The Mayor of Maui has proposed new rules for Hawaii travel, including mandatory contact tracing, among other things. A word from Governor Ige on that is expected soon.
As the number of cases of COVID on Maui has increased, interesting things are coming to light. First, Maui Mayor Victorino said yesterday that, since reopening in October, the county had less than 25% lodging occupancy.
Then, there remains controversy as to the source of the increased caseload. The county has been performing free second tests on residents and visitors voluntarily. To date, approximately 15,000 tests have been performed. Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz said that the new case analysis from recent weeks showed that 80% was community spread. Of the remaining cases, 17% were travel related to residents, and just 2% were visitors. Others argued that tourists aren’t opting to take second tests for obvious reasons and thus may account for significantly more than 2%.
AlohaSafe contact tracing App is available now.
The mayor wants to change the app’s use to be mandatory on Maui, although it isn’t clear how it works for those without smartphones. The App is available in the play stores. Once installed, your phone, via Bluetooth, communicates “anonymously” with other phones. Phones with the AlohaSafe Alert App “ping” each other and can determine the proximity between devices and the length of time the devices are near one another.
The nearby phones “exchange a secure, random, anonymous code. Location, name, and any other identifying information are never included.” That according to the app’s website.
Here’s an example of how the AlohaSafe App works.
You would be notified through the App if you were close to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. For the contact to register, the phones would need to be within 6 feet of each other for a minimum of 15 minutes within the past 14 days. For example, if you were exposed to someone at a restaurant and met proximity and time requirements, you would be notified of the possible exposure, but no private details would be shared.
Are you ready to come to Maui and use the AlohaSafe contact tracing app, or do you have any reservations?
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Deb W says
We are finally headed back the end of March and would be happy to do anything we can to keep the locals and islands safe. We are just glad to be able to visit our home away from home again.
RICHARD L. says
No thank you. This is just another way that points out to the visitors they are not welcome and that the Aloha spirit does not truly exists. Why don’t the locals have to participate? Obvious discrimination against tourists. They want our money but don’t want us.
Thank you for the article. It just gives “one” more reason to find a more hospitable vacation destination. They are constantly cutting off their nose to spite their face. Their actions are going to have a very long lasting on the local economy. Those who are passing/ proposing these edicts are still getting their salaries while the businesses die.
Phillip says
No…not…never will I subscribe to any form of app tracking or tracing. I had hopes of Maui in August 2021 (post vaccine) since Kauai is pretty much off the board due to endless draconian restrictions but this finishes it off for me (a long time Hawaii visitor) for 2021…another nail for the Hawaiian tourist industry. I hope there is a Hawaii to come back to when that day arrives…good luck to all…Aloha
Jamie L. says
aloha!
this is nonsense, and if implemented will reduce their 25% occupancy to even less. will go to big island or oahu instead
Sean says
Well, I live in Maui and travel to the mainland several times a month. Not sure if I’ll fall under this mandate or the essential travel BS..
Irregardless, no app for me. Without a warrant they won’t see my phone.
sean says
The rest of my comment was censored… lovely
Douglas E says
Doug, I’m all for tracing. This isn’t Big Brother. It’s health and once you leave, tracing ends with no usable traces left.
Richard C says
Aloha BOH
I have a question or 2.
Mayor Victorino reports since October Maui has had less then a 25 percent occupancy rate, was he surprised or disappointed by that number? Did he indicate what they projected the occupancy rate should be during that period?
Haven’t travelers been told for almost a year we aren’t welcome on Hawaii. Have we all not been told that we aren’t wanted on Kauai or Molokai or to visit Hana.
Who hasn’t seen the video of Hawaii’s Karen chasing people off a beach or video chants of locals crying hoale go home or signs stating hoale isn’t welcome in my restaurant.
Now they want to contact trace everyone. I’m laughing at anyone who is bellyaching about your privacy is being invaded, but you continue to carry a smart phone with you.
Final question Mayor Victorino are tourist welcome on Maui or not?
Oh by the way I heard this morning that Hawaii is in the bottom 5 of states who’ve received covid vaccine and getting their population inoculated. They were ranked just below my state of California. Good job by both.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Richard.
We don’t know what the mayor was expecting in terms of occupancy, and as far as we know he didn’t say. Visitors are not welcome? That isn’t true. Certainly, things are different, but if you read the comments (and I suspect you do), visitors are enjoying all the islands except Kauai at this time.
Aloha.
sean says
You are exactly correct. A year of degrading “dirty” mainlanders. At the same time welcoming Japan with open arms, yet Japan is having their spike and lockdowns now. Japan’s positivity rate us also creeping up above the 6% range.
Any economic devastation the islands encounter is deserved due to all the Karen’s complaining about the Haole mainlanders, and the rest of us sane citizens not raising our voices. Or if we did we were censored and called uncaring.
Dn says
I am having a total brain fart.
Test is 130 on Friday.
Flight from Portland is 110.
I have a short stop in San Jose which leaves for OGG at 410.
Is my test too early? Does it instead need to be at 410 on Friday?
Thanks in advance. My flight was changed and now I wonder if I need to change testing time.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Dn.
Yes too early. It needs to be within 72 hours of the sjc-ogg flight.
Aloha.
Dn says
Yes thanks. I wasn’t awake when I asked it. Does anyone know the best solution in the Portland area for 430 on Friday? I’ll drive to Seattle if I have to. That might be too late for Vault to get to UPS. Thoughts?
Tammy T. says
Aloha Dan!
Omg Dan,so glad I’m not the only one confused on lining up my testing within the 72hour time frame! I originally had a Tuesday morning flight out of Chicago then a 4 hour layover in Seattle. Tuesday flights make it even more challenging to get tested and the results back in time since Sunday might be a wasted day with no FedEx pick ups. I changed my flight(thank god no change fees) to a Wednesday to give me a better chance of the meeting the 72hr window. Now I’m lining up my testing time! So worth the hassle to keep everyone safe but definitely challenging. My daughter lives on Maui and I am doing everything I can to see her after a year. Good luck and you are not the only one having a Brain fart! Aloha!
Becky T says
I’m already booked for a Maui vacation in early March and would definitely be willing to use the app
Nita C. says
It is a hard No!!!
Debra M says
I agree with KymV. She really conveys my exact thoughts about the app. You are on vacation, better to just stay home and wait rather than be paranoid looking at everyone wondering if they have covid.
Jared X says
These idiotic mayors just keep coming up with crazier and crazier ideas to keep tourists away–despite the science / data / evidence confirming what I’ve said on this forum countless times this past year: It aint the tourists that are spreading COVID in Hawaii.
And it never has been.
And, as has been the case all year, Hawaii consistently has some of the lowest COVID infection numbers and deaths–by any measure. Hawaii currently is #1 in terms of the LOWEST number of COVID related deaths per capita–from day 1 of the pandemic. Hawaii also currently holds the #2 spot (behind Vermont) for the lowest number of total cases per capita–from day 1 of the pandemic. And if you look at the DATA you can see clearly that there has been a ZERO spike in COVID cases or deaths since travel restrictions were slightly eased in October. (In fact, daily reported new cases were DRAMATICALLY lower AFTER said easing–at least 50% lower in Oct, Nov, and Dec than in late August / early Sept.)
nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/hawaii-coronavirus-cases.html
But, again, Hawaii’s draconian restrictions have NEVER been about health and safety… they’re about race… and history… and perception… not actual results. (Point of fact: Kaui–which is the county that consistently and currently has by far the LOWEST number of case and deaths per capita–in a state with one of the lowest number of cases and deaths per capita in the country–continues to argue for even MORE dracanion TOURISM restrictions–disengenuously sighting a lack of hospital andn ICU beds as their justification–as if Honolulu isn’t just 60 miles away as the crow flies–20 to 30 minutes by plane or helecopter. You could literally paddle a COVID patient in a CANOE to Oahu before they could die. (Hawaii Life Flight has bases on EVERY major Hawaiin island.)
So, no, unless EVERY person on Maui–including every local and every government official and employee is being tracked by this ap, I would not use it
Goldie C says
Agreed! I will NOT load this app on my device. I will not be tracked. I will not take the Vaccine. So I guess the bottom line is I won’t be visiting Hawaii, and especially Maui or Kauai any time soon. As someone that lived on Oahu and Kauai for 14 years, it’s disgusting what the island mayors and Governor have done concerning a virus that has a 99.5% survival rate. Nothing but fear mongering, lockdowns, and insanity for the past 10 months.
Brad B says
Thank you for this warning. It is horrific to think this would ever be conceived as a good idea.
Mandatory contact tracing without a positive result to a test or just because I’m a tourist.
I am not saying there is an overt attempt at denying one’s privacy but once the app is installed and once the virus has come under control what are the guarantees the tech can’t be used to track movements or ‘free’ assembly?
Andy M says
I would not subscribe to any sort of tracing. Yes, if you carry a smartphone, the government already has a ton of info about you—but why give them more. Same goes for the vaccine, I’m not taking it either.
Scott says
Too invasive…would not participate in an electronic leash by any other name.
Jilene B says
CDC came out today saying that proof of recovering from Covid (a positive test result followed by negative result, will be able to be used when returning from international travel. Will Hawaii allow this same documentation to travel there & avoid the Covid test?
David B says
For up to 90 days, only. From the Hawaii Safe Travels Web Site FAQs:
“If I have recovered from COVID-19 but still test positive for the virus do I still have to quarantine?
In order to qualify for a COVID-19 exemption to the 10-day quarantine, you must submit the following two pieces of information:
A copy of a positive molecular COVID-19 test (NAAT or PCR) from a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory taken no more than 90 days and no less than 11 days prior to your departure date.
A signed letter from a medical provider stating that you have not exhibited symptoms and are fully recovered – this letter must be signed at least 10 days after your positive test and no more than 14 days from your departure date.
To request an exemption, go to ag.hawaii.gov/travelexemption. Please allow a week for processing.”
MattD says
And how exactly do you “make” anyone use the app? Firstly, you can’t make anyone show you their phone content without a warrant. And even if you could, all the person would have to do is shut off their bluetooth or NFC.
jo says
I’m from Canada and since 2008 I went every year to Maui. I hope I can go soon and -except for a vaccine I don’t thrust yet- I’m ready to compromise to any reasonable rules if that allows me to be with my Maui friends, sit on a beach and eat in restaurants!
Mahalo to your team for the constant updates.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jo.
Thanks. We hope you’ll be able to return to Hawaii from Canada again soon.
Aloha.
Judy says
They have the same thing in a Washington State. No biggee
Markr says
I have not opted in to any contact tracing anywhere. If you are sick Stay The Hell Home . If you have been in contact with someone with symptoms Stay The Hell Home. We don’t need big brother tracking us. Yes, Covid is real and I have been taking as many precautions as needed. I have donated my plasma to help others and every time I donate I get a PCR test and blood test for covid19. All have been negative.