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405 thoughts on “Hawaii Resort Bubbles APPROVED | The Worst Idea Ever?”
See what these islands are planning for new Hawaii resort bubbles.
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Let’s go to Hawaii and go to prison! No thanks
We do not see this bubble concept as viable. Scenario: Jack and Jeannie decide to travel to Kauai and stay at one of the several Marriott properties for 2 weeks. Since we are Marriott time share owners, we arrive a the same resort 2 days after Jack and Jeannie. We have not had Covid-19, but without knowing so, we are carriers. Walking around the property we meet and have dinner with Jack and Jeannie one evening (and with other residents on other evenings). Of course, we have now exposed dozens of people in a week. How is this scenario going to keep Wilcox hospital from being over-run (which I think is the primary concern, as another poster has already stated ‘the Corona virus is going to be around for a long time’). Our county in PA has had less than a dozen new cases in the past month. The population is about 10X that of Kauai. People would be safer touring our county than they would be in the Marriott bubble we’ve just infected in the scenario!
Thank you, I do not agree with the “bubble resort” solution as a slow start to reopen tourism. As a frequent visitor I personally would not consider a resort isolated vacation. Just like the cruise industry, when (not “if”) the coronavirus appears at your “bubble resort” everyone is at risk! The pandemic is just too serious and quick to spread & now the 3rd leading cause of death. And without enough critical care facilities on each island you’d have to have a death wise on your wish list. Please stay safe & keep the faith, if we all play a Smart roll in all of this, we will prevail.
Absoflippinglutely not! As another commenter stated this is an insult.
This has got to be a joke. Testing is the only way. Why would you want to be made fools of ?
Really like your website and everybody’s comments. I have an idea for Jim Carrey’s next movie. After the “Bubble Idea” fails miserably, the Governor and the mayors of Maui and Kauai costar in the movie Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest. The premise is that the three amigos decide to release all the local convicts from the county jails and offer the tourists a real prison B&B instead of the Bubble prison. Keep up the good work.
Hi Ken.
Thanks for that.
Aloha.
100% a good movie concept, part comedy, part horror. Yeah, and I’d not have to pay to see it on a screen because we’d be living it. So unbelievable.
Resort Bubble!?! Are you kidding me? Geez, sounds like fun, being held hostage at a hotel- even in Paradise, this still means total lack of freedom- freedom of movement, freedom of exploration, and freedom of adventure which defines American liberty! Let’s call it “Hostage in Hawaii”…no thanks!
C’mon. There is total freedom: the freedom to not sign up. And no, no one would be held hostage by anyone. There’s also the freedom to go back to the airport and fly home.
So listen. We stayed in Kauai last Sept at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. It was our first time to Hawaii ever and from LA. We visited Na’Pali through Capt Andy’s and did a bike tour of Waimea Canyon through Outfitters Kauai. Both were spectacular! BUT! I would give anything to travel at this moment. Even if it meant self-isolating for 14 days at the Sheraton. It gave us enough to do, during our 6 days, including bracelet making with the kindest native Hawaiian ever. 10/10 would do it again.
My family and I visit the islands almost every year. There is absolutely no way we would visit if we were to be confined to a resort and/or monitored. If we want to stay on a resort we’ll go somewhere in the Caribbean. Caribbean islands are often not safe to explore off the resort. The reason we frequent Hawaii is because we’re safe to explore the island. We are not at all interested in spending the money it takes to come to Hawaii and then pay for resort accommodations only to be forced to stay on the resort like prisoners.
Will the employees also be held prisoner on the resort? If not, it seems like a futile effort to keep visitors on the resort. If employees come in contact with an infected visitor they will take the virus home and into their neighborhoods. Confining visitors to the resort is ridiculous!
One of the reasons that the island Mayors and Governor Ige constantly use for the continued closure is that Hawaii doesn’t have the equipment, hospital beds, man power and resources to care for an influx of patients. So … how does confining visitors to a resort help that problem unless local government intends to leave Covid infected patients on the resort to die.
None of this makes any sense at all. Perhaps Governor Ige and his cronies need to tuck their ego away and consult with someone that is capable of leading Hawaii out of the abyss they have plunged it into. These selfish heartless idiots have destroyed Hawaii, Hawaii’s economy and it’s people. How can they continue to go on this direction? They have done irreparable damage to so many lives.
Mahalo,
TJ
Hi TJ.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Right on the mark you make sence it is nosince and that for sure is what would happen.
I could see where this idea might work in Wailea.
Wailea Beach Resort, Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, Fairmont Kea and The Shops at Wailea would have to be in the bubble. Wailea Bubble visitors would have have access to both Polo and Wailea beaches, resort spa’s, restaurants and shopping. For entertainment you would have Grand Lu’au at Grand Wailea.
I think that could actually work.
We live on the west coast, so until things returned to a more normal situation I could actually see us doing that for a short 5 or 6 night stay.
I definitely agree there should be pretesting prior to arrival. That should go without saying. We come to beautiful Maui every February for the whales. If they go ahead with the bubble I think we would take advantage. We can watch the whales from our lanai and not lose our maintenance fees. We are going Hawaii is open by then for tourists and Hawaii’s economy
I totally agree with ore testing but where do you get it. I know people that were exposed to covid at work and they can’t get a test unless tgey have symptoms. Hopefully this lack of testing will resolve before October. If not I’m prepared to spend 14 days on my lanai.
No Thank you! Why would I want to spend my time locked up in one location?
That’s a hard No. Hawaii is too far and too beautiful to confine to a resort. I’m not going to be on a plane for 12 to 14 hours and then be policed on the resort. If I’m going somewhere to be confined it will be somewhere a whole lot closer to home, like the Caribbean.
“Sounds like a good idea to try….” – Seems to be how many critical decisions are being experimented on our communities by some well meaning and not so well meaning politicians. It is critical to weigh things out using people who have experience in the area when we can, rather That just launch a social experiment.
There is something in place in the US today that is similar to the “vacation resort bubble.” It’s called “Probation Home Confinement.” Defendants who might otherwise be in jail are allowed to be home instead. They wear a proximity monitor (ankle bracelet) that sends an alarm when the device leaves a set perimeter. So does it work?
Well, yes and no. Experience tells us people cut off the bracelets and go wherever, the bracelet doesn’t know the wearer is gone, There is however a consequence for being caught. A “violation” is added to probation when the person is arrested. They go to jail. And this is for actual sentenced criminals….
In the case of a travel bubble. How does govt really enforce visitors removing a tracker? What paid personnel will actually monitor and then enforce it? Will police actually arrest? Will prosecutors actually prosecute? Will judges actually sentence “offenders?” And what would that process do to the “marketability” of “travel Hawaii?”
I don’t believe politicians and public officials are really thinking this through. The most risk laden part is the potential for “vacation violators” out in the community possibly spreading the virus and thumbing noses at the system because “I paid for this vacation and I will do what I want!” (Haven’t we all heard that line before eh?)
. Please wear masks and share a kind word with someone today. Aloha!
Rick
I say no to the bubble resort idea!!! If the people are not tested for Covid 19. I don’t feel the need for ankle monitor bracelets. I would feel like an criminal. What, I implement is have people test for Covid 19 72 hours with in travel to destination. They need to bring negative result. When, they arrive check temperature fill paper forms out and receive a health card with picture stating that they tested negative for covid 19. Then wait 3-4 days after they been there test again. If they test positive then for the Covid 19. You take there negative health card and them quarantine for 14-24 days. Make sure face mask are mandatory; if they wear no mask jail time or fine. No excuses!
Covid is going to be around for at least several years. It’s Hawaii’s loss to keep tourists out. I already had covid and should be allowed to travel without restriction. One is only negative at the moment they are tested. Pre testing is ridiculous and inaccurate for a trip 10 days in the future let alone 48 hours. Where do planners get such far out ideas???
Curious – you believe, since you had Covid, that you are immune from contracting it again??
Thanks
You build up antibodies against the virus. So no you can’t contract it twice. Lisa H
You can get Covid more then once. Just saying
We have no interest in a quarantine resort bubble!! Off-putting for multiple reasons! Staying at a resort is not a destination. Hawaii needs to increase testing capacity. Much in the news about reliable expedient saliva testing. The state has had months to develop a pre-travel COVID test program. However, mainland people can test negative but then risk virus exposure in airports. Require a COVID test every 4-5 days after arrival (gotta have the testing ability).
Please! And not in the I want something sense, in the “really you’re joking sense”! I’m going to pay upteen thousands of dollars to go to Hawaii and not really be able to see Hawaii. If I’m going to pay to be stuck on a resort, wouldn’t I just go to Mexico for cheap and get an all inclusive. Most people don’t stay in Hawaii for more then maybe 8-12 days. So to see the inside of a resort for the entirety is insane. In looking at the COVID numbers, I Don’t think tourism is the issue!
The epidemic is now all but gone in no-lockdown Sweden. Back in May, Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke said things that now look brilliantly prescient: “You’ve painted yourself into a corner. I’m watching with interest how are you and 100 other countries will climb out of the lockdown, because I don’t think any government that I know gave a minute’s thought about how they would get out of their different lockdowns.” and “A lockdown might delay severe cases for a while, but once restrictions are eased, cases will reappear. … Measures to flatten the curve might have an effect, but a lockdown only pushes the severe cases into the future — it will not prevent them.”
14days is a bit of time, but its what’s required. If you have and can do the time and then hang out after you will find it very rewarding, for the most part people follow the rules, mask up and keep their distance at least On Kauai. Imagine paddling to the Fern Grotto and then heading on a hike to secret falls without meeting a single person till on the way back, this is how my wife and I spent our 39th anniversary. Covid has been hard on work for the local people but Kauaiian’s are resilient and embrace the simple life. The Authorities on Kauai are serious about enforcing the quarantine my wife was contacted at least three times.
The Hawaii National guard stopped by Our home at least twice during her quarantine after visiting our new grandson on the mainland.
Tourism is suspended, Hawaii is closed, and Kauai is a sleeping Beauty in whose arms I would rather be than anywhere else on the planet. Be safe and stay well the Islands are rejuvenating, coral is thriving, fish are abundant in areas where I have not seen them like this for over 20 years, when the time comes, and it will, the Aina will be ready to embrace those that love and respect it.
Just get it together with pre testing! The only way.
Thanks guys, for keeping us up to date! Great job. Maybe you could develop a pre testing plan!!! Time to get some competent people on board! Excuses only last for so long. Time for people of Hawaii to say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” THANKS
Hi Nancy.
Thank you!
Aloha.
I vote for negative covid test before arrival. Travelers should not be permitted on the plane unless they have a negative covid test end of story. I’m sure the people that are vacationing will not have any issues covering the cost or providing a test.
I’m sorry but I come to Hawaii to see the islands and learn about the culture, not to stay in a resort area. I have already postponed and will do so again if needed. No resort bubble for our group from Canada.
We own a very nice condo that has been sitting empty since we left Kauai on May 1. We will never return to some hotel, be more exposed to COVID-19, when we can be living in our own place and be much safer, not to mention the cost.
Just let us get a negative test result and arrive for the winter for 4 months.
Thanks! Ok, so I purchased a small but lovely condo in South Shore. I am not renting it, just a second home. So, I am stuck there for 14 days, and can not walk to the beach. There is no pool, we purchased do to proximity. We pay taxes there, and we certainly do not want to be forgotten. I care dearly for HI, and plan to live there full time in years to come. But, for now, why can we not have an alternative for home owners that can not be there full time? Wouldn’t this take precedence over people on a joy ride??? Thank you again. Uugghh
Hi Janet.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Complete stupidity! Sounds like a Nazi camp to me! And these guests (prisoners, actually) will be coming in without having to get pre-testing? And they are letting out Covid infected prisoners in Oahu? It is clear that the Governor and mayors are completely incompetent and they have no regard for their citizens who have not been able to get back to work and to feed their families. Get the pre-testing into place (you have had MANY months to get it done!) and open up the State! Enough of your despicable agenda!
This is just such a sad and pathetic attempt to generate some form of tourism 🙁 But it won’t work, it’s too unrealistic and naive to expect people to be willing to stay in a locked down facility with other potentially contagious hotel guests, and pay top resort dollars for the experience! Obviously most sane people will not want to expose themselves or their loved ones to the very real risk of being infected from Covid or the trauma of wearing a tracking device like a prisoner.
I don’t understand why Hawaii has been so abysmally slow to figure out a way to get a rapid testing program in place, given how their economy relies on tourism to the degree that it does.
Mahalo to BOH for keeping us informed!
Hi Dana.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Good comments. thank you. BTW, Tahiti has successfully opened up and protected their people. Copy and paste and away you go Hawaii. Then you can concentrate on testing and tracing and quarantining the vulnerable and genuinely start stamping out the disease!
Hi Dan.
Thanks.
Aloha.
We have rebooked our maui trip twice hoping we can visit now In October. Some may be alright with this bubble thing but I will cancel again if this is the case. We like to travel around the island. The hotel we stay at is nice but I can’t see going on a vacation and feel I’m in Hawaii jail with an electronic on my person. This is not at all what I would find as aloha or fun. I know it’s an island. I also feel the effort to open back up is just not there. This has effected everyone in our country not just the USA. Will probably cancel again and I think I’m done trying for a while. Breaks my heart ♥️
Thank you for your updates. I absolutely will not Go if I have to be in a bubble. How do you go to an island and not be able to see it? Then to pay for tracking etc no way, no thanks. This is ridiculous and absurd, who would want to do this, unless they go to a high end resort that has everything there and they come with small kids that don’t site see or do outside excursions & I’m sure that’s a relatively few. I live on an island right now, you have to have temperature taken before entering a store, mall etc. wash hands before entering, wear masks, keep 6’ apart. The people who are getting the virus are the ones not heading this advance someone has to come up with another solution. I want to visit my time share in Maui but not if I can’t leave the Condo even tho it’s on the beach. Please, consider the Covid testing prior to entry but extend the days instead of just 3 because in some places it’s hard to get the results in 3 days. And in some states they’re not allowed to get the tests unless you have symptoms. Or make the tests available upon entry with 24 hour results.
Hi Diana.
Thanks.
Aloha.
It might work for a few selected properties, but my biggest concern would be for the resort staff, are they going to be restricted to the bubble as well? If not,They would certainly be exposed and bring the infection right back to the resort.
At 71, the wife and I will wait until non restricted travel is available again someday hopefully
Aloha
Bill
A very desperate idea.Reflects poorly on State and County government.
If someone wanted to spend 14 days at a single resort they could do it at a number of places (Las Vegas for example) without needing to pay for an airline ticket to Hawaii.
Even if it worked to some degree it would only benefit the resort involved.
Local officials seem to think that tourist will come streaming back under any circumstances.
Based on the very negative comments regarding tourists, (even though from a small percentage of local people) I doubt we will see a flood of tourists returning.
This is especially true since not one public official has enthusiastically talked about ‘welcoming’ them back.
They all talk about ‘restructuring’ the economy. What does that mean.
Tourism should be managed but State and County government has not done that. Tourist don’t vote, so who approved all those new condo and hotel projects? Officials that the citizens of Hawaii elected.
I love Hawaii and only hope a more creative approach is taken, not only during this crisis, but going forward to deal with tourism.
Thank you for this vehicle to post opinions in an open, non political manner.
Hi Patrick.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thank you. Tourist are either safe or they are not. lets just say have a little “resort” bubble. the tourist will be in close proximity to all the airline, airport, shuttle, and resort employees! Once again, there is no consistency, uniformity, fairness, or common sense in the states rules and regulations! In the meantime, construction workers, and other so called “essential workers” run the islands with impunity! If a tourist test negative and his temperature is fine when he leaves the plane, what are the odds that he will carry the disease. This is a fact we should all know. I am guessing he has a better chance of getting hit by lightning than coming to the islands with the disease. Get the facts and make sound decisions. And PCR testing is readily available for a 100 to 250 dollar fee. make it a requirement and let the economic recovery begin! This quarantine is based on conjecture, innuendo, and fear and lives continue to be ruined because of it! What a terrible shame!
Hi Dan.
Thanks.
Aloha.
While I love our timeshares on the islands, I’m not sure if I would want to be locked down on one of them. There are so many other things we do while visiting to learn about the people, the culture, and to view the beautiful sights. I could do it to enjoy the warmer weather and the beautiful resort. Would people be permitted to go to the grocery store? It certainly doesn’t sound ideal, but edfit is the only way we could visit Hawaii, I might willing to do it one time but not each time we visit. Thank you for offering this site where we can share our opinions.
Hi Rita.
Thank you. No, there are no grocery or other outings permitted during quarantine.
Aloha.
I feel extremely insulted by the Hawaiian government who think that we tourists are so stupid as to even consider this travel bubble ridiculousness!!
The idea of a bubble is just that, a bubble. Bubble in and of itself is confining, no escape. Worse that one is geotracked. Are you kidding? Hypocrisy to say the least. First our gvt mandates bew rules as of 8/20 that further limits our freedom to move about all in the banexif health and safety. But its OK to create a bubble, uncontrolled testing, exposure to people within the resort and airports, both tourists and locals that in all likelihood further imprison all of us if in fact exposure to each other is unhealthy. Tell me, who is telling the truth and why make exceptions to health and safety according to the gvt of Hawaii to generate revenue. Hypocrites and candidly inconceivable putting it mildly.
This idea demonstrates contempt for tourists and residents. 14 day quarantine and lockdown did not stop illness. Why not do what works, masks sanitation personal space and open up for business, whatever is left of it. Vote out our governor and representatives, they lack perspective and have a poor opinion of us.
This is just a continuation of the endless stalling and passing of the buck by state and local leaders.
Sure, they’re open to any idea that (a) they don’t have to create, (b) they don’t have to fund, (c), they don’t have to manage, and (d) they can later absolve themselves of any real responsibility for.
Their Plan A is still clearly to keep kicking the can down the road–hoping as Trump does that the virus–and their need to actually act intelligently to deal with it–magically disappears.
And, sure, if they are willing–and if the people of Hawaii are willing–to keep their heads in the sand for, oh, another year or more–maybe that will work. But by then every single tourist-dependent business on the islands–and that includes MANY residential and commercial landlords–will be bankrupt. Because, though these same officials are perfectly willing to continue paying their own salaries–and many if not most of the salaries of the hundreds of thousands of other state and county employees–many of whom who have been doing little or nothing since the beginning of the pandemic / shut downs–I assure you they will not be willing to pay for everyone else’s losses for 2020 and 2021.
Bubbles are not solutions. They’re just pipe dreams.
Will be selling our timeshare on Kauai then and may never return to Hawaii again if this is the new normal. Sorry bad idea and being tracked and controlled only makes me feel like I’m living out the George Orwell book “1984” nightmare. Not going to subject myself to this abuse. Sorry Hawai’i. Tourism will end and good luck trying to save the already fragile economy.
It makes me extremely sad to think that I may have taken my last Trip to Hawaii, my happy place.
Gosh Jared, I’m so sorry you have missed all of the beauty, history and culture of Hawaii. It’s all there if you look for it! I have been to Tulum and in my humble opinion it has nothing on Hawaii. But heck, to each hie own. Have fun in Mexico.
I will not come to Hawaii if I can only stay in a resort. I come to explore the islands and all the culture there is.
Well, to be fair, there’s really no “culture” here for you to explore–even in good times.
It’s not like there are “natives” walking around in grass skirts and leis everywhere, spontaneously bursting into hula dances and handing out mai tais and daquiris at sunset. That’s the MYTH of Hawaii… not the reality.
Hawaii really has no historic ruins like Tulum or Machu Pitchu or Angkor Wat. The local food is pretty much crap–other than poke–which is just a big bowl of sushi.
But, depending on the island(s) you visit, there is certainly way more to do outside of a resort than inside one. More beaches, more jungles, hiking, biking, camping, fishing, etc.
Gee Jared. Unless you live here, your idea of “lacking culture” shows more ignorance than perception. Hawaii Island, Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau are the repositories of Hawaiian culture, or don’t you know about Merrie Monarch, local food booths and trucks, petroglyphs, archeological digs, and a plethora of opportunities for those not so dismissive of Hawaii’s treasures? Your dismissive post is exactly the type of visitor we don’t need..