You may want to hold on to those Hawaii vacation plans, as this is going to get really interesting.
116 thoughts on “Step Back in Time: You’re About Have Hawaii to Yourself”
Comments are closed.
You may want to hold on to those Hawaii vacation plans, as this is going to get really interesting.
Comments are closed.
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.