This has shut down virtually all vacation travel to the Garden Island and nearly all flights.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
This has shut down virtually all vacation travel to the Garden Island and nearly all flights.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
This mayor has lost perspective as it relates to the mental anguish of the locals and the frustration of the hotel and restaurant world not to mention virtually all busines. His conclusions have zero merit and frankly I’m surprised he had not created a committee made up of all key elements that make up Kauai’s business sectors, people of Kauai and medical professionals. Its shameful!
Does that mayor knows how to do that, if he cares about his island he’ll donate his paychecks to all the unemployed workers of Kauai.
A very hard year and we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel in October when the 3 day testing program allowed visitors to return. Just when we had organized an all staff meeting to discuss expanding hours, putting on more shifts, bringing more employees back – then the mayor closed us once again. Maui got it right. Maui has our visitors and will continue to do so for a very long time. And perhaps half the residents of Kauai would support a permanent, greatly reduced number of visitors, to about half of previous numbers. Half would not support this at all. Kauai, the divided kingdom.
Totally extreme; ,residents too are being held hostage.
The other islands followed Safe Travels-why can’t Kauai?I am currently in Honolulu where tourism is slowly returning, I am extremely impressed with both visitors snd residents,the mutual respect. People are moving forward and living their lives,but continue to wear masks and social distance. For me,Kauai is a depressing place right now,and I’ve lived and worked there for almost 40 years
Thank you
Hi Jeanne.
Thanks for your many comments and for sharing how things are working on Oahu.
Aloha.
I applaud Mayor Kawakami for articulating clear expectations for travel over the next 60 days. While no doubt difficult news for many businesses, residents, and visitors alike, knowing what to expect for the next two months puts the island in a better position for long-term success. Thanks, mayor, for taking the time to get this right.
Of course, it’s easy to criticize decisions in hindsight, but Ige and Kawakami rightly prioritize health and safety–erroring on the side of caution as we navigate these uncertain waters.
Wait. Ige and Kawakami are each prioritizing health and safety and erring on the side of caution? You realize each is following a different Covid19 travel strategy, right? Ige: open up with testing. Kawakami: shut it down. Vastly different responses that can’t both equal priortizing health and safety.
I think so. Although requested by Kawakami, opting out of the Safe Travels program required Governor Ige’s approval. With limited medical infrastructure, Kauai’s risks differ significantly from the neighbor islands. Thankfully, both Ige and Kawakami recognized this and prioritized health and safety by enforcing the quarantine ban for all travels. That said, would I rather see Kawakami in the Governor’s office? Hopefully, one day :).
We’ll that ought to put the fork in any remaining business that relies at least in part on tourists as customers.
No doubt the new Cadaver-In-Chief will impose a nationwide travel ban, so Kawakami is just ahead of the curve.
Money can just be printed, and China will keep making all our stuff for us, except that pesky food, so no big deal. In fact, the travel ban may become permanent with the much anticipated “Green Leap Forward.”
Amen! Spot on🤙🤙. Mahalo
He is thinking about our lives Money can’t replace
your love ones Thank you Derek
You obviously dont own a business that is dying or are around family who’s businesses are dying…. the fall out from this and I mean deaths are going to farrrrrrrrr exceed the deaths from this virus……
Sad sad time for the world right now. Lot of powerful people with no skin in the game making decisions that are devistating lives daily…. good job kauai mayor wow…..
Aloha
Maybe Kauai needs help
A field hospital prepared in case of need
Travel medical staff
Other small towns and places throughout our nation have created options.
I appreciate the challenges the leadership has to meet.
A Christmas wish for all of Kauai is for peace, love and good health.
Mele Kalikimaka
Judy
Brandon, completely agree! People dont seem to understand that it isn’t one or the other, lives over money. They are interdependent on all kinds of levels. No money for a business owner, or the employees that are subsequently laid off, is a catalyst to many life threatening issues that aren’t Covid. Food vulnerability, homelessness, mental health issues/stress lead to death too, it just isn’t a flashy headline when it happens. Unemployed workers cant afford cobra benefits and often skip routine doctors visits and try to avoid large medical bills even when sick. This too leads to more deaths. It is very short sighted to think that killing the economy is keeping people safe. The health issues from the “unintended consequences” will be far reaching.
The consequences are not unintended. They are intended. Avoiding the possibility of another old and vulnerable person catching and dying from Covid is considered by Kawakami and his supporters to be worth the consequences.
Yes Amy I think you have good solid points, people need to be allowed to earn enough to live on and tourists are a major consideration to the economy, agree or not it is fact. It is hard to shut down a business and wait it out. I would think in many cases it is just over. So time and restraint has to be thought out seriously and all the consequences need to be looked at closely. A fully open mind and vision is required here.
Please consider the senior citizens that are not able to see their loved ones. People are not meant to be socially distant from each other, they are lonely and depressed. Alot are failing to thrive. I should know, I have not been able to fly and see my 90 year old mom in over a year
Very sad for Kauai and the residents there. I wonder if they really don’t want visitors to ever return. There is a faction of people in Kauai that would like to see that and Covid is their opportunity to achieve that goal. I hope at sometime the people who live on Kauai realize the importance of tourism. It’s a beautiful island that has been and can continue to be shared with rest of the world.
Wake up to reality and stop being so ignorant. Educate yourself and examine how New Zealand succeeded in controlling the virus.
I may be completely missing something, but where does this actually extend the travel ban? Having read the original March 4 proclamation and the subsequent supplementary proclamations, this proclamation (which is identical to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th emergency proclamations) appears to only extend the mayor’s emergency powers, nothing more.
As a separate issue, are the emergency rules are subject to the same automatic 60 day expiration? I can’t find anything to confirm this, but if it is the case, then the one opting out of the safe-travels program (emergency rule 23) will expire on 1/27/21. Does anyone have better information there?
Update: A quick call to the Mayor Kawakami’s office confirms that this article is indeed incorrect. The 6th supplemental proclamation only serves to extend the mayor’s emergency powers, and does not have anything to do with opting out of safe travels or the mandatory quarantine. Unfortunately, no information was provided about when Kauai will opt back in to the safe travels program, or even a modified program. It would be nice to have both more information, and clearer information provided by the mayor.
The saddest story in the mainstream news yesterday was the AP story of the poor soul on Kauai who died from Covid-19. The poor gentleman, may he rest in peace, was 84 years old and still working driving an airport shuttle. As an older male he was in the highest risk category. The government should have protected him with self-quarantine and food and income assistance. Instead he was exposed to all the airline employees on the shuttle he drove. It is malpractice of the highest degree to have him work and force young people who have almost no risk stay quarantined. Why is this allowed to happen?
I agree it’s tragic that this gentleman passed. However were you aware that he was battling stage 4 lung cancer and was going through chemotherapy? Not saying that he would have passed if it weren’t for Covid, just presenting some more facts for context…
Hi
So is quarantine 10 or 14 days now? I can’t keep up.
Merry Christmas
Glad to see more and more BOH readers are aware of the political causes of this nightmare. As I have stated before, the politicians and government employees are still collecting 100% of their salary and benefits. Why should they collect an additional $600 each? The Biden-Harris plan called Building Back Better is designed to destroy the economy as we know it and put more power in the government and large corporations. The property of out-of-work Hawaiians is being grabbed by Zuckerberg and his friends and only the ultra wealthy will travel and own property. Those who remain on the islands will be virtual servants. Why does the government get to pick winners and losers? This is about much more than a week long vacation.
“Why does the government get to pick winners and losers?”
A. Because they can.
B. Because big winners pay for campaigns and other stuff.
C. Because that’s how you get rich in office.
D. All of the above.
Amen!👍👍👍Well said!
Educate yourself and examine how New Zealand stopped the virus. Then open your thoughts.
Understanding Kauai’s past issues with infectious diseases is important but does not appear to be balanced with Kauai’s vacation property owners living on mainland. Yes we pay property taxes to Kauai and pay Kauai Mayor Kawakami salary in addition to Kauai residents. Will Kauai waive 2020 and 2021 property taxes for those unable to use their property yet have negative CoVid tests? A 14 day quarantine is unacceptable for healthy property tax payers! Perhaps our property taxes should also be ‘quarantined’ until this unfair quarantine is ended for healthy visiting owners. Kauai residents need their businesses open and employees working to feed their families.
Lastly is it true recent change to demand all arrivals to quarantine 14 days even with a negative COVID test was due to a personal relationship, one 84 year old airline crew driver, to Kauai Mayor Kawakami who died from COVID, as reported in Honolulu newspaper recently? Did this person practice all protective protocols? If this is true, this decision making by an elected official was not objective to benefit all Kauai residents and property owners and maybe a borderline conflict of personal interest worthy of an investigation.
Unhappy Kauai property owner paying taxes without ability to use their property.
Hi Jim C
Since you put it that way, I put forth , our maintenance should be covered from the Covid funds like the legal – licensed – tax paying landlords
Were. Which I agree with.
I know it won’t happen. Like Never.
But we can’t return this month or the two after that.
And realistically, I think August or Sept if at all.
I just paid my 3 grand. Pretty sure, December, everyone is due. No concessions for
Owners.
Mahalo
Seriously…vacation rental owner? Make your money of the island and not worry about lives. If your so upset, I will be glad to be your property…at a reduced price since.
These restrictions and lockdowns in Hawaii and on mainland are doing such harm both financially and mentally to small business owners. The newest research from Stanford University says that a 20% open will Not spread the virus. Kaua’i mayor should start to rethink these strict policies, as to protect everyone living on island!
The people of Kauai must be totally in accord with these rules. Why anyone would willing watch their business die without resistance in very sad and unbelievable. There is a solution; vote these power hungry individuals Out. This does Not have to be tolerated.
Is Molokai open for those who test negative?
As far as I’m concerned, Moloka’i is open. My husband and I were blessed to have been able to visit Moloka’i on 10/17/20 when the quarantined was just lifted on October with a negative COVID-19 Test results.
The businesses and restaurants that we visited were very excited to open up again after the 7 months shut down.
We were their 1st visitors from the mainland to rent a car, dine-in their restaurants that were open for dine-in. Visited Kumu Organic farm.
We were saddened and heartbroken to see the devastating effect of the Pandemic to the Hawaiian economy then.
But Moloka’i is so beautiful! No traffic lights. Like the old Kaua’i from 30 years ago.
The only regret we had was no organized activities. But just exploring the island on your own is wonderful!
Can’t wait to go back again with our young adult children next time!
Kauai has a very special place in my heart. I am so heartbroken for the locals. We visit every year and love the culture and hospitality of this lush, beautiful island. We have always felt aloha here. While stimulus is great, I fear the longer tourism is drawn out and the more locals come to rely on the government for help, the less likely they will be able to open back up to visitors. I used to see such great comments on here (even about Haole’s), but now see locals angry with visitors of the islands. I can only hope that the Government stops pitting everyone against each other so pure aloha can be reached again. BOH, long time reader! Thank you for always being so transparent. Happiest of holidays!
Hi Sonja.
Thank you. Happy holidays to you as well. Here’s to more…
Aloha.
That is sad 😞. I just worry not only for most of the businesses, but especially for the mom and pop businesses. They have worked their lives trying to stay afloat and now they are probably having to shut down. I hope that things get resolved. We are waiting for the day we can visit our favorite place on earth. ❤️ Merry Christmas!
Is Kauai’s Mayor thinking about a run for the Governor? If so, doesn’t Ige support Caldwell? Seems like Ige is letting Kawakami dig himself a deeper hole on purpose.
Crazy is as Crazy does. The ‘cure’ is going to be Far, Far worse than the disease.
In reality, only the old and sick need worry or quarantine – and they should. The rest – the young and healthy, could and should continue to work and play without fear of death. Far too much Covid Craziness. No reasonableness – just fear. The News puts nothing in perspective – leading to more and more fear and more and more ‘control’ over everyone and every thing.
It isn’t just Hawaii………. waaay too much misinformation and everyone and every thing else is hushed. There are many ‘experts’ who disagree with the way all of this has been handled. This is a very sad state of affairs and everyone thinks it is OK and for our ‘safety.’ Don’t think so.
$600 and $300 in unemployment compensation isn’t going to save Hawaii or any other small bar or restaurant, etc. either.
I have to agree with Colleen. Fear=Control. One 84 year old man unfortunately passed away with covid, yet maybe not from it. There were 5 suicides (30 year olds) in 1 week several months ago. Of course, that doesn’t make the headlines. King Kawakami has managed to slowly kill our island population economy, stability and ability to provide for their families. Things should look interesting by February 22nd🤦🏻♀️ God Bless everyone of us!
Terrible terrible terrible news for Kauai. Thanks for the update
Thanks for keeping it honest. Many people want to know what’s happening here. 2020 has been a bummer for all. Especially for tourist economies.
However, because of the policies of the Governor and the Mayors, Hawaii remains one of the safest places in the world. Florida is wide open. This year go there. Mexico is wide open. This year go there. The rest of the world is closed to Americans.
Our family went to Florida in August. Wide open? No, it wasn’t. They wore masks, practiced social distancing – even on the beach and the restaurants were virtually empty. We rented a condo, stopped at Sam’s and ate and drank in our condo and enjoyed the beach and had a great time. We Did Not have to wear a mask on the beach and did Not feel unsafe. As I mentioned in an earlier comment – only the old/sick/vulnerable need/should quarantine. Everyone else should continue to Live and Work. By the way – we are in our 70’s. We were not harmed by our vacation. People need to ‘get a grip’ and realize that the cure is far worse than the disease.
*Forgot to mention that we also flew to Florida.
Aloha to those stranded on Gilligans Island
This announcement was made easy with the now passed stimulus $600.00 check with an additional $300.00 a week unemployment buys Kawakami an additional 11 weeks of lock down.
Kauai and Kawakami will continue to feel no pressure to reopen as along as stimulus money keeps flowing. My understanding is until herd immunity is reached the new administration is committed to providing additional stimulus programs.
RICHARD C…
Do you really think Kawakami really thinks a $600 per person check and $300 a week will provide sustenance for the average person on Kauai!?!? Heck no but it apparently bought him 11 more weeks of despotism!
This tyrant of a mayor is totally out of control. What good is keeping Kaua’i “safe” If most of the population is out of work, can’t pay their rent/mortgage or buy groceries? Six cases on the whole island and one of those is currently on Oahu? Only one is hospitalized? Something tells me not even the vaccines will satisfy this dictator.
I remember many years ago, when were on our first trip to Kaua’i, we drove through Salt Pond Park and there was some sort of gathering there. Many anti-U.S. banners and signs on display. One in particular stuck with me. It said “Hawaii is not the United States and never will be”. I think now that mentality is more prevalent than ever. It appears the supporters of this tyrant don’t care about their freedoms.
Mahalo and good luck.
Thank u for this information. I hope your governor gets involved so Kauai can save itself.
David Z.
Sorry to report, David Z, that you are a bit misinformed in stating that Governor’s Ige needs to get involved: Ige’s signature is on all of Kauai’s Mayor emergency proclamations; so I’d say he is involved.
Part of the reason Kauai has completely opted out of the safe travels program is the Governor wouldn’t give the Kauai mayor what he wanted with regards to a safe travels program that included two tests and short quarantine in between (which is also what the State’s senate COVID committee wants) which caused the Governor to provide his approval for the opt out. And even more proof that the Governor is aware of what’s happening is that the one modification made to the safe travels program was actually based on a emergency rule put forth by Kauai’s Mayor.
Geez!!! Reading BOH it seems like most Locals support this governor, though it is hard to imagine they support the total destruction of their state, but I guess if they’re planning on getting government handouts they think it’s all gonna work out fine. So sad.
I am not worried, this is pure politics. Kawakami is forcing Ige to do something. Kawakami position is so ridiculous that the governor has got to step in. The governor will act and overrule Kawakami and then Kawakami can wash his (political) hands of the whole thing. His response to any ensuing problems will be “talk to Ige” Political maneuvering at its finest!!!!
We were unable to use the 2 weeks at our Princeville timeshare this year, due to lockdown, but have paid our annual fees and taxes as billed. We have little confidence in 2021, with all these arbitrary changes. At this point, the only real worth to us might be the ability to exchange it for timeshare weeks in other locations. It breaks my heart that so many people of Kaua’i are without income from those jobs now, and the county and state are without the taxes brought in through tourism.
Why 2/20/21?
Just go for March First. Now advance
2 months at a time. Give everyone a chance to work out the calendars. Everyone!
Only reason the covid count is low is because of the Mayor. What would you or I do to save lives?
I Can’t imagine a harder job than his right now.
Mahalo
Marshall- please read Goldie’s comment below.
I think Kawakami is destroying Kauai’s economy and well as it’s resident’s livelihoods all due to Draconian practices and fear mongering. It’s going to take years for Kauai’s economy to return and in the meantime suicides are up, drug use is up, crime is on the rise, bankruptcies are up, domestic abuse is up, as is child abuse, but Kawakami doesn’t care. 6 active cases on the island and only 1 hospitalization. This isn’t about flattening the curve or making sure there are enough hospital and ICU beds, this is all about control!
GOLDIE C… Amen!!!
Good God! If anybody other than the governor of Hawaii needs to be recalled it is the mayor of Kauai! Obviously nothing has impacted either of them financially so screwing over their residents apparently means nothing to them! Ridiculous to the extreme!
Ho boy…
I wish that was us. it is too crowed on Maui and feels really uncomfortable to go out – the beaches are packed. even too many people out in the water. One snorkeler was almost bumping head-on into me so I reached our my hand to stop him. He looked at me, swam away and turned back and shoved me!!! We are in great danger of losing our Aloha. forget showering at the beach – tourists will NOT keep 6 feet but barge in. Stores feel packed and parking is hard again. Traffic. Kauai is pro-active and choosing health and people over wealth. Our numbers are going up here all the while the PTB say everything is great. Keep the big money happy is the name of the game here once again. Your mayor is very courageous and I KNOW some people do NOT like him.
BOH guys. hope you have a sweet, deep holiday and are able to feel the magic of your island in its natural state. I miss that here – we had it for a few months. it’s still Maui. Still amazing and beautiful. Need to find our “safety” in other ways.
Many holiday blessings
Ane T
Maui
Hi Ane.
Sounds like you have all of Kauai’s visitors for the moment. Thanks for being in touch as always and happy holidays!
Aloha.
Come on governor ige!!!! Show the mayor of kauai who is boss and who is in charge!!!! This us ridiculous!!!! Time for the mayor of kauai to get a reality check. He has lost his mind. He should be removed as mayor. My family is going to lose its business. We all work in tourism. He has zero right to run the island his way. He is the mayor. Not the governor. We have relatives who joined the homeless camp bc they cannot afford to live. Maybe they should move onto they mayors street. I have never been so saddened to live on kauai. I feel like we are in a third world country with a crazy dictator. Please governor ige and lt governor mr green. Please step on and bring kauai into reality. He is making up
Problems and has lost my vote
This is disastrous for families on the island. What are they supposed to live on? Like the Dylan line, “A lot of people don’t have much food on their table
But they got a lot of forks ‘n’ knives And they gotta cut somethin'”. And all the while the Wall St value of corporations are going thru the roof! What’s wrong with this picture?!?!?!?
Thanks for the updates! We love our beautiful Hawaiian islands and especially Kauai. We are so sorry this has happened to all of you. We will be back there as soon as we can!
Hi Derry.
Thanks. We look forward to welcoming you at a better time.
Aloha.
Time to blow taps for Kauai.
And a Hau’oli Makahiki Hou to all!!! What I would like to say would not be appropriate for public consumption!
Hi Barbara.
Regards to you and yours! Thanks for your nearly 250 comments to date.
Aloha.
I wonder how the mayor and other officials would make these highly intelligent (LOL) decisions if his and their salaries were cancelled and he and they were paid based on a business basis of commission on tourists.
I feel sad for the hard working people in Kauai who will be in poverty if not already for a long time! But no traffic for you!
Absolute insanity by the mayor! People have been getting sick from viruses since time began, sadly people die, Every day from all kinds of things including suicide from hopelessness!
Wake up!
I truely hope the people of Kauai can handle this long of a lockdown with no tourism… my thoughts are with them
LOL. You voted for ’em. You live with ’em!
Amen to that! If what the mayor and governor are doing are so bad for the Hawaiian people why isn’t someone out there running recall drives right now? There is a process for removing elected leaders that are not doing their job. The fact that someone hasn’t stepped forward and done that yet, and that there doesn’t even appear to be any talk of doing that, leads me to believe that those that live in the community are complicit in all of this. If I lived there and my livelihood were being destroyed I would be out on the corner in a heartbeat getting signatures.
Sent this to the Governor today:
Governor Ige,
I’m assuming that you are in talks with Mayor Kawakami regarding the Travel Program that he opted out of on December 2nd. Please consider these points:
1. Very few visitors are willing to quarantine AT ALL during their vacation time, especially if they are coming for less than two weeks.
2. Given that a visitor chooses to quarantine, it is unreasonable to require them to quarantine ONLY at a hotel bubble. This is not right, not fair to other hotels and vacation rental owners, and possibly not legal as it discriminates against legally run businesses.
3. Vacation Rental owners have not been allowed to operate on Kauai (except for six weeks, Oct. 15 – Dec. 2) since March. YET, they have been given no compensation for one of the highest property tax rates on Kauai.
4. Support staff, restaurant owners, and activity businesses are barely hanging on financially and many have closed for good.
5. We currently have six active cases and one of those is on Oahu.
Please:
Insist Mayor Kawakami opt back into the State’s Travel Program, keeping all counties under one Program that visitors must follow in order to come to any of the Hawaiian Islands.
I am a resident of Kauai, having bought our first property in the eighties, and moving to the island full time in 2000. We built our vacation rental in 2014 on a piece of property we purchased in 1987. It is a luxury home in a VDA, and the State has lost close to $40,000 in TAT taxes from my TVR alone this year. I should be allowed to operate my business if visitors choose to come to Kauai.
Thank you for your consideration,
Hi Rae-Marie.
Thanks for sharing your letter with us.
Aloha.
Absolutely spot on!
So right I didn’t know kauai was a separate state , I am a home owner in Princeville I would like to be in my home . My house is empty why not let owners come in and start the testing again and see how that goes.
Hi Kathryn,
Kauai is often referred to as the separate kingdom because of it’s history of being the last island to join the unified Hawaiian Kingdom. However, Governor Ige gave the island mayors the power to do their own thing with his blessing.
As a property owner under the current rules you are allowed to travel to your property and quarantine for 10 days.
Kauai’s mayor is willing to explore opening the island again when he gets a two test travel safe travels program with the shorter quarantine which has been his position since the safe travels program was implemented across all of Hawaii.
Bravo!
We also own a legal vacation rental that is normally rented 300 nights a year. This year, it’s been rented under 50 nights and we are in serious jeopardy of losing our home to the bank. I feel silly complaining because I know residents are in jeopardy of losing their primary residences. But, legal vacation rentals are a real part of the island’s fragile eco-system that are often over-looked. Just like many vacation rental owners, we do not make a profit and are often out of pocket each year for taxes and maintenance. So why do we own it? Because we love the island and we use our rental as often as we can for our own family. We will be writing Gov Ige as well.
Hi Holly,
Idea for you if you worried about losing your vacation property: Why not rent your property to a local families for an affordable sum to hold you over while tourism isn’t occurring.
Seems like a win-win to me.