A risk-averse governor is helping cripple Hawaii tourism per two high-placed officials. As you know, the Governor has continued to request that visitors stay away from Hawaii at this time, despite a dramatic drop in COVID here.
Mufi Hannemann, prior Honolulu mayor and president of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said that the lack of a “positive statement soon from the governor that we’re ready to open up again” is severely injuring Hawaii tourism’s recovery.
Hanemann said that the Governor’s proclamation (we’d say together with other factors) has resulted in a drop of nearly fifty percent in the hotel occupancy rate.
But is that wholely true? Hannemann said that airlift had plummeted from “225,000 on a weekly basis over the summer… to 150,000, or even less.” Our take is that the downswing in visitor arrivals is instead a combined result of the Governor’s proclamation, regular seasonal changes, plus general traveler concern about travel during the recent upswing in COVID.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s take on Governor Ige.
It is hard for anyone to predict what route Governor Ige will take next. And that has been the case throughout the pandemic, and in fact, well before.
Hawaii’s Lt. Gov. commented about Governor Ige in the current situation, saying Ige “is super risk-averse and doesn’t want to risk any slippage and I never like to predict where the governor will go because I don’t have the capacity to make these decisions, of course, as lieutenant governor.” Ige’s concerns are in spite of the fact that the state Department of Health says that less than 1% of Hawaii COVID is as a result of visitors.
Governor Ige term as Governor will end soon.
Ige will term out as Governor effective November 2022. Lt. Gov. Green is by far the most likely candidate to replace Governor Ige. To what degree politics influences the interactions between the two, we can’t say. It is unlikely, however, that Ige will support Green in his gubernatorial run. Green said that Ige is very conservative and that it was traumatic for the Governort when the state went to nearly 500 hospitalizations last month. Green now expects to see an easing of restrictions starting within the next two weeks.
And yet last week, Ige extended executive orders for an additional two months. Could it get any more confusing?
Most travel stakeholders are publicly quiet, but not all.
Outrigger Hotels president Jeff Wagoner was at the same news conference with Mufi and said that “a positive statement soon is critical in order to get travel back in Hawaii in a safe way.” He added that the Governor’s August 23 announcement made front-page national media and resulted in cancellations that far outpaced bookings. “But now, it’s time to look at the economic health of our community.”
Other travel stakeholders have not made any public statements, which is in keeping with normal Hawaii tradition.
What’s next?
Green is anticipating changes that would eliminate most restrictions soon, although what specifically would occur has not been addressed by him and remains within the purview of the Governor. Mufi added that he too is encouraged and in fact highly optimistic that Ige will make the announcement soon that visitors should return to Hawaii. That will also serve to eliminate the confusion that Ige’s August request that was “without teeth” has caused.
Wagoner said that what is needed now is a simple, non-ambiguous statement that “Hawaii’s open for travel.”
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I think the safest course of action is to ignore Mufi Hannemann at all times, and Josh Green for the last six months and going forward. I won’t characterize Hannemann or my comment will be declined, but all Green has done lately is confuse the issues while he runs for governor. “…I never like to predict where the governor will go because I don’t have the capacity to make these decisions, of course, as lieutenant governor.” Then keep it to yourself, dummy.
I work at a condo resort and the only decline in occupancy I’ve seen has been the normal seasonal dip. I live at a different condo resort and there hasn’t even been a seasonal dip. If they want to tell you occupancy is down, like the claim that after Ige asked people not to come here there were 52,000 room night cancellations on Maui, make ’em prove it or offer some evidence. Otherwise you can put as much faith in that as when I tell you that after Ige’s request, reservations for people under 35 went up 37.873%. I have no data behind that and I made it up. I’m sure tourism did go down after Ige said that, but to think they know by how much, and can isolate the effect of Ige’s statement from the effect of sharply higher cases throughout the country and the normal seasonal dip is farcical.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
I own a customer service business we get tipped with mostly cookies, candy and during AC season our share of cash.
We’re grateful for it all, so I tend to tip a lot.
I’ve never experienced the gratitude I’m receiving from everyone I’ve tipped on our current trip on Maui.
It’s overwhelming really hits home how many have suffered during the pandemic.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like you’re still having a great time on Maui.
Aloha.
Who, in their right mind would want to travel to Hawaii with all the uncertainty of being a political prisoner under house arrest for 2 weeks or to stay at someone’s bubble resort. With the unfair fees and guest taxes. Maybe those that own property in Hawaii can make up for the lost revenue and taxes that us tourists bring. We’re not the boogie man, even though we’re called hollies. I can hear the batching already about the suffering caused by traffic and people not being considerate. The money is running out for the free handouts, in the meantime we’ll find another destination to spend our hard earned money.
Rich R, you nailed it.
It seems as though too many in govt and locals have forgotten that Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific, not an ideal location for manufacturing. So, tourism and military bases are the ideal industries given location, weather and few other wealth-building options.
Not just the little guys.
Zacks Equity Research, (13 September 2021). Hawaiian Holdings’ (HA) Q3 View Dims on Delta Variant-Led Woes. nasdaq.com/articles
“With the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, Hawaiian Holdings HA recently trimmed its outlook for the third quarter of 2021. This bearish view adds to the carrier’s woes, shares of which have declined 29.1% over the past three months, worse than its industry’s 14.4% contraction in the same time period.”
…
“The Delta-variant spread slowed down bookings at this carrier … . Moreover, accelerated ticket cancellations are believed to be primarily due to the Governor of Hawaii’s public comments, which suggested that it is not the appropriate time to visit the island.”
Thank you for the information, It is always good to know what is happening in Hawaii before I travel.
If I may make an unscientific observation, we judge the tourist numbers by the length of the line at Little Fish coffee in the morning. We’re still very busy here in Kauai.
Workers at Waiohai tell me they’ve been 90+ capacity for months.
Another thought, we were absolutely inundated when travel opened in April. Perhaps people jumped at the chance and that rush is setting down a bit.
Roads are crowded, dinner reservations are difficult, Farmer’s Market is busy. I think Kauai at least is doing fine.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
On Maui now perfect time for a traveler to be here not so good for folks who own and working in the tourist industry.
The message has been constant with individuals making their living from providing tourism services that the summer surge was over blown that lack of services were more of an issue versus the size of crowds.
They’re also saying that even before Gov Ige’s don’t come announcement Hawaii was in its natural slowing of tourism after the summer crush.
The huge cancellation of fall travel is crushing individuals, tour operators and family owned business.
One thing not getting enough press is inflation. Food and housing costs are out of sight forcing much of the tourism workforce to move back to the mainland.
Hi RICHARD C
I believe a most excellent point.
“One thing not getting enough press is inflation. Food and housing costs are out of sight forcing much of the tourism workforce to move back to the mainland.”
I believe you identify a lurking .
And not just food, housing, and consumables.
Let us wait a few months as the major airline’s current fixed price fuel contracts require renewal and see where transportation cost go. Retail fuels are up a dollar or more from same time last year.
It will be interesting to witness what higher cost to travel to a location that already has a very high cost of living and where one is not wanted might bring.
I think a high potential long term effect of the confluence of all of these things is that in order to sustain things the long hand of Honolulu is going to need to reach deeper into permanent residents’ pockets.
Your right on brother.
Question of the day. If Green gets to become Governor, will he be full time governor or part time governor/ ER doc ? Between Ige and Green they can’t even agree if the sky s blue.
Taken from West Hawaii News:
Safe Travels, for example, will remain in place for the time being, he said, echoing a statement Lt. Gov. Josh Green made earlier this week predicting that the travel program will not be changed even as restrictions are lifted.
Does this mean uploading proof of vaccination on the website before traveling? We just booked our flight yesterday on a non-stop from Atlanta to HNL, and if we have to be tested, that is a major issue here to find the right test. Lord, I hope I did not make a mistake…it’s a non-refundable ticket.
Thoma
As long as you upload a pdf of your vaccination card into your safe travels account, you will be all set. No testing for vaccinated people at this time. Have a great time!
Aloha🌺
My wife and I totally ignored Ige’s request. We went through Hawaii Safe Travel protocols and are now enjoying two weeks on Oahu and Maui visiting our grand kids and supporting Hawaiian businesses and citizens. The local people that we have met are extremely friendly and appreciative of our visit. They need your support.
Did you do Covid test? We’re you required to have the shot?
You are currently NOT required to have any shot, and NO you do not have to test, if you are vaccinated, which is absolutely ridiculous since both unvaccinated and vaccinated can contract and spread the virus. You do still have to test if you are not vaccinated, however.
The reality is everyone is at risk by not testing ALL Travelers getting on a plane. It really is that simple, if they’d actually “follow the science”, which they have been preaching for the last 18 months…🙄
Ige and Green are the Hawaiian version of the movie “Dumb and Dumber.” How sad it looks like “Dumber” will be the next Governor. The people deserve the people they vote for and put in office.
Shreek!
I feel for the residents and business owners of Hawaii! I hope things get headed in the right direction.
That said ….we bought our tickets today for February!
“It is hard for anyone to predict what route Governor Ige will take next.”
A succinct statement of one of the causes of Hawaii’s tourism downturn.
My thought is Ige is continuing an attempt to thread the eyes of two moving needles. One is on the yo-yo of Hawaii’s tourism economy and the other is with effective state control of a world-wide shape-shifting virus.
Unless he is very skilled and fortunate he may miss both. While states indeed differ, it is difficult to find one that hasn’t either suffered increased casualties or increased economic slowdown and damage depending upon its chosen policies. Their approach seems to have been choose, suffer, and get through it rather than prolong the agony.
Given the limitations imposed by time, consideration of the number of variables and unknowns, and the raw Hawaiian politics in all this, it may be Ige is compelled to follow other states and choose the lessor of the evils.
Your governor likes the power thrill…… Costs don’t matter, power does….
Governor Ige is a tool, and a bad one at that. This is not Political, it’s bad business for a State that is 99% Tpurist and Military Dependant. This is minimally the 2nd time, he’s shown incompetence, the first being the Nuclear Attack Warning in Waikiki 3 years ago, that brought Mazie Hirono out blaming the USN, when it was a State Employee that failed Protocols! Now, following probably Schatz and Hirono again, look no further then other Democrat managed States and Cities, from NYC, Baltimore, DC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, LA, SF, even Las Vegas, they have all suffered with draconian lock-downs that punish Retail, Service, their Employee’s, while the Elites and Politico’s on full Salaries are untouched, they just cannot grasp the common man! When you see DFS Close, you know something is wrong, Hawaii’s Health Director says less then 1% of Positive Covid Testing is Tourist related, rather then making things worse and defying Science with Mandatory Vaccination to. Travel, that lasts but 5-7 months, theruetics are and have been the answer, from the New Merck, these are the great equalizer a that enable those being treated to defeat the Virus and survive! We cancelled May, because of the Mask Mandate, the powers that be relented and Hawaii was the beneficiary, then like too much success, after scolding Airlines, and announcing higher Room Taxes after Ige took those from the other Counties and put in the General Fund. Follow the Science, those that Test Negative can come, and there’s no bogus Fake Vax Cards. A hui Hou!
You make to much SENSE for Ige & his Co-horts of Indecision! 99% vs 1%- Hmm? What would a Critically thinking Independent Brain Conclude?
I had cancelations for Sept and October sighting Iges stupid appeal to not come to Hawaii. There were other factors as you said but my only cancelations were due to Ige,ugh!
I just want to say that doesnt it make sense that the numbers of covid cases has gone down and so has the tourist, when the tourist was at the all time high, so was the cases. But wait lets blame everything on the locals and their gatherings they are the ones that have made the cases go up. Sheesh!
Aloha Matilda,
You apparently don’t realize that Local Residents, traveling to the Mainland and back, significantly decreased also, when traveling reduction occurred. Your presumption is that Locals from Hawaii traveling to/from didn’t stop at all after that. Your again presume Local families stopped gathering during this time period as they travelled to see family members in the Mainland or to Vegas (which in itself completely goes against the culture of Locals born and raised on the Islands). Vegas was a breeding ground for the virus, at that time, and immediately after Vegas reopened, Locals jumped on planes to go get their fix…
Please, don’t act like this is tourists who were doing this, when obviously the statistics show otherwise. Locals were predominately responsible for the virus spread over the summer based on statistics from all the medical facilities reporting their data. Making it appear that it wasn’t, when not taking other pertinent factors into consideration, is actually pushing a false narrative.
Mahalo.
Aloha, sadly we booked another destination for the beginning of next year, and now we’re a bit heartbroken about this latest news.
We had a very wonderful trip in May, and had no problems with Safe Travels or anything else COVID related.
Buy, as we began our annual bookings (we been to Maui every year for the last 7 years), we were inundated with Gov Ige’s “Stay Away” statements on both medi print and national (mainland) TV news, and we even read in various travel page comments how much the Hawaiian people agree that we tourists should stay away.
It was never our island, it belongs to the people of Hawaii and so we felt it better to find a new destination to try out.
We will miss the wonderful folks we encountered from the staff at Capt Jack’s to the awesome staff at the Kaanapali Beach Resort.
Perhaps we won’t like our new destination and we may return in the future, when all this mess is sorted out.
Mahalo to everyone we’ve had the privilege of meeting over the last 7 years.
We just cancellled our family trip in November because Gov Ige said to stay away. It would have been a first for our 22 and 17 year old. High price to pay to be an uneanted tourist. Fyi – we are all vaxed.
What a mess!! Ige makes absolutely no sense to me!
Thank goodness we have the BOH to make some semblance of understanding to the madness. We’ll be returning to the BI for our second trip in as many months thanks largely in part to the info provided here! Thanks BOH!
Hi Bob.
Thank you. Happy to hear you’ll be returning to the Big Island.
Aloha.
We were there for 3 weeks in July. Seems to me the hospitality industry has to offer dramatic reductions on everything from airfare (which is happening some) to hotel rates, restaurant prices and the like. Get the tourists to return with low prices, then, after a good experience they’ll return when higher prices return.
But charging high prices when all the fun and offerings are gone – who needs that.
Aloha Guys,
We are coming to Maui in October, we didn’t cancel because we are both vaccinated and we know the politicians don’t represent most of the people’s interests in Hawaii. When we came to Oahu in February travel wasn’t back and businesses were very happy to see me and my money. We always wear masks and respect the Aina and we hope Maui is as accepting as the wonderful people of Oahu were.
Mahalo for your updates BOH your information is always timely and well thought out.
Sincerely and Mahalo,
Mike
Hi Mike.
Thank you. Glad you can make it to Maui this month. Have a great time.
Aloha.
Although I was not here when the whaling ships brought disease that decimated Hawaiian populations, I recall the history well. I think governor Ige is in alignment with many other South Pacific Islands in being cautious about resuming tourism, especially when many of the tourists accost local businesses with refusing to wear masks, and with other poor behavior. I have personally seen this behavior, and have personally been confronted. I believe he would like to see more folks vaccinated, including Keiki – and hopefully, that is coming soon. I haven’t always agreed with Governor Ige, but I do so this time. Mufi Hanneman ignores the fact that we recently had to import a large number of FEMA healthcare workers to relieve our exhausted hospital staff members. I had to tell friends who planned to visit that they should not come, because we had no hospital beds for them in case of severe injury or illness. Yes, sadly tourism drives the economy. Maybe the governor is encouraging us to find ways to be more self sustaining. I saw Maizie Hirono just secured some large grants for education. Wouldn’t it be exciting if that money expanded opportunities beyond the hospitality sector?
Sorry, but it’s a real stretch to assume the gov is encouraging non-tourist based business by choking off tourist money. That’s like assuming Hirono is encouraging green transportation by suddenly closing every gas station. You can’t connect the dots.
What a confusing headline for this post.
Thanks for the update. Maybe 2023 for us….. maybe not.
Ige is a moron deer in the headlights good thing for Hawaii is is being termed out. Worst governor ever. Besides Newsome and DeBlasio but he is right up there
Unfortunately this is the biggest circus act anyone living here and traveling here has ever seen.
As someone who lives here we all understand the severity of the virus but to what extent?
Many local businesses are closing because of these flip flop restrictions/mandates.
You’ll be left with only chain restaurants and businesses + without locals as they’re moving.
It’s a sad sight to see all this unfolding in the past years due to the lack of leadership.
The biggest frustration for most rational adults throughout this entire pandemic is the sheer lack of guidelines and milestones based on data. The lack of transparent data analysis by politicians and unelected bureaucrats leads to further mistrust of all parties that have enjoyed newfound power. Is it too much to expect a proclamation like “when cases fall below .5% of the population, travel restrictions can be lifted”?
Hi SteveP
You ask one of the essential questions.
Unfortunately, the answer is: Yes, it is.
There are far too many (not only in Hawaii) harboring divergent agendas in the mix for there to possibly be coherence. Stand by. It will get worse as we approach the political elephant dance that precedes elections.
We are booked for Maui December 27th to January 10th , we are Canadians and fully vaccinated!
Robert L.
Aloha- How can Green or anyone say this based on Ige’s recent extension of his “stay away” plea through November? “Green is anticipating changes that would eliminate most restrictions soon, although what specifically would occur has not been addressed by him and remains within the purview of the Governor. Mufi added that he too is encouraged and in fact highly optimistic that Ige will make the announcement soon that visitors should return to Hawaii. That will also serve to eliminate the confusion that Ige’s August request that was “without teeth” has caused.
Wagoner said that what is needed now is a simple, non-ambiguous statement that “Hawaii’s open” for travel.