Hawaii officials are suggesting you, our important visitors to Hawaii, be tested 3 days prior to arriving. That as the only way to eliminate the 14-day isolation currently mandated for all arrivals. This raises a myriad of questions including will you agree to testing?
More questions too, including, are the tests even readily available assuming all else is a go? Let alone issues commentors have raised about the legality of such testing, inasmuch as what we are talking about is domestic travel. While that an immunity passports might be acceptable internationally, we are not sure this is even permissible for flights to Hawaii and we understand could result in lawsuits.
Right now, Hawaii feels safer than other places because we are cut off from everyone and have almost no cases.
At the same time Hawaii has 35% unemployment (and likely far more that isn’t called unemployment). This cannot continue much longer. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, incident commander for Hawaii, added this weekend, “If we let the economy go the way it’s going, there will be significant civil unrest that could lead to civil disobedience and, in the worst case, civil disturbance and rioting.” He and many others are frustrated that a plan and schedule to reopen the economy have not been released.
When you start coming back, it will be concerning to see what happens and if the number of cases changes significantly.
Testing for travelers: a first step at reviving Hawaii tourism?
Even though Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Josh Green, M.D., is in favor of these as the way to “greenlight” arrivals, experts in public health and the aviation industry aren’t sure this is the near term solution. We tend to concur.
The feasibility of implementing such a practice to tens of thousands of arrivals, either before departure or on arrival, seems dubious. Even if it sounds great on paper.
In the meantime, US Airlines have already begun implementing a series of health measures to help protect those flying to Hawaii. This includes wearing masks, appropriate distancing, boarding procedure modifications, food and beverage changes, frequent cleaning and disinfecting of aircraft, availability of hand sanitizer, and more.
As you know, multiple locations around the world are working on testing everyone who travels:
1. Emirates was the first to announce last month they would test passengers pre-flight, with results in ten minutes. To our knowledge these are tests for prior exposure rather than for current infection. Experts aren’t sure if these are of any use at all. The World Health Organization (WHO) said they’re concerned, given there is no evidence that those previously exposed are now immune.
2. Vienna Airport in Austria, implemented a $200 testing and certification available for both departing and arriving passengers. But would any of this work in terms of domestic travel to and from Hawaii?
3. Hong Kong Airport has been testing all arrivals since last month.
Obviously, testing will not replace other new health security measures for now.
This includes maintaining appropriate distances, masks, temperature screening, and greatly enhanced airport and aircraft procedures that include disinfecting and cleaning.
IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac’s view is “We need a vaccine, and immunity passport or an effective… test that can be administered at scale.”
However, to our knowledge, there are still not enough tests to go around. Isn’t the USA still rationing those for the most vulnerable? So how can the airlines, or the State of Hawaii, or anyone else, be poised to do wide-scale testing, at any time reasonably soon enough, to re-start Hawaii tourism?
Keep in mind that there are perhaps 1/4 million tests available daily in the USA for all purposes, whereas more than 2 million passengers a day would typically pass through TSA. Scaling those numbers down for Hawaii, it is not currently feasible.
Beyond that, the notion of tests three days before travel raises additional questions. Experts say that some false-negative tests could permit infected passengers to fly.
What the state, airports, and airlines are doing.
At present, we are unaware of specific plans for any state (including Hawaii), airport, or airline to conduct testing. Instead, all airlines are implementing other mitigation measures, that do little to prevent infections from entering Hawaii.
Efforts are afoot this week in Congress to establish national standards for travel.
Airlines for America (trade organization) said, “As all screening processes for the traveling public are the responsibility of the U.S. government, having temperature checks performed by the TSA will ensure that procedures are standardized, providing consistency across airports so that travelers can plan appropriately.” Temperature checks however are of minimal use for a variety of reasons.
Fewer Hawaii arrivals could help to start.
It is likely that at the beginning, given obvious concerns and unknowns, visitors to Hawaii will build slowly over time. That will give us some time to adjust and come to terms with the new normal and establish longer-term, appropriate procedures. In the meantime, Hawaii travelers are going to need to be comfortable with distancing, and other health protocols for the foreseeable future.
We look forward to hearing from you. Mahalo.
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We are suppose to be arriving in Hawaii on July 26th. Do you think the pools and hotels will be open by then. We already cancelled our trip once and hope to not have to cancel again.
Testing people before they are “allowed” in the state? Who comes up with these harebrained ideas? There is not a state or country in the world that does this. You need to get some different advisors
If testing will be available,my family will have no problems doing it.Reason? We miss Hawaii! Ever since we went to Big Island 4 years ago after making fun about others spending crazy money on Hawaii trips for many years,after 1st visit we felt in love! We been coming to Hawaii twice per year, and planned on coming back in April again with 3 kids.we have 6 kids and since its expensive to travel with all, we travel 1 time with 3 kids, then same place other 3.So yes, we want to say Aloha so bad! My wife dreams abt Hawaii now. As soon as Hawaii will let tourists go – hello Maui!(or Big Island) Can Not Wait!
Please work out a solution, we would love to come to your beautiful islands and help revive the local economy. We are willing to do testing and wear masks. However we would only come if the beaches, national parks, attractions, helicopter and boats rides were open so we could fully experience what the island have to offer. Mahalo!
Last time we stayed in Honolulu there was a union strike at our hotel with bull horns 7am until 10pm. We spent 2 weeks doing our own cleaning and picking up supplies left on each floor. The temporary front desk clerk stole my drivers license. This was at a hotel we had stayed numerous times over the last 20 years and even brought over 20 folks for my daughter’s wedding 10 years ago. And now this…a 2 week quatantine to visit? No longer the Aloha state. It is clear Hawaii no longer wants tourists.
I have rebooked our Families Hawaii trip three times and now we need to pay our last payment on may21st ..just wondering if we will be able to come to Hawaii on june 21st and enjoy the Beauty?If we will need to be quarantined for 14 days,it would be silly to pay all.that money to sit in a rental. Has any thing been decieded for Hawaii travel? I would hate to cancel unthen be told we could of went malolo for your time!
Hi Shelly.
Kauai has announced the extension of the 14-day isolation through June. We are going to confirm that inasmuch as the counties were not going to act outside of the state at this point. Look for an update from us tomorrow.
Aloha.
Unfortunately, and although Hawaii is my go to destination, testing, mask wearing and other BS is not my idea of a vacation…looks like Florida gets the nod.
My heart breaks for the people of Hawaii. They are truly dependent on tourism for their survival but with that comes the threat of the vi rus becoming a nightmare for them. Testing before a flight is not very practical, as one could become infected between test and flight time. So . . . perhaps a plan of very strict protocol for any area of the islands that is impacted by tourists. Distancing everywhere. Masks as needed. The best of the best in PPE for all tourism workers, from resort housekeeping to restaurant employees. Extreme cleaning of public surfaces. Maybe 50% occupancy to start at resorts and restaurants. I would support a temporary additional tourism tax to supplement wages, PPE, etc. The Islands and the people provide such fabulous vacations for so many, perhaps we can help in some way to help them get back to sustainability.
Please get a grip on reality. Hawaii is a State. We have accommodations paid for on Maui in July. We go every year. We spend a good amount of money every year on golf, meals and other things. We also have a time share on Big island. So if we are healthy we expect to come and enjoy ourselves not be out in jail for 2 weeks of our 2 week vacation. Thank you
We will be traveling from Nome, Alaska to Honolulu in Julyen route our our home in the Midwest. Would test be available at smaller airports like Nome, would we self report the results to a website? Would we get an authorization code or some documentation that we passed the test within the 3 day time period? We love the islands and hope to make it back this year. Thank you!
We are supposed to come to Hawaii in July. I really hope we can but only if beaches are open and there’s no 14 day quar antine. I don’t think many tourists would come if this is the case, there’s no point if u can’t enjoy yourself. I would take a test but only if it meant I could enjoy my vacation
The state already has protocol for insuring animals dont bring in unwanted disease. Decide on a protocol for tourist, issue a wristband upon landing, and let the dollars flow. This had better happen quickly. I am appalled that “abundance of caution” and “safety” are used as excuses to destroy working people and business owners lives!
Now I have been told that all these precautions are because Hawaii doesn’t have medical facilities. Maui only has 200 hospital beds and Kauai only 100 or so. If there is an outbreak they are ill equipped to handle it. Maybe they should have spent all of our tourist dollars and tourist taxes on medical facilities while they could. But to sell us a timeshare and then say we can’t go use it? Or rent a beach condo and then not use what we paid for? What makes them think that tourists are going to all end up in hospitals?
I feel like hawaii has balked at tourists visiting. I will not be visiting anytime soon
Tests are at best 95% accurate. I have a family of
4. I am not committing to a $10k investment with a 20% chance of losing all of it.
Also: tests are absolutely not available to those without very clear symptoms.
Also: tests 3 days prior (or even on arrival) won’t help with the most likely source of catching the infection: travel itself.
I love Hawai’i and desperately wish I could afford to Live there or at least visit this year.
I just don’t think it’s possible.
Hoping to visit in September for 2 weeks. Wanting to go to Oahu and Kauai. Local girl wanting to spend some time visiting my home land.
Aloha, My wife and I come to Hawaii every year, often we find ourselves in Hawaii twice in a calendar year. We understand the stated concerns, but we vote with our dollars. We will not be tested, contact traced or vac cinated, and if that means the end of our travels to Hawaii, so be it. The constitutional challenges will be interesting; many state governors have not been able to resist the power grab that this over hyped flu has presented. General Hara is far more astute than your average politician. I’ll leave it at that.
Mahalo
Cocky if I’ve ever heard it-
I would gladly get tested before a visit
My hubby and I are planning a trip to Oahu in November. But if I have to be “tested” before boarding a plane, I won’t go. We don’t do this for the flu, colds or anything else. I think there’s a ton of political fear-mongering, from BOTH sides, and we need to let people get back to their lives. Yes, I understand the risk to certain people – I’m one of those. I have two non-contagious lung diseases plus asthma. I understand the risk to me. But people need to work in order to feed their family and tourism is a huge part of that for the people of Hawaii.
I totally agree! I have diabetes so i know the risks as well, take them every flu season. Hopefully they will open hawaii for tourists with beaches open and no 14 day quar antine. They will decimate their economy if they don’t get tourists. The hot humid weather will slow spread of vi rus.
How long is the 14 day quar antine going to last? I was reading an article about getting tested 3 days prior to departure? Is it that the way to bypass the 14 day quar antine; if you have the 3 day testing in effect as implemented.
We realize this is the lack of leadership at the federal government. I am starting to think that coming to hawaii at all this year may not happen sadly.