From Aloha to Arrivederci: Are Europe's Open Tourist Arms Closing Doors in Hawaii?

Sadly, New Hawaii Tourism New Video Fails to Alleviate Confusion

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61 thoughts on “Sadly, New Hawaii Tourism New Video Fails to Alleviate Confusion”

  1. During Covid 19 prevention methods. I am noticed that all leader from different departments and Mayor or Government didn’t do a good job and gave out some restrictions with no sense

  2. We are planning to fly to Kauai on Nov 5.
    Can you explain to me what the current requirements to enter Kauai will be on that date?
    Worst case scenario, if we have to undergo a 2 week quarantine, we will stay in our condo, but we permitted to go masked to the store to buy provisions? Will we be allowed to rent a car? How can the police determine if someone driving on the
    road is supposed to be strictly quarantined in our condo? What will be the penalty if we somehow innocently violate the quarantine order? A warning? A fine? Deportation? Please let us know.
    Can you again summarize what the current Kauai Policy is? Is it exceeding a weekly average of number of cases, or a single day exceeding 4 new cases?

    1. Hi RH.

      Should you be in quarantine, which we would not recommend, you can’t stay in a vacation rental, cannot rent a car, and can’t go to buy provisions. Penalties can be severe, up to $5,000 or jail, but who knows if that would be enforced. Bottom line, avoid quarantine. Policy is so long as there is an average of under 5 active cases on island, everything remains as it is. If there are more, new arrivals could be stopped.

      Aloha.

      Aloha.

  3. I’ve read that only visitors need to wear masks. If they are truly concerned about safety, I don’t understand why they would relax these requirements for residents. If someone is carrying C-19, masks will only do so much and if a local gets it, it could spread rapidly through the islands.
    Plus, for those tourists that are concerned about contracting the virus, it won’t instill much comfort when you are around residents that are not following protocol.

  4. Thank you for sharing this video. I must agree, the message it conveys is that of confusion. Perhaps what they’re expecting is for visitors to strictly adhear to the mask requirements, but locals are free to choose whether or not to wear one. I recall that when the lock down took place in Hawaii from international and main land travel, Covid continued to spread amongst the islands. Yet, I feel that the tourists that keep them in business are snubbed and looked down apon as second class citizens spreading the plegue.
    I went to Maui in 2018, but sadly our trip was disrupted by hurricane Lane. My hopes to go back soon were so high, but now with all the restrictions, I’m not so sure the Aloha spirit will be as authentic. For the sake of all the small businesses, I hope Hawaii’s leaders let up on all the micromanaging.

  5. What confuses me is no one is wearing a mask while the video is promoting it. You really need to redo it and have everyone covered. People’s mentality is they are on vacation they don’t think they need it.

  6. Hi Guys

    I know you saw this as of late yesterday there’s 20 new cases of covid on Lanai and they’re expecting the number to rise rapidly possibly 10 percent of the population is infected. From what I’ve read they’re trying to link it to some one who traveled off island.

    Oh boy not good news if you’re on the islands be careful wear your mask tensions are really going to rise after this outbreak.

  7. Did you notice you viedo has many natives with no masks?, you going to confuse potential tourists. Duh!

  8. Definitely unclear as to mask policy. Need to confirm whether when out and about anywhere or just certain areas.

    Plans on visiting next yr. Would appreciate clearer policy on masks.

  9. I just watched the new informational video. It does seem to send a mixed message and not cover (no pun intended) everything. No mention of wearing masks in shops etc. Thank you.

  10. Everyone in the video should be wearing a mask. From beginning to end so that the public will understand the reasoning. I am a 26 year veteran of living on Big Island and hope to come back and visit when this pandemic has finally been put to rest. Mahalo

  11. I don’t have a problem with the video – the people featured are not near others and the message is clear.

  12. Silly, the movie is just for kids. Just kidding. Like Trix cereal, except the trick is on Hawaii. Its meant to attract people to the state. I think the mask mandates are not very effective or helpful on 6 hour flights. If tests are effective then no need. I do believe its more of a one world order priming excercize, like fattening up mest for fois gras.

    Hawaii govt just wants the tourists to come so they can stay in office. They dont care about taxpayers or local Hawaiians, not even ones who feel they are kamaina. This is nothing new.

  13. Every state knows the law to the new normal. So I don’t see nothing wrong except to mask up. Or wait it out before visiting.
    Mahalo

  14. Definitely not sending the strong message that is verbalized only at the end of the video. All models/people should be wearing masks, when on land. More needs to be focused on the necessary virus precautions per science and doctors. This video should have mentioned pre-and post-testing for the virus as well.

  15. Another big botch by the Hawaii state government, shaking my head. I hope someday I can visit again, but not looking like anytime soon. 🙁

  16. I personally didn’t see anyone in close proximity to another. The Hula shot is slightly deceiving from the camera angle but I would bet a weeks pay that the two hula dancers are not within 6 ft of one another.

    1. Masks are part of a social conditioning (almost like a mass ritual) .. it’s all part of the one world agenda. stop watching mainstream media & listening to your zombie friends who do all day.

      think for yourself.

  17. The social distancing/ precautionary mask wearing/ hand washing PSA video was REALLY REALLY a ….

    “Kupuna, kahuna, okole maluna, over too soona, oh by the way, mask and wash, okay?” Glitzy Hawaii tourism-ishy video going more for a local video production award than try to educate visitors on the critical life-saving importance of setting foot on the rather fragile eco-structure of an island. The safety message in this case is small, and hidden in the almost pandering notability of local icons, that aren’t actually demonstrating the actual safety actions you want others to perform!

    I think of it this way- anyone who’s ever flown knows pretty much by heart the mandatory FAA safety videos. That stuff repeats instructions over and over! But THIS is new and unique to what Hawaii leaders expect. And there are legal consequences for not following public health precautions! So the govt response is to release a convoluted “informational” video that spends nearly zero time on what to do, how to do it, and the consequences of not doing it?? And to top it off, local govt will ask local police to make enforcement contacts?? Wow- now that is not planning against failure, it’s planning to fail.

    I’ve mentioned it a few times, and it applies to this as well. Hawaii govt leaders need to take a “Risk Management Approach” to determine the weak points in planning, policy, education and enforcement when it comes to public health and emergency management. If you manage the risk, you manage the problem.

    Applying that to the video, what about the content tell us the risks unique to Hawaii and how to manage that risk? Apparently- you hula, beach, hike without a mask. You dine at a restaurant where the chef wears no mask.

    No- don’t just fire the person who created the video. Question the capabilities and professionalism of the Hawaii officials who
    approved it and released it as a PSA.

  18. Geez. Whoever approved this video should indeed be fired. There is no way that a video like this will reinforce the mask mandate. 🤦‍♀️ 🙄

  19. Information on issue
    IATA’s new position was not decided lightly, but there really is no choice. Yet it will be very difficult to implement and there are many unanswered questions. First, where and when will the tests be conducted and who pays for them? IATA believes the availability of viral antigen screening tests that are quick to give results (less than 15 minutes), cheap (less than $10), can be administered by a non-medical official and are highly reliable (around 98% valid result) will soon be widely available. That will make it possible for the tests to be conducted at departure airports, but this will require considerable work to administer in a way that does not cause crowding on the land side of terminals, which would be undesirable both from a distancing and a security point of view. IATA hopes that governments will foot the bill for tests, but that may be optimistic and problematic for states where taxpayers don’t see why they should “subsidize” those who choose to fly.

    1. please tell me why hawaii is not allowing covid tests from places in ca that are very infamous, ie: stanford,ucla, ucsf, etc.and how about mayo clinic or john hopkins? cvs and walgreens are a joke. thanks, nancy

      1. Hi Nancy.

        The state indicated that they felt they could only control this “initially” using a trusted partner program. We can’t comment on that logic but that is the situation.

        Aloha.

  20. Looks like they shot 20 seconds of video with masks and added 30 seconds of stock footage they had lying around. Any average PR person can tell you that this is very poor messaging. I’m not in PR or tourist industry, but can tell you this is par for the state.

  21. Agreed- The video does not seem preventative; If this is in response to seeing a need for alerting tourists to mask-up after 5000 citations had been issued, it does not seem to get that point across. In fact it is more along the lines of “behave like *this* and you may get a citation.”

  22. Yes, that was confusing.
    So what are the rules?
    Do you need an mask on anytime you are outside? On the beach? Hiking with no one else around? In the ocean or at a pool?

  23. HI Guys

    Today was my should have been annual travel day from Sacramento to Maui. We would have landed at 10:30am your time retrieved our rental mini van picked up goodies from Costco then headed over to Kihei to enjoy some fish tacos at the original Coconuts. I like the original location better then the newer location located a littler farther down the road towards Wailea. We’d then head over to Grand Wailea get an early check in and a nice room upgrade in the Lagoon wing close to Humi Humi and the third pool from the top. It would be nice if I scored a first floor room the stairs at GW are a killer. By now we’d had unpacked jumped in our suits and did our annual cannonballs into the pool. We’d slide down to the Grotto bar and enjoy our first Mai Tai…..of…our…vacation.

    Oh wait you want to know about the video? It was a beautifully shot video full of Aloha Spirit, but what Luau or Restaurants was the ad for and could give me the location of the hiking trail and tide pool.

    Any ways we usually have a 5:30pm reservation at Humi Humi on the first night would you like me to forward you some of our past beautiful sunset pictures from our table.

  24. That is a poorly produced video. Looks like they took stock footage rather than shooting new video of the real Hawaii. Very misleading. This needs to be redone, stat! And as always, Mahalo for your information.

  25. Beautiful visual video of island Aloha, with a “do as I say” not as you just saw message. You can’t make this stuff up! Actually the message I got was if you live there and you’re working there and you’re a local- no mask; and by the way if you’re visiting please put a mask on. Huh???

  26. This is HORRIBLE and gives completely the wrong impression. I counted approximately 15 scenes/cuts where based on the instructions given by Hawaii that people should have been wearing masks. However, there were only 2 (maybe 3) scenes showing masks being worn. Definitely NOT a good start to the kickoff (unless the goal was to be confusing….if so, great job! 🙁 )

  27. Sigh, I have read and seen so much conflicting information. Does anyone know for certain, do I have to wear a mask while on the beach or not? Do I have to wear one as I am walking down the street or hiking on a trail outside? I’m at the point where I need to decide one way or the other if I’m going to keep my travel plans for December or cancel everything. Thank you to anyone with the wisdom to decipher all this information!

    1. Hi Cindy.

      Oahu at this time is more restrictive, and our read is that you do need masks virtually everywhere there, except when going in the water. It wasn’t clear to us whether with social distancing that isn’t the case. Our theory, for now, is to wear a mask all the time unless there is a clear indication and information to the contrary.

      Aloha.

      1. Thank you BOH for that info, our travel plans are for Maui only. Are there further restrictions for Maui that you might know of? I have no problem wearing masks on the plane, in businesses and in more populated areas. I would have a major problem being asked to wear a mask outside on the beach however. From a clinical standpoint that makes zero sense whatsoever. That would be the deal breaker for me and my family, several of which work in the medical field. Again I thank you for keeping your followers as enlightened as possible with everything!

        1. Hi Cindy.

          Thanks. No other restrictions beyond those mentioned, at least at this time. Enjoy your time on Maui!

          Aloha.

  28. In the video, everyone except the chef is correct in not wearing a mask – each is more than 6 feet from anyone else (there is one couple together at a tidepool, but likely from the same household).

    If they wanted to show the need for masks, then show families masked while ordering food from masked servers at a restaurant. Show customers and employees masked while shopping at a store. Show everyone masked while enjoying an art museum. Show the audience socially distanced and masked while watching a luau.

    I think they made the video mostly from stock footage, with the intent to show the welcoming Aloha spirit.

  29. Thanks for sharing the video. I have no problem with people not wearing masks outside or at the beach when you can stay 6’ apart. I am currently enjoying a great vacation in the Caribbean where they welcome visitors and have sanitizers everywhere and people are keeping their distance. I hope Hawaii settles down by January for our annual trip to Maui.

    Mahalo

  30. Lastly, one of the first to comment was regular Laura R., who said “I share your thoughts exactly – it’s sad to see that a lot of taxpayers money was wasted during this time of economic need on a video that provides absolutely no information and shows image after image of people NOT wearing masks! Whoever authorized this video should be fired.”

    I agree, this video only leaves confusion. Whoever was in charge of this video needs to apologize and remake it ASAP.

  31. I just watched the video, and to be honest I don’t see a problem with it. So there are images of people without masks – all are practising social distancing and the guy in the water, do you seriously expect him to be wearing a mask?? (It is a well known fact that the coronavirus cannot survive in water.) The message in the video is quite clear. Not entirely sure what more could be done to get the word out. If it’s being shown on flights to Hawaii, and 5000 visitors have been fined, only serves to demonstrate how many passengers do NOT watch the videos prior to arrival.

    1. Me too, Aloha and good luck until things return to normal. I will wear a mask where I need to, in the area that I live, but have no desire to take a six hour flight to wear one while spending hundreds of dollars on accommodation, food, etc

  32. It is the worst video ever! These guys are clowns and should return to the circus immediately. I live here and could not believe what I was watching

    Mahalos

  33. Video was perfect…I think we’re nit picking now and should try to pivot to positive and lean into the aloha we’re trying to show the world we still have. Thank you.

  34. I share your thoughts exactly – it’s sad to see that a lot of taxpayers money was wasted during this time of economic need on a video that provides absolutely no information and shows image after image of people NOT wearing masks! Whoever authorized this video should be fired.

  35. I like that nobody in the video is wearing a mask (except when referring to the “rule”), but asking visitors to wear one whenever outside. Do as I say not as I do?
    Nope won’t be back until the mask madness has ended. Sorry but they don’t offer any real protection. Just virtue signaling. LOTS of studies on this from scientists and doctors.

    1. Hmm…I know of a good deal of contrary evidence regarding the efficacy of masks. In defense of the state of HI, they have not experienced nearly the level of uptick in cases of other states, and their test positivity rate remains pretty low. I appreciate that they are intent on managing this, even if it has manifested in some conflicting information. They’re obviously managing the bottom line much better than many states.

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