Are you jonesing for a Hawaii vacation? Who isn’t? But don’t hold your breath quite yet. That, as 1) another major island travel destination announced it will remain shuttered until next year, and 2) we’re starting to see more forward-thinking ideas come forward to get travel moving.
The Pacific island Bali and its neighboring islands were planning on reopening this month, concurrent with a planned controversial travel bubble for Australians. That concept is similar to what we have been hearing about here in Hawaii, as related largely to visitors from Japan.
This week, however, Bali took a major step back, saying, “The Indonesian government has not been able to open the door… until the end of 2020 because Indonesia is still in the red zone category.” Bali is now expecting to reopen to visitors sometime in 2021.
There is confusion there, similar to the confusion here, about what a future reopening plan will look like. Bali had only opened to domestic tourists earlier this month and was expecting all tourism to resume on September 11. And, while this delay still doesn’t mean that a travel bubble with Australia won’t happen, it will take much longer than had been envisioned.
Bali, like Hawaii, has an economy dependant on tourism with occupancy rates in hotels down 95% over last year. Last year Bali had about 60% as many visitors as did Hawaii.
Layered travel approach now gaining traction.
Last week, another island destination we’ve written about, Jamaica, also announced revised measures for safe tourism. Rather than adopt blanket travel bans, or rely solely on resort bubbles or other approaches that may not work, Jamaica may be onto something, even if their plan may not be perfect at the start. As a point of reference, Jamaica last year had about 40% as many visitors as did Hawaii.
Different rules for different visitor categories and destinations.
Jamaica’s new layers include a combination of pre-travel authorizations and testing, selective tests on arrival, and tourism zones (think resort bubbles). Visitors are also risk-assessed to determine how they will be handled. At this point, those staying within one of two travel bubbles will be tested on arrival and must remain within their “corridor” for 14 days, monitored via electronic surveillance. Business travelers are also tested on arrival, but may, upon obtaining a negative test result, leave their designated accommodations daily for business and for food.
All visitors must obtain pre-travel authorization, like an online visa. If you arrive from a high risk country (including the U.S.), you must also provide a negative pre-travel test result as part of the process.
Regarding Hawaii, BOH commenter Gary said something destination related, that could be a component of a layered approach. “Why not separate the ‘policy’ into a system that allows tourism on one island, but not between islands.”
Thailand’s new “Safe and Sealed” program.
Thailand’s reopening approach will begin on October 1 in the Phuket area. It is based on resort bubbles where tourists will remain for 14 days. In a different twist however, multiple resorts will be able to combine beach areas, such that visitors will have access to miles of beach that are sealed off for tourists in different resorts.
Components of a layered Hawaii travel reopening.
The concept of multiple layers to provide safer travel reopening seems applicable here in Hawaii. The idea is to at least include the following, even if it is different than what the state had thus far envisioned.
Screening and risk assessment before arrival via online pre-travel authorizations.
Pre-travel testing.
On-arrival testing as appropriate.
Travel app to monitor visitors while in quarantine.
Quarantine duration and levels based on the origination point of visitors and other risk factors.
Rules differentiated by island.
On-island health screenings, plus protocols for dealing with ill travelers.
Do you have other suggestions for how Hawaii travel can resume safely?
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I own a timeshare at the Marriott Ko Olina, it is a deeded property interest, not a right to use (RTU) such as is involved in a points program. Restricting my ability to use my property by requiring me to obtain “authorization” to travel there amounts to a regulatory taking in violation of the 14th amendment’s prohibition against taking of property without just compensation. Also, the Privileges and Immunities Clause that allows for free travel among the states would likely be violated with such an approach. Honestly, it would be easier to just do the 14 day quarantine. This is ridiculous.
Mahalo Karen!
I think that people will just wait until restrictions loosen instead of going through all of these restrictions of pre testing, monitoring whereabouts and quarantining. It is not worth it. We were supposed to vacation in Hawaii in September until the quarantine was extended and still were having issues finding someplace to get a test prior to travel without symptoms and ensure we could get results back within 72 hours of travel. It was looking completely impossible. Unfortunately whether Hawaii’s economy can withstand the shutdown and lack of tourism is the million dollar question.
We own 2 timeshares in Hawaii, one on Oahu and one on Maui. I expect to be able to stay at my home resort and don’t expect to be confined to it. We won’t come otherwise. I support pre travel testing and on arrival testing. Some of the new tests provide results in less than an hour, hopefully they will be used.I appreciate your updates. Thank you.
Hi Teresa.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Hi BOH thanks for the updates I’ve enjoyed reading your articles and posting comments.
I just spoke to a friend of mine who lives on Maui the rumor mill is running hot saying the quarantine period is going to be extend until December 1st.
Have you heard about this?
Hi Richard.
No one knows. That’s the only truth. Today’s post speaks to reopening, but timing is anything but certain, at least for now.
Aloha.
Why can’t they test you after arrival and if test comes back neg shorting the quarantine time?
Jesus. We were planning on going to Hawaii in May, postponed it to September, and had to cancel that. Now it’s next May. Are we going to have to cancel _that_?
So is the big island of hawaii open to visitors we have plans oct 28 going to kona hawaii for 5 weeks. We do not want to be quarentine for two weeks of our vacation.and how would vhf u get food for two weeks. We stay in a condo. We will have cornavirus test with us to show negative
My husband and I bought a house on the Big Island and are planning on retiring there. As of yet we have not been able to travel there without a quarantine. This house needs repair, maintenance and upkeep on the property to keep the jungle from overtaking it. As there are no furnishings or amenities included, it is not feasible to quarantine at the property. We have both been tested for Covid and are negative and would be willing to test as many times as needed. We would like to be able to come to our home, wear our masks, stay to ourselves, fix our house, order supplies on line, and leave everyone to themselves. We are retirement age but not elderly, and certainly not going to have wild parties. We have put our trip off time and again. Please make some logical exceptions.
based on what you say you can go and quarantine for 14 days
Aloha Teresa. After we purchased our home on the BI, we were in your same situation. Our realtor was very helpful during this period as I wanted the basics setup upon arrival. Work with him/her to get all of the basics you will need to stay in your home from Home Depot, Lowes, or another retailer– order your fridge, micro, stove, and garden tools, etc. online and ask them to help you arrange delivery and hookup so they can be there when everything is installed before you arrive. Ask them if you can send some of your personal items such as bed sheets, etc. to their home or office for safekeeping until you arrive. We used Green Flash Landscaping & Irrigation for our gardening needs, they will do yard clean-ups, too. Order your bed and pillows online from SlumberWorld-Kona and have it delivered right before you arrive. You might consider having an exterminator at your home prior to your arrival. Centipedes love the jungle areas and those “cute, little” brown and blue creatures are last thing you want to encounter during your first week in paradise. Arrange a maid service to do a final clean up. Be prepared for everything to happen very slooooooowly in HI. It took over 5 weeks to get a bathtub delivered from the Mainland (this was in 2013, not in COVID). Good luck and enjoy your home!
Thank you!
The news this morning about the new $5 Abbott test that is available in 5 minutes is a complete game changer. After getting the test just down load the free app to phone and you have proof of your results that you can display just like your boarding pass. If the State of Hawaii doesn’t get all over this new development they are missing the boat.
With this test and app people will be able to travel and go out to eat again.
Ron W
Unfortunately, Hawaii will follow so many other state governments that would rather stick their head in the sand and wait for a cure than find a middle road and find a way to help their residents keep a healthy fulfilling lifestyle all the while staying the safest they can be. I hope they can come up with a structured plan for reopening before all the resort industry goes belly up. The county I live in has triple the number of cases. It is also a tourist town. However, businesses are open, restaurants are open, beaches are open. Numbers have peaked and now falling. Economy has still much to recover, but a plan is in place. There are better examples for Hawaii to follow.
I just want to say mahalo nui for a job well done in your reporting. I am a 20 year Big Island resident who also owns a Kona vacation rental, so my interests straddle both sides of the fence. I’ve found your reporting to first include all the facts, then to provide a thoughtful analysis of options to consider. The inclusion of international options is particularly appreciated.
Well done in this time of need for clear thinking!
One final comment: Most people I talk to forget the fact that upwards of 40% of those people who are infectious have no symptoms. Just quarantining visitors for 14 days and then cutting them loose if they have bo symptoms is not adequate protection. On island testing of visitors, even if symptom free, must be included in our protocols.
Hi Jami.
Thanks so much.
Aloha.
I dont think Hawaii will reopen till sometime in mid to late 2021. Probably a good idea for the health of the locals. 2022 would be better though just to make sure. A full 5 year closure to tourist travel would demonstrate if the state truly cares about Hawaiian health or if they are simply trying to win the PC game.
You are to funny Steve. But the sad truth of it is, that as long as the Government pays the bills for people not to work and businesses not to open (i.e. through taxpayer socialist programs) Hawaii will happily stay closed to outsider’s (i.e. “those” people from the mainland). Sorry for being snarky but I don’t know how else to interpret the way this is being handled and debated over there on the islands.
I certainly understand the potential testing requirements as I wouldn’t want to bring the virus to the islands. However, the biggest issue with this virus is that I can be a carrier with absolutely no symptoms (or get a false positive which seems to be a risk with rapid result tests). So I could be very surprised by a positive test right before my trip which could mean losing a lot of money. Therefore I don’t imagine visiting until testing isn’t needed. We have family on Kauai and can’t wait to come back!
If I am going to be restricted to a resort, I will be much more likely to travel to Jamaica and stay at an all inclusive (or just go to Mexico). I wouldn’t want to be stuck on a resort in Hawaii the entire time.
Neither would I. If you can’t explore there is no reason to go. Sure wish we didn’t have to pay timeshare fees when you won’t be able to use them.
I have cancelled all plans to visit Hawaii until July 2021. It makes no sense to book air and hotels now, with Hawaii operating on a month to month basis for tourists. Hopefully by next summer a plan will be in place. My prayers are with those businesses and residents there at this difficult time.
I am just curious, but why is there only talks of staying shut down? Why isn’t the governor talking about getting treatment for the more severe cases? With the treatment in hand, there’s really not much to worry about. Life could go back to normal. The majority of people who get this virus don’t need a treatment outside of a Z-Pak, if at all. So, there really shouldn’t be a supply issue.
I don’t know… it just seems to me that after 5 1/2 months they would have advanced to a more viable solution. The economy has to be salvaged or Hawaii is going to be become a 3rd world island soon. Hawaii’s numbers honestly don’t warrant these drastic measures. I can guarantee during any given the flu season the numbers are triple this Covid19, yet Hawaii still stands. It’s not choosing “money” over people, its just that people need money to survive. Its how our world works.
Well, hopefully there will be a practical plan soon.
I really do NOT ant to come until there is a straightforward policy. I do not want to sit in an hotel room or rental for 14 days. so I will wait for the good of all. believe my I have sympathy for al the tourist eased business. thanks for your constant updates and advice. it really help in decision making.
Hi Mary.
Thank you.
Aloha.
I find it hard to fathom that our state government in Hawaii could plan and implement the lengthy list of protocols you outline above.
Cronyism and incompetence would likely infiltrate every aspect of the program, like it does with almost everything else.
Thanks again for your timely and intelligent updates.
Hi Mike.
Thanks for this and your many comments.
Aloha.
It would be difficult to impossible to emulate what’s being done or planned for places like Jamaica or Thailand. Why? Because HI is part of the US and huge numbers of visitors are from the US mainland. Sovereign nations like Jamaica or Thailand can put all kinds of restrictions on foreigners (including Americans) if they choose. A state of the US (like HI) cannot be too restrictive of Americans. Of course, HI could restrict non-American visitors but that wouldn’t solve the problem.
Mahalo!
Your frequent updates are greatly appreciated and must be frustrating to put together with seemingly weekly changes and contradictions in directions from the state.
Has anyone thought about allowing people who have been vaccinated to travel quarantine free a couple weeks after their vaccination, assuming the vaccinations prove protective? With several studies going on with thousands of participants, that could potentially open the door to some tourist money for the island in the next couple months. Then, as vaccinations are made more available to the general population later in the fall/winter, it could be really opened up to all the newly vaccinated without adding risk of infection to the residents. Without needing to quarantine, there would also be no expenses to the hotels or the states to monitor/track the visitors.
Hi Ed.
Thank you.
Aloha.
The locations you cited are all outside of the US, while Hawaii is a state, so I expect that will complicate the matter. There are huge differences between places like Bali and Jamaica and Hawaii, in population, culture, hygiene, medical care and forms of government, so I’m not sure they are good examples of something that will work in HI. Some states on the mainland have tried the 14 day quarantine with mixed results–and BTW contrary to another post, Washington state was not one of them. Cases in the US have fallen to around 35K per day, which is still serious, but 4 weeks ago they were around 70K per day, so it’s hard to tell what the situation will be in 2 or 3 months. Some scientists are saying that the disease comes in a 5 to 6 week cycle, with a spike and then cases falling off. Perhaps there will be another cycle in the fall when flu season arrives, but no-one really knows. Perhaps the vaccines will be available later in the fall, as they have predicted. If we don’t have a vaccine, I don’t really think the bubble idea will work for HI, as most of the responses on this website have stated. I just pray that a system is in place before our trip which is planned for next March.
Thanks for sharing so much good information on what’s happening in Hawaii, and the kinds of things that are being considered.
Hi Lee
Thanks for this and your dozens of comments.
Aloha.
Why can’t they establish the model that Tahiti introduced? Test before departure, and test 4 days after arrival. While it will not eliminate all cases, it will reduce the likelihood of Covid by a very high margin. The fact that everyone on the plane has had a negative Covid test alone would make me feel much more comfortable flying. And yes, someone may get it in the airport, or a day before departure, but statistically speaking, the chances are low.
Hawaii can adopt the Aruba model; online Visa type questionnaire and a PCR COVID pre-test and health screening (temperature check) upon arrival. Beyond that, the measures such as tracking people on the island that prohibit them from hiking different areas and exploring different beaches is unreasonable. Not sure who would want to spend thousands of dilates on a vacation to be limited to a specific beach/area. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Hi Tricia.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Yes but getting all that to function together effectively is going to require a large dose of one thing on the part Hawaii/Maui/Lanai/Big Island/Kauai government officials: competence. And, so far, nothing but incompetence has been on display.
How long will these localized rules be in effect? None of these efforts will encourage travel/tourism, especially over the longer term. Who will go to the lengths required and abide by the restrictions for a one week visit? Not enough to keep the airlines, hotels, businesses, and locals who depend on tourism happy.
Regarding “Quarantine duration and levels based on the origination point of visitors and other risk factors.” – when would this determination be made? Prior to beginning travel? How far in advance? It certainly won’t work if this determination is made upon arrival.
Personally, I will no longer vacation to Hawaii until all restrictions are lifted and things are back to pre-CV ways. A one week vacation to Hawaii takes significant planning – months in advance of the trip for many folks. To have to compromise on so many things, submit to Big Brother, and have movements restricted and monitored, it is simply not worth the time, effort, and expense – it’s no longer a vacation. The US is a big beautiful country, and I’m guessing many, many folks are going to look to stay relatively local to where they can drive to avoid all of the hassles.
However, Sweden has an overall COVID-related death rate of 57.08 per 100,000, which is the ninth highest in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.
What’s more, Sweden, which has a population of just over 10 million, has had a fatality rate of 6.8%; that’s lower than those of Belgium, the U.K., Italy and Spain, but higher than the fatality rates of Brazil, the U.S., Mexico, France and Ireland.
Ige, needs to get hit upside of the head
( with a coconut 🥥 ) Perhaps it will wake him up!
What we need is with all passengers arriving in Hawaii to be given a Covid 19
test upon arrival at the airport.
I thought Hawaii was part of the United States, not a 3rd World Country.
If someone self quarantined for 14 days in Kauai and one month later flew to Hilo, does self quarantine start all over again in Hilo?
Thanks for keeping us updated. We have moved back, then cancelled two prior trips to the islands this year. The State of Hawaii has no reasonable plan to re-open and (probably no fault of theirs) I don’t think they will be able to come up with anything in the next few months. I think the only hope is for a vaccine. Hopefully, we could see that in 2 to 3 months unless the politicians get in the way.
Nope. Still a travel bubble and still being treated like a criminal. How does this benefit the rest of the Hawaii businesses outside the resorts and do you have to wait until you get there to see if the area you traveled from draws the short straw? They need to give up this stupid bubble idea and set a date to reopen and stick to it. As the old saying goes, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig”. Layered reopening monitoring your every move and still being confined to a resort is still a travel bubble. If Gov. Ige and the Lt. Gov. monitor this website they will see how grossly unpopular this travel bubble idea is. I honestly think they are just throwing these random ideas out there to make people think they are actually doing something about the situation. Tell you what…if you were to tell the Gov and Lt. Gov. that they were not getting paid until they have a solid workable plan in place..it would happen immediately. The utter incompetence of the Hawaiian governing body is mind boggling.
Incompetence is people who think Hawaii is a destination playground and think that they’re not susceptible to this virus or the cause of it. Visitors and residents have broken travel quarantine rules. What will it take for people to understand that this is a serious issue? Hawaii is having problems with contact tracing as well. I’ve watched the local news and see how people blatantly disregard social distancing…having large gatherings and not wearing face masks. Now our hospitals have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases! It’s disturbing to hear that people just don’t freaking care about the safety and health of others or themselves! So if shutting down the island to contain the spreading of COVID-19 to teach people to be more mindful and responsible because your life and your freedom can be limited or taken away just like that.
I’m planning on coming to the big island in October of 2021 for 2 weeks.I would like to be kept aware of any plans about closers around that time.
Cancel – Gov. Ige’s plans cannot be trusted.
But, what about the staff catering to such visitors? We’ll need extensive protections and/or they must also be quarantined, tested, and endure long periods away from their families. Please consider writing about how we are to protect our workers and improve their compensation for undertaking such risk.
Hi Lani.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Lani, That is exactly what I thought about when they started talking about bubble resorts. The staff risk needs to be considered. Staff working there will either have to take their jobs back or lose their unemployment. If workers go back, they will have significant health risks especially if no testing of visitors coming in. Are they just getting off confined planes with others who may or may have not been tested.? Do workers go home to their families at the end of the day taking possible virus home to the kids who then attend classes with other children. Do workers risk bringing the virus into multi generational homes and putting the elders at risk? Are workers quarantined on site where they will be separated from loved ones just so tourists can have their envisioned dream vacation? As much as the businesses & workers need the income & return to normalcy, bubble resorts and opening the islands are not the answer. I am a mainlander who loves & travels to HI often, however travelers need to stay home.
They same way to us medical staff go home to our families after every shift we work and the vast majority of us have not got covid. You will go home the same way all front line workers do.
I cant help but to think that the key is testing. we need more tests and quicker results.
I thought so too, then I read a really well crafted article written by a doc at a hospital who had symptoms and exposure but tested negative 5 times! until her son finally tested positive (even after careful distancing) realized that it must be covid. Later after whole family recovered, she had an antibody test that confirmed indeed she did have the antibodies and did have covid. There has been a lot of talk about false positives. this article (by a doc) says that the results can depend on when you are tested – how many days after exposure/symptoms. It is all a mystery and absolutely a “crap shoot”.
Ane T
At the rate the new cases in Hawaii are growing by the time they figure this whole thing out it will be meaningless. At some point if the covid continues to multiply it will be growing at a faster rate in Hawaii than the mainland. At such time probably 3 or 4 months from now there will be so many cases that Hawaiians will be far more concerned about catching the virus from their neighbors than from tourists. I could even envision time where there could be a travel ban against Hawaiians coming to the mainland. How ironic that would be.
That is most likely case.Thank you!
Since HI is part of the US, there will never be a travel ban against Hawaiians coming to the mainland. Just as there is not, and has never been, a travel ban on mainland visitors. Quarantine, yes. Travel ban, no. Better we all stick to dealing with facts.
Yes, stick to the facts. Great point.
At that point we have herd immunity.
Earlier, you wrote about using dogs to sniff the virus. As you mentioned, dogs can sniff drugs, contraband. They can sniff TB, diabetes, cancers, and malaria, as you mentioned. How long does it take to train the dogs and is it cost-effective? I wonder. It’s worth a try! Mahalo for all your informative posts!
Hi Claudia.
Thanks. Yes, multiple forms of on-arrival testing include sniffing dogs. We have not heard anything more about that but concur it seems worthwhile given there is dog team at HNL already.
Aloha.
This layered opening sounds complicated. No offense to Hawaii, but based on what we’ve seen so far, I have zero confidence in the Hawaiian government’s ability to administer such a plan. Talk about a potential cluster××××! Someday Hawaii is going to have to reopen. If Ige wants to wait until covid is eradicated, he has a long wait in store – like years! Just open up and require masks and social distancing like the rest of America. Those that are elderly or have underlying conditions should stay home regardless.
The world really needs to take a serious look at the results in Sweden, despite no hard lockdown. Today, the epidemic is all but gone there.
Where do you get that information? According to World Meter, Sweden in #29 in the world in cases per million. That’s higher than many of its neighbors such as Iceland which is #45, Denmark which is #82, and Norway which is #96.
Sweden has had the 8th worst death rate per million citizens in the whole world. Higher even than the US. Not exactly a great role model for Hawaii.
What many don’t know about Sweden is that they did nothing to ‘save’ the elderly in nursing homes. Many elderly Covid patients were given morphine and a sedative. Guess what happened? They suffocated. Sad, but true. Makes me cringe.
There has to be a happy medium. I am for keeping the elderly safe – (let them stay home, away from crowds or family members who must be around ill people). Give them special shopping hours, etc.
But allow those without serious health issues to continue to work, live and go to school. “This too shall pass.” But, unfortunately, most of us will be exposed before it does. Keeping the clamps on just prolongs our agony. I don’t even want to think of what is coming if the world’s economy doesn’t get going again very soon. Most of us have only heard of the depression. But, believe me, no one will enjoy living through another one. For one thing, people in general are not as genteel as they were back in the thirties. Instead of waiting patiently in a soup line, they will burn and destroy the cities and move on to rob and steal from anyone they can. 100 years has made a big difference and not all for the good of mankind. Take care everyone. Be kind to each other. We are gonna need it.
Hi Colleen.
Thank you for your hundreds of comments over the past 11 years! Best to you both.
Aloha.
Thank you Jeff. Take care and remain ‘hopeful’ :0)
Exactly, the same thing is happen in California and other states, it’s literally just dying out like most viruses do when they no longer have a viable host.
What part of California do you live in? It’s not dying out here … we ARE starting to bend the curve down, but it’s still at a very high level. This is in great part because too much of the population just don’t want to listen and obey the health orders. If we would ALL just wear our masks, stay 6+ feet away from each other, and wash our hands, we would be in a much better place right now. Instead, we have a bunch of folks who refuse to do that AND insist on having large gatherings, etc. It’s really unfortunate that we can’t all come together and do what’s best for everyone. If we could, we would be in a much better place, and perhaps even in one where we can start opening up safely. Instead, we have business convincing people that we need to open NOW, and thus we have one of the largest outbreaks (as a percentage of population) and in the industrialized world. We can fix the economy, open up when we defeat the virus, not the other way around. BTW, as discussed above, take a look at Sweden, they are a great example of a country that tried what you’re suggesting, and even THEY are now saying it was a mistake.
Sweden has the highest death rate in Europe. All because of no lockdown and no masks.
++++++
Why do people keep repeating the fake news about Sweden? Sweden has a horrible record: by far the highest death rate (575 per million population) in Scandinavia, even worse than the US. Sweden is most definitely not a model to follow. New Zealand, Vietnam (yep, Vietnam) and other countries that immediately followed a strict lockdown were able to open up fairly quickly with minimal problems, although both of those countries have had to back off a bit. Nevertheless, their death rates are far better than Sweden. (Vietnam: 11/m. NZ: 4/m.)
Sweden has survived without any of the restrictions the rest of the world has taken… and they did so better than those who put so called protections in place.
See Dave r. comment, I won’t repeat it.