Starting tomorrow, one Hawaiian island will take a very different approach in terms of restaurant vaccination mandates and capacity limits. Kauai has decided that each business can decide for itself. That is in concert with the mayor’s earlier statement that Kauai businesses know what needs to be done. Taking that a step further, they can now either implement vaccination and testing policies or not. Those that do will be able to return to 100% indoor capacity immediately. Those that do not will remain limited at 50% capacity.
The businesses impacted include restaurants, bars, and gyms. To return to 100% occupancy, there must be proof of vaccination or of testing within 48 hours of entering a business. Specific guidance for testing and evidence has not been issued by the county.
This measure brings Kauai somewhat closer to compliance with the rules on Maui and Oahu. Those also operate such that to achieve 100% capacity, vaccination or 48-hour test proof is required for indoor activities. The order does not appear to change any other requirements.
BOH: We will update this as we learn more about how businesses comply with the new rules. As you know, the current 50% capacity limit is an extreme burden to restaurants and their customers. Businesses find it hard to be profitable while visitors are challenged to obtain dining reservations.
At the same time, this is going to prove confusing to visitors. They simply will not know which businesses comply with the new 100% option and which don’t. And even those that do and don’t comply could change over time.
What are your thoughts on Kauai’s adaptation of this rule?
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Aloha! So thankful for your site. My wife & I are arriving in Maui on 11/15 from LA. I’m still confused about what we need.
We’re both vaccinated. I’ve gone to Safe Travels, created accounts, added our trips, and applied for Vaccination Exemption. The website mentions printing out the vax record doc but there’s nothing to print …
Given this, it’s still not clear to me what I need to do to avoid the 2hr lines in the Kahului airport like last March. Do I just show up at LAX with my vax card?
actually, i figured it out. I had applied for an exemption and the website never sent me an email. after re-applying three times, it showed up.
Hi John.
Their. Glad to hear it all worked out. Have a great trip on Maui.
Aloha.
Vaccine requirement ridiculous…I can still catch and spread covid. Just more seperation from the government. Please don’t go in any building if you don’t feel 100 percent. That easy.
Been in Kauai for almost 2 weeks, resort is over 90%. Had absolutely no issues going to dinner or eating on the lanai. Some restaurants are closing earlier but its been an amazing stay, most people have had enough of the nonsense and are happy to have visitors.
These businesses need to become Private Membership Associations and allow their customers to decide if they would like to follow these unconstitutional mandates or not. The State of Hawaii could care less if you remain in business or not. It is the customer that supports our businesses. If we are not discriminating against those who are not vaccinated, it is the member who decides if they will dine indoors or take it to go. Time to take back our rights. Move into the private.
If the state is still imposing the “distancing” and “no mingling” rules, I suspect the Kauai restaurants that we frequent will not start doing card checks. The table distancing rule still limits them to 50% (at most), even if they had the extra staffing (which they do not). Nothing to gain by going to “full capacity,” and they already have to be the mask theatre police since the county threatens them with fines. Scolding people who you hope to get nice tips from is awkward. We’ll see.
Currently visiting the Islands now. On Oahu at the moment where the restrictions are very much like home (San Francisco) so no problem. But putting the burden on each restaurant/bar to decide in Kauai? No thank you! I will skip that Island on this trip. I’m back in December and was to be in Kauai and I’m looking to change that trip too.
Hawaii should rid the proof of vaccine mandate. It should join a majority of the states in America and open full capacity.
These covid regulations do not need to be going into a second year. Get rid of this ridiculousness.
What ever happened to “Once 70% of residents are vaccinated all restrictions will be lifted”? Ige said that over 8 months ago. Just another reason why we cannot and should not trust anything “They” say. Thank you BOH for always trying to keep people informed about the constant rollercoaster ride of changing rules regarding covid and the Hawaiian Islands.
Hi JT.
Thanks. A while ago Ige said that given the latest round of variant cases, the 70% would no longer be a determining factor.
Aloha.
Then what is?
This must now appear to many to be Hawaii merrily making up the rules as they go along. As we say in Georgia, “That dog ain’t hunting” anymore.
One may witness the results of this routine of goalpost rearrangement simply by perusing the recent comments right here on BOH. First-time and returning visitors alike are being put off by these befuddling “we don’t know and can’t decide” rules of the day.
At some point near this must end or Hawaii tourism simply withers away.
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We are looking forward to our long awaited trip to Kauai in December and very happy to show our vaccination cards. Honestly, with the beautiful weather we normally get we prefer to take food to go and sit on the beach or lanai than inside a restaurant.
Thank you for all of your helpful posts
Seems the health of the community and others is less important then not being told to help ot to most of these in the comments. It’s nice to see there are folks out there that don’t mind masking and taking steps to keep the island and its inhabitants healthy.
I know! I am so looking forward to our trip and hopefully giving a little boost to the Islands economy. I will follow whatever I need to. I love it there. They aren’t happy with everything either so we don’t need to add to their misery.
You may be able to more accurately forecast your Hawaiian visit by taking Hawaii’s visitation policies and organizing/analyzing them within the following framework:
1. Known knowns (20%) – Inconsistent/confusing requirements Hawaii has already implemented.
2. Known unknowns (20%) – Inconsistent/confusing requirements Hawaii will implement just prior to your arrival.
3. Unknown unknowns (60%) – Capricious requirements Hawaii will implement that you cannot even begin to guess.
There are many litigation against mandate, the mayor don’t want to look like the bad guy and get sued so he will leave it to businesses to decide knowing that the business owners would be liable and they could be sued!
Curious how children fall into this. Are they exempted or do they also have to show proof?
Why is Ige, Green, and the island mayors totally dismissing those of us that have had Covid and HAVE antibodies?
Answer: There’s no money to be made from Natural Immunity.
Any indication of when the Mayor of Hawaii island will make a decision on the policy for his island. We will be going there soon.
Really appreciate your updates BOH!
Hi Lee.
Thanks. We’ve heard nothing so far.
Aloha.
Aloha Rob & Jeff
I’ll be on the Big Island Monday, but I’ve heard nothing at this point either. I won’t be eating in, but I will be doing takeout, and of course cooking at home. Most of the places I go are take out only, since all this craziness started. I will be there for about a month, and should things change I will shoot you an update.
The most ridiculous thing I’ve encountered on the BI is having to wear a mask at drive-thru’s, with clear plastic protecting the pay and pick-up windows.🙄🤦♂️
BOH,
Thank you for the updates, I really appreciate them.
We are coming to Kauai for 2 weeks during Christmas and I have no problem showing my Vaccine card.
We will do whatever it takes to come enjoy your beautiful Island.
Hi Velma.
Thanks. Have a great time on Kauai!
Aloha.
Plate lunch and laulaus to go…ono!!
I don’t think it is all that complicated. Certainly there will be lists of the COVID requirements for the major restaurants. The problem in my mind is if a restaurant is going to open with 100% capacity are they going to be able to find the additional help?
We are headed to Kaua’i for five weeks starting in March and will deal with whatever to enjoy our respite from the Minnesota winter.
That’s a very good question. Everyone is desperate for workers right now, and most places are not operating seven days a week because of it, causing major wait times at the restaurants not taking reservations. Be sure to make reservations well ahead of your trip at the places that will take them.
Most will not be open to 100% capacity with this new rule so don’t worry about it Paul!
I think you are 100% correct, Stephanie. Why be the enforcer, and risk alienating half the population from your business, when you can’t find people to actually work to be able to fill to 100% capacity anyway. You are better off opening an outdoor seating area (if possible), in my opinion. I wouldn’t personally want to work at a place that crams people in, when I have elderly relatives at home that may be more susceptible to harm from this virus. It just makes no common sense at all. 🤷♂️
We’re here on Kauai. The restaurant we ate at last night (in Wainiha) is already limiting how many people they serve in the now-down-to 3 hours they are open (most evenings) because they do not have sufficient staffing. We know the folks who work there – no one had heard about this, and at least for now, they are not going to start checking vax cards or test results.
We were over at our condo on Kauai last month and will be back later this month. From what we could see, most restaurants are simply unable to staff for full capicity anyway– not their fault either. Now to ask restaurant staff to vax card check and/ or covid test check seems both an unreasonable burden as well as an unneeded since they really can’t staff to serve at full capacity. I would bet many restaurants choose the 50% capacity and wait this out. Bravo to this hard working sector!
Wow….now the Kuaui mayor is putting the burden of setting the Covid rules on the business owners turning them in to the bad guy. If they choose not to be the Covid police their only option is to remain at 50% and likely go out of business very soon. The mayor is basically washing his hands of the decision making and leaving the fate of the island in the hands of the business owners. What a spineless leader.
Or…. he’s attempting to do what’s legal. He’s 1/2 way there.
Straight up.
Insane thing is, we now have months of data proving those that are vaccinated can & do spread SARS-Cov2, in fact often have very high viral loads. (Check out studies from Israel, where the majority of population are vaxxed & the great majority of current cases & hospitalizations are fully vaxxed) These shots were developed for the initial virus, not any of the variants. So if it’s truly protecting people that’s the goal, then every single patron should have a recent negative test.
True science Cindy, bravo!
Aloha, very interesting, seems like it will cause mass confusion. We’re on Maui now and the Covid requirements are much like we’re used to in Seattle, so it is no problem. Everyone seems friendly and happy.
Mahalo for all your great article!
Lanell
Hi Lanell.
Thanks for that report from Maui. Yes, it does seem confusing, and we haven’t heard anything about which businesses plan on adopting the new 100% option.
Aloha.
This is very simple. do not go to any hawaiian island. problem solved.
Well in a little over 3 weeks time, people will be returning to Oahu for the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Some that will return are well over 100 years young….can you only imagine asking these people to fill out the required forms with Save Travel Hawaii, upload their vaccination cards, etc…then 24 hrs. before they fly out to go back into the account and get the “square” on their phone…..easier to stay home!