitality workers are beginning to be vaccinated.
In recently updated CDC guidelines, hotel workers are being prioritized for early vaccination. They are classified as a category of Essential Workers.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) lobbied for this change. It said it is “A significant achievement,” adding, “Our industry is playing a vital role in supporting our communities as we battle this public health crisis. While hotels have protocols in place to ensure limited contact between employees and guests, prioritizing employees with access to the vaccine would provide another layer of protection.”
We are hearing from hospitality employees in the state who are being immunized as early as this week. That is starting on Kauai, which is somewhat ironic since their mayor opted out of Safe Travels.
Hawaii remains the safe yet exotic domestic choice destination for seniors and all travelers.
Hawaii’s Aqua-Aston Hospitality reported that those booking their senior citizen discounted rates jumped by 60% as of last month.
In these times of the unknown, Hawaii is looking good for travel resumption. Without a need for international travel, foreign health insurance, and other complications, Hawaii’s Safe Travels program, with all its foibles, still provides the sense that COVID is not out of control here in the islands.
So what will Hawaii travel be like post-COVID?
The fact that travel likely never will be the same as pre-COVID is clear. Age Wave CEO Ken Dychtwald, which is a global think tank on aging, said recently, “In the past few months, the entire world has had a near-death experience. We’ve been forced to stop and think: I could die, or someone I love could die. When those events happen, people think about what matters and what they will do differently.”
Additional risk avoidance measures will remain on Hawaii vacations. Mask wearing appears set to continue to be the norm for some time as not everyone plans to be vaccinated.
For the foreseeable future in Hawaii, US domestic travel will dominate compared with foreign travel. We can better control everything while remaining in the U.S. Yet Hawaii brings many exotic aspects associated with international travel home to the domestic paradigm.
Hawaii travel marketing will include health and safety.
We continue to predict more growth in vacation rentals, too, since they allow you to limit your exposure to others.
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“Gray Travel Boon” eh?
Reminds me of the old Hawaii tourism slogan from the early 1980s: “Number One Vacation Destination for the Newly Weds and the Nearly Deads”.
I suppose my wife and I we’ve changed categories since that time …
Hi David.
Glad that you are retaining your good humor while on the mainland.
Aloha.
Stupid mayor of kauai. Lots of 65 plus want to go to kauai. Get back in safe travels and save your island. Gov ige. Make your mayors follow your rules. Kawakami has list credibility and you are fast following without control of your island of hawaii. Your people beg you
Aloha
So a vaccine is needed within 3 months of travel. Both doses or one dose?
Since there aren’t enough vaccines to go around how can a person expect to get more than one set of vaccines?
If a person has already had one set of vaccines- as pushed by Fouchi and Biden- than they are not eligible to get another set of vaccines until some other time months from now- probably next year.
And will health insurance providers cover this second round??
Test cost $
Vaccines cost$
Hawaii travel is getting more expensive day by day.
Judy
Appreciate comments on travel requirements and vaccine. Planning g family trip in June.
Thank you.
Hi Darlene.
The current requirements are here: https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/. We will be updating that as things change. Each of the islands has its own website as does the state: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/.
Aloha.
I fall into the age group 60-80. I have knowledge that the number of long distance vacations have a limit before age catches up and travel is no longer possible. That is why having to cancel this year’s trip to Kauai was especially hard. I live in Tennessee and the state had over 85,000 cases of Covid in January, today that number has dropped to below 15,000 active cases. Yet the economy has been open with certain restrictions at restaurants and bars. There is limited seating, mandatory masks and social distancing. Vaccines have provided a hope that things will eventually get back to something close to normal. But the hard reality is that Covid will be with us for many years to come and will never be totally eliminated. Can’t wait to make plans to return to the place we love.
Same here, and we also live in Tennessee! We’d hoped to go last year, and still have some hope we may be able to this year. Can’t wait to be back on Kauai.
Your headline should be “Gray Hawaii Travel Boon Begins Now, except on Kauai”.
Thank you so much for the positive spin on vaccinations. I think what you are alluding to is that a vaccine passport is coming soon. I know nothing is in stone, but reading between the lines is that those who are vaccinated will be able to skip the test and possible quarantine. For those who choose not to get vaccinated…we will be thinking of you when we are basking in the sun! We are vaccinated and will be in Maui in May, hoping the passport is effective by then.
Hi JoAnn.
Thank you. Have a great time on Maui!
Aloha.
As usual, another great well-thought article by BOH. When one of your e-mails comes up, I immediately click on it. Thanks for keeping us abreast of the ever-changing Covid protocols in Hawaii.
Hi Curtis.
You’re the best. Thanks for all your participation.
Aloha.
My husband and I are property owners in the islands and of course haven’t been there in a year. We’re both now vaccinated and ready to travel. But jumping through all the hoops to get to Hawaii isn’t easy. We’ve booked flights in March – and those keep changing as flights cancel and re-book. Keeping within the the 72 hour Covid test limit is a headache. If we didn’t own there we’d be saying that Florida or Arizona would be a way easier place to visit this year. There will not be any big senior increase until it’s easier entry.
Forcing this vaccination is wrong on so many levels.
Greetings – I can’t wait to bring my family of 17 back to Maui in July – I’m so stressed out about getting 17 negative tests back in the 72 hour time frame to board our plane – I’m hearing that the companies the airlines have partnered with can’t guarantee test results in that length of time – sure would be nice to have an additional 24 hours – I know a lot can change between now and July – thanks so much
Hi Melinda.
Yes, it definitely seems that there will significant rule changes well ahead of your final trip planning. Stay tuned.
Aloha.
Yes, the older (“silver”) population will be among the first to be fully vaccinated. But, with the proposed Vaccination plan, those who are fully vaccinated NOW need to travel to Hawaii within 3-mos to qualify for the non pre-travel test option. Folks are not going to plan vacations around when they get vaccinated. Thinking there will be a huge wave of “silver” tourism is wishful thinking, at best.
Mahalo for all your excellent info. I’m about to start the vaccination process and considering BI for mid April. Research says you can test positive due to the vaccine so I hope this vaccine passport begins soon. Otherwise I’m in a bit of a Catch 22.
Hi Paul.
We hope there will be a lot more information before then.
Aloha.
In another large related thread, a reader posted a health agency stating a vaccine will not provide a false positive on PCR-based tests (aka the swab test) tried for Hawaiian travels. I don’t think you need to worry about this.
It’s not going to work because most seniors have already been vaccinated, or will be soon. Hawaii is saying they will likely only accept those vaccinated within the last 90 days. By the time seniors go to Hawaii, their vaccines will time out.
This is some good news especially for the tax-drenched bills passing through Legislature now. Without small business supported by tourism, Hawai’i will continue to be highly problematic as a healthy economy. I really hope the Gray Wave will help small business start generating profits, and avoid being taxed so heavily that the survivors of the pandemic will fold.
The Gray Wave. I love it!
We’re booked for September! Can’t wait, but I’m hoping the vaccination passport will make it easier!
Following
ThIs makes sense on one level, but what was really not addressed is that the overwhelming majority of people 65+ are on fixed incomes . With the current state of Hawaii’s Covid rules constantly in flux, most seniors are not willing to risk the large amount of money it takes to make that trip. I would call this an overly optimistic view of the current situation. Unless and until the powers that be set realistic (permanent) rules and policies that make it easier to get reliable testing anywhere in the country and set reasonable rules for people who have been vaccinated, I wouldn’t look for seniors (or anyone else) to throw caution to the wind and head to Hawaii for what could either be their dream trip or their nightmare vacation.
Travel plans for us seniors and reservations already made for August. Can’t wait to get back. We have had both shots but now wonder if we will need to get vaccinated again or get tested because it is 6 months away. Always something to worry about.
Dear Ed, it hasn’t been announced yet as to be official but I read an article saying that covid vaccine is for 3 months. So, yes you will need to be vaccinated again most likely. I’m planning my dream vacation to Oahu next year & I’ve already got my itinerary all done. I’m waiting on the vaccine passport to be accepted plus I’m also using this year to save $$.
Talk about stirring the FEAR pot! A survival rate of 99.7% and that’s what you’re afraid of? What about heart or lung conditions, obesity and diabetes, and let’s not forget the flu! Oh wait, there is very little flu this year but then how would you know if they are not specifically testing for it not to mention how last year the CDC said that the flu could result in false positives for the China virus.
Quite frankly, after finally missing my normal once or twice a year trips to Hawaii, going there and having to mask up and distance myself is NOT the kind of Hawaiian vacation I will be taking! Way past time to get over it and for those whining about health care facilities in Hawaii, the federal government could just as easily have sent their large medical ships to Hawaii as opposed to parking them off of Californloon land or NYC! Amazing that no one in the state government EVER mentioned that!
Flu is down worldwide probably because of preventive measures people are taking against Coronavirus and that’s a good thing. Heart disease, obesity and diabetes are not contagious. And get over it is never a plan.
Well said Don K.
Kawakami’s dictatorial edicts have decimated Kauai’s economy. Furthermore, not everyone can, or will, take the vaccine. I am not willing to take a vaccine that was “rushed to market”, is only 90-90% effective in lessening the symptoms, it’s doesn’t STOP or KILL the virus, AND it’s only good for 90 days. I’ll take my chances with Covid and it’s 99.7% SURVIVAL rate.
Don – I agree! The “fear factor” created by the media and watched by millions of viewers day in and day out have exacerbated Coronavirus fear disproportionally. If all we heard about constantly was about the dismal stories of all the people who died of Medical errors, (an estimated 250,000 deaths in the United States annually – appx. 50% of the deaths labeled “Caronavirus”), perhaps positive changes could be made on our less than perfectly functioning system. If all the news talked about was the tragedy of Heart Disease deaths and Cancer deaths (in the neighborhood of 2,250,000) per year perhaps people would take a closer look at their lifestyles and make healthier choices. The media has done a disservice in their fear mongering in my opinion. And on a positive note, according to the CDC figures as of Feb. 24th 2021, 28,075,173 People in the US have tested positive in the last year. 495,070 of those people died….017% of positive tested people died…I would not say that is a “Near death experience” for Americans, The percentage is less than those who die of heart attacks.
Hi! Love your blog. Question: when is t”spring break” expected to over in Hawaii this (very unusual) year? Thank you.
Hi Kaye.
The second half of March will be the peak travel dates for this spring.
Aloha.
I guess we are part of the grey wave!
We have a four times postponed trip to Oahu now scheduled for July. Since we have out second shots scheduled, I begin to hope that this time we may get to take off!
I realize it is a fluid situation and we will watch for indications that we are not being wise or kind. But I do hope we get to return to the place we have so enjoyed.
Ironically, it looks as though our immunizations may be “too old” for the currently proposed standards. Hopefully more good information will come out before then. If not, testing it is.
We are content to wear masks and plan to do a lot of take out food.
@Bobbi J
I have a gut feeling that 90 day effectiveness idea will be debunked by summer as more data is available. Also, every body reacts differently to medicines/vaccines so even if there is an official 90 day efficacy announced at some point, it’s not like right at the 90 days mark, every vaccinated person loses all protection. Mass vaccination, supplemented by safe practices (masking, hand washing, airplane deep cleaning, etc) and a safe environment (like awaii is), yt? La vacation to the Islands schools be a very safe experience.
As a 78 year old who has traveled to Kauai yearly for 20 years, I hope by my annual October trip they have joined the rest of the island’s in the safe travels program.
I have received both doses of the covid-19 vaccine and have also been pretty much isolated for almost a year. There is no reason to require additional testing for those who have their vaccination card!
Hopefully things will get better as more people are vaccinated.
I miss my annual trip there but will also not quarantine to come back!
Mahalo
Hi JoAnn.
We hope you can return to Kauai this October.
Aloha.
Not so fast. Unfortunately you can still get COVID after being vaccinated. You just shouldn’t die from it. And the jury is still out if a vaccinated person can still be a carrier, but some early studies look promising.
@JoAnn. Crossing my fingers VERY HARD for you!!!!!
Yes, this geriatric couple will be on a plane tomorrow, heading for beautiful Hawaii once again. We both have antibodies from a round of covid last fall, and now have completed the vaccines, so here we come!
Thanks so much for keeping us up to date on the constantly changing travel requirements.
Hi Lynn.
Thanks. LOL geriatric. Glad you are winging your way to Hawaii tomorrow. Have a great time.
ALoha.
Kaua’i hospitality workers are the first to get immunized????? That is insane.
So is Kauai going to opt out of this to