The situation with Hawaii’s Covid 19 Omicron cases, possible subsequent hospitalization surge, and our ongoing lack of medical resources is looking worse by the day. The last time we saw anything like this was in August when Governor Ige called for a pause in Hawaii travel until November 1. We can’t help but wonder if the same thing is about to happen again. In the meanwhile the governor is staying quiet at the moment.
HIPAM, which is responsible for Hawaii’s Covid modeling, said yesterday that Honolulu alone can expect up to 15,000 daily cases as soon as next week. And more concerning, they are predicting a dramatic raise up to 800 Covid hospitalizations and 120 ICU bed requirements.
Record Covid cases and questions today.
As of this morning, the state reported 1,511 new cases, which is the second-highest single-day Covid counts ever. And it comes of the heels of just weeks ago Hawaii recording sub-100 counts. The state is now seeing one of the country’s steepest Covid increases in the past two weeks.
So beyond what the governor may decide in terms of travel this time around, compared with his prior jumbled recommendations that visitors curtail Hawaii vacations in September and October, there remains a bigger question afoot. That is, how safe is it to travel to and be in Hawaii. Add to that all of the anxiety we are all now feeling and that you’ve started expressing in countless comments this week, in addition to the question of whether you’ll lose all your money if anything should go wrong.
How could things flip-flop more with the world-changing at an unprecedented pace and Omicron a huge part of what’s happening now?
Starting in April 2021, Hawaii travel took off with a vengeance after over a year of hiatus. With vaccinations and the feeling that Covid was behind us, Hawaii was back on the radar. We were told that it was safe to travel again, and boy did we ever take that literally.
Clearly, people remain crazy about Hawaii travel once. Bookings have been mostly through the roof for the airlines, vacation rentals, hotels, car rentals, and activities. And domestic arrivals in Hawaii have intermittently paced well above 2019. In fact, in the past week, Hawaii has seen in excess of 30,000 arrivals daily.
Hawaii travel boom meets the Omicron Variant.
After a fall that was on and off, with Governor Ige asking that visitors stop travel here from late August through October, travel has resumed, and we can attest to just how many visitors are here for the holidays.
Now, we have something big looming once again. Just what none of us wanted to hear at the holidays, and after what we’ve all just been through. But that’s the reality. And Governor Ige may still suggest another pause on Hawaii vacations, either with or without any teeth.
State officials continue to assert that the current problem is primarily associated with community spread and residents returning rather than visitors. But clearly allowing passengers to travel here with a vaccination exemption does not assure that Omicron is not entering the state no matter via residents or visitors. Yesterday, the state reported 74 confirmed cases of Omicron, while stating in essence, that number is just the tip of the iceberg.
Whether you are reading this here in Hawaii or on the mainland, cases have been surging everywhere. The small and remote medical system in Hawaii may or may not be able to handle it and could be largely overwhelmed. That remains the million-dollar question.
You’ve expressed anxiety previously in thousands of comments.
This situation is leaving Hawaii visitors and those of us who live here uneasy and frankly downright confused. Wait, aren’t vacations supposed to be for relaxation and stress reduction. And isn’t it safe to travel? What happened to all that? You’ve said it all here in your vociferous thoughts across many articles.
Different from 2020 and from Delta, but not great right now either.
This time, unlike last year when Hawaii went into a near virtual shutdown, or this past summer when the governor asked for a Hawaii travel pause, many of you are choosing not to cancel your Hawaii vacation plans. At the same time, we can’t help but wonder if cancellations haven’t started to mount up again this week.
Multiple causes for consternation.
This includes the possibility and even likelihood of again-changing rules in Hawaii and just the genuine fear of getting sick and about the limited healthcare system in Hawaii. And don’t rule out concerns about loss of money and vacation time should anything go wrong. It’s important to remember that now, getting your money back isn’t nearly as easy as it was last year, in most cases.
CDC still says that vaccinated Americans can travel safely, but we wonder if that too might change in the short term.
We can’t tell you what to do, and just how safe anything is in today’s world, including travel to Hawaii. But we sure want to know your thoughts.
If you have a Hawaii vacation planned in the next few months, what are you thinking?
Updated 12/23/21. Originally published in 8/21.
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Mildred says
Hopefully things don’t come to a shut down. But really, at this point we all need to learn with this crappy coronavirus. If we all use masks in busy places, practise social distancing, keep hand sanitizer on hand, and are vaccinated, chances of getting the virus are very low.
Let’s not stop living! Let’s just be cautious.
Lori S says
This what I’m thinking. We have a family trip planned May 2022,cancelled from may2020. If this is true” State officials continue to assert that the current problem is primarily associated with community spread and residents returning rather than visitors” WHY are they even thinking about restrictions for visitors and not focusing on resident travel behaviors?😡😡
Donnie says
We are from Canada and once again, have booked time share in Maui, but despite being fully vaccinated and arriving in Maui with a PCR test in hand, we are concerned that an 11th hour decision to shut down travel will derail our plans. This darn pandemic is something we all need to fight until it is done, understand any decison that is adverse… would be helpful to hear that sooner than later in terms of cancelling and rescheduling. All the best and Seasons Greetings
Greg M says
We are going the first two weeks of April to Honolulu. At what point would you decide to cancel?
Jane H says
2019 our trip failed due to a death in the family. 2020, failed trip due to another family death. 2021no trip due to COVID. Now , being fully vaccinated and boosted, we have another trip booked- coming up 2022. I am just sick with worry.
Bob C says
Due to arrive on big island on Feb 1 for a week. Fully vaccinated, (including booster shot) and will do so if travel is still permitted. I no longer choose to stop living as normal a life as the world will allow.
Paulc says
I never stopped! We went in June and I was back end of October. Hella fun both times no issues at all either time. Get out there live your life!
Robert L says
We have just postponed our trip to Maui for the 3rd time! We were to arrive on December 27th. We have rebooted everything, including the condo in Kihei until March in hopes that things will have settled by then. We have been to Maui 18 times and Love it there but out if respect for the island and our own health we made this decision.
Robert L.
Richard C says
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Other than maybe possible relief from symptoms the vaccines are a joke. Remember all the talk of 90 plus percent efficacy and protection. What a laugh.
Go big Pharma who shot down any research of cheap safe existing medications to push new expensive high profit pills to satisfy their stockholders.
This pandemic has been nothing, but a big money grab 70 plus Congress members and their stakeholders
Fran c says
Agreed Jonathon. Its very sad. This could have been the equivalent of a bad flu with plenty of out patient treatment and people would be living their lives, out of the hospitals and out of the morgue. It’s criminal.
Fran C says
I mean Richard C
Paulc says
Had we gotten anywhere near 90% we’d be outbid this by now but nope
Nancy M says
My husband and I were suppose to attend a meeting in February and we have decided not to attend. With the possibility of rules changing again we decided not to chance it.
Jonathan M. says
Scheduled for mid February, wife and I are both recovered from Covid in November and have not taken the shots. Some will say we’re selfish, yet we will have to provide a negative test before traveling. Also, we know many individuals who have taken the booster and are testing positive. Anyone regardless of status can get Covid and spread it. If you’re uncomfortable after being boosted and wearing masks maybe you shouldn’t travel.
kauaidoug says
Aloha, Vaccinated does not mean you will not get Covid but it “GREATLY” increases your chances of being hospitalized. There is no magic bullet against getting covid.
Paulc says
No you don’t unless they are exposing themselves to others with COVID. Nope I won’t say your selfish but rather I’d ask that you rethink your position on the vaccination.
Kelly says
We are going for 3 weeks. We are out a ton of money if we don’t go. If they want people to not go, then they should require money to be given back to people for these reasons. It’s insanity right now. We booked in April when they were saying things were looking promising.
Andrea D says
We are scheduled for 2 weeks in February. All in our party are vaccinated and we’ve had our boosters. Booked a condo and have no problem with masks so we still intend to come and enjoy!
HEYWARD B says
We cancelled our travels to Hawaii. Currently the uncertainty risk exceeds the reward.
Hawaii’s squishy plans and efforts in attempting to be the proverbial last to dance with the virus are too risky to warrant our investment. When Hawaii establishes a reasonably stable virus control plan containing defined goals that do not contemplate abnormal pecuniary risk nor unusually restrictive policies on visitors it will be time to reconsider.
Until then, Hawaii appears a traveler’s crap shoot.
Steve T says
My wife and I are scheduled to arrive on the Big Island in mid January, and staying at an Airbnb in south Kona. We’re both fully vaccinated and have had our boosters. I would consider changing our plans if I could get my money back from the Airbnb. I can change our airline tickets, and I think we can change our Turo car rental. We want to do the right thing, but I’m not willing to lose all of that money.
Mildred says
I know what you mean. I also have a trip scheduled for mid March and I found out my Airbnb won’t refund the $4000 deposit. Not sure how this is gonna play if the impose travelling restrictions. Definitely not fair to tourists since most time we have no choice in the matter.
Nancy H says
Sadly, we have canceled our trip to Kauai with friends in January. Our rental management company very reasonably charges for our stay one month before our arrival, but we have seen how quickly things can change in a month. MANY THANKS to BOH for tracking and communicating the status of government actions and infection rates. If testing were to be required (either 3 days or 1 day before arrival) for vaccinated visitors, there’s no way we could comply from where we live. Maybe 2023.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nancy.
Thanks for letting us know. We hope you can return soon.
Aloha.
Jennifer W says
There seems to be an overuse of the word “safe”. If you don’t feel safe, you have fear. Fear is a powerful force, it is its own coercion. You have been told you are safe but obviously you’re not. You are not safe, vaccinated or not. Everyone can get it, transmit it and perish from it. Why would you feel safe if you were vaccinated?
ThomA says
We are booked February 15! Car, air. We have a timeshare that I’ve paid for the last two years. We will come unless there is a shut down of beaches!! We mostly cook/grill at our condo and go to the beach.
Fingers crossed! HawIi does not need another lock down!
Greg M says
We have a 3 week trip planned for April and another for September, both in Maui so obviously we’ve got some time for all this to work itself out. We were there Mar and Sep ‘21 and other than some fairly minor inconveniences we had a great time!! We did not in the past nor will we in the future consider canceling if the Governor requested unless he also asked the businesses on Maui to refund our money, after all why should us tourists be the only ones who take the financial loss!!
Erika says
Tourists who only consider their loss by this and not the danger posed are the kind of people we don’t want here
Jim R. says
It’s the lack of Aloha Spirit that is making those that live in Hawaii look bad, even though it’s not most people, and it’s why people are choosing never to come back. Stop with the division already, it serves no purpose in uniting the masses…🤦♂️
Lyn L says
We will be returning to our own condo early January for a month. We were blast there October 4 to November 14 and generally come 3 times a year staying total 3 to 4 months. We are boxed and boosted. We wore masks at all times inside and will do so again. We will dine only outdoor restaurants and maybe only 2 to 3 times total. We will walk a lot but other than that will pretty much keep to ourselves and not visit with other owners here unless we are certain of their status. We won’t interact
Jacquelyn M says
If you follow the medical doctors in South Africa and the UK, Omicron is 70 times more contagious but if you are vaccinated and boosted if you are systematic at all, it will be mild.
Lots of vaccine breakthrough, but very mild symptoms.
Not stopping us. We’re vaxed & boosted. Have no problem with masking. Don’t attend huge functions. Let the unvaxed stay home. Less competition for the beaches and the roads.
Happy Holidays♡
Andrea says
Mele Kalikimaka to you BOH Bros & everyone! Happy new year as well!! 🎉🎄🎁🌈🌏🥥🍍♥️
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Andrea.
Good to hear from you. Happy holidays!
Aloha.
Mary M. says
Wondering also what the state of cruising to Hawaii will be? We have a scheduled cruise January 16, 2022 and there has been no cancellation by the cruise line yet.
Jessi W. says
I would stay away from any cruise. Vaxxed or not. Just seems like a very silly idea in these times!
…and the State hasn’t yet announced that they are happening.
John R says
Aloha, looks like we were right about next year and booking elsewhere. With tens of thousands of cases of Omicron and only 1 attributed death on the mainland, the tale is old as time: its the panic and fear mongering that is more important than truth. We’ve recommended to all family and friends to just stay home next year, travel locally. It’s just one huge hassle after another going anywhere, and until the US realizes that this pandemic has become endemic, booking travel is just a waste of time
Chris R says
That one death was not attributed to Omicron. According to the Harris County Health Department he just happened to test positive.
Andrea says
Dear John, I’ve postponed my lifelong dream vacation trip to Oahu for 2023! Gives me more time to save $$ & time for some things to settle down. Mele Kalikimaka & a Happy new year to you! 🌺🍍🥥🌏✈🌈⛱ stay safe & be Blessed😇