The rules changed suddenly, everywhere except here in Hawaii. Hmmm. Here’s the scoop from on the ground.
54 thoughts on “Masks Are Still Required in Hawaii, And It Is Getting Much Weirder”
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California has also not changed its rules as of yet. I believe they are talking about June 15 as the date for any changes – just fyi!
You know, when you’re all masked up at the grocery store – When you go down the soap / laundry aisle and smell all those fragrances? Yeah – That’s how effective your mask is.
Our government has become far too fond of exerting its newfound power / control over us and this should be remembered at election time. Texas dropped ALL masking requirements and were called Neanderthals for doing it and were warned about the huge wave in infections it would cause. That wave never materialized. Masks are not effective and never have been. Lockdowns are not effective and never have been.
This is an old wives tale. The particles that cause odors are extremely tiny molecules. Although the COVID-19 virus is a microscopic microorganism, it still is much, much larger than the molecules that would cause odors to be smelled.
Just got back from my local supermarket out here in Wydaho. Masks went away several weeks ago. No employees wearing them that I saw. There were still some customers wearing them. All of the floor tape squares indicating were people were supposed to stand in line are gone. The only remnants were the plexiglass shields at the check stands not yet removed. The masked and unmasked people were able to co-exist.
Thinking back on our 3.5 months on Kauai this past fall/winter, the only times we wore them was when we were in one of the stores (Walmart, Costco, Foodland), or for “Mask Theatre” when walking into or out of a restaurant, or putting gas in the car at Costco. Never wore or saw one out on the beach. But, without tourists, the beaches were very empty. Wearing them on hiking trails makes no sense to me. You pass people for what, two-three seconds, outdoors.
You do need to be mindful when you travel. When in Rome and all that. We were recently in Calif for a week plus, and was definitely a throw back compared with Wydaho. For example, the drinking fountains and water bottle fill stations at SLC airport were open and working, whereas the ones at Oakland airport were covered in trash bags with a big “due to Covid” signs. But, at least the bathrooms were open/functioning.
On Oahu now at a resort. It’s not too much of an issue on property or at the stores. Majority of folks are masked. Not in the pool area. Seems ok and calm.
California is keeping the mask mandate until June 15.
Nobody is following the California mandate, except inside stores where required.
Actually, California still has mask mandates in some places, although it was announced today that we would be ending all those on June 15th. Overall the CDC announcements on masks have caused a lot of confusion since the CDC only recommends, and individual states, counties, etc. handle the “mandates” and there’s a TON of variation between all those entities. Then add to that the fact that some businesses have said that they are keeping the mask requirements in place for now, and some have dropped them.
I am even seeing a few “masks optional” signs on businesses (our state/county have no mask mandates). Have yet to see a “no masks allowed” sign. Maybe restaurants can have masking and non masking sections like the old smoking and non smoking sections? I believe they are already doing that at some sports arenas/stadiums.
Wow. I just left on Tuesday and everything was good. People were masked all over (Big Island). Even most up to finding their spots on the beach and the farmers markets. In the airport and our flight, no issues. Hope it syncs soon but to be honest, it wasn’t a big deal to wear, I was in Hawaii after all 😍🌴. Thanks you all the updates, I’ll be back in October 🏝❤️
Hi Jo.
Thanks for the report from the Big Island.
Aloha.
Love your attitude, Jo.
I just left Hawai’i Island after a 10 day visit with my daughter in Hilo and also saw major compliance, no pilikia.
I think the article makes too much hūhū over what is surely to be a changing situation soon. California still has a mask mandate, and is going by a county-based tier system until mid-June. That seems appropriate, given public health is best managed at a local level.
So Hawai’i isn’t the “only” place that hasn’t ripped off its masks and done a hug-your-neighbor dance.
CDC offered a recommendation, and also noted that “local conditions may apply.” Let’s not get in a kerfuffle over these last few moments of a long, strange trip. I know plenty folks (read: potential/actual visitors) who are, like myself, glad Hawai’i has been as vigilant as they have been. Mahalo.
This post is not entirely accurate. I live in oregon and while the state is following cdc we are still required everywhere we cannot socially distance unless vaccinated to wear masks. I’d say 99% are still wearing masks inside and out. I am fully vaccinated but will Continue to wear a mask where socially distancing is not possible. It’s good to hear we can do the same there except where social distancing is not available.
My experience from the last 3 trips to Maui this year is that when you visit a beach that isn’t one of the resort hotel areas almost no one has a mask on and these tend to be mostly locals. However at beaches adjacent to resorts about half the people who are predominately tourists are wearing masks. It seems the tourists are in fear of being fined or they come from strict states like california where mask wearing is predominant. Locals are much more relaxed and far less likely to wear a mask unless they are inside a business.
Store employees are expected to manage the crime of “non-masking” at their own peril but not shoplifting or other crimes. So much exposure is created for the supervisors, managers and management that puts an employee in this situation. Every retail employee that gets assaulted, spit on, etc. should sue their bosses and company just like they would if they were injured in any other crime where they shouldn’t be involved as a retail counter person.
One of our sons works in a Rite-Aid in California. The employees have been instructed to not say anything to non-mask wearing people (and also to let shoplifters shoplift).
As with everything else these days, seems to be cultural-political. The more proggy your state/area, the more likely you will have perpetual mask wearing rules. And the other way around. I was surprised “we always wear masks” had not been added to those “in this house” virtue signaling lawn signs that are so prolific in some parts of California.