Will this plan further deter visitors from visiting Kauai? Interesting read.
89 thoughts on “Kauai Proffers Its Own Reopening Plans, But Not So Fast…”
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Will this plan further deter visitors from visiting Kauai? Interesting read.
Comments are closed.
Since Kauai has acquired 15,000 test kits, why not offer a second test on a VOLUNTARY basis to arriving travelers at Lihue airport? They could be asked to observe strict social distancing and minimize contact with anyone else (but not be placed in quarantine) until they have the test results. If I were visiting Kauai from the mainland after the last 6-7 months of the pandemic, I would definitely do it, and I am sure that others would readily volunteer. The test could be free or at a nominal charge ($5-$15?) The voluntary test would serve 3 purposes: (1) it would reassure the traveler that he/she/they didn’t pick up the virus in the 72 hours since their pre-test, and (2) it would reassure local residents and other visitors to the island that there would be a greater chance of containing the virus; (3) it would give some predictability instead of the on-again off-again roller-coaster of ideas that have recently been floated. Most visitors to Kauai that I have come into contact with are very respectful and appreciative of the environment and the local culture. Why not place some trust in visitors instead of herding them like cattle to isolate in a hotel or resort for quarantine? Kauai desperately needs an economic stimulus – better from visitors than rely on federal aid.
Update: I submitted the comment about voluntary testing before I listened to Mayor Kawakami’s video briefing for today Oct 9th. Kauai is , in fact, going to ask arriving travelers to take a voluntary test – but 3 days after they arrive, not at the airport.
With no quarantine or tiers?
🤙🏼🏝😎
We (9 of us) have not cancelled our thanksgiving week trip with the hope a test will be easily available at a low or free rate. We are flying different airlines which adds to the confusion and some of us will be on Oahu a few days before flying to Maui so the inter island travel needs to be very clear. If we hadn’t already paid for this trip and accommodations we surely would not be going. The stress is just too much!
Both Japan and S Korea did not have to shutdown their economies however, they do wear mask and we… ?
Mahalo Guys
Hi Roy.
Thanks. Have a good weekend.
Aloha.
We cancelled Kauai when we heard this, going to Maui instead. Maybe next year for Kauai.
Had Hawaii’s so-called leaders been governing Great Britain in 1940, the entire country would be speaking German right now! Good freaking grief! Does any of these cowards know how many businesses, employees, and locals lives have been ruined over this cowardice.
I am sorry to be rude, but this is absolutely absurd! Tourist, testing negative are not the problem, and the problem is not nearly as severe as these fools imagine!
I am surprised Fauci isn’t saying 2030. He has been against any form of reopening for ever.
Dr.Char, our new Hawaii State Director of Health “One question is how many people who are carrying the virus will test negative. Char said studies indicate the planned test will catch between 20% to 80% of cases.” At least she is honest. A second test is essential for the health and safety of residents. Neighbor islands have very limited medical facilities – and we are isolated with no neighboring state to assist.
The consequences of opening without further testing is almost certainly going to lead to a dual disaster: deaths of both residents and visitors, and a prolonged shutdown.
Kauai has essentially no virus among residents and are mostly adhering to the mask mandate. Since the majority of the risk is from the visitors, why not insist on 100% mask adherence from them in order to keep tourism open and our residents safe? Kauai could impose a $500 fine for any visitor caught in public not wearing a mask. Have them sign a statement on their entry form acknowledging this and also have nice Hawaiian print cloth masks available to them at the airport (handed out like we used to give leis)?
Mask adherence is 64% on Kauai, the highest compliance rate in the state per the Governor’s office. A second test is a far superior method to the requiring our 42 police officers to chase thousands of residents and tourists every day to enforce their wherein of masks.
Yes, but the threat of $500 will make a big difference and the residents mostly comply and aren’t the problem (unless we have a spike which we can prevent if we’re smart about reopening). Tourists are in predictable locations as well. Having a mandatory quarantine while waiting for a second test doesn’t bring tourism back since most won’t come.
Aloha Guys
Mayor Kawakami is a politician and politicians are great at playing both sides of the fence. This goes back to my belief that none of Hawaii’s mayors want blood on their hands do to reopening.
The island will reopen to tourist, but the covid thresh hold bar is so low that Kauai will go back to mandatory 14 day quarantine within a short period of time. I’m thinking 30 to 45 days.
Then the ball’s in the Governors court if he forces Kauai to remain open then covid deaths will be on his hands.
Mayor Kawakami will then say I tried and get off scott free.
Pretty smart.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for your plethora of comments. Interesting thoughts.
Aloha.
A plethora of insightful comments, I like it.
Agee. He knows his political career depends on residents voting not visitors. When the virus rate skyrockets he will go back to 14 quarantine and the Governor will take the blame (as he should).
I feel like a yo yo. Go, no go, go, no go… Made direct flight reservations on United for December 3rd to visit my condo on Kaua’i and am glad that I can put the flight on hold if the Mayor decides to shut it all down again. Thank you United Airlines for helping us travelers out.
If any of the mayors would like to put more restrictions up, I hope that the Governor’s first question back to them is “so how are you addressing the long term unemployed from the tourism industry that you are still keeping shut down due to your policies?”
If they have an answer to that, I have yet to hear of it.