Have you seen the new video from Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau? It’s meant to educate visitors on wearing masks, keeping six feet apart, and washing your hands. The video was announced officially late yesterday but released last week to airline, hotel, and activity partners. It is part of the Kuleana Campaign which means to take responsibility.
After watching the one-minute video, we could see how it might create yet more confusion with visitors, which has resulted in over 5,000 police warnings and citations issued this past week for failure to mask up.
In the first 38 seconds of the video, no one is wearing a mask which includes a chef preparing food in a restaurant and hula dancers in close proximity to one another. That only leaves about 20 seconds to get a message across. And that message to mask up doesn’t explain adequately how that now means basically they are required everywhere.
Watch the video and see if you agree. Would you understand that even when you are outside with your family you are to mask up? That might not come across when you see two maskless men in the video who are kneeling together on lava rock. There is also a hiker pictured from behind but we don’t see if he is wearing a mask. So does that mean a mask is required on trails? How about on our beaches? The video shows a man walking maskless on the beach, while the Mayor of Honolulu was recently pictured handing masks out to visitors on beaches.
It comes down to this. How do you expect visitors to understand the policies on each island when you release this type of video?
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.”
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Jimmy N says
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
RH says
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?
Beat of Hawaii says
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.
Chris says
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.
Carmen says
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.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Carmen.
Thanks. We hope you can return to Maui.
Aloha.
Maggie B. says
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.
Ahmed F. says
The world’s best choice Hawaii
Richard C says
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.
Anne G says
Did you notice you viedo has many natives with no masks?, you going to confuse potential tourists. Duh!
Carmen says
Yes, great point. Thank you.
Leticia C says
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.
Kym says
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.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Kym.
Thanks, also for the levity.
Aloha.
Timothy T. says
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
Doug says
Wow, that is poorly done…
Adriana says
I don’t have a problem with the video – the people featured are not near others and the message is clear.
Cf says
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.
Rima E says
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
Kathi M. says
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.
Mary Kay M says
Another big botch by the Hawaii state government, shaking my head. I hope someday I can visit again, but not looking like anytime soon. 🙁
David F says
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.
calvin S says
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.
Rick S. says
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.
Ashley says
Geez. Whoever approved this video should indeed be fired. There is no way that a video like this will reinforce the mask mandate. 🤦♀️ 🙄