State officials and others are pushing on with a controversial concept for restarting Hawaii tourism.
159 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Bubble, Testing, & Tracking: Acceptable, Legal, Useful?”
Comments are closed.
Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » Hawaii Travel Bubble, Testing, & Tracking: Acceptable, Legal, Useful?
I’ve read a lot of the comments and it’s pretty heartbreaking to hear the vitriol from some in response to the possibility that Hawaii tourism may open to countries that have experienced much less C0VID, or have recovered better, than mainland USA. Those ranting about how this should never happen because Hawaii is, after all, part of the U.S., must be unaware that some state and city borders have been closed in the U.S. during this in order to protect citizens. And everyone should be aware that each state is pretty much operating independently, based on what each governor deems best for his/her state. Why should Hawaii’s governor not have that right to operate independently, especially considering that Hawaii’s healthcare system would be absolutely overwhelmed by an accidental influx of C0VID? In my view, it comes down to selfishness. We have a timeshare in Maui and have come every year for at least 20 years. It feels really sad to think we might miss our early 2021 time in Hawaii, depending on what’s happening then. We hope there’s a way we can bank our time and use it another year if we can’t go in 2021. But we would rather do what it takes to keep Hawaiians safe. And sure, spend your hard-earned vacation money elsewhere – that’s fine. But don’t be mean-spirited about it, threatening to never come back to Hawaii. I think Hawaiians – like a lot of us – are worried and afraid. I don’t blame them. People thought that sheltering at home asked a lot of them, but actually that’s the easy part. Figuring out how re-entry will work – for everyone’s best interests, which are all different – is extremely challenging. Mistakes will be made. Let’s try to not make really damaging mistakes – life and death ones. Thanks, Beat of Hawaii, for all you’re doing!
Hi Glenna.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Well written!
Hawaii is part of the United States of America! I am wondering how they will open to international travel without our President first declaring the opening of our borders. We have not even opened the borders to neighboring Canada or Mexico yet, let alone Japan! How about we cater to our U.S. citizens first!
Man, the Hawaii government doesn’t know what the heck they are doing. This is frustrating. Opening to Japan and other countries before mainland? What a joke.
This was a fascinating turn in what Hawaii wants to do. I have long been let Hawaii do what they want and need, and I am still that way, but they are showing that they realize they can’t continue going on as is. There was a quote yesterday from Paul Yanomine that the Japanese are “desirable tourists”. He lays out that they have low c0vid (although their positive numbers to death rate make me wonder about their testing capabilities…a whole different issue and brings their c0vid numbers into question), high spending power, and they “follow rules”. At this point it is no less than a PR nightmare. Legal or not, I can’t look away from the news reports. It is a train wreck. Hawaii doesn’t want their own country to come and visit. The Lieutenant Governor, a doctor, continues to spew untrue facts about C0VID, granted the facts seem to change daily. The news is riddled with reports of Hawaiians mistaking their own as tourists and harassing them. All of this takes tourists who are gentle and humble about visiting another place, tourists that you want, Japanese, American, whoever, and makes them uninterested, or even scared to come. But tourists who feel entitled will come anyway. You now have the eff you tourists singled out as the only ones that want to come. And Hawaii has to open at some point. That is reality. When that is I don’t know. But what you don’t want is so much bleeding from the locals who rely on tourism, and zero “desirable” tourists to come in and offer gauze.
Please allow visitors who have been tested 72 hours before arriving. Our Airbnb is suffering as many hotels and businesses. If we start to get new cases then go back to tighter restrictions. Allow travel with tests by July1st to help our tourism please
I listened live to the entire State House C0vid committee meeting with Central Pacific Bank’s Paul Yonamine and was appalled. I have also listened to friends who have returned to Maui and heard tourists on the plane say they planned to violate the quar antine and was equally appalled. This is not easy but you must realize the the HOTEL industry has great influence on the State and Counties here. The government is in Oahu and that is where most Japanese tourists go,. This bubble folks, is promoted not to protect us living here – it is to insure the HOTELS (and those they financially support) get theirs first. The Japanese visitor prefers hotels. They travel in groups and are most easily accommodated there. They also live in a society where regulation at home is the key. Oahu hotels will benefit first. Vacation Rental owners who pay taxes and follow the rules are far more than those who don’t yet you are seeing what happens when that non compliant owner takes advantage and allows rentals, when they are not supposed to. You will not see a greater problem by opening legal rentals – first, perhaps, only to those not subject to quarantine?? The bad apples are already doing their thing.
This was a very well rounded article. I’m disappointed in the way Hawaiians are treating mainlanders. We’re coming to realize that they have never considered us fellow citizens of the same country. Coming from an area where Hawai’ian vacations are common, a lot of people are switching to the Caribbean out of fear of anger and abuse from the locals.
Aloha, we have travel plan multiple islands is that going to be a possibilty? We are from Idaho and thus this far our flights are still on, Early August. Testing is not readily available and we are only going 10 days in total. Are you seeing any light at the end of the tunnel? Can they refuse us entry? Thank u for your thoughts and direction.
Hi Amy.
We are obviously all awaiting news from the state as to what the plan is for the end of the 14-day isolation. It can’t be much longer until that information is forthcoming. Suggest hanging in there just a bit and see with us what is revealed.
Aloha.
It seems this debate has broken down into people from Hawaii who truly want to open the State up in as safe a manner as possible and people from the mainland who are miffed if it doesn’t include them, regardless of the infection rate of where they are from.
Funny anyone took offense to Senator Kim’s comment about Americans not following rules when we see in the news businesses on the mainland making political statements about “no masks allowed” and the business in Texas that encourages hugging and shaking hands, etc etc. It emphatically does NOT define all Americans, it does define a significant portion. That’s the problem .
How do you deal with the “I don’t care about anybody but me so I’m not wearing a mask crowd”?
Could you please give me your opinion on travel to Maui in late September. I feel our trip that far out is in jeopardy after reading your updates here. I’m also wondering what my options are with regard to already purchased airfare with Hawaiian Airlines.
Thank you.
Hi Richard.
We would assume travel will resume to some form of normal by then. We will update as soon as possible on that. Once travel has resumed, terms you agreed to on purchase of tickets would normally prevail, no matter which airline.
Aloha.
What the heck is a travel bubble? Where did that term come from? I love Hawaii, but these Hawaiians are quickly turning me off to them. Why do they think they are so special? We all are have been out in the world and the death rate is only 99.9% in all US states. The flu killed 56,000 people in the US just 2 years ago and none of this closing was going on. Hawaii is USA after all. All the other states are open, so why aren’t you? I have a 2 week special trip planned for September, but I have alternative plans just in case. Sounds like Hawaii is going to lose my several thousand dollars in vacation expenses this year. I was staying at local lodging, so it wasn’t going to big chains.
JUST STOP! 105,000 citizens in 8 weeks died. THIS IS NOT THE FLU its much more dangerous than that. I am sure Hawaii wont miss your condescending uncaring attitude towards our island friends.