227 thoughts on “No Recovery Yet For Hawaii Travel. Here’s Why.”
John W
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.
Beat of Hawaii
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.
Mike O
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!
SandyB
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.
John V.
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!
SandyB
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.
John L
Canadians are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival home from abroad. This is a major deterrent to travel anywhere, including Hawaii.
Jim
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.
James S
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.”
Ken F
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.”
Cf
Great post ken f. I think i have said this in my posts as the true harsh reality of things.
Mickey
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.
Victoria S
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.
brian h
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.
David P
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
Bill C.
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.
Beat of Hawaii
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.
Jim D
Without tourists why would they open?
Comments are closed.
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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?