101 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel: Feast or Famine”

  1. 51,000 room nights have been canceled, $21.4 M loss in revenue….

    We decided to not cancel Oct 1 and it sounds like it’s going to be a lot less crowded.

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  2. What do these so-called leaders expect? The messaging to the public has been inconsistent, illogical and ill-timed. This time repressive tactics could have an even more deleterious impact on State finances. It seems unlikely the U.S. Government will bail out certain states again with massive inflows of funny munny created out of thin air.

    But you are no doubt correct in believing that after the current situation resolves, tourism could quickly resume. The 2021 Spring and Summer arrival surge demonstrated the mainland’s love for our beautiful Islands and even the mess that is Hawaii politics won’t change that.

    As far as the latest congressional attempt to further restrict our movements, hopefully it will meet the end it deserves. Even Biden and his handlers have not endorsed this proposal. Yet.

    Thanks for all you do.

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    1. If they are going to mandate corona testing
      The government should pay for all testing
      Most of us live paycheck to paycheck
      And some of us have family on the islands
      That we would love to see without add expenses or just a vacation you saved up for
      And the travel text cost up to $300
      And in some places where people live its
      not that easy to find Hawaii required testing sites. Some of us are very willing to
      do the 10 day quarantine especially if you plan to stay a couple months. And swear to up hold it .there are still honest people in the world .give peace a chance.
      Mahalo

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  3. We canceled our trip. We are so sad as this would have been #10 to HI.
    We got all our $$ back from Hawaiian Air (except $100 from mainland, and $30 pp for each inter island flight)
    Maybe will come again

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  4. I’m in Maui this week and so far it has been pretty good. It’s hardly empty or a ghost town as some have said. It reminds me of how it was about 5 years ago when you could still find parking at the beach. It not overcrowded but seems about right. Getting through the airport on arrival was fast and I got my rent a car pretty quickly as well. But kihei road still has a fair amount of traffic and I have seen some small lines outside a few restaurants. So while it’s not packed like before it has about as much traffic as it can reasonably handle.

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  5. Our HI leaders, always looking to the tourist dollars. When they should have lessened or closed down some tourism they didn’t – because high season after all. And now that we are entering what is always the known slow season, they are decrying cancellations they asked to have happen…

    Sigh. I don’t want us to have to shut down everything all over again. Just start testing all incoming traffic, resident or non-resident; limit the numbers at restaurants and hotels; require masking and vaxes/testing for entry to most venues; and get on with making the case load go down to the point where we don’t have to worry…at least until the next really horrible strain comes. That might be never if people got with the mask and vax program, but it could be next week if they don’t.

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    1. Diana, I do not agree with you! People that have been vaccinated should not have to provide a negative COVID test! That’s jus ignorant! We will wear masks, social distance, and attend restaurants that are at 50 %. We have been vaccinated and with all these other steps we will follow, we shouldn’t have to do that also! They can take our temperature if they want!

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      1. Actually, it is not ignorant. Vaccinated people can still carry the virus, and pass it on to others. I will do whatever it takes to make sure I’m not a carrier. I hope, though, that more locals will get their shots.

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      2. Susan F. It’s not ignorant. It’s science. You can still catch Covid, and spread Covid, if you have been vaccinated. You have lessened the chances of a bad bout with it, and greatly lessened the chance you will die from it. But you can still have it, spread it, and infect everyone, including those who do not qualify for vaccination, like children under 12, kupuna, and those with medical conditions that compromise their immune systems. Think of people other than yourself. Or are you offering up your family members and friends as victims in place of other people’s? Please do tell your plan for that.

        BTW, using exclamations points in places where normal punctuation would be does not make your point more valid.

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      1. Thanks for the vote of support, Claudia, but I am an artist, not a politician. I’m far too outspoken for politics. 🙂

  6. Lol. I just arrived in Maui and it is a ghost town. And I love it. The people of Maui should choose their next mayor more carefully. Maybe someone with some job skills and business acumen.

    He said the airline needs to stop flying so many planes into Maui.

    He has stated that there needs to be less rental cars for tourists to rent.

    He says not to drive to Hana.

    He has threaded lockdowns and recommended tourists stay in their resorts.

    All the messaging from him lead to this. And he is surprised? Maui is quickly beginning to look like Tijuana. Trash and homeless all over Lahaina. Human waste on a door on Front Street. Garbage everywhere.

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    1. Mayor Victorino is much appreciated by Maui residents and echos the resident’s concerns. Sure, nothing will be perfect and there will always be a push and pull when there is an unprecedented pandemic that is calling the shots. Realistically, you can make a rule and then when new information or things change, you also have to be flexible and change. Not everything can be foreseen. And in case anyone doesn’t know, bu Lahaina has always had problems, after all, the streets have had a history of sailors and prostitutes. Elements of seediness have always been present because Lahaina town is NOT a resort town. It’s not Kaanapali, Kapalua, or Napili.

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  7. We went to go book our second trip to Hawaii this afternoon to take advantage of the $79 each way airfare but as of this morning it looks like all of those deals are now off the table. I guess we will wait for another day to return.

    1. Don’t give up! I think the prices are here to stay. It is great here. Empty beaches. 1000s of card. Loving it man.

  8. Aloha Rob and Jeff. Well got my safe travels and also the Clear passport done on my phone just to be ready for any new rules that might happen before our Kauai trip in October. I am looking forward to a peaceful vacation. No running around, just laying low and enjoying the peace and quiet and the sound of the waves.Have a great weekend. Surfs up over here in Topanga and the weather is Hot!! Mahalo for the updates.

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  9. Aloha BOH!
    I’ve been trying to follow along but so much back and forth. I am traveling to Kauai for 2 weeks at Christmas. I don’t think it’s required , yet, but should I go ahead and register for a Hawaiian travel passport? Not sure if that’s the name of it. If so, is their a link to do this and will you provide it to me? I am so looking forward to being back.

    Mahalo

  10. Hawaii should adopt a Holiday permit mechanism:

    1) Establish a reasonable CAP based on a price that offsets impact and required taxes to offset impact.

    2) If you find that we are not selling enough permits, adjust the price down until you reach the CAP.

    3) If you find that permits are oversubscribed then adjust the price up until you reach the CAP maximizing State revenue.

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    1. Sitting at the bar at our favorite Kauai North Shore watering hole. Yeah, I know it’s only 3:30 pm, but ….

      This island is not empty, but also is not crowded compared with full metal tourist surges. The reduction in seating to 50% and shortage of workers still creates some serious lines at restaurants. Add to this limited hours, but otherwise, its an awesome time to be here. Weather excellent and the ocean water is warm.

      (Shhh, don’t tell anyone.)

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    2. Bill M… Sounds like the way they do pricing at Disneyland. Horrible idea. It prices the price-sensitive traveler out. Hawaii would become the destination of the wealthy only.

    3. Except this is America. My tax dollars have helped pay for everyone’s extra benefits because I work.lets block off Vegas for all the Hawaiians.supreme court challenge in 5 sedonds. come on people. Did we forget what this country is all about? I am Hawaiian,but an American first.

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    4. Bill,

      Rationalizing that such a poorly constructed idea would even be acceptable, without causing further economic class division and discrimination (while likely creating discrimination lawsuits) makes no sense at all. Seriously…one of the worst thought out ideas I have read on any blog here, besides the comments of wanting to force people against their will to take this vaccine.

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