For those of you dreaming of a Hawaii vacation this winter, there is some chill in the air to deal with, and it goes beyond the huge storm that is just departing the island chain today.
The concern now is a word we only learned of recently: Omicron. The latest COVID variant is here in Hawaii, and we are about to learn about more cases. Yesterday the state Department of Health said there were two more confirmed Omicron variant cases in Honolulu and said, “Omicron is in our community.” They are currently sequencing at least 8 additional likely Omicron cases.
A huge number of Hawaii visitors postponed their Hawaii vacations during COVID, going back as far as last year, or as recently as this late summer and fall when Governor Ige asked visitors to pause vacations until November 1.
Now the question is, is it safe to travel to Hawaii during the holidays and during the snowbird winter season?
Only international travel has been interrupted – at least so far.
The US has imposed new rules that began yesterday when all persons entering the US were required to have a negative COVID test within 24 hours of travel.
But international restrictions are bringing to light concerns about whether the next step will be similar restrictions on domestic travel. And that comes as Hawaii travel is just trying to recover in earnest. Last week saw a record number of US travelers, and Hawaii travel is anxiously awaiting a hugely busy holiday and winter season.
With so little known about Omicron, it is hard to know at this point how it could impact Hawaii travel. And while we wait to learn more, the best thing we can say is that keeping travel options open is more important than ever. Let’s just hope we keep moving forward, and not backward, yet again.
What’s brewing with domestic Hawaii travel.
The federal government is extending its mask mandate on airplanes at least through mid-March, 2022. But we are still left wondering whether there could be testing required for domestic flights. We mentioned recently that the White House indicated that might eventually be added for domestic flights as well as international. It is definitely being considered. That will wait, however, until somewhat more is known about the Omicron variant.
Airlines take a beating again.
In the meantime, airlines are expecting to take a beating from Omicron, at least internationally if not domestically too. That was confirmed by UAL whose CEO said “Omicron is certainly going to have a near-term impact on bookings” although he expects it to have less impact than Delta.
Hawaiian’s CEO Peter Ingram just said that it anticipates the timing of some Hawaii travel recovery will be postponed. “It would be naive to see we didn’t take a setback as policymakers reacted very quickly to the Omicron variant. We are going to have to see what develops in this space in the days ahead.” Hawaiian, for example, has lost nearly 95% of international traffic to Hawaii since COVID.
At the same time, one thing is abundantly clear. The pent-up demand for Hawaii travel is insatiable.
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Governor Ige needs to leave office.
He has decimated the Hawaiian Islands economy and recovery.
Wishing all you who want to visit the islands good luck.
If you’re going to Oahu, there may be jet fuel in the water. Stay safe!
We live on an island in the middle of the Pacific. Whatever mandates apply to what is called domestic travel in my opinion is for those who would be traveling on the mainland. If people are coming here it’s similar to traveling internationally. We need stricter mandates for Hawaii to prevent the spread of any disease so the residents will be safe and infrastructure will not be overwhelmed.
Just arrived home from 15 amazing days in Kauai. Booked our next trip to Big Island in November. Go, life’s short!
I am traveling from Texas to Hawaii in January. Just wondering if I need to take a covid test 24 hours before my flight or 72 hours before? Im not vaccinated at the moment. Im a little confused with all the restrictions listed under the safe travels page.
I will be moving to Kauai January 2022.
In 1974 my wife and I visited close family friends in Hanapepe and Kapaa.We returned in 1978 to be married in the Fern Grotto,with a reception at Coco Palms.
After many visits,in 2008 we decided to retire on Kauai.Unfortunately cancer took my wife .I visited in 2016 at a Kalaheo Airb&b and the Kalaheo Inn.I am looking for a place to live and I hope the Inn has some vacancy for me.Hoping to complete “our fairy tale” ending.
I am a resident and am returning to Hawaii Jan 4, 2022. I have had Moderna vaccine and booster. What do I need to do to return home? What about airline wrist bands. I am booked on Southwest. I am an avid follower of your blogs and thank you for this service.
Hi David.
You need to use the Hawaii Safe Travels website to register your vaccination exemption and within 24 hours of flying return to complete the health questionnaire. You’ll get the wrist band from the airline after you check in at the airport.
Aloha.
We arrived in Kona last night. The wristband feature requires a separate screening process entirely and you are expected to have all your ducks in a row on your smart phones. The format for answering all the questions and uploading all the info required to the Safe Travel website is not very intuitive. Make sure you take your time and get it right the first time. Ask a tech savvy person for help if need be or expect to be stuck in line until you can pass muster perfectly.
Just departing kona after spending the past week in hilo, volcano and north coast. Masked residents workers and visitors not resisting mandate. We felt safe and lucky that we were always on the dry and calm side of the recent storms. Hawaii is doing it right!
Covid ain’t going anywhere soon, so either learn to adapt or stay locked up in your home.
We got vaccinated last August, since been to Fort Bragg Ca, Monterrey Ca, Maui Hi and just got back from 3 days at Disneyland.
Today I finished booking Big Island for May.
Quit watching the 24hr cable news, get vac’d and enjoy life.
Totally agree. I have stopped watching cable news and using social media since Pandemic started. Miss neither of them. I wasted so much time on Facebook and 24 hour news (normally 15 minutes which just keeps rerunning) and all it did was elevate my stress levels. Stick to informed websites with no political agenda like Beat of Hawaii. (Mahalo Guys)
Hi Rich.
Thanks for going on 200 comments, and your nice words! We appreciate it.
Aloha.
See you in January Maui! Time to stop living in fear!
Keep Safe Travels in place to avoid travelers unvaccinated bringing it here
You obviously don’t understand what the vaccine does. Even vaccinated will bring it to Hawai’i. The vaccine only protects the ones being vaccinated.
People grumbling about Safe Travels, stop blaming the Governor for continuing to keep safe measures in place for our island residents. COVID will be around for along time and it’s important to keep safe measures in place.
This is very sad news for the state of H! Its traveling business is desperately needed for the recovery, and now Omicron is here. Yesterday night, we flew in the first time since 2017 and found the most tedious checking process in the airport. Most passengers had to fill out the redundant info on-site, which was chaotic and disorganized. In my view, “Safe Hawaii” is a poorly designed process. Early individually specific notification would be beneficial.
The ongoing variant will continue to negatively impact Hawaii travel and the local economies.
Wonder if Florida is having the same problem🤔
Ehh.. probably not. They’re economy has surpassed 2019…
Nor is New Jersey but don’t want to vacation there neither.(In Winter) You have to compare like with like and Florida is a completely different proposition to Hawaii.
Honestly the only thing destroying Hawaiian tourism is bad/corrupt politicians.
The costs to stay and drive on the islands is prohibitive. That certainly contributes.
Your comment is well made but I sometimes think we forget that the rates set by car rental companies and hotel chains are mainly based on National or International Corporations often headquartered on the Mainland. So our rage against gouging is better aimed at Parsippany NJ or Estero FL for rental car prices and McLean VA, Bethesda MD, Denham England or Chicago IL for Hotel prices. Not the local GM who has to follow corporate direction on revenue maximization.
There is news of a new omicron variant that is more transmissible and can not be found by pcr or other conventional testing methods.
Winter has yet to arrive.
The real worry should what are the possible that can omicron mutate into a more deadly version and not bring in politics or beliefs but just the hard (or soft) facts.
It could be overblown but if things blow up it’s an excuse to lockdown similar to last year.
I miss Hawaii but waiting for this to end…
An interesting item on TV news in UK a day or so back. The last global spike in Corona Virus was approx 130 years ago and that mutated and is still with us, We see it as one of the viruses that cause the common cold. Covid 19 will likely go the same way. We already saw more transmission and less severity with Delta and Omicron seems to continue that trend based on limited data. We need to stop the fear,
I don’t care how low Hawaiian Airlines drops their fares. I’m not going to Hawai’i if they continue to mandate vaccine passports in restaurants, and businesses. I can deal with the 72hour negative test results.
I’ve been traveling to Maui continually, and faithfully for 15 years, and often 2times a year. Hawaii needs to do a better job!
It’s disappointing, the level of hype, hysteria and knee-jerk reactions to this latest variant. Especially since it has no resulted in mass hospitalizing or deaths. I understand the media and the unelected bureaucrats in the health conglomerate want continued panic in order to maintain their control and reap the financial rewards of the hyperbole that is the mainstream clickbait.
I hope saner heads prevail and call these snake oil salesmen out on their coordinated assault on healthy Americans
Well said Steve P. You hit the nail on the head!
Mahalo,
TJ
Thanks so much for the continual important travel updates. How did Kauai fare during this latest storm that went through? The news tonight just highlighted Maui and Oahu. After the storm of 2018; hopefully, everyone is doing well. Thanks again.
Hi Babette.
Luckily on Kauai is was quite mild comparatively. Thanks for asking.
Aloha.
Do not intend to visit the state I was born in for a long time. It’s just not worth it.
Aloha!
Did you know and do you care that Omicron was a Sci-fi comedy feature film released in 1963 about an alien that takes over the body of an Earth man in order to learn about the planet so his race can take it over? Maybe the airlines can feature that on the flights over.
Food for thought…
Mahalo
Did you know Delta was an airline… I guess all the Marketing folks are hurriedly checking their brand portfolios for Greek Letters…
Reasons for optimism: First, there have been NO deaths from omicron Anywhere in the world. And the head of the largest health network in South Africa, where it evolved, says, “So I actually think there is a silver lining here and this may signal the end of COVID-19, with it attenuating itself to such an extent that it’s highly contagious, but doesn’t cause severe disease. That’s what happened with Spanish flu.”
A search for that quotation will find the full article.
OMG, I can’t keep up!! Praying I make it next week after 2 cancelled trips.
Mahalo to Beat Of Hawaii for keeping us in the loop through all of this!!
Mele Kalikimaka!!!
Hi Julie.
Thanks. Have a great time next week!
Aloha.
Yes I want kauai next may but if it’s not the price gouging condo and car prices then its another virus !! I too will keep waiting
Omg! It’s always some new way for the politicians to have more control through fear. I’m still driving my car even though it’s so dangerous. I’m still drinking coffee, wine and eating red meat which I heard will kill you too.
I got vaccinated when I was eligible and have traveled the past year. I’ve always practiced good personal hygiene and sanitation at home and on the road. I visited Kauai in July and November of this year and I love it!
I am not afraid!
Thanks, Jim
I’m not sure what all the reaction is about. From what I read the Omicron variant is more contagious but has far less symptoms than the Delta variant. So if we’re all being forced to get the vaccine, it shouldn’t have any affect on travel. And testing for domestic flights will destroy the industry. With TSA numbers being back in the two million screened per day, how can that effectively be managed with two million people a day? There’s no process in place to handle that much passenger testing.
I’m in the Maui airport and the line is longer than normal and my flight to Vegas is packed. The past few trips it was half empty and the security lines were shorter. So from what I can tell travel is picking up lately. Also omicron has turned out to be the weakest variant by far and no one i know seems worried about it. No way will the federal government institute more needless testing for domestic travel and certainly not for omicron. This would permanently bankrupt airlines.
With all due respect experts in South Africa and in the US have both stated it’s a mild variant with symptoms of muscle soreness and fatigue. I am not an anti vaccine person but believe the scare tactics and “sky is falling” mentality really needs to stop. Enough is enough
More fear mongering by the establishment.
Scheduled for Hawaii trip end of April. If I have to cancel again, for the 4th time, that’s it for me. No more attempts. Hoping 5 months is time to get this latest surge under control. I’m vaccinated and waiting for booster appt. If new requirement is pre-travel testing within 24 hours of departure, that just seems too impossible to get results in that short time frame.
Then it’s alaho Hawaii!!!
We are scheduled to leave on Jan 7th for an all family vacation (7 people) on the Big Island. All of our tickets and our reservations are changeable, but we’re so hoping not to have to. Thank you so much for all your updates, they are very helpful to us.
Gail
Hi Gail.
We too hope it works out perfectly for your January vacation on the Big Island.
Aloha.
We’re scheduled to go to Kauai at the beginning of the year. Hopefully all will be well. Looking forward to some Aloha!!