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182 thoughts on “Lack of Visitor Information Already Resulted in 5,000 Police Warnings/Citations”

  1. Morgan K

    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.

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      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.

  2. Jim R.

    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.

  3. Reed B.

    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.

  4. PAM M

    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 🌺

    2. Sandy V.

      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.

    3. James B

      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.

    4. JJ

      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!

    5. Rich

      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.

    6. Paul C

      really? Surely you can figure this out. NOT everyone in Hawaii has gotten tested as in the locals. Still need to be safe!

    7. David W.

      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.

      1. Paul C

        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

    8. JWI

      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.

  6. Roy H

    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.

    1. Jim R.

      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. 🙄

      1. Paul C

        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?

  7. Pari

    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.

  8. Steve C

    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?

    1. David T

      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.

      1. JohnB

        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

        1. Paul C

          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

    2. Kathy J

      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!

  9. Mike S

    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.

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