Island on the brink of financial collapse with fewer than 20 vacation arrivals daily.
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272 thoughts on “Half of Kauai Businesses May Fail | Visitors Are Not Returning”
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Island on the brink of financial collapse with fewer than 20 vacation arrivals daily.
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Only half that’s a bit low.
Get Those Vaccines Out There …..! That is everyone’s answer, period.
Vaccinate everyone on islands and passengers.
Surprised the airlines aren’t trying to figure out a program to pre-Vaccinate (2 doses) all passengers….. 😉
My brother in law has a place in Kauai and I have a place in Oahu. We have discussed joining forces and having people going to Oahu for 3 days and then traveling to Kauai. This may be the only solution right now.
I think the many Canadians that have been travelling to Hawaii will now grind to a hault now that Biden decided international travellers need to quarantine for 10 days entering the USA. It will only get worse for the tourism industry.
As much as I miss the island (15 two week visits in the last 28 years) I’m not even willing to consider travel until my wife and I both receive our vaccinations. I sincerely hope that as people get inoculated, they return in sufficient numbers to help the local economy.
We are currently in Maui. We thought about going over to Kauai for a few days. We just felt that it wouldn’t be worth it because so few places are open. Not to mention they’ve made it pretty clear that they really don’t want us there. So, I think if they really want people to come over, they’ll need to do a better job of telling people that they actually want them to come. (With testing of course) It’s been great on Maui! We have followed all of the rules. We tell everyone here how grateful we are to be here! We tip extra. We shop at small stores. Doing our part to help.
I have traveled to Kauai since it had only one traffic light on the island. I used to spend two to three weeks in my favorite resort in Kapaa. Unfortunately, it has no dining facility. So, getting quarantined is out. Over the years many Kauaiians have become my family. I’ve volunteered for years at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens to start paying it back to the island.
The latest news about Kauai businesses pending failure is very disturbing. I feel like I’m standing on the shore and watching a ship containing my family slowly sink and I can do nothing about it but cry inside.
Let us hope the vaccine program gets going and we can again visit our Kauai family and friends and enjoy the island soon.
Mahalo Nui Loa
It’s not pending anymore. Plenty businesses closed for good. It’s not good here. It’s a lie what they say that we all support he mayor’s decision. Plenty locals won’t say anything publicly but they say it when you talk in private. So much are moving off island to greener grass. It’s depressing and suicide attempts no one talks about the suicides that will follow this.
My potential guests had their flight to Kauai cancelled but then they decided to try going to Maui first for three days because staying in a bubble hotel on Kauai did not appeal to them. They have to show a negative covid test upon their arrival to Kauai. However, they have not found a place on Maui to get a covid test with a three-day turn around time. If they have to wait for 3 – 5 days on Maui, they tell me that this is too stressful, and there would not be enough time for them to come to Kauai. Unless they can get tested on Maui, then they will cancel. These two have already been vaccinated! This has been so frustrating for everyone. We cannot withstand another year of no income and neither can the people who work for us. Does anyone know where they can get tested on Maui and if there is any lenience for people who have already been vaccinated? Thank you in advance!
We have cancelled two trips to Kauai, one last November and one for March 2021. We are now booked for a November 2021 visit. By that time we will have (hopefully) had our vaccines and will be flying in after a week on Maui. Hopefully that will be enough to allow us to finally come back to Kauai!
If there is any kind of quarantine period still at that time we would cancel our plans and go to a different Island instead.
Surprise, surprise ……. You can’t have a cure for something that is worse that the problem….. Shutting things down is exactly that…..
We had hoped to return to Kauai in March. The uncertainty of the COVID regulations Plus the Kauai Marriott Beach Club shifting hands, we changed our reservation to Maui. Would we rather be on Kauai? No doubt! We have friends who live there. My heart goes out to everyone living there.
Aloha-
My wife and I were both part of the vaccine trials and are fully vaccinated, as are several million senior citizens and medical staff at this point. The sooner Hawaii allows vaccinated people to travel w/o a quarantine, the faster the economy may turn. I am fine testing prior to leaving, and I am fine wearing a mask. My wife and I are booked for two weeks in Maui come April and would normally have spent one of those weeks in Kauai. Unfortunately, we booked before the 3-day on an other island first option was announced, and we can only change our first week, so unless they change their plans ( with a certainty that I believe may last longer than a few weeks ) Maui will be where we spend our time and our dollars, despite Kauai being our favorite island and our desire to go there and support our favorite businesses there.
On a side note, has anyone set up a system where someone like me could donate a dinner from a local restaurant or an activity to a local resident, so that some of the businesses and their employees can survive this calamity while some of the locals can enjoy a part of the island they never get a chance to? With such a small population and so many visitors who love Kauai, it might make a difference.
I just was in Maui for two weeks and took the covid pre-travel test at the San Jose Airport two days prior to take off. Flew Alaska and they have a pre-travel clearance through Safe Travels. It was easy as it gets. Arrived at San Jose Airport and checked our luggage. At that time, the Alaska front desk person checks you as they have access to Safe Travels. Issued us a pre-clearance wristband and we took off. Upon arrival, we did not have to wait in line to go through the QR code checkpoint where reps check your QR code and verify you have a negative for the pre-travel covid test. Walked right through, rented our car and we were off. This is huge for Maui, as we came in November and it was quite difficult to figure things out and get through. The difference from November to January was big. In November, half of Lahaina was closed down and some businesses boarded up. Some having reduced hours and such. Come January, Lahaina felt quite normal. We have a condo and we normally cook a lot but we ended up going out more in order to support the restaurants we love and we live in CA so Newsome has shut everything down. It was refreshing to feel normal and eat at a restaurant both indoors and outdoors. Maui is doing everything right. Masks and being smart about everything. I read some local article over there and they said that tourists are not the problem in the spread of covid. When we were over there we saw numerous local get togethers like we always do and a lot of them aren’t distancing and wearing masks when being social. Just an observation. I want to give out Kudo’s to Alaska Airlines for being a forerunner in getting things easy to travel. I just read that Hawaiian is implementing the same pre-clearance travel process as Alaska has but not sure when they are going live with it. I am just writing this to inform travelers for future travel. I would highly recommend traveling to Maui and when you go, please try and support the businesses over there.
This is very sad news. Our family has been trying to visit since last year, but felt like the island did not want visitors. Now there are so many restrictions, we feel that even if we did come, it would not be the Kauai I have visited before. We would be quarantined longer than our vacation days allowed. It is an expensive trip overall, not to be able to enjoy the beauty of the whole island and encourage the local business through our business. Breaks my heart.
We have zero interest in visiting Kauai if resort bubbles stay in tact. We’ll be taking our money elsewhere. With tourism being Hawaii’s largest industry, the government of Kauai is shooting themself in the foot. Sadly they are going to reap what they sow.
I am in the camp of being creative enough to allow people to have their freedoms back. We The 1% or so risk of dying from Covid is not worth destroying people’s livelihoods and tourism. I feel bad for business owners. I’m in Texas and haven’t really altered my life but also am careful about Covid since I am 62 with diabetes.
Sadly, even if the Gov/Mayor came to their senses and put Kauai back into the Safe Travels program, it will take many months for tourism to pick up there. Just because they go back to SafeTravel Feb 1, lets say, doesnt mean tourism numbers will boom starting mid Feb or even March 1. There will be a huge lag between the time any positive changes are made and folks decide going to Kauai is the right choice again.
BOH, I changed our dates from May to December for Kauai. I anticipate having my vaccinations by then. I understand we will still need to mask up. I appreciate they are trying to protect their own people first. Trying to keep their Island alive.
Mahalo for considering the welfare of Kauai’s residents while making your travel plans!
You got it Velma. Its like the awareness of taking care of yourself first in order to be able to serve and take care of others. Same thing applies here. xoxo
Kauai is where we went for many years. As I read your Beat of Hawaii newsletter regularly, I think never again. It has been nearly impossible to think you could go there this last year and not have major issues. I also feel that tourist are not wanted and in fact extemely disliked. It’s with heavy heart I say this, as I love the island.
I feel exactly the same. Have been trying for a few days now to cancel (or postpone) an already-delayed rental reservation for our Kauai vacation, but cannot get any response from our rental agency…The airlines have been forced to change our flight schedule to include long layovers and connections. We were willing to take precautions and tests, but it’s not reasonable to compromise so much to visit a place we are not even welcome.
We are so sad that this is happening. We had planned a wonderful trip to the island last May, but weren’t able to do so. We’ve been monitoring the guidelines and, in our opinion, it doesn’t give us much confidence to spend time there with all the restrictions and ever changing guidelines. We’re very disappointed at this, but are now looking at going to a different island.
COVID has a 97% survivability rate all around the world – and every loss to this horrible virus is tragic! But what’s next for Kauai – shut down over the flu or common cold? The politically-prescribed cure is killing family owned businesses and large employers that provide good paying wages – and pay taxes for roads, schools, services. If the purpose is to keep tourists and their dollars away from Kauai – done! How do the elected officials on Kauai see this working out? The thing about tourists and vacations its all discretionary income and use of time. Who would take a vacation to sit in quarantine? How would the folks from Kauai feel if the same rules were imposed on them when they travel to the Mainland or other islands. Where’s the Kauaian outrage? Are they expecting the State of Feds bail them out with buckets of bucks?
Locals also have family and friends who can’t visit Kauai and during these times we need our families. It’s truly sad and no one brave enough to talk about it. If you call the mayor’s office I heard he doesn’t call anyone back? What type of mayor ignores his island’s business owners?
Expanding the three day bubble concept to include vacation rentals, and for owners their own homes, would allow visitors to book a week at one location of their choice and not have to relocate. Also, vacation rental owners will benefit finally. The bubble locations are less safe as the public is free to mingle with possible spreaders.
Quarantine in a vacation rental defeats the purpose because you can’t be monitored. Not saying this because I’m “for” any quarantine, just explaining why. I’m surprised Kauai is getting ANY visitors under these ridiculous rules.
Hi Kauai.
Covid did not destroy your economy the mayor did. Jumping through all your hoops and showing up in 2 weeks.
Will let everyone know how it goes.
Wish me luck.
James
My wife and I are currently on the Big Island for the month of January and had originally wanted to stay on Kauai for the month of February. Even after Kauai came out with the three day stay on another island option, we opted to spend February on Oahu instead. It’s not worth the risk of making plans for Kauai only to have the mayor change the rules again and thereby put our travel plans/dollars at risk. Truly is a shame for the residents of Kauai who depend on tourism for their livelihood.
Aloha,
I’m so sorry to hear of the terrible situation there. We do have a major family trip planned for early April that was rescheduled from March 2020. We have a group of 16 family members, scrambling to get our vaccines in hopes that will allow us to visit without having to quarantine, so we’re watching everyday to figure out if we can do this, but I’m getting more skeptical over time and we may have to reschedule or cancel. Stay healthy all.
Fear not the rest of Hawaii! The Kauai mayor will probably run for governor and you all will probably elect him so then he can truly destroy ALL of Hawaii’s economy with his “wonderful” ideas.
Kauai is quickly because the poster child for “The solution can not be worse than the problem”. While trying to save their population from the virus they are killing their livelihood. Explain to me how this makes a bit of sense?! I’m so sad to see my favorite place go down like a sinking ship.
Protecting the locals is a sick way saying they would rather see them die a financial ruin and be wards of the state for generations to come. Obviously no one there has done the real math. The death rate is less than one in one thousand in the US. Yes some will get sick, some will die. What are the other death numbers and causes and not death with COVID, only from COVID on the island in the last year? Why not let everyone know the rest of the story and have an island wide vote of the population to see how they want to live. Locked up businesses or free to pursue life, liberty and the opportunity to prosper.
Have you watched Facebook videos from ex cop ex politician Mel Rapozo and ex cop Charlie Iona? You’ll see why so much locals are brainwashed with fear.
I love Kauai and have spent many vacations there. The situation now makes me sad, but there is no way I’d go and stay in a bubble situation. I don’t stay at expensive resorts when I visit, but in condos or Airbnb homes. Part of being on vacation is to go places where I want and when I want. I’m so sorry for the businesses and employees on Kauai. I hope things improve quickly so I can return again.
As a small business owner I feel really, Really, REALLY bad for all of the business owners on Kauai. It was the governor and Kauai mayor that made this bed. Unfortunately, it is the small business owners that have to lie in it. If it were me I would be outside of every store or even go house to house to get signatures to recall both of them. What a disgrace!
We are considering canceling our already re-scheduled annual 5 week stay @ Kauai Beach Club in April. As it stands, the COVID testing & monitoring bracelet will add almost $1000 for just the two of us. And this is even if we can get testing results within the 72 hr turnaround required! If half of the businesses are kaput, our vacation experience will be questionable. Marriott won’t be managing the hotel portion of the resort by March, so that’s another unknown situation. After visiting yearly since 1996, we hope Kauai figures out a better system soon. We miss you, but we want to keep you safe too.
So sad that the mayor of Kauai is destroying the lives of the residents that live there. We went to Maui from January 3rd – 13th this year, and it was great! We split our trip between Ka’anapali and Wailea. We were originally supposed to go to Kauai for the second half of the trip, but there was no way we were going to put ourselves through their rules. Shutting down anywhere is beyond crazy now. It’s been a year of this craziness. COVID has a 99.8% survival rate now. It’s time to open everything up, stop the fear mongering control, and let people get back to having a life. I wish the people of Kauai the best, and can’t wait to go back and experience aloha, on an open island. Thank you
I feel so badly for all the residents of Kauai. They are caught between the fear of bringing covid in with limited healthcare resources and the need for income. They are going to have to find a way to allow tourists in safely to keep from so many businesses closing. We postponed our trip from last summer 3 times, now scheduled for this June. We own Marriott timeshare and right now have a week on Maui and a week on Kauai including extended family. So trying to have everyone (including 2 kids) jump thru all the hoops and have the hoops moved/changed every few weeks, is making us seriously rethink our trip and rebook somewhere else. We would never do the quarantine or resort bubbles, too complicated and expensive. If they set rules and didn’t change them we could likely test on Maui to get to Kauai but for 7 people, the costs really start adding up. We love Kauai and have gone with family for over 20 years. But they are making it ridiculous to get there.
I unfortunately saw this comming with all your regulations concerning the 19 you made it harder for tourists to visit, I have been there 8 yeas in a row in the month of September and the flights were full and long lines at the car rentals, now look at what you have done to yourselves, I still look forward to going back and help Kauai recover from your sadd state of affairs, you are in my prayers for a quick recovery.
Aloha,
I lived in Hawaii for 6 years of my childhood and have been returning, in the last 5 years. It has been an amazing reunion of my memories and senses! I WAS totally thrilled about going to the Big Island last year and one week on Kauai where I had never been. After being tormented and beat up (verbally) for months, almost a year on the Facebook groups, I decided I will pass for a very long time and maybe always for an opportunity to visit Kauai. The Aloha remains on several other islands. That’s where I want to sink money into and hope those islands and get back on their feet. I am almost ashamed of the things I read in those groups, calling Hawaii my home. I am a Texan now and we never treated anybody like that during the pandemic or ever. I hope your island finds a way to survive without tourism. I know I am not the only person who received the message “Stay Away”
I’d guess it will be another two months before the high-risk population is vaccinated and the island will open up safely again. People in the tourist industry are already eligible to get vaccinated now on Kauai and it’s progressing faster than other islands.
People should not be forced to choose between death and permanent economic harm. These businesses should be given loans or grants by the federal government in order to get them through this remaining short time.
Can anyone with an ounce of sanity be surprised? It’s a self inflicted mortal wound, implemented by a dope or dopes who think ___ down commerce for everyone works ever!
No one seems able to factor in the pain and suffering of losing everything you worked for
Sadly, while a few very wealthy may enjoy the vast amount of regular people suffer economic collapse.
What did they expect. When you make it so difficult to vacation, why would anyone want to come there. Hawaii needs to get their crap together if they are going to survive at all. We have friends and family that are really struggleing over there due to no tourist.
How can Kawakami continue to have deaf ears? As an owner of 3 empty Poipu vacation rental condos, we must continue to pay property taxes at higher rates, but have no voice in this catastrophe. I feel like storming the mayor’s office! The other islands are surviving and Kawakami shut down without giving Safe Travels a chance.
If I were governor I would initiate vaccination vacations, where visitors are guaranteed to receive a covid vaccination after a 7 day vacation stay….that would quickly pack the island.
Receive the vaccination “after” their stay? And the purpose of that would be exactly what?