Updating HB1286 with Hawaii legislature to the forefront. If passed, all islands would follow a single COVID travel policy.
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248 thoughts on “Breaking: Plan to Eliminate Island-by-Island Travel Rules Gets Heard”
Loving Kauai as much as we do, they have to prove to me that closing down, having such strict restrictions, etc has done very much to protect the island but has rather ravaged the economy of the island.
Having said that – the topic at hand being an all-island set of Covid standards – PLEASE, please, please – that should happen. Hawaii is suffering enough from the downturn in tourism and the total confusion on rules and restrictions has got to be part of the mix that is causing that downturn.
OK – let the “nastygrams” begin!
Thanks.
IF a person has been vaccinated for COVID19, let them come in.
IF a person has tested negatively before traveling AND after arriving in Lihue, let them come in with no quarantine.
Have you heard when they plan to vote on this bill and what the effective date will be?
We rescheduled the Kauai trip from Feb to March since we were locked into the airline fare.
Thank you
Hi Cynthia.
This will be one of the stories we continue to update to its conclusion. But at this time, we don’t know the answer to either of your questions.
Aloha.
It is so sad what the governor has done to this beautiful island and those that live there and have or had a business. We have a beautiful home on Kauai for over 15 years and many visitors have enjoyed it but due to the shutdown and quarantine not only have we not been able to go to the island but visitors and friends cannot come. We were able to visit in November for the short opening before it was shut down again and it was so sad to see the local business/ restaurants closed. The people who live there are so upset. The number of cases do not warrant this. It is totally anti Aloha. The island is is worse shape then after Aneki. Visitors cant afford to visit under these guidelines and will not come back. When visitors come to the Hawaiian Islands they generally visit at least 2 and maybe 3 islands. The islands should have the same standards. We will be selling our home and just keep the beautiful memories and people in our history books
Clearly its time for a new Mayor.
This one is a miserable failure.
J.W. Wrote an absolutely brilliant commentary. I concur 110% and commend him for being honest. So many of us feel this way, but have not been able to express ourselves so eloquently. It is a shame to kill the economy/livelihood of Kauai with such ludicrous restrictions. Please re-read J.W.’s comments below and think deeply about these facts. Please, please consider re-opening the islands without restrictions. KAUAI’S life depends on it!!!!
Hawaii is being looked at from the mainland as a unfriendly place that’ is xenophobic against anyone not living full time on the islands. The warm and aloha marketing has now vanished.
The regulatory over reach of businesses along with high taxes is what holds back your state just like other states with similar views and regulations and poor economic results.
Kauai is the poster child on these matters. They argue they are taking the draconian measures to protect the local population. But while opened there were 1.4 cases a day which since closing the infection rate stays about the same. In a year one person 85 years of age with large underlying issues died. Now they say “no problem” just take a test on the mainland , fly to another island , stay for 3-4 days the take another test and fly to Kauai and stay in a bubble resort then take another test and move again to where you want to stay and you can then enjoy the island. Are they crazy? What is crazier is Kauai had just implemented a process to make decisions based upon a rolling 7 day average. Then weeks later completely discards the policy. To top this vaccinated or past infected folks are not excluded from this insanity. So each flu or subsequent Covid uptick is the island on a permanent cycle of shutting down ?
Most of the islands infections come from family gatherings of residents. Get a common sense policy in place immediately or die as a state.
Only one message comes thru – Aloha doesn’t exist, they are willing to decimate our economy over the minuscule risk that a couple folks may die when drug and alcohol use, domestic abuse and business failures are at heighten levels. How healthy are those for your state?
Due to the confusing and non scientific based decisions it will take years for the state to recover. Get your act together and open up with basic precautions or fade back into your myopic agenda while the rest of us find permanent options to spend our free time in other locations.
I’ve lived on Kauai for 20 years…
You have perfectly described why I now have come to the end of my rope, J W.
Fear, of isolated people with limited life experience, is what rules the ignorant mindset of most of its native inhabitants. Most have never been off the island, literally, or consciously. If they do leave, they only go to Las Vegas. I have become jaded & prejudiced by living there. The land & ocean’s beauty have lost their luster because the people have lost their old ways to care for them, or for themselves either. They just hate, period. There actually is no aloha left for the most part. It has become an unhealthy place in which the waning influx of ‘healers’ has failed. Those I love have all left, and I will be right behind them. I have already spent 14 days in quarantine once. I have spent 4 months waiting to return and get my stuff, for them to find another way.
Isolation & xenophobia is all they have left. Covid 19 did not wreck the island, is was just an excuse for the final self-inflicted death blow to the minuscule tatters of culture, community, & environment that are left remaining. Just as before, like the rage of supposed lost sovereignty that enabled dysfunction, they will blame outsiders for their own failures once again. I have failed to become one of them, or one with them. And now the challenge for me is to not fail in my exodus, to leave with my wits and my meager possessions Intact.
If any of you know of some space in a container to share, I would love to know…
Looks like I will return next month to empty my home & salvage what I can, and move to the mainland where Covid has begun to reveal some positive change rising among the sickness and death. The ‘island’ mentality of America First has begun to weaken on the mainland of late, and there may be some hope for this country yet, as light at the end of the pandemic tunnel can now also be seen.
I doubt that light will ever reach Kauai. I fear the darkness there will only grow.
Well said, JW. We love Kauai but the current situation does not make us want to return anytime soon. We will be in Maui next week instead of Kauai.
Johns Hopkins University has said this week that new Covid-19 cases nationwide are down 56% in the last month. Approximately 27 million people in the US have contracted Covid-19 that they know of. A Johns Hopkins University spokesman said they are fairly confident that they only know of 1 in 4 cases and that the rest are asymptomatic or were so mildly ill they never went to the doctor or got tested. That means potentially 100 million people in the US have already had Covid-19! And Kauai wants to shelter itself from the rest of the world. Life goes on. Don’t be afraid and learn to adapt.
Wholeheartedly agree with you!
You can now submit your testimony online for HB1286. I believe deadline is this Monday!
I am a mainland resident who has a deed for property on Kauai. That deed gives me access to a property for one week, aka a timeshare. We are very respectful of the policies for Hawaii in general and Kauai specifically. It is the same respect I would expect for Kauai travelers to my locality to respect.
Obviously the islands are unique in that you are not going to drive a car between them. Not like the mainland. Thus there is quite a difference in how each island wishes to operate their safety protocols.
What I wish is that the governor and island’s top officials would develop a cohesive set of protocols that will accommodate all the islands. The piecemeal approach is destructive to the economy of Hawaii.
It is unfortunate that the governor or legislature has to do a “top down” approach, but if that is the case, do it. It is the high time for vacationers to Hawaii. The “go, no go” decision time is evaporating.
Immediately pass the statewide legislation superseding individual island and county rules so that we know what to do to safely visit Hawaii.
We also own a number of “deeded weeks” and I salute your opinion!
I say let each island make their own decision on what is best for them as they are now doing. One shoe does not fit all. Vote in representatives that you know will truly represent you as a citizen of that island .
I honestly don’t think those making the rules really are looking out for the best interest of the citizens if they continue keep businesses shut tight and people are losing jobs and livelihoods
When is this going to be voted on?
Thank you for your concern. We have lost rentals in our Kauai condo for almost a year now. Now, renters that canceled a year ago because of COVID restrictions rescheduled to return this spring, only to find the situation is even more difficult and they have to cancel again. Many are giving up on Kauai and changing to Mexico, whet they are wanted. Between the incredibly high bed taxes in Hawaii and severe and costly restrictions we may lose our business forever. Every year people die of flu viruses and even more from tuberculosis. Never before have we closed down business for a cold or flu or pneumonia season. They all can be deadly. Please reconsider these strict and unreasonable punishment to your island workers and homeowners. Please!!!!! I have written several times on deaf ears. I emplore you to listen to us. Mahalo, Sharon F, 40 year homeowner
Hi Sharon.
Thanks for your input on this complicated situation.
Aloha.
When is this voted on?
Thank you. I am in support of a state wide travel policy rather then the patchwork island to island policies. It is too challenging for visitors and locals alike.
I am currently planning a trip to Hawaii, and agree the covid regulations are very burdensome and confusing! Especially if you are planning to travel multiple islands. I have faith that they will be able to fine tune their policies and procedures by November – their economy depends on it- but most of my travel companions are not wanting to deal with the hoopjumping or significant added expenses. It is discouraging even those who want to travel and support Hawaii in a responsible way.
Having a singular set of rules will help bring back the travelers that residents and businesses rely on for income. I feel Kauai’s concerns should definitely be addressed in the legislation though! A plan to share resources and responsibility between counties would be a common sense addition. In CA, when icu capacity reaches a certain % in one county, patients are often transferred to help spread the burden and not overwhelm one area. The logistics might be a little more difficult between islands, but not impossible. I don’t imagine it being any more cost prohibitive than their current plans already are. Something similar might benefit all counties in Hawaii so they can recover as safely as possible.
Rules pertaining to Covid should be uniform among all of the Hawaiian islands. Each island being allowed to make their own rules is beyond ludicrous! My vote would def be to force all islands to use the same set of rules.
Mahalo,
TJ
remember when it was about hospital capacity?
Aloha! I am sure I am not alone in trying to navigate the Covid chaos protocols in Hawaii. If not for BOH it would be super challenging to keep track of the ever-changing goalposts. I think ONE, well-communicated protocol for ALL islands would make the best sense. Hawaii is one state, albeit with various counties across separate islands with different infrastructures in place (e.g. ICU beds), but ONE, Simple set of “rules” would just be easier if you ever want to recover the tourism economy which supports many citizens of Hawaii. Mahalo!
Hi Nita.
Thanks for your input and for 70 comments to date. We appreciate it.
Aloha.
Beat of Hawaii continues to be invaluable to us, with up-to-date clear information, as we make our decisions concerning our travel plans for our trips to Hawaii – thank you! We were on Kauai in November for 2 weeks at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club. We barely got our Kaiser 72 hour negative test results in time for our 7:40am flight to Kauai, but our son & daughter-in-law and my sister & her fiance didn’t, so they stayed home – 96 hours would have worked. During our 2 week stay on Kauai, all the business owners and their employees that we encountered, as well as the staff at the resort, would thank us for coming, after asking the usual question about where we were traveling from. There were many that shared with us about how hard it had been for them to be closed for all those months, and how happy they were that tourists were being welcomed back to their island. Several businesses that had been closed during our first week there, opened up during our 2nd week there. We’re scheduled to travel to Maui on 3/31 for a 9 day stay, and then move on to Kauai on April 9 for 2 weeks, using our timeshares for the entire trip. We are definitely in favor of HB1286. Since visitors from the mainland have proven not to be a significant factor in Kauai’s COVID cases, their travel rules seem way too restrictive. We only have a few more days to decide whether we’re going to have to cancel/reschedule, and we’re guessing that the legislature won’t have a decision that soon to help us make our decision, especially since they’re not even accepting “testimony” yet. We already pushed our trip out a month in early December to start on 3/31 instead of 2/28 in hopes that all the chaos concerning travel to Hawaii, almost on a daily basis, would be a thing of the past by now.
Hi Donna.
Thanks for the feedback and your kind words.
Aloha.
Aloha BOH! I am still confused on the testing requirement timing for my upcoming ( hopefully) trip to Maui. We leave Las Vegas at 9:25 AM and go straight to Honolulu. We then have a connecting flight to Maui leaving at approx 3PM Hawaii time. Is the COVID test required 72 hours from the first flight or the second one? These flights are booked as a single itinerary not our separate flights. Please advise if you know the answer!
Hi Lisa.
The test must be within 72 hours of the mainland (LAS) to Hawaii (HNL) flight departure.
Aloha.
Finally a bit of sanity.
Aloha Guys
Please have all islands follow the same rules. I have lived on Oahu and own a timeshare on Kauai for over 30 plus years and this is only the 3rd time in 30 years I haven’t made it to Kauai. I understand the concerns of not enough medical care on Kauai to take care of everyone local or tourists but what about the businesses and the monetary well being of those who call Kauai home? We need to get the businesses back open for all to live, love and enjoy the islands. One set of rules for all would in my opinion be best. Mahalo
Instead of losing Billion$ from loss of tourism, maybe invest Million$ in ICU and staff. The state and the county need to re-prioritize.
Wow! What an amazing practical, logical idea. Too bad our state and county government officials didn’t think about it.
The lost tax revenue would pay for a lot of additional ICU capacity.
By the way if you check the States official data you will see that the ICU capacity is not being taxed. Last time
I checked, Wilcox had 11 ICU beds; only 2 were being used (none by Covid patients).
Never hear that from the Mayor.
The mayor on Kauai is fear and doom. He doesn’t care about the island he only cares about his salary which he still receives while the rest of us are unemployed for almost a year. I’ve sent numerous letters to his office asking about why they are not bringing in portable hospital rooms and beds where they could have set up in the parking lot which is huge behind the hospital if they think they’re such a concern of being overwhelmed. I don’t see what the problem is with letting people on the island when everyday people are going back and forth from Oahu to come and work here without being tested in anyway. That’s the island where the most outbreaks have been but they let these people go back and forth on airplanes everyday calling them essential workers which is a joke. We’re all esential. If people can crowd into Walmart and Costco and Home Depot and places like that everyday then they can come and eat in a restaurant and stay in a condo well it’s much safer than crowding into places like Walmart and Costco. And if you’re absurdly rich like Zuckerberg who came to the island flaunting his ability to ride around on jet skis out in the ocean while he’s supposed to be quarantined then you can bribe the county with your million dollars that you gave them and have no repercussions. I was told Ron kouchi vouch for him having done his quarantine but how would Kouchi know whether he did or not unless he was staying in his giant house with them. As usual if you have enough money you can do anything you want in this country there are no rules for you. Open up with no restrictions at all that’s what we need and the people that are afraid of the virus can stay in their homes and hide in their basement. And don’t try to tell me that if I come down with it because I don’t believe in this Draconian rules that I shouldn’t have any access to healthcare. I have just as much right to healthcare as the fat obese people that stuff their faces getting heart disease and everything else
We own property on Kauai and spent 4 months there last fall. While there we met an emergency room doctor who works at Wilcox Hospital. He said the hospital got PPE money but instead of using it to expand ICU
capacity (11 beds) they were remodeling the emergency room department. They were working out of temporary
tents in the parking lot… The mayor has done nothing to plan to open the island up while businesses are devastated.
We have to live with this and stop these fear based tactics. It is so sad to see the lack of regard for small business owners,
while government workers keep being paid and with the construction boom that industry is working but most everything else has been devastated.
Aloha Stephanie,
Husband and wife Peter Stengaard and Jennifer Gross recently donated $2.75 million toward Wilcox Medical Center’s emergency department and trauma fundraising campaign.
It is the largest donation in the hospital’s history.$4.3 million has been raised toward Wilcox Health Foundation’s $5 million campaign goal. The money raised in Wilcox’s campaign will be used to create two trauma resuscitation suites as well as renovate specialty spaces for behavioral health, infectious control, pediatrics and OB-GYN care.
I’m having a hard time finding information here for how to return to Kauai if I am a resident of Kauai?
I can’t afford a resort bubble, and that would be way more dangerous than my single occupant residence.
My return flight has been cancelled multiple times, and I am looking at my original purchase of a $200 return one way turning into a $500 one way, if I am too old to sleep in an airport on a 25-30hr itinerary… and likely will just lose my original purchase credit (they won’t refund a cancelled flight, after you have taken a credit because they originally wouldn’t offer a refund). So I’m likely out $700 to get home.
I already did a 14day quarantine returning from dental work last June, and really, really don’t want to do that again.
The county I have stayed on the mainland actually has less cases than Kauai.
How do I get home?
Mahalo for information about residents, too,
‘Stuck on the mainland’
Hi A.M.
The options for residents are, at this time at least, no different than for visitors. 10-day quarantine, or 3-night resort bubble or another island first followed by 2nd test.
Aloha.
yes that would be great, a state-wide plan. I also think they should start the vaccine exemption program now. As the people most likely to have both vaccines at least 2 weeks ago, are healthcare workers, first responders, and those over 75. At what point will you have a population more versed in the use of ppe and likely to be very cautious than right now. Give us a break we need it.
Please add a statement that will stop businesses from over charging (price gouging) a person for the Covid tests, tracking bracelets, and hotel accommodations.
Thank you,
Lorraine R.
I believe that there should definitely be consistent rules for all of the islands. I was planning on having my wedding in Kauai in March and my father was going to be there to give me away. I recently found out that they’re allowing United Airlines, which is who my dad bought his tickets through. However they’re not allowing American Airlines (without quarantine) which is who my fiance and I bought our tickets through. How is my dad supposed to go to my wedding if I’m not there?
Please can the state have ONE policy on testing and travel?! Having each island make their own rules is confusing at best and makes me consider just selling my timeshare all together. I love Hawaii, Kauai in particular, but having to know each island’s rules and regulations on what test I need and how many, how many days prior I need to have it etc. is just too confusing and makes it really off putting to want to plan a vacation.
Free The Double vaccinated People. Let My People Go ….To Hawaii
I totally agree!
My wife and I have a three week time share on Oahu. We have been coming to Hawaii for over 25 years straight.
This is the first year we will not be visiting at least one of the other Islands due to the current travel policies. We took the COVID pre travel test as required but simply can not afford or justify a second test. We are upset that we will miss the Maui whale cruises and activities.
Maybe if you cut a cruise you could afford the tests. Your making a decision to be unhappy. Decision is yours and you are blessed to have those options. Try to find gratitude.
Do something consistent so your businesses can get their tourist industry back before they all go under.
Yes there needs to be a state-wide plan. To continue to allow island mayors to tweak the plan and implement their own ridiculous measures is confusing to travelers. I own property on Kauai and Big Island and I will not book a trip any time soon because I refuse to have to take multiple Covid vaccines just to travel from island to island or have to spend 3 days in a “resort bubble hotel” at a cost of $280 per night and be retested before I can enjoy my vacation. These people are nuts and what they have done to the State of Hawaii and it’s residents is criminal in my opinion.
I guess the governor should have requested one of the two hospital ships when he thought the brick and mortar hospitals were maxed out. Saw one of the ships in San Diego in August
I’m all for safety and I’m all for a single Hawaiian Plan.
Lets’ get the islands back on track and save their economy and islanders liveliness.
Make the regulations simple…. and they’ll come…
Mahalo for this article and for the link to testify. Having statewide requirements would really help with travel planning. The island-by-island rules have really made a mess of things.
Maybe Common Sense is Not Dead after all:)
Bill S
I’m a Kaua’i resident. I fully support our Mayor’s rules for keeping Kaua’i protected due to it’s very limited hospital support. We can’t handle Mainland per capita numbers hitting Kaua’i. Visitor travel for economic sake is selfish. Put health over profit.
At this point families that own & operate businesses aren’t looking for “Profits”, just simply the ability to break even & be able to pay their bills.
Thank you Jenn T!
I’d like to know how many of those voting for a state wide ruling actually live full time on Kauai. Can you add that question for those commenting?
Each island is so different and those that say Kauai should be treated the same as Oahu or the Big Island really don’t understand.
I support a consistent State wide ruling and I am a Kauai resident
So everyone has to rely on government for food and shelter? Financial ruin. You realize this pandemic isn’t ending anytime soon.
You realize that, on a per capita basis, all islands are very similar in terms of hospital bed capacity and ICU bed capacity, right? In plain English, yes Oahu and Maui have more hospital beds but they also have significantly larger populations to potentially fill up those beds. For crying out loud, even tiny Lanai is open for visitors. But Kauai somehow needs to be closed? It’s nonsensical. The mayor and the people supporting him should come clean and just say what’s really going on – they don’t want visitors to return in any significant numbers and Covid is the excuse to put that agenda in motion.
Yeah, the mayor likes empty beaches so he’s destroying the economy. That makes sense to I’d think no one. You break the mold.
Mahalo for the opportunity to chime in on this. I am a faithful traveler to all of the islands, when possible, and I would certainly think it would be beneficial to have consistent rules everywhere. I have re-scheduled my Kauai trip twice and may have to switch islands if restrictions there don’t change. If my family only has a week for vacation, it is not manageable to be in quarantine for 3-10 days. It is also not fair to expect people to stay on another island for three days before coming to Kauai. Resort Bubbles? I belong to a resort and if I have to stay in certain places, it does not allow me to use my resort necessarily, which is way more expensive and adds unexpected costs to our trip.
It makes me so sad that local residents are going out of business because the ohana was a HUGE part of the experience and reason why I return year after year to enjoy the whole experience, the people, the location, the beauty…. I so want to return, but get confused at all the changes in rules and different island expectations.
Anxious to visit, let me know when things are open…
Thank you!
It seems like there is more politics than science involved in this island by island patchwork of restrictions and regulafions.
The governor is not going to make any decisions that might cost him votes. Neither will the county governments. Until the voice of the population is heard, either by vote or by opinion poll, there is no reason to believe that any uniform solution will be reached. If I were the governor-more willng to lead and less concerned about popularity, I would set a single set of rules. If a county chose not to adopt them, I would close their airports and harbors to all travel–open only to supply food, fuel, and medical supplies. No tourists or residents in or out. Period.
The Governor is termed out. He will not run. You Marie Antoinette “solution” sounds like your first idea. Seconds?
Yes I believe there should be one state wide ruled governor in trouble especially interisland travel for the state of Hawaii. It’s too confusing for residents and visitors. It feels like the rules change and it’s very hard to keep up with. I have friends you asked me to come visit them and other islands and I’m afraid once I get there I won’t be able to get back to my home island Maui.
Having a coordination for all islands would help stop the confusion for not only tourists, but all island residents as well.
Wow! The legislators are actually doing something to help Hawaii? I will believe it when it happens. Until then it’s a “no go” until there is a standard statewide policy.
Thanks for the article.
I just hope the lawmakers have more sense than they governor and mayors.
Wait two days…..then there will be a newer new plan.