In the never-ending Hawaii travel news cycle, here’s’ the latest.
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304 thoughts on “Updated | Kauai Now Proposes 4 Day Quarantine – Will You Bite?”
In the never-ending Hawaii travel news cycle, here’s’ the latest.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Seems a bit silly to not establish any protocol for quarantine exemption by getting the covid vaccine if our intention is to inoculate the entire US population in order to get out of the shut downs due to the pandemic. I would not go to Kauai if I had received the vaccine and was still required to quarantine.
For the record, I have taken 6 covid tests from Oct 15 to now in order to take 2 separate trips to Hawaii. I was in Kauai just before the mandatory 14 day quarantine went into effect, and stayed for 2 weeks. The airlines canceled a bunch of flights after that, and we could not get back home in 1 day of travel, so we overnighted in Maui, without a covid test exemption. It was a very dehumanizing experience. We were given a room key that allowed entry only once, were not allowed to leave our room for any reason until we left to the airport the next morning. All because we had the audacity to travel from Kauai to Maui. It was a horrible experience that I would be loathe to go through again.
Funny I used to live on kauai and there was so much resentment from “haoles” comming to “their” island now that no one is comming sounds like you are realizing how important our money is for your economy!!
I plan on staying 6 weeks and would be fine with a three day quarantine at an approved hotel, especially if the quarantine is a resort bubble type so that I would not be stuck in my room.
That is exactly what it would be, and if you want to do it on the cheap you can choose the Hilton Garden Inn for $150 per night.
Our sentiments as business owners are that government should not determine our livelihood. As adults and Americans, we should choose what risks to take. Quarantine is for the sick. Lockdown of the healthy is tyranny. Let the market decide our business’ fate, not the governor. As a servant he is sitting pretty getting paid while our local businesses are being shut down. With the current survival rate, how is COVID worse than not being able to put food on the table or pay mortgage? Praying for the health and healing of our nation/world. Support local. Mahalo.
My fiance and I were planning to get married presidents day weekend in Kauai with a very small ceremony with only our parents and siblings attending. We had found cheap flights months ago and booked and were able to find an affordable planner who provides an elopement package. This has all been in place for months now.
As we get closer we aren’t sure if we’ll be able to do it as most of us will maybe only be there a maximum of 5 days. We’ve already made deposits for the ceremony and had to make a prepayment for our hotel stay, but now we don’t know how much we’d be able to get back since these regulations would all but prevent us from having the wedding if the rules in place remain.
Thank you for all the current information, we’ve been hoping that it would change and go back to a negative test requirement before going, but it’s looking less and less likely by the day.
Honestly, buddy cut your losses ASAP and try and recoup any of the money you’ve already paid for your pandemic travel wedding on Kauai. I don’t see your President’s Day weekend working out for you at least on Kauai. Maybe you can switch to another island or head to Mexico or the Caribbean.
No Way
If Kauai’s goal is to bring tourists back then any quarantine is too long. Why would any tourist looking for a week long beach holiday go there when they can go to Maui with no quarantine? In November when there was No quarantine reauired, tourism in Kauai was only at 28%. With a four day quarantine, it’s sure to drop to levels where hotels can’t afford to stay open.
Instead, Kauai should try a combination of a required negative test before boarding the plane and a second rapid test paid for by the tourist at day 4.
mauinow.com/2020/12/21/maui-county-hotel-occupancy-rate-at-20-2-percent-for-november/
No, I will not spend more than one night in a quarantine hotel. We travel via our timeshare and will use our points or not come at all. I might spend one single night in a quarantine hotel but that would be the max. I do expect to be vaccinated before I come back do really why would I need to quarantine or test?
Here’s the thing…there are and have been so many loopholes. We again have the 14 day quarantine but nobody is checking this: we have had 3 different times people quarantining up above us (*we live in a condo in pv)..family came from Indiana once and stayed with renters up there and quarantined yet the renters left each day went out and about..another group came from cali and left (*we had to call it in) and currently a new family has a member in from WA and they are out and about each day meanwhile their fam have not had test…how is this any différent than people just coming wo tests???
Makes NO sense.
My son is here quarantining at his dads and nobody has checked in on him. Makes you wonder exactly how many people are here and does anyone know where they are , ya know?! So…whats the point.
Even with the proposed 4 day quarantine, I would be inclined to avoid Kaua’i. Spending 3 to 4 days in a hotel room is just not feasible after an over 11 hour+ flight from the east coast. We have switched to USVI-closer, beautiful blue water and a Safe Travel program that works. We love Hawai’i, however the on again and again political game is disconcerting.
Aloha
What would the length of time this new quarantine rule would be in effect until…begins jan 5 and lasts until…?? I am concerned. We count on our vacation rental for income.
Asinine,they are in a death spiral.
I have zero interest in quarantining by choice and paying huge amounts of money to stay in a hotel bubble. The extra costs and stress of the pre-travel test results are already enough to cancel our July trip to the island. Throw in more costs of additional tests, quarantine, no rental car etc… and we’ll definitely be choosing elsewhere for this and all future vacations.
What about visitors who are going to Kauai to stay with family? Do they get to quarantine at a family members home?? Or are they suddenly forced to pay outrageous amounts of money to quarantine at a hotel bubble?
Something bigger is going on here … and my gut tells me it is for a shady political purpose.
I was looking at a long term stay for remote work, 30+ days. A 4 day quarantine is far more appealing than 14. I’d definitely do that, and would gladly pay for my testing.
No, still not interested in coming back. Any quarantine is unacceptable. As is restricting the place we choose to stay.
Been coming to Hawaii for 16 years, every summer for 2 weeks. I want to come back but won’t tell things are back to normal. If I get a test and I am clear of Covid, I should not have to quarantine, period. Love Hawaii, but get things back to normal.
Having moved away from the islands in 2018 after having lived there for awhile, this all seems like another example of a “thing”, event, whatever being used as a “reason” to do something else. Kauai doesn’t want folks there; I get it, that’s fine. And also, beings that I’m not from the islands(after over 2 years I *still* correct people every time that they say this), my opinion is….whatever. Also fine. Good so far.
. But, can’t the parties involved just come out and say it,”we don’t want you here”? That’s the part that is so silly to me, the pretending that whatever combination of days/quarantines/tests are pulled out of the hat in whichever given moment is suddenly the magic solution to eradicate a virus.
Not worth it at all. Just open Kauai like the rest of the islands with tests before you go.
No car, no condo, don’t guess I will make it this year. I had to cancel a 2 week stay the last 2 weeks of February. I have already had Covid so I am a threat to no one. Looks like proof of that would make a difference.
Guess I spend 2 week on another island in Hawaii?
I sure wanted to visit
Charlie
Thank you for all the information this group provides to the public. Amazing!
I cancelled my New Year’s trip after reading all the comments from people, reading endless articles wondering about the do’s, the do nots, and what if’s.. all the pre travel and post travel stress and stress of being in Kauai “safely” as required was NOT worth it.
I live in Colorado where tourism is everything as well and I understand.
Maybe one day I will check the Kauai box off but I will say it won’t be anytime soon. I wish all a Happy Holidays! Safe travels and do your best to keep yourself and everyone around you safe.
JDP – Colorado
Hi JDP.
Thanks. We hope to welcome you another time. Please let us know when it works to come. Happy holidays.
Aloha.
Happy holidays !
Can you tell us about the expectations regarding the 72 hour rule and airline flights being delayed due to bad weather ? We are concerned that our efforts to be within the 72 hour time frame are going to be off because of bad weather or even flight operations because of fewer workers due to covid.
Thank you kindly!
Cheryl D.
Hi Cheryl.
Flight delays won’t be a problem. The rule specified within 72 hours of the scheduled departure, not the actual time. Happy holidays.
Aloha.
My son had a trip scheduled to Oahu over Christmas with friends.There are only 4 approved spots in our state, none of which were covered under our insurance. They would open up new appointment slots at 5 pm each day. 2 of us would get on at 5 to try to get a time, hoping to get it within the 72 hrs. One time I got a slot but while it was processing,it disappeared and came back stating “try another day, no times available”. He decided to travel 7 hrs Round Trip to another state to an approved site where he could get a 72 hr pcr test. There were no rapid tests sites available. The others in his group couldn’t get an appointment at the same time so they would be at the test site at least 3 hrs. He hoped to get the 72 hr test back in time to board the plane and still have it be valid when he arrived in Hawaii. Then he read he might have to test 3 days later but with no info on cost, test sites in Hi, how to get an appmt,etc. The vacation was becoming a nightmare! It was costing time, money, and the unknowns were too great. He and 7 others in his group canceled!
No one I know would be willing to quarantine in a room on Kauai, then pay for a test again, with so many ever-changing mandates.
It’s heart breaking to see livelihoods destroyed, hard working families starting over having to rely on the government with an uncertain future.
And I wonder what kind of kick back the Kauai mayor’s office gets by forcing visitors into a $400+ per night hotel. And the $50+ per day per person food bill at the hotel’s restaurants. And the cost of the test on the fourth day. Absolutely insane, but given this mayor’s actions over the past year, not surprising.
I propose a new testing method. Blindfold everybody and give them a glass of wine when they arrive at the airport. If they can smell the wine, can taste it, and can tell if it is a red or white, they’re good to go. Repeated tests over the following days would be necessary to determine whether the initial test was a fluke. I tried this method myself last night. After 23 self-administered tests, I knew I was good. Felt pretty good too.
Hi Rob.
Thanks. We needed that laugh to start the day. Also we really appreciate your nearly 100 comments over the past few years!
Aloha.
I hope you meant “appreciate”. Love those spell checkers, don’t we?
Hi Rob.
LOL. Thanks for pointing it out. Just fixed. Grammarly.
Aloha.
Rob L – Finally, the creative thinking well all need during these harrowing times. I personally prefer beer tests, but if time is short, the whiskey shots test is very effective with rapid results.
If you think people will pay $500 or so a day to sit in a hotel room you’re crazy.
We just canceled our Kauai trip. Our plan was a small rental, eatly February, however, we would not be able to rent a car, buy the groceries we need, too many flip flops. Hopefully next year.
We are waiting to go on our Honeymoon! Our trip got cancelled because of COVID. We didn’t get our money back from VRBO. But we are still going to visit this beautiful Island hopefully in January.
Dont waste your time visiting kauai,to much complexity….By the time you get out of quarantine,your vacay is over.
Its ridiculous!
Kauai is a small island. They cannot handle an influx of COVID related cases. If you cannot quarantine, stay away.
Diane, with all due respect and unless you can back up your comments with facts, yours is a very myopic and ignorant attitude. I am guessing you aren’t jobless, about to lose your business or home, or suffering other serious economic or emotional harm from the foolish lockdown. Show us the facts that tourist are bringing the virus to Kaui before you spout off about how Kaui cant handle “an influx of Covid Cases”. BTW, how are those two locals who tested positive and jumped on a united flight anyway doing? The notion that most sane tourist would intentionally bring the virus to your island is absurd. The negative test results within 72 hours almost guarantee the tourist is clean upon arrival. And as far as the “systems” ability to handle an influx of ICU cases, how about Kaui bans all activities that could potentially overwhelm the system. How about Kaui banning all buildings and activities within two miles of the coast (tsunami danger) buses, cars with more than 5 passengers (traffic accidents) congregations over 10 people (fire danger) driving over 10 miles an hour, commercial air travel (plane crashes) schooling, and the list goes on! Make your island 100 percent “safe” and let me know how that works out for you and the rest of the Island residents! A Merry Christmas to all those that are hurting in the islands from the foolish and shortsighted “leaders” elected to represent their best Interest!
I would be willing to do the short quarantine (better than 10 days!). I currently have a plane ticket arriving in Kauai January 19. I was tempted to cancel it. Now I’m waiting to see what changes.
In French Polynesia they give you a self administer test at the airport when you arrive and you turn it in to the hotel concierge. But you are free to go after your test and will be contacted if you get a positive result (a little different than your ability to leave quarantine being dependent on the results.
I think people should be able to quarantine at a friend’s house if they plan to visit friends while on the island (my case) if they can live separately for the duration of the quarantine.
Now lets see…. If I can stand on my left leg only and whistle Dixie backwards, then I can get to stay in Kauai. The way to the hereafter is easier than this plan! Thanks but we’ll just stay home a while longer and keep our great memories of this beautiful place and its people.
This is the Three Stooges.
How embarrassing…..
Aloha BOH,
My Heart Breaks for the Kauai residents and their families. Know you and yours are in our thoughts & prayers.
We have rescheduled our annual 4 week trip arrival from 12/11 to 2/1. After seeing the updates earlier this week we cancelled the February visit and have decided to wait until December 2021 for our return.
Hi Veronica.
Thanks for your comments and for sharing your plans.
Aloha.
Residents are also confused by the rule changes but I cannot emphasize enough that Kauai has 9 ICU beds and 14 ventilators. We cannot afford a surge in cases. We want to get back to normal. We want visitors to come. We want our jobs and economy to recovery. But we want to be safe too. We don’t want our elders to die. We don’t want our children sick. Mayor Kawakami is trying very hard to find a solution that helps us open safely. Please understand that we are all trying to make it work so be patient. When people start vaccinating this will improve.
This. Exactly. I don’t understand why people cannot understand that this is about healthcare systems breaking and the safety of residents within a small island, and not about paybacks, loss of personal rights, etc.
We have gone to Kauai every year for the last 20 year, for periods from 4 to 12 weeks, and owned a condo in Kapaa for five. Needless to say we love the Garden Island but sadly, we won’t be returning anytime soon. I just hope there is something to return to.Since there is no business on the island not dependent on tourism, I am afraid there will be large portions that will look like the Coco Palms.
Kauai’s leadership rivals that of California and Washington state for incompetency. History will remember the poor, non-science based, heavy handed restrictions placed on the people.
I would be ashamed to have Kawakami as my mayor.
So it sounds like my father would be punished for quarantining in my residence by having to stay the full 10 or 14 days because he’s not a hotel tourist. Yeah, that sounds real fair. And what about when I get back from visiting my ill mother in Pa.? The full time for me too! Sounds like someone wants to privelidge the rich tourists who can afford hotels over us locals. Another bad idea – sorry.
I wouldn’t waste 1/2 my vacation just not worth it
Exactly. We love the islands and the culture being owners on Kaua’i, but not enough to endure the 15 hour flight then have to stay in a hotel? Nope.
I have 3 night stay at Grand Hyatt Poipu in April. Hoping the dust settles by then, the vaccines are in the hands (arms?) of many Americans already and that Kauai re-opens, even if it is limited re-open. But, if I have to stay on property all 3 nights…. I wonder if I can still use pool, lagoon, restaurants, etc. I guess time will tell. Hoping and praying for the best. Mahalo!
Hi Robby.
The Hyatt has thus far opted to not take part in the resort bubble concept.
Aloha.
No I definitely would not Quarantine in a resort bubble for 3 days then test a second time, I’ve switched reservations to Maui doubt I will ever return to Kauai, to many negative comments from locals.
I pay thousands of dollars for my timeshare. Why would I go to Kauai and not stay in my timeshare?
We will be vaccinated when we are to go to Kauai. Do you think I’m a danger? Follow the science, open up and welcome all those who love the island as you do. Pre test or vaccination protects everyone.
Stop all incoming travel or welcome travelers who have gone the extra mile to make everyone safe.
Ken
Just because you get the vaccine doesn’t mean you can’t carry the virus or get Covid yourself. The vaccine is just to lesson the effects of the virus. Its also to help the hospitals not become over run with ICU patients and to lower the deaths, unfortunately you can still get COVID. It will take about another year or maybe longer for the virus to lessen or die out.This of course depends on herd immunity in the nation. You are 100% correct we do pay way to much for timeshares not to use them. Stay safe.
It seems the county has a message problem. In less than one month, the county has said Kauai’s Covid cases are out of control. The mayor has said we cannot open to tourism until the mainland numbers are down. Dr. Berryman said that a 10-day quarantine is not long enough because a Covid infection could happen up to 14 days after exposure. And now the county says that a three-day quarantine is enough if you are at a resort bubble. The only thing clear in the county messaging is that this is not about health and safety. The county will say whatever is needed on any given day to disrupt a return to safe travel on Kauai.