For starters, when do you wear a mask in Hawaii? Read further for details.
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For starters, when do you wear a mask in Hawaii? Read further for details.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
I think the implementation of an educational required video is a good step in communication. However, it needs to start before that. It would be useful for all airlines that serve Hawaii to have a required statement that you are agreeing to comply with Hawaii health mandates when you purchase your airline tickets.
The fact that you don’t feel the need to wear a mask should not be excused. You might not have brought it into Hawaii, but you certainly can spread it by being exposed to infected locals.
Visitors may have a negative COVID test but it could be too early to detect the virus. Also without a mask you could catch COVID from someone and spread it. Masks will be around for a long time so just wear it. I postponed my Feb 2021 trip until Feb 2022 so I can hopefully enjoy the Big Island the way I have in the past. Aloha, mask up and stay safe.
Jean S
Myself and my family are having trouble finding a place to test. Most places
say they need 3 to five days to get the results and no one on the list is willing
to give POC or Rapid test. We only have Walgreens here or 100 miles away CVS.
We would appreciate any tips you could give that will help with our testing.
Mahalo
Hi Jean.
As other comments have suggested, try using mail-in testing through Vault.
Aloha.
The State publishes an Agricultural Form for arrivals; visitors or residents or Kama’aina. How difficult is it to publish a piece of paper that says shwen you leave your hotel room, house or apartment, wear a mask. Only exceptions while actually Eating. Children under 5 and those with medical certificates. It is not hard. it is folks being lazy. We have seen stupid people posting social media of themselves breaking quarantine and then being surprised when they are fined and deported. It applies to Locals, Residents and Visitors. You leave the house put on your mask and your slippahs.
Visitors do not appear to understand how little that their pre-travel tests actually guarantee about their virus status. It can take 7 days after exposure for your test results to come back positive, and you can take a test 3 days before arrival. This gives you a period of up to roughly 10 days where you can acquire the virus, still test negative, and bring it to the islands.
Hawaii residents are very aware of this, as these risks were well-debated in the run up to the reopening. The current testing regime is intended to just reduce the case count to a manageable number.
So yes, you need to wear your mask, and for very good reason.
I’m not wearing a mask outside period. Any state I visit. There’s no need to wear one walking outside. When you go up to an establishment, I put it on. But not just walking down the street of shops or the beach or outside on your resort. Hilton waikoloa is huge. Not gonna wear a mask while walking around that place. Or in a state park hiking. That’s ridiculous.
Be prepared to be challenged and fined. You must wear one if hawaii says you have to. You are the very reason we have put off our trip for. Year
Cindy, the rules are:
“Persons over the age of 5 years old must wear a face mask or covering while outside their place of residence (as defined in Rule 1). The face mask or cloth must be worn while in all public spaces, including on public or shared transportation, unless specifically provided for otherwise in these rules.
Masks and other facial coverings shall not be required:
1. at or inside a private residence;
inside a private automobile, provided the only occupants are members of the same household or residence;
3. inside a hotel, motel, or commercial lodging establishment guest room, or inside any apartment;
4. of persons who cannot wear a mask or facial covering due to an existing medical condition;
5. of an individual who is hearing impaired or an individual who is communicating with an individual who is hearing impaired;
6. where federal or state safety or health regulations prohibit the wearing of facial coverings;
7. of persons actively engaged in strenuous outdoor physical activity provided adequate social distancing is both possible and practiced;
8. of persons swimming or engaged in other activities that may cause the facial covering to become wet;
9. while persons are actively eating, drinking, or smoking; and
10. while a person is receiving services that require access to that person’s nose or mouth.
I don’t see anything that says “and if Cindy doesn’t feel she needs to” in the list above. There is, however, plenty of room for some common sense. For example, if you’re out on a hiking trail, all by yourself or with members of your family, no mask is necessary. However, if you come across someone else on the trail, and you can’t maintain that 6 feet of then you need to put on your mask. Personally, when I go out for a walk or run, I wear a gaiter around my neck so that if I come across someone else, I can put it on before i get to close, and then take it off once we pass.
So running/hiking maskless is ok as long as 6′ is maintained(see Joerg’s Rule #7 above)? I normally run with a buff and pull it up when approaching someone
Mahalo for the warning Karen!
Your right the madks are not fullproof its just more oppression from local gov. Known fact the virus lives for hours on your skin and most surfaces that we touch numerous times a day . Are going to wash your hands every time you touch just yourself its ridiculous rules that are not laws
Hello! We arrived on Oahu on 10/15. Overall it has been a great experience. Check in at the airport was a bit slow, but it was also the first day. We had to show our negative covid test from the travel partner, our QR code, the hotel information, return travel itinerary
and drivers license.
We are seeing everything from super cautious people to others who are carefree. My impression is that most of the visitors are wearing masks in public, but not when alone or with their own group.
We see lots of people, who appear to be local, that don’t wear masks.
Check in at the resort was smooth but also slow as each of us had to provide the covid test and drivers license and we got instructions on what is allowed and not allowed.
Many stores, attractions and events are closed. We were fortunate to find a catamaran / snorkel company taking people out on tours. Only selling half capacity. So 12 people were on the ride.
The Kualoa Ranch and Waimea Falls areas are only open on Thursday through Sunday so make sure you plan ahead!
Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole Plantation. Turtle Bay. All luaus are closed. Tons of stores and restaurants are closed, many permanently – it is very sad. Also seeing tons of homeless everywhere.
Every restaurant that we have visited has taken down our information. Name, home address, phone number, some want email and also want hotel information. One took our temperature before allowing us inside.
We also visited the Swap Meet and many vendors asked if we were supposed to quarantine. But we let them know we did all the pre-travel testing so are exempt. Many locals don’t know what tourists have to go through to be here. It was still enjoyable to shop here and we got great deals!
Also visited the AZ Memorial. We made reservations the day before (they only open one day at a time)
Good luck to all who made it over here!
Thank you for doing things the right way
Flu cases and deaths should be way down this year right?!?!?
I mean, the State of Hawaii acknowledged a worse than normal flu season is expected… but, but masks, masks, masks. Hell, why would we even need a flu vaccine this year?
BTW, locals are not wearing masks any more than anybody else. They are just trying to shame the tourists and the tourist industry.
Sorry, that’s not true. Hawaii is #4 in mask-wearing in the country, somewhere between 72% and 85% depending on the county. You can see that on the State website: hawaiicovid19.com.
And how are the statistics being done
If you need to be told about the difference between influenza and CV-19 (a virulent coronavirus), then what I am writing probably doesn’t matter to you. To others less set in their opinions, maybe.
From the CDC: “There are some key differences between flu and COVID-19. COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer. Another important difference is there is a vaccine to protect against flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. More information about differences between flu and COVID-19 is available in the different sections below. (see cdc.gov).
Aloha Guys
Sorry that I scooped you on this subject, but it is a good topic.
OMG enough with the I’m wearing a mask at all times posts good for you, but it isn’t about you it’s about the 5,000 others on Oahu who aren’t wearing a mask.
And for the others that keep posting why wear a mask if everyone is tested. The one fact that has been true with reopening of a country, state or island is covid cases have spiked each and every time.
Just look at New Zealand, Iceland and Australia all with very strict mask policy all spiked after reopen.
Tensions are high on the islands 5,000 warnings & citations about lack of mask wearing is only fueling the negative view that Hawaiian residents have for tourists.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for being an active part of this!
Aloha.
We’ve discovered in Europe that people travelling on vacation want to get away from the pandemic. So they don’t want to wear masks and social distance. That’s what they have to do at home. They’re on vacation so surely the rules that they live with at home don’t apply?!
And they’re also going to think, that they have a negative test so they don’t have it. Forgetting the test result just shows they didn’t have it on that day and they may still be incubating the virus.
Thanks for keeping us up to date with what is happening. It’s interesting watching from afar and reminds me that there are all these wonderful places to go visit when we all get over this.
Hi Fran.
Thanks. We are both veteran travelers and also look forward to the return of trip-taking.
Aloha.
I don’t know where some of these people have been, wearing a mask (except for someone in the Oval Office) has been in effect for months now pretty much everywhere in the US. What makes a person traveling here suddenly think they don’t need to wear one? What is confusing about that? They post it everywhere you look.
Mahalo for keeping us updated.
Hi Morgan.
Some of the rules are still confusing to us and we work in this industry. We’ll be updating with some new things we just learned as of today.
Aloha.
It’s mind boggling how people are so obsessed with wearing Masks. The fact is that mask have never been proven to stop any virus. Do they stop people from coughing, spitting and/or sneezing on each other, and can they help slow the spread? Sure, but how many people openly cough, spit or sneeze toward others, and if masks are so effective, why are people who wear masks still contracting this Virus?
The facts are that the arisol/micro particles of Covid-19 are not contained by virtually all masks. Covid’s arisol particles range from 60 to 140 nanometers (0.06 to 0.14 micrometers), and the filter capacity of the N95 surgical mask only filters out 95% of particles that are roughly larger than 0.30 micrometers. This means, that although it will stop large particles (as previously stated) from landing on others, it still does not contain the micro particles of this virus, and don’t get me started on the home made masks that many people wear dozens of times before washing, which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and disease, including potential viruses. Ewwww!
Wearing a mask when nobody else is near you is absolutely asinine. Reminds me of a baby sucking on a binky to pacify themselves.
You don’t have to wear your mask driving into town to go grocery shopping, until you get there and have contact with people.
Unless you are practicing social distancing along with proper hygiene protocols, while wearing a mask properly (and I emphasize properly, because most people that I’ve watched over a period of time do not), a mask can absolutely have an adverse affect.
We arrived in Maui here on 10/16, waited in a 45 min line at OGG for quarantine exemption clearance, and haven’t had any major problems since then. It’s been lovely so far.
The only problems have included a rental car agent who didn’t seem to be aware of the visitor exemption rule, and repeatedly accused us of “breaking quarantine”, until he finally saw our QR codes (which he didn’t ask for, but then scanned and let us go). Also, as we pulled up to our condo – in an empty large parking lot with nobody around, I opened my car door and immediately got yelled at by a staff person from across the lot, who ran towards us yelling, “YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK!” Yes, sir, I have one in my pocket here, we’re outdoors, and I was about to put it on if you’d give me more than 2 seconds to do so (and I did)! It seems he was ready to aggressively pounce on anyone he saw not wearing a mask, even outdoors and far from anyone. Which was not a very warm welcome.
Frankly, at least now when it’s not crowded, it’s a bit silly to scream at people for not wearing a mask outdoors in uncrowded areas. There is *no risk* of transmission in a breezy outdoors area at a distance of 10+ feet, and certainly not from brief incidental contact with people (say, walking by momentarily on a hiking trail or beach).
I’m happy to – and have been – strictly wearing a mask when inside grocery stores here on Maui, when walking to restaurant tables (even outdoor ones), and on the more crowded sidewalks in Lahaina, etc. But while hiking on Haleakala today? No. And it’s a little absurd when we saw (through binoculars) a couple people, hundreds of yards from anyone else way down the trail, hiking with surgical masks on.
Everyone would be able to calm down, understand the rules, and likely be less at each others’ throats if mask rules were clear: Always wear them indoors, and then wear them outdoors if you’ll be sitting or standing very close to strangers for more than a few minutes.
Holy moly whatta mess.
Mahalo to Beat of Hawai’i!! You guys are the best at getting the info out to the people.
Could it be that the “planned opening” included a method of making up lost revenue by arrests and fines?
Stay tuned for the next episode of “As the stomach turns”
Aloha and blessings to all! Stay safe out there 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks again. Hopefully, we can iron out some wrinkles soon. 😉
Aloha.
If you are tested and don’t have the virus, as all the travelers are, what’s the point of a mask?
To make sure you remember OBEY
A test is good only on the day you are tested. You can contract the virus after, or already have it, but the viral load has not yet built up enough to show on a test. Testing is only one part; distancing and masks are needed as well.
The virus is .025 micron in size. That means even an N 95 mask can’t guarantee a block to transmission. That size virus can hang in air as does dust, which is much larger. Should you decide to visit a large gathering on your trip or perhaps dine in a restaurant unmasked for the entire time, you are betting that all of those around you are not loudly talking and spewing virus.
So, why mask? It’s akin to choosing whether to wear a bullet proof vest before entering a drug house or taking your chances.
Aloha,
The point is we want to welcome everyone with Aloha! The islands have suffered and residents are humans just like you. We want to be safe and so should you.
Respect and be respectful while understanding that most of our islands only have one hospital, and since the gates have opened we are now afraid to take our family out because of people not wearing the masks. Share Aloha, not Germs!
Tests are not 100% accurate. Infection within the last 24 -48 hours (at Airport, on plane, arriving at HNL for exaple) would not show. Wearing a mask is just another layer of protection. When you leave your car you take the key. But if you have any sense you lock it as well. Same idea.
really? Surely you can figure this out. NOT everyone in Hawaii has gotten tested as in the locals. Still need to be safe!
I echo Scott’s point. Why should visitors who have been tested as negative for Covid have to wear masks or social distance? The only reason I can think of is that the testing requirement is really useless, as the person could be exposed to the virus literally seconds after being tested all the way through the time they arrive in Hawaii. As such, it really means the test is not of any real value in preventing infected visitors from going to Hawaii. So, get rid of the testing requirement and just mandate masks. Not that I am going to Hawaii with either type of requirement in place. I will only go when there are no restrictions of any kind related to Covid.
So its cool if I sneeze in your face? Its an easy answer because someoneelse might have it and transmit it to you. Its not that hard to understand
Because you do not know if you catch something the next day, and so on. Look at the NFL or MLB. Or even POTUS. These guys get tested frequently, yet they catch it and likely pass it into others, unknowingly. Remember, the primary purpose of the mask is to prevent the wearer from spreading something to others.
Someone will slip through the cracks…testing is not a guarantee.
This is not rocket. Science we are currently in a pandemic. All one needs to do is look at countries such as Japan, S. Korea that properly wear mask. Their numbers are far lower than ours and they did not have to close their economies.
Aloha Roy,
Comparing a country with 50.2 million people (Korea), and a country with 126 million people (Japan), to a country with 330+ million people (USA), who actually has more people wearing masks, makes no sense.
Their numbers are far lower because they have far less people, which is also not rocket science. 🙄
Aloha Jim
Your comment “Aloha Roy,
Comparing a country with 50.2 million people (Korea), and a country with 126 million people (Japan), to a country with 330+ million people (USA), who actually has more people wearing masks, makes no sense.
Their numbers are far lower because they have far less people, which is also not rocket science. 🙄
UH correct me if I am incorrect here but Hawaii does not have way more people than Japan or Korea?
because Japanese are smart, unlike americans
I wear a mask to protect the people around me as well as myself. I think it’s great that Hawaii is protecting themselves. Clearly, the U.S. can’t figure things out as a nation.
No mask, no Hawaii. It’s pretty darn simple.
I am a bit confused. Please tell me how visitors to the islands would be the cause of covid 19 spread when it is required that 100% of all visitors have tested negative for the virus before being allowed to appear in public. Does this not also mean that wearing a mask becomes redundant?
The virus itself has not been eradicated in Hawaii. There are still residents unknowingly spreading the virus. Any visitor or local without a mask in public is at risk and they will pass it on to someone else. If locals are going to be required to wear masks, then visitors should be held to the same rules otherwise this circle of spread continues.
Thanks and let’s all try to make this work to save Hawaii’s economy.
No virus has evet been eradicated they are with us for ever only mutating to a point where we eventually get immunity thats historic fact
John,
Do some research on Herd immunity. It would require a good vaccine and millions being affected and millions would die. Not the way to go. You dont want to follow the rules fine by me but stay away from the rest of us who do. thanks
Steve, first off, you could have contracted the virus between testing and departure, and if you have a multi-part flight and not a Hawaii direct flight, you are sandwiched in a plane with people who have not been tested. Plus the airport, etc, etc. Unfortunately, the test determines that you didn’t have Covid at that point in time. I guess there are no sure things!
you are redundant
As has been discussed before in this fine publication, the State of Hawaii has been remiss in its communication efforts (or lack thereof) with potential visitors. From the many gaffs during the summer with the on again/off again quarantine-lifting fiasco to this latest issue they just can’t seem to get it right.
At least the testing program appears to be functioning adequately. I do not look forward to the delay in Kona for another test on arrival but understand the reasoning behind this requirement.
Thanks for another informative update.
Hi Mike.
Thanks and hang in there. You’ll be enjoying Big Island soon enough.
Aloha.
What fun! I think I will wait until my mask can be fitted with a snorkel.
Aloha Renard,
Now that was funny. Mahalo for the laugh! 😂🤣😂
We have been on Kauai since 10/16. We own a condo at Whalers Cove in Poipu. The Kukuiula Shopping center is about 50% open right now and we have already enjoyed wonderful and welcoming meal with mai tai’s at Merrimans. Spectacular day yesterday driving all the way up to Haena State Beach (made parking reservations in advance). A local farmer came up to us to give us “the best bananas you’ve ever tasted”. Then we strolled on the Hanelei Pier – lots of activity and children jumping off and learning to surf. Then mai tai’s at Tahiti Nui.
I did not know a mask is mandatory at all times in the state of Hawaii. It was not communicated to me even once with that level of certainty. It is such a disappointing experience when visitors come trying to support the local Hawaiian businesses and the government communication is so very poor and disjointed. Different islands have different rules? Really ? Stronger together. What part of that is not understood? Hawai’i is an embarrassment and an example of an epic failure on how to effectively manage a crisis like Covid.
Please note that these CoVid tests are only 70% accurate. It is foolish to think that just because an entire airplane has negative tests that everyone is CoVid free. 30% of the tests are inaccurate and what exposure have all of those passengers had since taking their tests? CoVid free isn’t possible, isn’t going to happen. Our economy is crashed and now we will see what happens to the CoVid numbers. Should have let nature do her thing from the very beginning- with runaway fear all we have done is prolong the inevitable, and severely crashed Hawaii.
Please stop spreading misinformation. The PCR (NAAT) test is 99% accurate for positive people.
We have a trip in November to Big island. And we know to wear a mask. We wear one here in Washington. It will take some getting used for people while traveling. Mask up so we can through this. We will do our part.
Let me know when you aren’t so paranoid about viruses and I’ll be happy to come back and spend my hard earned money.
I am not spending my good money to walk around like there’s some sort of real pandemic….what about those of us that are medically exempt from masking? this is ridiculous and needs to be gone by the summer
Does being medically exempt from wearing a mask mean you cannot get or spread covid?
In the early 80’s I worked on an education campaign warning about the risks of fruit and vegetable infestation of the Mediterranean fruit fly. We produced a short video on the proper handling and transport of approved produce. That video was mandated that all airlines run the video as part of their arrival process. Same would be logical for CV-19.
Though I appreciate the fact that most visitors return our aloha by masking and social distancing, there is considerable push back from the current Administration and supporters who refuse the basic safety guidelines. Just yesterday, the Administration’s top medical advisor, Dr. Atlas, tweeted that masks don’t work and that the only solution is the discredited concept of “herd immunity”. With those conflicting messages, I wonder if visitors subscribing to these two dangerous concepts will simply ignore.
That’s the problem. The average mask-wearing rate in the US is around 50%. So that means that roughly 1/2 of the visitors coming to Hawaii now simply don’t have a history of mask-wearing. This is, as you point out, supported by the anti-science administration we currently have and is the main reason that we are so far behind the rest of the world in terms of managing this pandemic. It’s also the reason that we continue to have to lock down so much. If we had a mask-wearing rate of 90+% we could get this pandemic under control pretty quickly, and open up the economy in Hawaii, and the rest of the country.
Absolutely correct. A tourist called me stupid while I was out for my morning walk. I’m 61 and felt saddened and attacked for following science.
If you truly “follow science” you would be aware that “the science” has changed numerous times since February regarding COVID, and that, after decades of study, masks had been well-established to be ineffective against coronavirus. Sadly, the narrative is now changing on that, and certain studies are being crafted to say that masks can provide SOME protection (like keeping people from coughing and spitting into our mouths and eyes, evidently). I hope that you are following best-practices from Fauci: wear that snorkel mask or swim goggles when out and about to be extra safe!
But, if you truly followed the science, you’d see that the US fatality rate for COVID-19 has been revised down from a criminally inaccurate reported high of 7.00% (yes, go look it up!) to a new CDC number of 0.65%, or if you prefer the WHO, their latest estimate is that 10% of the world population has had it, and using the total death count, you’ve got a global fatality rate of 0.14%. Mask up, o, followers of science: according to the WHO, COVID-19 is less deadly than the flu!
The real science has show it all along: the old are at massively greater risk than the young (as is the case for flu-related deaths). So the impetus is on the old to protect themselves. Don’t take the risk, and let us get on with achieving herd immunity for you, while keeping the economy running, toilet paper on the shelves, and food in the fridge. That is what a non-partisan with no agenda other than public health would say. Fact check me! Don’t worry, I’m not traveling to HI until this madness passes, so you won’t have to worry about getting my cooties, or my money. Aloha!
Your last sentence before “Aloha!” certainly made me feel better. What you seem to ignore is a recent meta-study that looked at 172 experiments on the efficacy of mask wearing.
That meta-analysis of 172 studies looked at various interventions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, SARS and MERS from an infected person to people close to them. The analysis, which was published in The Lancet on June 1, found that mask wearing significantly reduces the risk of viral transmission.
Apparently you listen to a radiologist that feeds Trump his daily dose. Science says that to achieve that illusive darling called “herd immunity” 60-70% of the population must be infected. Let’s see, even at your absurdly low death rate (i don’t argue that the rate has reduced because treatment modalities have improved)your strategy would produce ~16,750,000 dead Americans. You must be proud of your self-assured “solution”, as it is about 3 times worse than the German’s final solution.
What science and emerging data on long haulers and citizens of all ages that have become infected has indicated is that this virulent form of corona virus has currently unknown, but likely,health issues far into the future. If blood clots, liver damage, intestinal tract damage means that CV-19 is no worse than the flu, then put me on your scientific mother-ship and sail me to that promised land of Atlas.
Thanks James, I was aware of that Lancet paper (which counted zero epidemiologists among its authors), and it has been attacked for some of its claims regarding masks. And a meta analysis is not the same as an actual experiment and analysis. That paper was widely criticized as offering dangerous conclusions, overly simplifying the data, and more than 40 scientists have called for its retraction. Not to mention that most masks are filthy and reused, becoming counter-productive.
Nice ad hominem attack. Keep up with the “science”, that 60-70% infection for herd immunity has now been revised down to 30%, with an estimated 10% who have already had it. That’s why it should spread among the healthy like wildfire, burn itself out, then the at risk will be protected and can resume normal life. And it is how we’ve dealt with almost all viruses that do not have high fatality rates and long incubation times.
We each have our own personal risk tolerance. I find most of the panic is from reliance on old, bad information. Stay current and you’ll have reason for optimism, even if we don’t all wear masks.
Harvey Covid19 will really like you. Wow. What hatefilled diatribe. Cannot believe that is allowed here
Thank you Paul. It’s useless to debate someone who views through one lens using one eye, but for the rest of BOH readers one needs to call out those who would present themselves as knowledgeable with certainly dangerous information.
Re: The Lancet study. You Harvey H., incorrectly reported the percentage required for herd immunity. This from MD Anderson Cancer center:
We spoke with our infectious diseases and infection control specialist Roy Chemaly, M.D., for details.
What is herd immunity?
Herd immunity happens when enough people have developed immunity to a particular infectious disease that the risk of further community transmission is either eliminated or significantly reduced.
This requires a certain percentage of the population to have been exposed and infected with the disease — in this case, COVID-19 — so that they develop immunity against it in the form of antibodies. These antibodies not only protect the person who has them from re-infection for a certain period of time, they also prevent them from passing along the disease to others, because their immune systems kill whatever it is that causes it — a virus or bacteria — when they encounter it again.
What does it take to achieve herd immunity?
That varies by disease. For this particular coronavirus, doctors estimate that about 60% to 70% of the human population would need to have antibodies in order to have herd immunity as a species.
Re: Meta study vs. experiments. Of course, I realize that a meta analysis is an analysis of studies, not an experiment. It deduces relevant information from those statistical studies to look for similarities in conclusions. Meta-analysis is used all the time to verify the consistency across experiments.
Finally, it is not an ad hominen attack when the originator of false data then declares being attacked (sound familiar?). I was simply pointing out the statistical fact of 16+ million dead Americans which seems apparently acceptable to you.
Paul C: I don’t hate people, mainly misinformation. But I do see you sprinkling nuggets of love all over these comments.
James B: I see that you are ignoring that there is no consensus on what it will take for herd immunity. I can cherry-pick scientific inferences and estimates, too. Look at Europe; they’re constantly revising their numbers down, with some saying 10-20% is all that is needed in certain situations. My 30% is a fair average, and will likely be very close to the final number. Time will tell. The herd immunity estimates of 60-70% for COVID are relics from the spring when we had bad (terrible!) data.
Can you dispute that we were once told that COVID had a fatality rate of 7%, or the new 0.65% number? The trend is that all these Chicken Little numbers have been falling faster than the sky was supposed to be. A meta analysis is not a replacement for a study, and I can show you dozens of actual studies that say these masks are a mess and likely to hurt, not help, public health. You also deflected a bit there, as you never addressed the fact that that Lancet paper was widely condemned for making unsupported assumptions and dangerous statements about the efficacy of masks.
You do realize that your 16MM dead Americans is 8 times higher than the now discredited doomsday model offered by Neil Ferguson which helped kick off the panic? As far back as March 26 he was walking that insanely high number back. Your assumed death toll is a baseless extrapolation of current numbers. You should reread my initial post where I said we should isolate the vulnerable till heard immunity is achieved. I never said that 16MM dead Americans was acceptable to me, but I also don’t see an annual “mask up” routine with the flu, even when it killed 80k Americans all while we have widely adopted vaccines. Tell me, did you or your Lancet scientists advocate for these miracle masks before COVID, or is this a recent revelation for you? Was 80k dead Americans last year acceptable?
Mahalo! It’s so simple!
Don’t come or be sent back to where you came from if you don’t want to wear a mask!
No Mask = No Hawaii
LOL you have yourself a really nice day ok?
I will be honest, we cancelled our trip this summer, and after reading all of these posts, we have no desire to return any time soon. It sounds like the mask police are worse than CA! This does not sound welcoming, inviting, or relaxing…It seems logical that many tourists will choose other places that are more welcoming…..
Sadly, the Hawaiian residents will pay for decades for the fall out of this virus. The cure is far worse than the virus itself!
Masks do not cause brain/heart or lung damage. They are not worse than COVID.
For some who recover from COVID-19, symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, confusion, headaches and even hallucinations are among the growing number of issues survivors face following the illness.
“Individuals recovering from COVID-19 may struggle with a number of respiratory, cardiac and kidney problems,” warns Laurie Jacobs, M.D., chair of Internal Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center. “They also have an increased risk of blood clots, which can potentially lead to a stroke or heart attack.” …here is a look at some of the most common long-term effects:
Heart Trouble
A recent study from the University of Frankford in Germany showed abnormal heart findings in more than 75% of people recently recovered from COVID-19. A considerable majority of patients in the study were found to have had inflammation in the heart and muscle lining.
Inflammation in the heart can lead to long-lasting cardiac disease and failure.
“There’s a lot more that needs to be studied, but it’s important to know that there’s the possibility out there that a coronavirus infection could mean development of a serious heart condition,” says Dr. Jacobs.
Lung Problems
We know COVID-19 attacks the lungs, causing inflammation. This may leave survivors with persistent shortness of breath.
Some people who recover can experience a dry cough or pain when breathing after the illness. Those who had to be placed on a ventilator may have more severe symptoms.
Brain and Neurological Issues
Research shows COVID-19 can affect the brain & central nervous system. Some people have reported symptoms like headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating or recalling things and even hallucinations after recovering.
Really? Do you think that this economic hardship is worse than 220K deaths? BTW, because of the current approach of pretending there isn’t a problem, we will likely lose another 200K people by the end of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that lockdowns are a long term solution either. They are a short term solution until we can get things a bit under control, then we open up slowly with significant mask-wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. the rate we open up is ENTIRELY determined by how seriously people take this pandemic and do the above-mentioned mask-wearing, etc. Unfortunately, we are in a position now where people simply won’t do those simple things (US mask-wearing rate is somewhere around 50%), and therefore we are STUCK. It’s a catch 22 where all we need to do is break the cycle, and we could open up.
You might be interested in this post from health care workers:
Volunteers Needed:
Volunteers who don’t believe in COVID-19 or that the cure is worse than the virus
Activities include transfer of patients, transfer of the dead,general cleaning of COVID ward.
P.S. It won’t be a problem that you won’t get PPE, as you don’t believe that they are necessary, and that the .
Signed: Health Care Workers
Yes, please stay home. Hawaii does not need visitors like you who don’t want to obey the local rules. Regardless of your thoughts on the pandemic, “if you don’t like the rules of the road, stay off the highway”.
Aloha Friends,
We arrived on Maui 10/17. Everyone on Maui has been kind and friendly, both visitors and local employees. We cleared the Covid checkpoint at the airport in about 50 minutes.
I have seen no signs of resentment from locals. All have been welcoming, knowing all visitors are Covid free due to testing guidelines. Mask wearing has not been a problem. Everyone we have encountered has been very courteous, mask wearing when not social distancing. I’m unclear on what all the problems I read of are all about?? They just are not present.
Kim R.
Too many unknowns for us, too risky. We canceled our February reservation at Kauai Kiahuna Plantation, so Jeff and Rob, you will have to wait until 2022 for those free drinks from us at Keoki’s.😁
Hi Rob.
Thanks for letting us know. See you then.
Aloha.
Wonder if I know who Rob L. is.. from Missouri? 🤔
Nope. I live in Colorado Springs. I actually started replying under the moniker Bob L., but changed it to Rob L. because there is another Bob L. from California who posts occasionally, quite cynical I might add, and I wanted to avoid confusion.
Oh my – well good reason to change it I guess. Thought you may be my bud who is from MO and is also a Hawaii enthusiast! 🙂
So glad that Hawaii is beginning to open back up to tourism! So sad that the local population is going to have to deal with the mixed attitudes in regards to mask wearing that is witnessed daily here on the mainland. Many no doubt feel some sense of entitlement, as they are not residents. It needs to be stated that masks are not an option when visiting. We have plans in place to return in April for an extended stay. We will follow whatever local mandates in place at that time. A small price to pay to be able to visit. We are hopeful for ALL the peoples of Hawaii that financial security will return.
This is disheartening. When I went to Palm Springs about a month ago, there is a huge billboard when you drive into town that says wear your mask, or you’ll be fined. All over town, the restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. have huge signs saying to wear your mask. And everyone does. It doesn’t take much more than that, does it? I like the idea of having it on the video screens when you’re flying to Hawaii. Perhaps a page added to the emergency exit information we all find in our seatbacks would also be helpful. Once again, Mahalo for keeping us up to date.
Hi Claudia.
Good idea on having that in the seatback as well. Since there are no billboards in Hawaii… Thank you for your many comments.
Aloha.
California is one of the best in the nation when it comes to mask-wearing. The average for the US is around 50%, and CA is at 64%. 64% is still not all that great (the experts would like to see something in the 90’s), but like I said, better than average, BTW, Hawaii is #3 in the nation for its mask-wearing rate! It varies by island, but it looks like the average is in the high 70% range! It’s no surprise then that when a huge influx of visitors show up that come from places where the mask-wearing average is lower you’re going to see a lot of enforcement action, especially at the beginning. I’m not sure that showing people a short video is going to change their attitudes about masks that they bring with them to the islands.
“5,000 Police Warnings/Citations” ???
Ahhhhhhhh … the “aloha spirit” is still alive and well, I see.
Hawai’i is in such deep trouble … it’s sad and it didn’t have to be that way. I feel for my former (and sometimes current) home (dating back to the ’50s)
Auē …
The mask wearing must be enforced at all times, even while eating. Masks are removed only when food arrives at the table and put on immediately when meal is completed. Mask must be on at all times, no exceptions and fines given out who do not follow the rules. Put visitor information on planes as well at rental car agencies. Coming to HI for the Holidays so hoping that Hawai’i enforces these rules to tourists!
Thanks Nancy, I will be sure to put that mask on as I’m chewing my last bite!
Aloha,
But are the locals universally wearing masks? It is not consistent on the mainland, when you move to a different state. It will be hard to get the tourists to do it, if the locals are not.
Mahalo
Hi Casey.
Others are welcome to chime in. We see mask-wearing almost without an exception except where there is physical distancing outdoors.
Aloha.
Been on the Mainland in Dixie since late September. When l left Honolulu l most definitely was not wearing a mask when walking on the street or when working on my plot at the Makiki Community Garden. Here in the South masks are definitely on the way out. No question about that in South Carolina and Florida. As for North Carolina where I have been as well you can’t be forced to wear a mask on the sidewalk. Very sad to kearn our state and local governments are now as pupule as Mazie🤪😜 our embarrassment of a US Senator😞.
I think I mentioned this in a previous post, Hawaii is #3 in the nation in mask-wearing. It varies a bit from island to island. For example, Kauai is only at 72%, whereas Honolulu is at 85%. Unfortunately, the US average is only around 50%, so a lot of people coming to Hawaii are coming from a place where fewer people wear masks.
Thank you for all your up to date information especially during these confusing times. We are currently in Maui, having successfully entered with all our documents and negative test results on Friday. My question is this: we are planning on returning to Maui the beginning of December. Does that mean we need to take another Covid test? Or are our results still valid?
Thank you. Appreciate any info.
Vicki Grady
Hi Vicki.
Yes, you’ll be going through the whole thing all over again. Should be easier the second time around we’d hope.
Aloha.
Thanks BoH for all the updates! Written mask info distributed by the airlines would be helpful. Signage in baggage pickup etc would help too. But visitors also need to educate themselves before traveling. Common sense during this uncommon time.
Hi Sue.
Good points. Thank you.
Aloha.
Green said, however, “We have made it very clear that upon entry that everyone has to wear a mask while they’re in Hawaii. They get instructions from our National Guard.”
If they receive instructions when entry to Hawaii, regardless of what airport, then there is no excuse. I fly back to Maui on Saturday (returning resident as well as a strong mask supporter) and will be able to ascertain the instructions given to the people entering Maui. If it is verbal, well that may not be so good. It should be written and handed it out to every visitor. I. also, am in favor of citations, no warnings. If they can not educate themselves before coming and they are given clear instructions, then why a warning. Sorry, but I want to see Maui protected and not have to go through another shutdown. But if we are not giving tourists clear and written instructions on the island mask policy, then shame on the Mayor.
Yeah, mask up everyone. It’s worked so dam well so far. Cases continue to rise…etc. I verbose is masked up, yet all we hear is about how bad it is. I thing new for Hawaii. Best of Hawaii, you guys are the bomb with your updates! Thank you so much!
Hi Dave.
Thanks for your comment and nice words.
Aloha.
Mahalo! Love getting the latest updates from you…
Hi Kathy.
Thanks for saying that. We really appreciate the comments!
Aloha.
Aloha Guys-
So if I go for a run or a hike with a neck buff and raise it when I am passing someone/can’t keep 6′ away that is not ok?
thanks
Hi Jon.
It definitely sounds right to us. Thanks.
Aloha.
So you have to wear a mask outdoors at all times even if 100s of feet from any people? That pretty much rules out running, biking or hiking, because exercising is pretty miserable with a mask on the whole time in hot, humid conditions. That’s a very different policy than most other states.
Thanks for keeping us updated. Just booked 2 weeks on Big Island early Dec and this helps know what to expect.
Mahalo. And by right you mean what I proposed is ok to do?
Hi Jon.
We can’t say that with certainty, but it seems that would be acceptable from what we know.
Aloha.