Close to 400 people just arrived in Hawaii with the purpose of relocating.
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87 thoughts on “Next Wave of Intended Hawaii Residents Fleeing Big Cities”
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Close to 400 people just arrived in Hawaii with the purpose of relocating.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Sounds like the Kauai Mayor is essentially saying “{edited}, we’re full”. Life will return as normal for 99% of the population.
Dont take it personally but American people love Hawaii it is true before this chaos happened there is a joy and peace that people feel in Hawaii maybe the rich are running away from there problems Im assuming. I understand that the Hawaiian people don’t want to get sicker with all of this vi rus and I understand that people should stay home and not travel sometimes the rich are stubborn and think that their lives only matter when they’re not thinking about the other people on the island and I do believe that I will pray for everybody in Hawaii that they stay safe and healthy and they don’t get sick I hope that one day we may be able to travel again to visit but until then you guys to stay safe God bless mahalo
Hi Jennifer.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Please help. I am scheduled to arrive at Oahu in 5/13 for a 1 week vacation and I am wondering if that is still possible. Thank you.
Hi James.
Highly unlikely that could work. You can check back as it gets sooner when we should know more.
Aloha.
What’s left?
The Hawaiian people dont care how much money you have, they just want you to take your {edited} back to the main land. The rich buy up real estate and raise taxes making it unaffordable for the people.
Please stop people from other mainland states from going to the Hawaiian Islands, at least temporarily while their states of origin are under quar antine and so forth. Hawaii is doing a good job in keeping its population from high concentration of contagion right now but that is not going to last with planes landing full of mainland passengers. Hawaii depends and survives on imported food and most other goods. This could be a major issue if things with the economy continue to escalate or actually suffer. I do no live in Hawaii. Would love to be there but I will wait till this is all over.
Please inform me of the current rules regarding returning ex residents. I have lived in Maui before and want to return and take a long-term residence. Will I be allowed if I can show some validity of my long-term residency plans in Maui. Mahalo and thank you
Hi Anand.
We aren’t able to give advice, but to our knowledge there is nothing different about being a returning ex-resident. You are subject to whatever rules are in effect.
Aloha.
I feel this is fairly simple, the virus has shorten time scales for everything. For many it has brought the fear of death forward, to the present. Last call on life plans! Similar to sitting in a pub during happy hour, and hearing “last call for Happy Hour” from behind the bar. Order now, what you planned to drink in good time. For locals feeling the bum’s rush, this period will be followed by below average interest in Hawaii residence from out-of-state.
3 years ago,We bought a house in Honomu, on the Eastern Big Island. It was the best thing we ever did.
We have reservations all paid for our trip in May, but it looks like we might have to postpone. We have been to Maui 3 times and haven’t been for 5 years. This was going to be for our 20th wedding anniversary. We are so heartbroken to have to postpone. We are praying that this lifts by our scheduled trip time. It is such a sad and scary time.
When this is all over I love to come back and visit the islands.
We have reservations all paid for our trip in May, but it looks like we might have to postpone. We have been to Maui 3 times and haven’t been for 5 years. This was going to be for our 20th wedding anniversary. We are so heartbroken to have to postpone. We are praying that this lifts by our scheduled trip time. It is such a sad and scary time.
Stay home.you can’t look for jobs or homes locked in a hotel. Which you will still be required to do.
This is so sad, all i have ever wanted to do was to visit this paradise, but financially unable as i live in the UK, now it might be too late and i may mever get my wish, thank you so much for all the amazing photos amd stories on Beat of Hawaii, my love to you all, and god bless you and keep you safe, Aloha from the UK.
Hi Terry.
Thank you. We do hope you make it to Hawaii. Remember there will be nonstop flights between London and Honolulu at some point. Let us know if you’re coming.
Aloha.
Dont worry you save your money for Hawaii and when the time is right you will go you cant say i have no money to go you say Im going to save and visit soon but when everyone is doing well. It is a very beautiful place I went my first time last year in May and you want to say you want to live there because people are nice just peaceful and beautiful and its also sad because a lot of Hawaiian people don’t live there and you don’t see a lot of them but it’s a beautiful place to be is very peaceful and I enjoyed it
Thank you to all of the visitors that are respecting our wishes to not visit our islands at this time. We have limited resources as is and need them for ourselves. Hawaii is trying to stay healthy and safe. If you come here and discover you are infected, what then? You will require medical care, and supplies that we simply can’t afford to bare for someone who didn’t have to be here. Please…if you truly love the Hawaiian islands stay home.
We love Hawai’i, and Kauai in particular. We live in Colorado Springs and love it here as well, but we come to Kauai every year in February (good timing this year especially), stay in Poipu. We’ve made many friends in Kauai over the years, both fellow repeat visitors and locals. The church we attend when we are there makes us feel like home, and we have made acquaintances with members there as well. I would love to move to Kauai, but it would mean leaving our grandkids and all the friends we have made in the 40+ years we have lived here. Plus, we’re accustomed to the change of seasons and look forward to each one. Having said that, I feel badly for the locals, since so much of their economy is based on visitors. I hope they can make do, and have faith that this will pass. We have our reservations for next February and really hope that this will be over by then. Thanks.
Hi Bob.
Thank you for this and your other comments over the past couple of years.
Aloha.
Been in Hawaii most of my life since 3 years old 1st lang pidgin…moved to Kirkland WA in 2018…was on my way back to HI March 9th. Canceled caring about the people and my Hawaii fam…and comparing Hawaiis Lord of the Flies panic mode to WA States evenhanded response im glad I stayed in WA.
No reports of landlords demanding {edited}, citizen road blocks, police station storming incidents,juvenile nanny state style curfews, {edited} police state govt overreach, (my 78 yr old mom was threatened w jail for walking 2 blocks from her home) pathetic!!! viciousness and a each his own un-aloha mentality typified by nearly every comment ive seen in Hawaii media sites…shame on Hawaii.
Meanwhile here in WA we closed the US Army field hospital and sent hundreds 0f ventilators back to the Feds. Without turning into a police state of juvenile {edited} WA is handling this crisis as we maintain overall harmony and communal dignity and true Aloha
Please stay in Wa. We would rather you keep your attitude on the rainy cold snow bound NW.
Scott we would rather you not tell us what to do.
Aloha, Brannon,
Glad you approve of what’s being done in WA, but you might be a tad harsh here. WA doesn’t get huge influxes of millions of tourists from all over the world, bringing with them whatever disease they have. And I suspect that there’s a lot of pent-up resentment from malihini driving up the prices of homes, tourist business wiping out a lot of Mom & Pop places, replacing local color and “soul” with bland cookie-cutter chain outfits.
That said, I’ve gotta say I’m baffled by the steps taken in some areas. On O’ahu, you can go surfing. On Kawa’i, a curfew? Does the vi rus get stronger at night? Can’t figure that one out.
We’re in SoCal right now. No surfing allowed, but you can still go out and stroll around. And no one is hyperventilating about keeping out tourists from wherever (and there are plenty of them, judging by the license plates).
There can be a lot of “locals only” ‘tude in the Islands. I remember when Colt Brennan had a map of the Islands inked onto his head, and was complimented by his UH teammates as “being one of us” (meaning local). You’re never gonna hear that at any mainland college. A lot of it, ironically, seems to come from transplants; I’ve always gotten along well with actual Hawaiians, both in and out of the water. It would be interesting to know how many of those posting vitriolic comments online are local born and raised.
I fell in love with the Islands when my daughter attended college in Hilo. She has since moved home but I try to visit the Big Island at least once a year. As much as I would love to live there I wouldn’t. There are only so many jobs and services available and I feel they belong to the true islanders. So I will continue to visit and take in the aloha spirit. ❤️
Aloha and mahalo for a great Hawaii blog. I’m writing to apologize for the inane comments that Bob L made. Very typical of a Californian. (And they wonder why the other 49 states hate them. ) If he thinks his community has only 13 cases he’s either naive or stupid. Unless all 70K people in his community have been tested, I can guarantee you that 13 is just the beginning. His comments are so uninformed and dangerous. I applaud Gov Ige and Mayor Kawakami’s efforts to lock down Kauai. You are 100% correct. Hawaii’s – let alone Kauai’s – health care system simply cannot handle a massive outbreak. Stay strong. Stay safe. We’ll be back. Aloha
Hi Tom.
Thanks for your nice words, and for this and your previous comments.
Aloha.
Tom, please read Bob L comment again, not from Ca. Thanks
I am a ‘local haole’, born and raised in Hawaii (I grew up in Waipahu, on Oahu, when it was mostly sugarcane fields.) My mom taught public school for over 30 years, and my dad worked for Dole for nearly that long, after they moved to Hawaii in 1959. My dad was an aircraft mechanic at a time when air travel was just starting to expand and that brought them there, where they fell in love with the islands, the people, and the community and family-oriented Aloha spirit.
I live and work in the Bay Area and have since college. We come back to the islands (and especially Kauai) at least every other year and more often when we can afford it. All that to say that I have and continue to dream of moving home if/when we can retire. It will always be home to me!
From the first time I landed in HI. in 1992 I felt like I was home. I absolutely would make Hawaii my home if it were possible. Due to my husband experiencing permanent lung damage from VOG while on the Big Island in 2012 that is no longer possible as he can no longer fly. The doctor here told us if he survived the year he would probably survive. I am so grateful we are still sharing life together. But he knows how much I love the islands and makes sure I am able to come visit every couple of years. That’s love & aloha lived out. So I will continue to visit & be blessed by that.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I hope that you guys have a few more years together. It broke my heart to read your story.
Aloha!
Do you have any information as to how long the current vacation rental suspension will last? Last I read, the order was through May 31st. Has that been extended? We have an Airbnb booked for June 16th.
Mahalo for your time!
Hi Jo.
This is in accordance with the Governor’s proclamation that reads: “The disaster emergency relief period shall
continue through April 30, 2020, unless terminated or extended by a separate proclamation, whichever shall occur first.”
That’s all we know for now.
Aloha.
Who are the true Islanders? Many people living on the islands are not native Hawaiians. I’m not sure how to determine who the true Islanders are. Could you please explain.
Hi Rita.
There are native Hawaiians and then there are those who live in Hawaii. People have been moving here for centuries. One of your editor’s family members came here from Norway in the mid-1800’s. May we point you towards the many books on the subject.
Aloha.
Rita D. I agree I thought I could meet true Hawaiian people truth is you wont find 100% Hawaiian very rare I was told by a local. I love the Hawaiian people I wish. I could meet more I just meet like 3
I was born in Honolulu in the 70’s and curse my parents every day for leaving after 1 year. I spent 2 months in Maui about 20 years ago, worked at a local sandwich/ice cream shop and wished I could stay.
I wish all the locals the best and 100% agree with the strict measures put in place. I also wish there were a way to screen new residents based on character, not on the amount of material wealth they possess. I hope this new wave of immigrants integrates rather than remakes the local community into a playground for the rich, but I feel a bit cynical about it.
I can’t believe that Hawaii is letting this happen.
In California “essential services” that are still allowed include dry cleaning, maids,gardeners,carwashes and house remodeling. Does anyone believe these are “truly essential”?
Obviously the laws were crafted to make sure the wealthy are not inconvenienced. Please let me know your thoughts on the ultra wealthy moving to Hawaii to escape the mess they have created in the large cities. Would Hawaii end up like the old South with workers essentially servants on their native soil?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Rob.
We are going to stay sidelined on any opinions on this. We welcome yours and those of other visitors. And thank you for sharing.
Aloha.
Sorry, Robt T, totally untrue. Those occupations are NOT included in any list. There’s no need to make things up; things are bad enough right now as it it.
Through what date are the AirBNB’s closed? We have to prove that we can’t come right now for our late May-Early June stay to receive a full refund instead of a credit with Airbnb.
Hi Jeff & Rob
I always want to comment on your wonderful advices and recommendations but never have enough time to do so… now I do…
Thanks to you guys I was able to save money and shop locally when I vacation with my family at Hawaii- since 2003 I am lucky enough to able to visit every year.
Never visited Kauai, or the Big Island…
I think this is more complicated than we would think at first.
I always look at the positive side of things!
If is the older generation relocating who owns condos to the Islands that’s will bring a kind of stability to the community- no renters in and out after weeks or months, no loud parties and drinking involved, more appreciating for the tranquil environment of Hawaii.
Do I blame them?
Yes and no.
Not really a right time… fast spreading new diseases can put in danger everyone, but panic is out there and money always wins over ethics…
The other hand is a really big organized tourism marketing and hospitality forward Asia… so so many visitors from China, South- Korea, Japan!
Permanent residents of the Hawaiian Islands is less susceptible to diseases then was at the beginning..- just think of the leprosy- what a disaster was that…… there immune system is more built up because of the tourism industry .
This is a new serous situation in modern time and everyone is confused and panicked.
We will overcome this just have use our common sense… stay put until the worse is over…
Thanks for reading!
Aloha to all,
Hi Krisztina.
Thank you.
Aloha.
That’s so funny that this post came out. Our family has been planning a move to Oahu since February. We have family out there and my husband put in his transfer and we got it approved before the shelter in place in CA was declared. Fortunately, we were able to get an extension for his start date for June. But it does feel a bit scary and overwhelming to move during this time.
First of all, mahalo nui loa for all the great work you’ve done, and keep doing, with this blog!
My dream, since the ’70s when I would come to Oahu with my UAL employed parents, was to live in HI some day…it’s written in my diary so I have proof! 😎
After 8 years of purposefully traveling to Maui with my husband to find the right property, we finally purchased a condo in Ma’alaea for the purpose of short term rental income. My dream is to one day live on Maui or the Big Island.
We lost most of our March clients, all of April’s and some of June’s, and have given ALL deposit money back to those whose dream vacations were taken by this vi rus. Some owners are not doing that, which is their prerogative. We did it in hopes of earning their business another time.
I’m thankful that Hawaii is taking this seriously and scrutinizing all who fly to the islands. Those who currently live there need to be protected!
Hi Sue.
Thanks for your nice words and your comment.
Aloha.
Aloha! I have been monitoring the situation in Hawaii because 1. we plan on relocating to Hawaii by the end of June and 2. my partner and I have a trip (currently) scheduled for May 12 to Oahu (from Chicago). I call the May 12 trip our reconnaissance trip because we will be there to look for an apartment (and possible jobs (?)) and not really for leisure. I would please like to know your opinion on if we should delay the May 12 trip to early June because, as of this writing, the plane trip (on United) hasn’t yet been canceled. Also, given Southwest and Hawaiian have canceled nearly all flights to the islands through the end of May and the current mandatory 14-day quar antine for all arriving visitors, it may make sense to delay the reconnaissance trip to early June. Any insight with that is appreciated. We’ve previously been to Hawaii three times (twice to Oahu, once to Maui and twice to Kauai), and it feels like home. We cannot wait to move there. Thank you for any advice that can be offered. I enjoy reading all of Beat of Hawaii’s posts.
Hi Zach.
Thank you. It is our thought that you should not try to come in May. Then wait until early May when we hope to know more about when travel to and from the islands will return.
Aloha.
We own property on the big island, I would retain that property with its current status as a long term rental. I would move from Utah to Kauai if a good deal were to materialize, i’m 70 and thinking about slowing down. We have been to Kauai countless times over the past 20 years, we feel comfortable there.
Craig
Aloha!!!
If I had the financial resources to move to Hawaii, I’d be on the first flight I could find!!! Put me in quar antine for 3 months, no problem!!!
Hi Lui.
Thanks for this and your other comments. LOL.
Aloha.
Aloha Beat of Hawaii, I just found your website and look forward to more, sign me up please!
Hi Dave.
Free subscriptions are self-service and you can sign up here: https://beatofhawaii.com/subscribe/.
Aloha.
My husband graduated from UH in the 1970s, and we had planned to retire on Kauai some day. However, before we reached retirement age, our kids got married and started having babies…one after the other. With Hawaii being so far away from our home in Florida, it didn’t make sense for us to leave. Now that the grandchildren are teenagers, we would love to relocate to Kauai. We feel more at home there than we do in Florida. If we never get the privilege of living on Kauai, we will continue to visit often. We pray that the island and its people can recover quickly from this.
Aloha,
I absolutely would if I had the means. I’m determined to do this someday. I’m just not sure which Island would be the one for me, as I have only been to Maui so far, and Oahu for about 10 hours.
I want to be able to garden, and I want to always be warm, this I know!
Mahalo
Hi Julie.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I have been planning on moving to the Big Island for about five years. My plan was to put my house in Colorado on the market in June and move once it sells. That is still my plan although I realize that the timing may be pushed back a bit.
I would move in a heartbeat see it not fir my cats!
Aloha Beat of Hawaii friends 🙂 While my mom was a Librarian in Lihui in the late 1930’s & the islands feel like home when we visit, we feel as if the islands are under stress culturally & environmentally & need a break and some love. We’ll visit from time-to-time, tread lightly while we are there, and support island environmental and cultural conservation efforts.
Much Aloha, and Mahalo for the Beat of Hawaii 🙂
Peter L. CA
Hi Peter.
Thank you! We appreciate your comments over the past 5 years.
Aloha. R/J.
Aloha Peter,
Amen and Mahalo 🙂
Suzanne
Aloha and thank you for your valuable information. We own a vacation rental on Kauai, and fully endorse the Mayor’s proclamation, even though it means significant lost revenue. The other islands should adopt this policy as well, ASAP. The health and welfare of the of the local people are paramount, and we want to be able to be welcomed back to the Island when the time is right.
Mahalo nui loa.
Hi Randy.
Thank you.
Aloha.
So if you own a vacation rental that is empty and are a resident on the island you are not allowed to visit or stay in you own vacation home?
Difficult situation, Helen. My friend is a board member of a large condo complex where many absentee mainland owners operate AirBnBs. When this first hit, quite a few of them started moving into their own units. This created a lot of tension, because the locals didn’t know their faces and – in a situation like this – the perception among true residents is that any unknown face poses a potential danger, possibly mortal danger. It didn’t help that some of the returning owners got caught partying at the community pool. After a short amount of time, legal threats were flying around, the pool was closed, and the whole community was in disarray. Sure, you can use your own condo any time, but please be very mindful in how you resettle. And keep in mind that the explosion of absentee owned AirBnBs has been unpopular among local communities long before this crisis hit, so you might attract extra scrutiny.
Would,love to have a home in Kauai. Thanks.
Hi Skip.
Thanks for your comments over the past couple of years.
Aloha.
Interesting that Hawaii is clamping down so hard, to the point of monitoring the # of passengers coming in on flights, where they are going, yanking the rug out from under the owners of Airbnb’s, etc. I get that this is in order to stop the vi rus but it seems EXTREMELY heavy handed. As an example, I live in a town of 70K residents in Northern CA. We have been on lockdown for almost a month now. We have a grand total of 13 people with the vi rus. And the thing is that we have people arriving and departing every day, plenty of cars are out and about, many/most businesses are still open, etc. The lesson I have learned is that you don’t HAVE to go draconian (as Hawaii seems to be doing) in order to contain the vi rus.
This whole experience has left me with the realization that with this type of a knee-jerk reaction Hawaii might not be the place for me, other than a week-long vacation.
Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately Hawai’i does not have near the medical resources that the mainland does. We cannot “outsource” patients easily to another location if all our ICU beds are filled; people will die if there is a shortage. For that reason, the seemingly harsh restrictions can be well-understood. Sorry if it is “inconvenient” for some; but it is life and death here. Given the historical perspective of native Hawaiians being decimated by introduced disease (80%? of native population died), I do not believe this is an over reaction. And it IS temporary, so “stand by for further instructions”… Mahalo for your understanding…
Hi Dan.
Thanks for this and your other comments. Nicely stated!
Aloha.
Each person or family fill out a declaration before disembarking. This has been required as long as I can remember. This vi rus mitigation will be particularly difficult for Hawaii as the economy is overweighted to hospitality.
Be sure to support local business
Hi Bob, I too, live in Northern California. The situation is not at all the same on any island for the reason already explained by another commenter. In addition, if you read some Hawaiian history you might understand a bit better.
The concept of “Pono” is an important one for anyone contemplating a move to Hawaii, and especially critical now!
To be clear, I am not bemoaning the apparent “closure” of the state to visitors. The reasoning behind the limited hospital beds and prior experience with outbreaks absolutely makes sense. What DOES turn me off is the apparent heavy hand with which the state government has wielded their authority.
The question that was asked was whether I would make a move to Hawaii now (or in the future) if I had the resources (which I do BTW). And after this experience my answer was (and remains) “No, because the beauty of Hawaii is not worth having to live under such a heavy hand for a long period of time”. But then again, that would also explain why I would hate living in a community with CC&R’s. There is a place for those that want the order that both CC&R’s and an “active” state government bring. I am not one of those people.
Seems to me New York downplayed the seriousness of the situation too. My prayers are with you.
Aloha, Bob L.,
“We have been on lockdown for almost a month now. We have a grand total of 13 people with the vi rus.”
(1) You don’t know that, unless everyone in town has been tested twice (because there are many false negatives).
(2) Even if that is true, why do you suppose that is? Answer: because of the lockdown.
You sound like a rather libertarian individual. So are many of us, but there are times when the protection of everyone (including the libertarians) requires some imposition of restrictions.
We love Kauai and visit every year, except this year. We live in Lincoln Ca. and love it here. It keeps Kauai special just to visit for 2 to 3 weeks a year.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark.
Thanks.
Aloha.
No. We are happy with our Indiana homestead and want to keep Maui as that very special place to visit.
Norma
We lived in northern Indiana for 50+ years and we are very happy that we moved to Maui. Not sure if we could move back to Indiana given that Indiana penalizes their seniors. Hawaii does not tax our Federal and State pensions. Hawaii’s sales tax is 4.16% compared to Indiana’s 7%. Northern Indiana’s property tax is hovering around 1% of the assessed values. If we sold our $700,000 condo and purchased the same priced condo near Notre Dame (and yes that’s a typical condo price near ND), we would be paying over $7,000 a year. We’re paying $1,500 (one thousand five) here on Maui and that’s no joke. Indiana needs to give retirees a reason to stay and it’s no wonder why retirees are moving out of Indiana. Wake up Indiana.