Last week, Hawaii’s governor reinstituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all interisland travel that was removed in mid-June. The quarantine went into effect today, August 11, and is set to expire on August 31. There are many questions about how this is set to work and how well it will be enforced. This comes in response to ongoing increases in the number of new cases reported daily, especially in Honolulu.
It appears this will become a major setback in the goal of reopening Hawaii travel, which had been scheduled for September 1. That date now seems far less likely.
The interisland quarantine will help close the big loophole which we have noticed ourselves here on the outer islands, and that has been mentioned repeatedly by us and others. Former Hawaii news reporter Angela Keen was quoted saying, “Once you’re on a neighbor island flight, you’re not a tourist anymore, you’re a resident, and you’re treated as a resident, they’re not checking if you’ve quarantined.” Some visitors have reportedly posted this behavior on social media following their “quarantine vacations.”
Revised regulations and questions.
The new quarantine is through August 31, whereas it was previously set to be through September 4. This allows it to coincide with the tentative plan to open travel with pre-testing starting September 1.
Travelers arriving in Honolulu (from the outer islands) do not need to quarantine. But those going to any other island location do. So for example, those flying from either Honolulu or Maui to Kauai will be quarantined.
Exemptions are available for medical and other limited situations of travel necessity. It isn’t clear yet what other exemptions may be available. Those must be requested in advance of travel. Some work-related travel may be permitted without quarantine. Everything is still vague even to those in the travel industry, and we hope to have it clarified soon.
Honolulu beaches and parks closed.
Honolulu has the great majority of Covid cases in Hawaii. The governor indicated last week he believes that group gatherings are to a large degree responsible for the most recent increases.
From August 7 through August 31, all 300 Oahu parks will be closed as will county beach parks and state beach parks (ocean activities are allowed and restrooms are open). Parking lots will be closed. This does not impact the other islands, only Honolulu.
Honolulu botanical gardens will be closed as will tennis facilities and pools. Golf courses will remain open. Team sports are suspended. Bowling alleys and arcades will be closed. Fitness facilities will be open but no group classes will be permitted. Museums and art galleries will remain open. Hiking trails will be shuttered.
Honolulu Mayor Caldwell said the county will be doing ramped up enforcement including a new Covid hotline and increased strategic enforcement. Warnings that were previously issued will now be replaced by citations and arrests, according to Susan Ballard, Honolulu police chief.
Upcoming announcement on September 1 reopening.
Governor Ige said last week that an announcement will take place this week regarding that plan. It was supposed to allow for the elimination of quarantine for those who test negative within 72 hours of travel. We firmly expect this to be postponed again, however.
On the bus island kona is a mask mandatory when out an about
Hawaii Tourism Authority website has a post that as if 8/11/2020
Allows trans pacific travel as if 9/1/2020 with a negative
Covid test within 72 hours of boarding and no quarantine with negative
Results. Can you verify
That post has been there since the August 1st date for reopening was postponed and the post date is changed each day and will be until a new announcement is made.
Has anyone heard when Gov. Ige plans to speak again on the reopening. If so, please let us know. Thank you.
Hi Jim.
We will be updating the site as soon as we know more.
Aloha.
Let this sink in…tennis courts, beaches, pools and hiking trails CLOSED! Yet art galleries, museums and golf courses are open. What in the world are the Hawaiian officials thinking? Ill bet costco and walmart are open too!
I will sadly be canceling our 3rd set of reservations and will instead focus and hope for July 2021. Prayers for the Hawaiian islands and people.
Thank you Beat of Hawaii, excellent information as always!
Jan
Hi Jan.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thanks for keeping me updated
Hawaiian family on Oahu.
Hi Marianna.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Glad to see this. Is this painful for some people? Absolutely. But it protects ALL people. Sweden, and much of the US, have learned that life as usual leads to deaths. When we value our life and the lives of people around us we understand the obvious choice to be inconvenienced and alive.
🙄 If we needed to protect ALL people, then your point would be valid. Ignorance really is bliss. When they take all of your individual rights, it will be too late to pull your head out of your…errr, the sand.
You are tasked with identifying those in your family (Mother? Father? Sister or Brother? Child?) that you deem expendable. Please share those names (first names, only!) here; we’ll wait.
Yet again, thinking deeper 🤨… if you are a fool and infect your own family and neighbors … you have stolen ALL of their so-called ‘rights’, FOREVER.
Deeper thinking always survives reactive emotion.
Signed – Unkah K., (da kapuna kahuna;)
You’re absolutely right and sadly the people of Hawaii are too brainwashed to understand this. Ige, Green and the Island Mayors are like little Draconian Dictators. All they have done is fear mongered for 6 months and taken away rights and freedoms. Welcome to the Socialist State of Hawaii.
Life as usual leads to virtually no deaths. The survival rate is over 99.5%. The damage to families and businesses is far far greater.
This won’t be the last thing that comes along. Are we going to shut the country down every time? This is beyond irresponsible
I agree with Robbos! The “individual right” to not get sick has to take precedent.
Can visitors still use VRBO rentals during their quarantine?
Yes, however, you are not allowed out, you must order all your food to b delivered
Put Violators name in public view, with fines charging, also do same with all DUI violators, violators should do community service, cleaning cities sidewalks, 4 hours service, with a dust pan and broom, must wear white disposable clothing with large words ( law violator ) on the back. this people will be watched and supervised, by Police Officer.
Im all about staying safe, this is particularly difficult for me. I used to live on Oahu, and I am supposed to fly September 1 to see my daughter who will give birth soon after that, I’ve had to reschedule 4 times. I guess I’ll see baby at some point…
A point which is missed, is that most visitors from out of state have checked bags. Checked bags show the route and correspond to the PNR which displays the itinerary of the passenger. Checks could be made against baggage on leaving the baggage area at neighbor islands. Very easy to do and does not require lots of people or expensive equipment. at Lihue they use to check every bag against bag tag to stop theft so it is nothing new. If you have started your journey elsewhere and you have not registered details back you go to HNL and they can have a cell block there for returnees. You will never catch everyone but you can make life more difficult for the selfish.