133 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel During Pandemic Spurs Extreme Opinions”
Lynn R.
I just spent some time at the Honolulu.gov website and found this order:
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 2020-29 (COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus])
HONOLULU’S COVID-19 RECOVERY FRAMEWORK: ORDER IMPLEMENTING TIER 2.
I searched “face covering” and found very clear information about when a face mask was not required. See Order 5, beginning on page 3.
Kathryn B
This is in reply to reader Julie’s comments: would you let a surgeon do surgery on you without a mask? Please look at the statistics of Covid in countries such as Japan where the wearing of masks is more common place. Do you have any loved ones who have cancer and are immunocomprised? Would you go near them if you knew you were coming down with a cold? With this virus a person is most infectious before any symptoms are evident. You are wearing the mask to protect the elderly and vulnerable, it is not all about you.
Curtis C.
We just got back from 3 days on Santa Catalina Island. The weather was gorgeous and the local business owners genuinely seemed to enjoy our patronage. The restaurants either had outdoor dining or set up on tables on the beach. On the boat trip over and back, 100% of the tourists wore masks and probably 98% on the island itself. We were treated like adults with nobody hassling us. Most of the tourist attractions were open.
I miss Kauai like crazy, but you can still have an enjoyable vacation here on the mainland.
Casey S.
Does the mask mandate in Hawaii specify what kind of masks can be worn, or are those not important factors to the in-depth thought that the local government has used to come up with the mandate? Just curious if the people in power have even done their homework or are just jumping to conclusions for optics?
Stephie B.
Aloha,
I’ve had a friend mention that it’s easy for people to accept the “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” common, and accepted in our culture. Mask wearing is a similar health courtesy, for now. That made easy sense to me.
Thank you for the open discussion.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Stephie.
Thanks for that.
Aloha.
Casey S.
Forgot to ask, what percentage of the economy does tourism make up? Would that percentage include what is also impacted by tourism?
Rob L.
I believe I have read that tourism constitutes around 70% of the economy. A significant number, one that explains the September 15.1% unemployment rate, although down from over 20% a couple of months ago.
BOH, maybe you can provide more current and accurate numbers.
Casey S
Thanks
Casey S.
Seems like it’s pretty political, the only trend Ives seen is people agreeing not to travel or being told they shouldn’t visit. Ok, I’ll spend my money somewhere else, there’s plenty of tropical places with more freedom than hawaii. I’m not dropping well over 10k for my family to come back with mask tans and gestapo like experience from security, police, and locals. Sure wear a mask while shopping or indoors, I’m fine with that, but not on the beach. Maybe Puerto Rico will get our business instead, or a trip to Fiji, or bora bora. I will have to look into their policies and see how welcome they make people feel. Good luck though, I wish you all the best but I don’t possibly see how you won’t be creating an economic disaster on the islands. Eventually web you’ve destroyed the job market and hotels/restaurants all close, you’ll come around to using common sense to encourage people to wear masks rather than all the testing, and fear mongering and unconstitutional overreach. A year in jail is absolutely ridiculous!!!
Walter M.
Mask wearing was ititially not recommended by CDC as it does not protect the wearer. Then it was recommended as a means to limit spread of droplets from the wearer when it is impossible to maintain social distance. Now it is a form of “virtue signalling,” with political overtones. The ultraviolet radiation in sunlight inactivates the virus almost instantly. It is reasonable always to mask indoors. It is unreasonable to mask out of doors when exercising.
Lucas W.
Seems like you’re is the only reasonable comment in this section. No question sunlight is the best disinfectant. No point in trying to engage the smug midwits found reading this blog.
Nancy S
In the Bay Area everyone is wearing a mask including exercising As a result San Francisco has a low rate of Covid and businesses are all open now but with restrictions. Masks work and I applaud Hawai’i for making this mandatory!! This should not be an issue, wear a mask!!!!
Dave N
All of us (except for Julie) are willing to wear a mask when we go into the store, whether in your home state or Hawaii. We’re even willing to wear a mask from the car to the store. I just came back from Hawaii yesterday and it was so wonderful to be back! While there we hiked to Shipman beach Hawaii island 1.5 hours each way and saw not a soul other than those in our party – if it became a law that we would have to wear a mask during such a trip that would be complete insanity. What about while we are swimming in the ocean, shall we wear a mask then? We need to combine caution with common sense, no? Also, all of the precautions including masking up were established early on to slow down the spread-this has been done, goal obtained. The goal was never to avoid contracting COVID-19, but to delay it keep the hospital traffic regulated. Has everyone seen the Peanuts cartoon were Lucy holds the football while Charlie Brown tries to kick it? We can’t keep moving the goalposts, Hawaii government! Can you seriously imagine what will happen with seven more months of this? Downtown Kailua Kona and Hilo are ghost towns even after lifting the quarantine with compliant testing. Congratulations, brave owners and workers at Humpty‘s restaurant! Congratulations volleyball players! Should they wear a mask also while they are sweating in the Kona heat? SMH
Lori N.
Dave,
I’m glad you wore a mask AND had a great trip to Hawaii.
But “goal obtained”? What’s your source of info for this?
Do you know how many states are at 100% capacity in their ICUs?
Dave N
Hello Lori, by “goal obtained“ I mean that we have straightened up the curve a bit and we need to be concerned with continuing our industries. No I am not aware that many states are at 100% in their ICU’s Capacity-I just googled that per your suggestion and found no such statistics.
Comments are closed.
Aloha!
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I just spent some time at the Honolulu.gov website and found this order:
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 2020-29 (COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus])
HONOLULU’S COVID-19 RECOVERY FRAMEWORK: ORDER IMPLEMENTING TIER 2.
I searched “face covering” and found very clear information about when a face mask was not required. See Order 5, beginning on page 3.
This is in reply to reader Julie’s comments: would you let a surgeon do surgery on you without a mask? Please look at the statistics of Covid in countries such as Japan where the wearing of masks is more common place. Do you have any loved ones who have cancer and are immunocomprised? Would you go near them if you knew you were coming down with a cold? With this virus a person is most infectious before any symptoms are evident. You are wearing the mask to protect the elderly and vulnerable, it is not all about you.
We just got back from 3 days on Santa Catalina Island. The weather was gorgeous and the local business owners genuinely seemed to enjoy our patronage. The restaurants either had outdoor dining or set up on tables on the beach. On the boat trip over and back, 100% of the tourists wore masks and probably 98% on the island itself. We were treated like adults with nobody hassling us. Most of the tourist attractions were open.
I miss Kauai like crazy, but you can still have an enjoyable vacation here on the mainland.
Does the mask mandate in Hawaii specify what kind of masks can be worn, or are those not important factors to the in-depth thought that the local government has used to come up with the mandate? Just curious if the people in power have even done their homework or are just jumping to conclusions for optics?
Aloha,
I’ve had a friend mention that it’s easy for people to accept the “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” common, and accepted in our culture. Mask wearing is a similar health courtesy, for now. That made easy sense to me.
Thank you for the open discussion.
Hi Stephie.
Thanks for that.
Aloha.
Forgot to ask, what percentage of the economy does tourism make up? Would that percentage include what is also impacted by tourism?
I believe I have read that tourism constitutes around 70% of the economy. A significant number, one that explains the September 15.1% unemployment rate, although down from over 20% a couple of months ago.
BOH, maybe you can provide more current and accurate numbers.
Thanks
Seems like it’s pretty political, the only trend Ives seen is people agreeing not to travel or being told they shouldn’t visit. Ok, I’ll spend my money somewhere else, there’s plenty of tropical places with more freedom than hawaii. I’m not dropping well over 10k for my family to come back with mask tans and gestapo like experience from security, police, and locals. Sure wear a mask while shopping or indoors, I’m fine with that, but not on the beach. Maybe Puerto Rico will get our business instead, or a trip to Fiji, or bora bora. I will have to look into their policies and see how welcome they make people feel. Good luck though, I wish you all the best but I don’t possibly see how you won’t be creating an economic disaster on the islands. Eventually web you’ve destroyed the job market and hotels/restaurants all close, you’ll come around to using common sense to encourage people to wear masks rather than all the testing, and fear mongering and unconstitutional overreach. A year in jail is absolutely ridiculous!!!
Mask wearing was ititially not recommended by CDC as it does not protect the wearer. Then it was recommended as a means to limit spread of droplets from the wearer when it is impossible to maintain social distance. Now it is a form of “virtue signalling,” with political overtones. The ultraviolet radiation in sunlight inactivates the virus almost instantly. It is reasonable always to mask indoors. It is unreasonable to mask out of doors when exercising.
Seems like you’re is the only reasonable comment in this section. No question sunlight is the best disinfectant. No point in trying to engage the smug midwits found reading this blog.
In the Bay Area everyone is wearing a mask including exercising As a result San Francisco has a low rate of Covid and businesses are all open now but with restrictions. Masks work and I applaud Hawai’i for making this mandatory!! This should not be an issue, wear a mask!!!!
All of us (except for Julie) are willing to wear a mask when we go into the store, whether in your home state or Hawaii. We’re even willing to wear a mask from the car to the store. I just came back from Hawaii yesterday and it was so wonderful to be back! While there we hiked to Shipman beach Hawaii island 1.5 hours each way and saw not a soul other than those in our party – if it became a law that we would have to wear a mask during such a trip that would be complete insanity. What about while we are swimming in the ocean, shall we wear a mask then? We need to combine caution with common sense, no? Also, all of the precautions including masking up were established early on to slow down the spread-this has been done, goal obtained. The goal was never to avoid contracting COVID-19, but to delay it keep the hospital traffic regulated. Has everyone seen the Peanuts cartoon were Lucy holds the football while Charlie Brown tries to kick it? We can’t keep moving the goalposts, Hawaii government! Can you seriously imagine what will happen with seven more months of this? Downtown Kailua Kona and Hilo are ghost towns even after lifting the quarantine with compliant testing. Congratulations, brave owners and workers at Humpty‘s restaurant! Congratulations volleyball players! Should they wear a mask also while they are sweating in the Kona heat? SMH
Dave,
I’m glad you wore a mask AND had a great trip to Hawaii.
But “goal obtained”? What’s your source of info for this?
Do you know how many states are at 100% capacity in their ICUs?
Hello Lori, by “goal obtained“ I mean that we have straightened up the curve a bit and we need to be concerned with continuing our industries. No I am not aware that many states are at 100% in their ICU’s Capacity-I just googled that per your suggestion and found no such statistics.