You may want to hold on to those Hawaii vacation plans, as this is going to get really interesting.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
You may want to hold on to those Hawaii vacation plans, as this is going to get really interesting.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
I think the estimates as to the amount of visitors returning to hawaii is very optimistic. If the Governor doesn’t change his attitude, then tourism will be down much much more than your figures suggest.
Beaches and outdoors in general is the safest place to be. Here in Arizona we kept golf courses open the entire time. People came from California to play and we allowed them. Our tourism has already started to rebound even though we are in the 100’s temperature wise. But our restaurants, spas and hotels are open. Pools are open as well as golf and tennis. We are reaping the benefits of welcoming visitors not keeping them out. And no big spike so far.
Arizona C0VID deaths per million: 118.
Hawai’i C0VID deaths per million: 12.
(as of 5/28/2020)
I am finally encouraged to begin planning another trip to Hawaii. Thanks for your updates. It looks like early spring of 2021 will be the best time for us so when does your crystal ball say might be the best time to book airlines and hotels? Thanks.
Hi Bob.
Thanks. It is too hard to say when it will be best to buy. We’ll let you know, but our thinking is that spring will likely be in the second wave of sales following travel resuming.
Aloha.
I love Hawaii, I been in a Maui 6 times but now very expensive, but I still loved
I really like beat of Hawaii. Just found it a few months ago, and appreciate the offerings. In response to the above article, according to the news, and what I have seen, I do not believe that we will see cheap airfares. We may see them right now as a money grab for flights that airlines (primarily American) know aren’t going, and possibly from airlines with marketing strategies similar to southwest; but once people can really travel it will be a different story. There are millions of dollars out there in vouchers, and in order to capitalize on those within the year, airlines must raise prices to such knowing that people will have to use the voucher by a certain date, and want to make them pay additional monies to travel. Of course that is dependent on the airline (our turkish air vouchers promise a flight, not a monetary amount. Our American was a monetary amount so we converted to other flights that could go now to places that are open).
Keep in mind that all those people not traveling to Hawaii March-August 2020, already had their flights bought and paid for. That money has been spent, not by just the consumer, but also the airline. Airlines have been bleeding and need a way to monetize again on their promise of upcoming flights taken by voucher. This will be similar for those that have credits through private vacation rentals. Hotels will be different. This is why it will take at least 18 months to get revenues back. Additionally those people that have paid a lot for trips are also suffering economically, and the money spent on the islands will be possibly less than what it would’ve been otherwise. It is primarily this argument that makes Japanese tourists a better bet, not just because of their low C0vid levels, but because of their spending power. This is not an argument to open up. I believe Hawaii should have the right to choose, just explaining it from my educational background.
Hi Holli.
Thanks.
Aloha.
What about the conferences with thousands of attendees. The current 14 day self quar antine won’t work for that. People are not going to pay for Hawaii trip to give a hotel 14 days room rates to NOT see or be active in Hawaii only to finally be allowed out of your room to attend another five days inside a conference room.
I’m sure the conferences bring in a lot of money and create a lot of revenue. When are they scheduled to be allowed?
The issue that concerns me is flights to the outer islands. Direct flights to KOA, LIH and OGG make trips possible for many where the connection between terminals and rechecking bags at HNL particularly with C0vid 2 measures is too daunting.
Kauai particularly does not need lots of umbos but keeping some direct flights from the Mainland is important to visitors and Kama’ainas alike.
I do hope the airlines do not retrench into HNL and poss OGG only this year.
This is not necessarily good news. What Hawaii needs is a steady return of visitors who come to enjoy the islands, visit some of the restaurant, cafes and bars, stay in hotels, rent vehicles, take some trips and have a great vacation.
What Hawaii does not need is plane loads of visitors who have selected Hawaii because it is the cheapest, try to spend as little as possible and contribute negatively to the economy as all visitors do represent a cost in terms of facilities and upkeep.
I am not saying everyone needs to arrive by private jet and stay in a 5 star hotel but people sleeping free on the beach and trying to mooch peanuts from bars for “dinner” helps no one.
Great observation. The problem is that big tour companies, big hotel chains and other similar operators don’t care about the quality of visitor – they just want the money. Local people and everyone else suffer as a result. That happens everywhere, not just Hawai’i. Many places in Europe are being literally destroyed (Venice, for example) by huge masses of indiscriminate tourists descending by the thousands. I’ve been in Hawai’i (O’ahu) on and off since the late 1950s; at first it got better (cleaner, less crime, etc.) then it reached a turning point and started getting overcrowded and overcommercialized. Cheap fares (if they happen) aren’t going to have a positive effect.
Thank You for the forum. The news today was reporting that Hotel and Condo operators are being used to report visitors without masks or leaving hotel rooms so they can be turned over to the police. I also read suggestions that Hawaiians be paid bounty money for monitoring social media sites to find tourists in violation of the quarantine and report them to the police. Maybe some type of chip could be inserted in visitors to track their movements and temperatures so that Hawaiians can safely open tourism.
Hi Robert.
Thanks for that.
Aloha.
Did you just thank Robert for really suggesting all visitors be mico-chipped to vacation in Hawaii?
This feels like it was a Robo reply!
….and thank you..I have been following Beat of Hawaii for a few years and have enjoyed visiting various Hawaiian Islands since 1982.
Hi Ada.
No robo here. We were being fascitous as we believe was the commentor. Thanks too for your other comment’s nice words.
Aloha.
I think they were recognizing his irony or perhaps that his chip is already installed (on the shoulder?)
Hi Rich.
Thanks. LOL.
Aloha.
I am game for all these rules, because this is already what my family and I are practicing here in Texas. I also want to keep MY family safe, once we do choose to venture out. I am keeping the faith that I can still bring my family to the state I grew up in, in October. It is exciting to think the experience will be similar to when I lived on Oahu.
But the chip? Interesting idea. Reminds me of some sci fy movies I’ve watched!!
Thanks for the updates I weekly look forward to.
Hi Golden.
Thanks for your comments and sci-fi analogy.
Aloha.
Wheres Dog the Bounty Hunter when you need him! He’ll get the violators!
“Insert visitors with something”??? Are you serious? Who in their right mind would tolerate such a violation of their privacy and pay a lot of money on top of that?
I’m so happy that people who won’t take tests or wear masks will vacation elsewhere! It will make our vacation, whenever we can come, that much safer and more enjoyable :-).
Hi Carolyn.
Thanks for the levity – much appreciated.
Aloha.
I agree! The types of people who won’t take tests or wear masks are likely the ones who don’t respect the Aina or the People who live on the island. They are the ones who leave trash and break rules and give the rest of us mainlanders a bad name.
Though I wonder about wearing a mask on the beach or out in nature where there aren’t many people. Maybe just wear it if your are going to be within 10 feet of another person. Otherwise always have it ready to put on. What do you think?
Today we went to the beach in Central Cal. It started out at 75 degrees and in 10 minutes, the fog rolled in, the wind kicked up and it dropped to about 60. The water was ice cold. My 9-year-old grandson said that he hoped he could go to Hawaii someday because he heard that the water was clear and warm.
We’re scheduled to go to Kauai in late September. Sure hope everything is somewhat back to normal by then.
I drove a year or 2 ago from Las Vegas to Laguna beach on July 4 as I had never been to Cali before, and was just sweating all the way there straight into the sun. By the time I found the coast, it was night, and it was so freezing damp and cold, I didnt even want to walk down to see the water. Not what I was expecting at all. I hope Hawaiis not like that at night.
So… best everyone just waits… DON’T come to Hawaii yet – just wait. We are all adults here and patience is the key. Please stop selling vacations and keep your eye on the prize that Hawaii can remain safe/able to deal with C0vid. The islands are healing from over use. The people are trying to get back on their feet safely. Telling the world to come is not in the best interest of Hawaii.
Hi, Thanks for the good updates and information. My family and I spent 4 weeks in Hawaii last summer. I definitely hope tourism returns and the people of Hawaii can begin working again. I would comment that we spent 10 days on Oahu and I couldn’t believe how much tourism had increased there in the past 10 years. Everywhere was crowded. Lanikai, which used to be be fairly uncrowded, was blanket to blanket with people waiting for space. The beaches have become more crowded than the Jersey Shore. I’ve seen some articles on trying to regulate numbers on Oahu a bit. That would be great. I can’t imagine that locals enjoy living with the crowds.
Hi Lisa.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thanks as always for all of the updates. We have had to cancel our 2020 trip and reschedule for 2021. Hope all is back to normal by then. By the way, here on the mainland beaches are open in some areas with no mask required. Some distancing rules, but we are allowed to have chairs and sit on the beach some locations.
Hi David.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I went to Mexico in Feb 2020. It only took two hours to fly there. It takes 7 hours to fly to Hawaii. In Mexico I did not have a room tax like I do in Hawaii. Food in Mexico was good and reasonable. Food in Hawaii very expensive. The people in Mexico love the tourists and welcome them. I’m not so sure about Hawaii. Beaches and resorts both places are gorgeous. I am booked for Hawaii in Sept 2020 but if I don’t feel some semblance of aloha I might cancel and go to Mexico or Caribbean. Hope Hawaii comes to their senses.
I’m hoping to go when possible, but in meantime went with my son to Los Algodones, MX for his dental work and the pple were super nice. I had never been before, but very easy to drive and simply walk across the border. He got a root canal, after they teated the infection for a week, a zirconia crown (the best they said) and 2 extractions, including a wisdom tooth for $750 I think which Im sure is a pretty good deal.
I certainly hope things open up in July of this year. Just had our 7/2 reservations cancelled by American Airlines. We quickly rebooked on Hawaiian Airlines for half the fare we paid for our American Airlines tickets last December 2019.
Hope to visit Hawaii soon!
Mahalo!
Hi TJ.
Thank you.
Aloha.
As much as we’d like to be able to turn on a dime and take advantage of low air and lodging costs if they do arise, we have work obligations (although retired I still work part-time), animals to board, the schedules of co-travellers to coordinate, etc., etc. The idea of being masked on the beach on Kauai doesn’t work for us. (not that we would refuse to comply – we are wearing masks here in San Diego pretty religiously and will continue to do so. But let’s face it, we can wear masks on the beach here a lot cheaper. When we had to cancel our May 2020 plans, we rebooked our lodging for May 2021 and are hoping there is some return to normality by then. As a backup, we’re also booking a stay in Yellowstone next May should our Kauai plans fall through. We are cautiously optimistic, however, and can’t wait to get back.
Hi Dennis.
We hope it works out for you to return soon.
Aloha.
Aloha,
In California they had 1 year of suicides in one month. We need to get on with Life. The old people who can get this flu easy stay in side. Hawaii needs to start opening up and get testing before they leave to fly here. People can’t live on someone else money forever. People want to work and feel useful. It’s time to open up and if we don’t there will more deaths then the flu.
Mahalo
Hi Kristy.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Check out the Civil Beat/HNN poll.
That really says it all. I’d bet in 9 months or so when all the Fed freebies are gone and many, many businesses are closed for good, folks will be singing a different tune. Even the socialistic state handouts seem doomed or at least likely to be reduced. And of course here come higher taxes.
As others have commented, the glamour and enjoyment of a Hawaii vacation will be greatly reduced by having to wear masks everywhere, even when there is no medically-validated justification (like a beach). And perhaps potential U.S. mainland visitors are noticing how unwelcoming their fellow Americans in the islands are these days. If those sentiments become widely known there could be a bigger and longer impact than expected.
Please clarify the mask situation. Exactly when and where must they be worn and for how long is this policy expected to last? Thanks.
Hi Mike.
We can’t say with certainty what will be decided about masks and perhaps they don’t be required with enough distance.
Also, we have a great deal of professional experience with polling, and that one was by all appearances very poorly done and likely irrelevant.
Aloha.
“…have a great deal of professional experience with polling, and that one was by all appearances very poorly done and likely irrelevant.”
Please explain why it was poorly done and irrelevant.
Civil Beat is an online news organization. It has no ties to tourism as you do.
Hi Kailua.
Good question. We don’t know if the sample surveyed was representative of the entire population. For example, how many were men/women, their ethnicity, income level, age, etc.; only that they were registered voters picked at random. And how was that done? Did they pick a certain number by island? Without this information, we can’t feel comfortable that the results speak for the majority. Within the survey/polling industry, this is sometimes referred to as “convenience sampling.” As a point of reference, one of Beat of Hawaii’s editors has done extensive statistical research in graduate school and professionally.
Aloha.
Hoping for Hawaii to open on July 1st! I have my flight booked July 2nd and counting on it as I am closing on a home in Oahu end of June. I also feel for the people out of work and would love to see Hawaii back strong again!
No thanks, the last thing I need while on vacation is some local giving me sting eye or worse for stepping on their private island, I’ll spend my money elsewhere.
I enjoy all the information you provide. Keep up the great work.
Thank you,
Wendy
Hi Wendy.
Thanks!
Aloha.
Thank you for your constant updates. I hope & pray Hawaii returns to “normal” as soon as possible. We have loved Kauai for 28 years & feel so bad for the local residents. We have always been respectful & treated the same way. Plan on returning in January 2021 for 6 weeks of ALOHA & can hardly wait. Not sure what will happen with flights from Canada yet but hope they will resume & be favorable. Stay safe. Mahalo.
Hi Bob.
Thank you.
Aloha.
If the sun kills the virus why will masks be required if social distancing is done? And will masks be required on the beach or around a pool? Does not make sense.
There is no proof that warm weather/sun kills the Vi rus. South America is inundated with C0vid and they have warm sunny weather.
Over 35% of people carry this with no symptoms. Distancing and masks are necessary because you may not know you are an asymtomatic carrier.
My son’s girlfriend was asymptomatic and he ended up in the hospital…ICU…he is 28 and was a marathon runner. He made it through…he was lucky. Over 100,000 people in 3 months were not and that number is only for the US.
It is now late fall in South America, not all places there have warm, sunny weather. There is also a hygiene component to the transmission of most vi ruses. The asymptomatic carrier stat undercuts the argument about the true death rate of C0VID. And, to date, Hawaii has had 17 out of those 100,000 deaths in the USA.
Flattening the curve was never billed as being about waiting for a vac cine that may never come, it was about keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed. I think that is “mission accomplished” in HI, but now they’re behind that very curve, since new infections cannot be prevented and it is my belief that Hawaiians are merely delaying the inevitable, and suffering financially while doing so. Not a good policy, but we will see how this plays out.
I hope and pray for the safety of everyone: Hawaiians, mainlanders, and people around the globe alike, but a goal of preventing all C0VID deaths going forward is unrealistic, just as preventing all flu deaths, MVA, and shark attack is.
KAiLUA
Wrong…there is proof that uv rays/sunlight, temperature and humidity kill the vi rus much faster than being indoors, and they are prpving it dies faster than originally thought on surfaces.
Also, the 100k deaths in the US is a highly tainted number, and if you have done any research on it, you would understand why. From the CDC guidelines on documentation of deaths, to paying hospitals 10’s of thousands of dollars for treatment of cases and using ventilators, the numbers are over-inflated.
Harvey H., that’s spot on…👍
Mahalo, R&J for the continual updates.
Hi Jim.
Thanks for your many comments.
Aloha.
We rescheduled our trip from April to December, 2020, and remain hopeful that we’ll be able to travel to the Big Island! It will be our 7th trip and first to the Big Island.
My husband and I will keep our confirmed reservations for a Maui Timeshare where we are members. Our month’s confirmed stay is between October 20-Mov.20, 2020. We are seniors and may not have an opportunity to visit Hawaii at a later date. We have enjoyed traveling to most of the islands over the years and have never encountered other visitors behaving inappropriately. We surely don’t and have always been respectful of the locals and their customs. It is very disturbing to read all the negative comments posted by the residents . Future trips will be planned elsewhere where tourists are welcomed and appreciated by both the locals and governing parties. Perhaps this stance will change when unemployment benefits and Federal government supplements come to an end.What happened to one adhering to the philosophy that you should not “bite the hand that feeds you”?
We are hopeful for a 10/2020 visit to Kaanapali, Maui. I’m curious to see how “social dist ancing” will be implemented poolside. We stay at the Mahana and it doesn’t have a huge pool area, so removing loungers to create space will certainly have an impact. We also hope some of the small local restaurants we love will be open again by then.
We have an August 20 to Sept 2, 2020 Hawaii trip set, “Do you see any problems on these dates traveling to Hawaii?” Do you believe restrictions will still apply? Thank You! David
Hi David.
It isn’t up to us to say. Were are hopeful you’ll be able to come then without problems and hope to be able to update on that very soon.
Aloha.
are they still quar antining for 14 days in hawaii when a person arrives
As much as I hoped to visit Hawaii again this year, the masks are a no go for me. I’ll go visit the other island, The Cal, in Vegas instead. I was working there back in the 80’s when I was first exposed the the Aloha Spirit of the islands. I love Hawaii and have always felt like family there. Hoping things return to normal soon….. Thank you for all your updates!
Hi Carrie.
Thanks.
Aloha.
If we were to return to Oahu, how does the 14 day quar antine thing work? How would we get provisions for the 14 day requirement? We usually stay in a Waikiki condo for a month or more, so would need transportation for replenishing provisions, such as, car rental, Uber?
Your help on these topics would be helpful.
I’m in the same boat as Robert P (‘nother Robert over here!); can’t go now, but would like to go later.
We had out Hawaii plans cancelled for this Spring Break and are hoping for next year’s Spring Break. The mask issue is a major dealbreaker for us – I mean, if you can’t enjoy your vacation, go to restaurants without putting your mask on and off for each bite, and so on, then why go?
Hawaii is going through a rough spell, and while I completely and totally agree that the state should be able to mandate safety precautions, that does mean for many vacationers it won’t be the happy, carefree place that they want to visit. Visitors like us will wait until the restrictions are lifted and then go. And heck, not going now just means more money to bank up for the next trip.
I am really looking forward for our trip a year from now to Maui and perhaps another island, if there’s time. ‘Til then, I’ll have great memories of our prior trips and save money in the interim.
Robert M
You got that right back masks. I won’t be coming if masks are required. I refuse wear masks in the heat and outdoors. Hawaii is going to slit its own throat with requirements like that . Tourists won’t put up with it. I love Hawaii. I miss it so bad. I had lots and lots of plans for our 2 week trip in September but it looks like it also will be canceled. Probably will need to stay on the Mainland where our tourism dollars are wanted. Enjoy your beautiful island in your soon to be poverty.
Am I reading correctly that you’ll have to have reservations to go to a beach? If so, we may rethink the whole thing. Would I have to wear it while hiking an isolated 11 mile trail?
Aloha! Masks on the beach? I haven’t heard that anywhere here in California. Just need to keep our proper distance.
Do you really think they will require a mask while on the beach?
Aloha,
I would be willing to wear a mask if I can find cheap flights. I’m hoping I can travel by September. I’ll continue to monitor this site for the cheapest time to fly. Mahalo!
Hi Wanda.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Hi, I love absolutely love getting your emails! I have learned so much from them. Thank you so much!! My daughter moved to Honolulu a year ago and is a special education teacher there. My husband and I are coming to visit her this summer (first time visiting Hawaii)and are looking for a place to stay July 22 through the 27th. We would love to find somewhere near her. She lives right by the Ala Moana Center. We would like to only pay a total of $1000 for lodging-$200 out the door per night. We are very open to hotels or VRBO. Do you have any recommendations? It would just be for two people as my daughter will be staying in her own condo. Thank you, in advance, for any advice you can offer.
Hi Shelly.
Thanks! We don’t get into recommending specific accommodations. It is all online and should be easy to find.
Aloha.
Thank you!
We’re scheduled to be there July 25-Aug 1. We were going to hike the Kalalau trail(2nd attempt since last time it was washed out). We currently can’t get permits. We’re still on the fence about canceling our lodging and flight because of the very reason this article talks about . It could be an awesome vacation due to no crowds.
We were coming to Kona in 2021 and rebooking for our missed May trip in May 2020. After everything we’ve heard and read we’re not coming. The things I fell in love with seem to have evaporated. Someone said Aloha goes both ways. Well so does racism. Haole go home and signs on yards with yelling at tourists on Maui? I’m still shocked. I hate racism of any form and always have since I was a very young girl. This haole is changing it up and just booked 2 weeks next May in Freeport Bahamas. I hear the people there are some of the friendliest in the world. Be careful what you wish for. Being friendly and kind is free. Hopefully Hawaii pulls it together as a community. We’ve always respected the islands and the people who live their with the highest standards. Why spend hard earned money to be treated inferior?
Hi or Aloha,
I absolutely love Hawaii, went to high school in Honolulu, lived on Maui for a short period as well.
I can’t wait to go back.
I will say though it’s the only place I have ever been where I felt racism because I’m a white guy, it’s true, but I will still go back.
Hi Ron.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Amen to everything you said Bonnie!!! I am an American not a haole. That is racism.
Wow, can this be done by August. Our trip is already scheduled and no one will tell us one or the other. Looking for Guinea Pigs… Let us Come !
I would love to bring my family back to Hawaii but masks are a deal breaker for us. It’s such a shame because we loved our visit last year with our 5 kids and the hubs and I have been 4 times just us. It’s just too expensive and too far to travel to be required to wear a mask. I do hope Hawaii comes back to the beautiful place we love! Mahalo!
Hi Dee.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I would have loved to keep my reservation for Maui in August, but as Dee said wearing a mask is a deal breaker for me. I can’t imagine walking around in the heat and lately the humidity and trying to breathe with a mask on.ugh No thank you.
Also reservation for beaches??? That’s just silly.
I miss Maui! I’ve gone every year for 22 years.But until I can go and enjoy myself I’ll be looking for other places to vacation.
Hopefully by next year everything will settle down and all the restrictions removed.
Mahalo Beat of Hawaii for all the updates and info.It’s very helpful
Hi Donna.
We can’t say with certainty where and when masks will remain required. As for beach reservations, that has already been implemented in other places. How can beaches like Waikiki work with inherent overcrowding?
Aloha.
Well said. We wouldn’t return with the must wear mask stipulation either. Glad we were there in March. I had hoped to return in September.
We are passing on 2020 but are hopeful for 3/21. Every experience we have had with the locals has been positive and we have been visiting since 2005. Mostly Kauai but a few trips to Maui also. Thank you for all the information you have provided, especially on cheap flights! Take care and be safe! Robert P
Hi Robert.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Hi there,
Fanatical reader of your newsletter! But curious what makes you think airfares will be so low. I’ve read nothing but dire predictions about the airline industry as the pandemic has decimated the travel sphere. Airlines will now be concerned only with profit and revenue. Why then would they offer such cheap fares? Especially when they will likely be required to not fly at capacity for social distancing. Cheap fares exist during competition, which I imagine has been wiped out thanks to the pandemic.
Hi Esmerelda.
Thanks for being a fanatical reader! We didn’t say they will stay low, but we are clear they will need to start low. None of the primary Hawaii carriers plans on throwing in a towel, and that is just what it will take to get things started. Longer-term, as we’ve said before, we have prices going up, to Hawaii and everywhere.
Aloha.