Is there hope on the horizon for Hawaii travel after this?
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227 thoughts on “No Recovery Yet For Hawaii Travel. Here’s Why.”
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Is there hope on the horizon for Hawaii travel after this?
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
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Unfortunately, like a lot of people, I had to cancel my trip to Oahu last September and rebook it for the same time this year. I’ve already had my first vaccination with the second due in April. I also had two PCR Covid tests, both negative.
I have read at about tests need to be approved by Hawaii to allow entry without quarantine. My problem is that as I live in the UK, none of the facilities offering these tests operate in the UK. Any solutions please? Mahalo.
Hi John.
Depending on your stopover point on the mainland, you should be able to use one of the airport-based trusted testing companies.
Aloha.
Well, commencement of a “vaccination passport” will all but be the ultimate death dagger to Hawaii tourism and economic recovery. That means at least 1/3 loss of market. Good luck!
Well, we were on track to visit the Big Island in March when Alaska cancelled our flights for some reason. We’re now going to Florida instead. Saving $340 on Covid tests.
I am on island now (Oahu), and to be frank, while I was very worried about the testing requirements and rumored difficulties with Safe Travels, the process was very straightforward and fairly easy to navigate. I would add that this was all greatly facilitated by Alaska Airlines’ PreClear program. If I were to complain about anything, it would be the steep price for the COVID pre-travel test. Carbon Health is pretty much the only approved partner still offering pre-travel tests in San Diego, and the price reflects that. Lastly,though I still offer high praise to the folks at Alaska, I was really disappointed that my non-stop flight from San Diego was canceled, and I was rebooked on a flight through Seattle, adding four hours to my travel time. Still, I’m here, in the place I’ve come to love for nearly 30 years now, and it’s glorious!
They did the same to us! We were booked non-stop out of Seattle and wanted to route us through San Diego. Unbelievable! We asked for a refund instead. Maybe next year.
Canadians are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival home from abroad. This is a major deterrent to travel anywhere, including Hawaii.
It just Canadians my friend. ANYONE traveling to Canada must suffer the 14 day consequences. In addition, the border between Canada and the US is still closed.
My wife and I live in the land of Walgreens so getting the test in time is not a problem as they generally have results available in about 2 hours at their “red dot” stores. Even though we were fully tested 24 hours prior to flight we were subjected to a second test “complements” of The Big Island County.
What WILL be a show stopper for us in the future would be having to get a THIRD Covid Vaccination as Hawaii Lt Governor, Dr Green seems to be proposing under the vaccination program, if I read that correctly if your last vaccination is older than three months you must get a new one. Vaccines are extremely difficult to come by and the second dose really laid me low; not an experience I want to have a again. Moderna for sure is an experimental drug that has been approved by the FDA on an emergency basis. When I got the shot I had to sign a disclaimer/waiver. The last line of that form said “This is not an FDA approved drug.”
There are a number of issues and concerns with travel to Hawaii at this time. First of all many people do not want to travel yet with the chance of infection. Then there is the need to get tested, mask wearing, social distancing, everything not being open, and some things not being open.
When one is going to take an expensive long trip to a tropical island one wants it to be easy and as much fun as it can be. That is not what is happening right now.
Hawaii needs to becoming less restrictive and more welcoming. To get tourists back the message that needs to be conveyed is “what can I do to help you to come to my island instead of you need to do this and this and then when you come you can’t do this and this.”
Great post ken f. I think i have said this in my posts as the true harsh reality of things.
To get tourists back the message that needs to be conveyed is “what can I do to help you to come to my island instead of you need to do this and this and then when you come you can’t do this and this.”
Exactly! Well said Ken F. It’s still too difficult to come and it’s not very welcoming.
Coming from Arizona we have two weeks in the Mauna Lani in March and another 10 day trip to the same area in June. Hoping tourism improves as more people are vaccinated.
have been trying to get there since may of 2020. scheduled to be there in may 2021 which will be our 4th attempt. not risking archaic guidelines and being quarantined when we get there. if solid, reasonable, entry rules are not made before my cancellation dates, which are within the next 30 days, we are planning a trip elsewhere. our travel party will be fully vaccinated by travel date and if that wont get us in, we will go where it will and there are plenty of spots that it will.
Your state government is causing the delay.
We cancelled one month in Hawaii as both of us could be ensured we would get a 72 hour test result
from the only one tester CVS in Washington DC Bethesda and local CVS store would only allow seeking an appointment just 2 days before test date, and those appointments were limited and not always available.
Couple that certainty with purchasing airlines tickets a month ahead with chance of losing airfare with limited refund in case of last minute cancellation.
Easier to drive down to Florida and plan weeks or month ahead.
Dave
I’m curious about the daily restrictions after all the hoops are passed to get to the islands, i.e., are masks required everywhere? Is anything open to enjoy… restaurants, shopping, beaches, entertainment venues…North Shore Shrimp Trucks?
I find it difficult and annoying to wear a mask 16×7. First of all, my glasses are constantly fogging.
Is there any Mahalo once there?
Thank you for such a great BLOG.
Hi Bill.
Thanks. Masks are required almost everywhere except when you are outside and away from others. On the beach we almost never see them. As you may have seen, Oahu is reducing restrictions on restaurants this week, which may result in more reopening. Hopefully, others will provide some further input.
Aloha.
Without tourists why would they open?
We returned today from 9 days on Maui. All my apprehension about getting tested and complying with all the travel requirements was totally unfounded. It was a very easy process. Two Walgreens in our immediate area offered the ID NOW rapid test with results in less than 3 hours. Wouldn’t hesitate to go back next week!
Hi Ed – we are headed to Maui in a couple weeks. I don’t mind wearing masks in public places, but do you have to wear them on the beaches there or while hiking?
Thanks!
Most people wore them while getting to the beach. Once on the beach, masks disappeared.
When we hiked we wore face gaters so they could easily be pulled up when approaching other people. Most all people on the hikes we took wore masks or put them on when they were near others.
Hope you have a wonderful time. We sure did!
Your newsletter is where I found the most concise information (and links!) regarding pre-travel testing. Thank to you guys, my family of 5 have appts set within the time frame and with a trusted partner.
Thank you, thank you!!
Hi Tracy.
Our pleasure. We look forward to hearing how your upcoming trip goes.
Aloha.
Tried to book a trip over Spring Break but hotel and airfare was too high with limited amenities. Rooms at the Moana Surfrider were in the $300+ range per night and airfare on Hawaiian was normal over-priced fares. We decided to go to Orlando instead. Summer isn’t looking any better. Maybe 2022 we’ll be back.
Honestly, what is the purpose of putting Lt. Gov. Green in charge of anything Covid related if they are not going to give him the authority to set policy? Through this in entire process Dr. Green has been the voice of reason yet Gov. Ige never takes his advice, which is based on common sense and science. It is so obvious this is a huge power play on the part of Ige and the people of Hawaii are paying the ultimate price. People who are traveling from anywhere other than the west coast have limited options for Covid testing that is approved by the state of Hawaii. It is a real gamble to make vacation plans without a guarantee that you will have the results in time to be able to avoid a quarantine nightmare. I can think of no other explanation for test results from places like the Mayo Clinic being rejected other than they are not giving the state kick backs for the privilege of being a trusted partner. I would hope I am wrong about that, but what other logical explanation can there be?
Florida is doing well, so is Mexico..
It’s not fear at this point.
It’s testing difficulties,
State of Hawaii changing their rules every week nonsense,
feeling of loss of freedom (GPS bracelets, showing your “papers” etc),
stories of arresting people a year later…move on it’s time for a dose of reality. Nobody else is still arresting people.
Add in residents ganging up on those dirty mainlanders traveling or doing the absolute worst… walking on a sidewalk without a mask…the horror.
Has anyone out here noticed in other States they’re not running mask stories a year later? They’re not creating mask task forces (like Maui) a year later. Out here it’s all we focus on.. Give it a rest already. It’s no where close to 100% effective anyways. This whole year 1 mask was supposed to be %50-80 effective. Now it takes 2 to be 75% effective.. hmmmm very interesting.
The economic devastation is almost certainly self inflicted at this point. There is a reason every airline is drastically increasing their Florida flying.
I’m glad I got to see Hawaii and Pearl Harbor and Turtle Bay in 2006. I know now, at 58 and single, I’ll never see it again. The only way to keep society from collapsing is to protect vulnerable, while the rest get on with life, while we still have something to live for. We’re losing our identity hiding, our liberty and love of life from something with a .34% fatality rate. Our ancestors would be shocked at such cravenness. I’m shocked.
Nobody is coming to Hawaii because such trips are expensive and time consuming in the best of times. Quarantines and sticks into our cranial cavity and future vaccine “passes” aren’t going to do it, guys. I don’t trust the vaccines (too fast; no time to see possible side effects) and am not volunteering for the sticks and don’t believe in vaccine passes.
I agree with you! I live in Cali & our lockdown is continuing & most schools are effectively closed for in-person instruction- WHY? Because #CovidPanicPorn is the reason Gov. Grusome Newsom just signed a bill ordering ALL mail-in voting ballots for November 2021 RECALL election. I fear the fear has given politicians free rein to destroy their economies like Hawaii, California, New York, etc…see the pattern here? Lt. Green can’t enact common sense protocols because of political maneuvering by Ige. What Ignoramus Ige’s ultimate plan to completely destroy Hawaii’s economy over a virus with a 99.6% survivability rate is anyone’s guess!!!
Well said, I 100% agree!
Hello,
My family and and I booked a March trip to Kauai many months ago and are doing our best to make it happen. It’s been replanned 3 times are we now in Oahu for 3 days prior and hope to take that approach to a quarantine free trip. I’m not too worried about getting tested for the first round here in middle America (had to do it for another trip already) but would like some suggestions on the best place to get correctly rapid tested in Oahu w/o getting gouged so we can successfully get to Kauai. We desperately want to help the local economy and, of course, enjoy ourselves on such a beautiful island.
You are 100% correct in that the available information causes confusion and uncertainty. Enjoying your website nonetheless…
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason
Hi Jason.
Perhaps others will give us a hand with options, but one source of Oahu testing we’ve seen mentioned repeatedly is the Kidney Foundation. https://kidneyhi.org/covid-19-testing-screening.
Aloha.
I believe the tests should be from a certified lab. Of course the Dept of Defense,VA, Stanford, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, should not be excluded because they did not apply. They are the gold standard.
Will being a recipient of both vaccines be acceptable?
As of right now, being vaccinated or not makes no difference. Everyone has to follow the same protocols.
As many of us are COVID vaccinated, HI travel should open up without a lot of restrictions so we are curious as to how they will require “proof” from either the Pfizer or Moderna cards.
I always went to Hawaii every winter. Since Covid the government of Canada has told us not to travel even within our country. Also I used to fly from Victoria to Seattle and then Seattle to Hawaii using Alaska but Victoria is not an international airport right now. I would have to go to Vancouver and wait in a hotel there for preflight testing. I would also have to quarantine in a hotel in Vancouver for at least 3 days when I arrive back.
Canada wants to prevent Canadians from travelling because travel brought Covid to us and also brought the variants. Neither Canada nor Hawaii have exemptions for vaccinated people.
All of this is why Canadians aren’t going to Hawaii.
I would love to hear anyone’s experience island hopping. I am booked for Maui in April. I land on a Monday morning. But leaving that night for Oahu for a quick trip. Back to Maui 16 hours later. I have been vaccinated and am planning to do the testing before I leave home anyways.
Comments, suggestions welcome.
I am coming to visit the Big Island, Maui and Oahu in June. Finding where. and when to get a test was not difficult. Booking Airbnb’s were not difficult nor getting rental cars.
A Family of four has a trip planned for April 3-9, expensies are already paid. I am having trouble with what you want from us and especially the 72 hours, things run a bit slow here and I have a Lot of concern for getting the result back in time. We only have one approved place to get the test, if they can’t do it we have to drive 100 miles to get it done, Please please get this together. P.S. won’t be able to get all our money back
Aloha! Please tell me what the Big Island wants in terms of travel requirements. I go to the Big Island and stay in a private home so I can certainly quarantine there–and I will have been vaccinated. Getting a pre-travel COVID test where I come from will be nightmare to find acceptable partner within 72 hours but I can try and do it. What else do I need to do/know? Mahalo!
Hi Debbie.
We synthesized the current rules here: https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/. Also see the state’s website here: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/travel-overview/.
The bottom line is you need to follow the state’s exact pre-travel testing procedures and the test needs to take place within 72 hours of your mainland to Hawaii departure. Otherwise, you will be in quarantine for 10-days. Vaccination does not count thus far.
Aloha.
What about transfers between islands. I usually have to fly to Hilo through Maui or Honolulu. Thanks for any guidance!
Hi Debbie.
If you are connecting (no stopover), then you just need to test within 72 hours of your mainland to Hawaii departure.
Aloha.
Thank you so much! Hopefully next year I can come to Hilo and see my sister from another mother! Aloha!
Hi Debbie.
That sounds great. We can’t help but think things will be very different then.
Aloha.
BOH, thank you for all your articles and insights. I read your newsletter every time it pops into my inbox.
We have a condo on Maui, had planned to be there now, but we’ve decided we do not feel comfortable traveling anywhere. We can stay home in the comfort of our home, yes we’re cold, yes we miss the blue sky, but we’re fine. We’re not willing to take the risk to travel yet. My heart goes out to the locals who are suffering, but at least the numbers are low. Meanwhile 500,000 people in the U.S. are dead.
Lanell
Hi Lanell.
Thank you. We appreciate your more than 50 comments to date. That makes a lot of sense. Hopefully, we can get to some new kind of normalcy sooner than later.
Aloha.
We had to cancel AGAIN this year,all the Covid mess continues to control people,we lost our flight money and our our room on hold,we had planned on a 3 week trip,disappointing to say the least!
Testing with trusted partners is much more difficult especially on the east coast. Very few non-stop direct flights (if any at this point) so airlines aren’t helping. We are scheduled for Maui and Kauai in June and hoping things are easier. Our daughter and family in MD will likely have to travel an hour to a trusted partner for testing – finding places that test kids is harder than adults. And someplace that will meet the 72 hour window. Not to mention the added cost burden when tests are running $150-200 apiece, and then needing to test again to go from Maui to Kauai. If we wouldn’t lose tons of time share points and 2 weeks in our home resort, we would have cancelled (for the 4th time since last year). The hoops are so tricky to jump thru, in the right sequence and timing, I’m sure it discourages a lot of people.
Yep! Worry about testing..and having it back in time, coupled with two nights in an Oakland hotel hoping test results would be back by 5pm on Monday…it was to much.
We look forward to 2022!
Travelling from Canada is a problem because we are required to spend 3 nights at an approved hotel upon return at a cost $2,000 per person if we fly back. This cost includes a COVID-19 test, even if we have one in Hawaii before we border the plane. If we cross the land border this is not a requirement although we still need to quarantine at home for 10 days. So can take a bus or train or walk across the land border to save $3,500 per couple – fly back to Seattle and take bus or train from their.
I hope people can come to Honolulu with the covid19 vaccine and avoid the quarantine in for September and October
I hope that the gov will allow that by may 1 or June or July from the mainland
Thank you
We returned today from 9 days on Maui. All my apprehension about getting tested and complying with all the travel requirements was totally unfounded. It was a very easy process. Two Walgreens in our immediate area offered the ID NOW rapid test with results in less than 3 hours. Wouldn’t hesitate to go back next week!
We have a trip planned for April and it has taken us – and another couple – about 2 days to figure out the test situation. The list of approved partners is available but not everyone understands what an NAAT test is vs a PCR vs a rapid test, etc., and where you can get it with assurance of receiving the results in the right time. Some partners, like CVS and Walgreen’s, will not guarantee the results within 72 hours. We’re coming from PA, and what if we get to our connecting flight in Denver and don’t have the results ?
We finally have figured it out, but we are internet-savvy people and travel experienced, so we’re coming, but I can’t imagine that everyone can handle it. And BTW, we are fully vaccinated, but no one in Hawaii seems to care.
Thanks Beat of Hawaii for updates. A couple of months to analyze if vaccinated people can go without testing, quarantine.?? Farmers markets rentals,restaurants, hotel staff etc.are almost beyond recovery. At 132K mayors salary ,& city council should cut their salary to ZERO and feel a little of the pinch as the rest of the citizens. But they’re not living pay check or unemployment check to the next. Step up, & get Kauai open & moving again. Mahalo John
Hi John.
Thanks. Hard to say how long it will take for Hawaii to feel comfortable announcing vaccination-based travel.
Aloha.
I’m on the cusp of pushing out my Kauai late May dates to 2022. I’ll be fully vaccinated by mid April, yet it just doesn’t look like Kauai is ready to let me be there without any form of quarantine. I don’t want to wait till what, mid April, to see what they figure out. Josh Greene already said something about mainland travel won’t happen till mid/late May. There’s no guarantee. That said, I respect the island taking care of itself. I’ve been a regular visitor for over a decade and am very concerned about all the businesses I frequent, and look forward to when I am there. I appreciate the reporting you have done regarding this complex situation. I wish you all the very best. Mahalo
Hi Katie.
Thanks. What you say makes sense inasmuch as spring is almost here and it just isn’t clear what Hawaii plans in your timeframe.
Aloha.
Mahalo for the update! My question is for the local residents of Hawaii. Why are you folks putting up with this obvious incompetence from the governor? In California, they are trying to recall the governor. Hawaii tourism is in a Great Depression and it appears that the State Governor is sticking his head in the sand. We are jumping through crazy hoops with one airline to get a decent transcontinental flight to California. This is only because we have free tickets on Southwest. We will have both vaccinations by our trip (with 2 weeks to spare) and are happy to drive 20 miles to a Walgreens providing the PCR test results within 24 hours.
Hi Steven.
Thanks. So far we haven’t seen much interest in a recall. He’ll be termed out in 2022.
Aloha.
That could be because of the ” go along to get along” atmosphere in Hawaii. Everyone must agree, and if you don’t you are a trouble maker who doesn’t “understand Hawaii”.
Well said Sean.
We spent 10 beautiful days in Maui this past month. Yes, it was challenging getting testing and understanding the rules, but well worth it to be on our beautiful island. We stay in a small condo, so it was easy to social distance. The beaches were great. The shopping and restaurants are a little limited, but very happy to have visitors. Very welcoming. Getting thru the airport with our negative tests was easier than expected. Took an extra 1/2 hour. Finding a testing center in Northern CA was not easy, we opted for Vault by mail via Zoom. It was expensive, but easy. We really want to travel to Kauai in October, but they obviously don’t want us!!!
We’re starting to get bookings after being empty since the end of March of last year. As you said, the Canadian’s are missing though, as they don’t want to have to quarantine for 14-days when they return home. Hawaii doesn’t have any control over that. We’ve gotten zero booking from Asia as well. Typically we see visitors from Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Hi Alfred.
We’re happy to hear you are getting bookings. Others are telling us the same thing.
Aloha.
I’m heading to Maui this weekend with my family for a 2 week stay, I think I have my i’s dotted and t’s crossed – I’ll let you know how it goes.
Following
“…this (low hotel occupancy rate) continues in spite of relatively easy quarantine waivers…” This is such a false statement and could very easily be the cause of visitors not going to Hawaii. My 6 year old grand niece is going over with me in May. She lives in Skagway, Alaska (pop. 1000) so obviously there are no ‘trusted partners’ there, even though there is an excellent medical clinic She is flying to Seattle, we have to spend the night near the airport, get up early the next morning and get her tested at a site that guarantees one hour results. To the tune of $196. For a 6 year old! And even if you are in an area that you’re able to get to a ‘trusted partner” you either pay $150+ for guaranteed results within 72 hours or you are stressed out for 3 days. As far as the difficulty in understanding the ‘rules’….that is in your control and can be accomplished with help, if need be. The 72 hour test result mandate is out of your control. Thanks to you guys for allowing us to let the powers to be know how it is working in real life. I sincerely hope they follow Beat of Hawaii and pay attention to what their visitors are telling them.
Hi Susan.
Thanks. We can’t say that they will follow what you’re saying but can assure you that they are reading it.
Aloha.