At long last, we are awaiting the imminent announcement on the resumption of travel without a 14-day isolation. That news is expected in the next 48 hours.
The pending and unlikely to be postponed announcement comes as the US Department of Justice yesterday questioned the constitutionality of the current situation, indicating they believe it is discriminatory towards non-Hawaii based US residents. This statement came in support of a lawsuit challenge which the state is now facing. “The Constitution does not permit the effective discrimination challenged in this case.” — US Justice Department.
Hawaii has remained indecisive. It is unclear how Hawaii will recover, given the bad PR, and its crude marketing abilities, while validly trying to decide on the basis and timing of the resumption of tourism. To add to other woes, the state’s head of tourism marketing suddenly announced his departure earlier this month.
Many issues and questions remain. Here’s what we know:
1. Testing will be required to avoid the 14-day period. The question is, will Hawaii bound travelers find tests available at 72 hours before travel?
2. For those who don’t test in advance of travel to Hawaii, will tests on arrival in Hawaii be available?
3. All arrivals who do not test at all will enter into a 14-day isolation. Will you be sitting on the plane next to someone who hasn’t been tested while you have been and what are the implications of that? Can the complexity of managing large numbers of visitors with new rules be handled in Hawaii?
4. The governor has continued to talk about opening to locations, presumably domestic and international (if permissible), with limited outbreaks, and which have good screening and contact tracing. He used the term “safe travel corridors,” after a Hawaii travel bubble with Japan was suggested. That idea attracted the ire of Beat of Hawaii visitors in scores of comments. Again we just aren’t clear how any form of travel bubble could be viable.
What is the likely date for travel to resume with testing options?
We are expecting that to be August 1. That having been said, however, Hawaii’s travel stakeholders, from aviation to accommodation, have indicated that they need 30 to 60 days to prepare for travel to resume. Nothing happens overnight, and sufficient time to get staff in place, do a thorough cleaning before reopening, and begin new procedures will be required.
Needless to say, visitors too need advance notification of the reopening date to plan or to cancel Hawaii travel.
Revised 6/24/20.
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Will those who decide to quar antine vs. get tested before departure still be required to quar antine in one of the designated hotels? Thanks.
Hi Sammy.
Yes, in that case, the 14-day rule will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
Aloha.
Aloha Beat of Hawai’i 🌺
Are there any updates I’ve missed, or is the situation still lōlō?
You guys are incredible, and tirelessly trying to help us comprehend the incomprehensible.
You’re superheros!!
Beat of Hawai’i no ka oi!
That being said, would you please run for Governor and make Ige move to Alaska?
Much mahalo, and stay safe.
Hi Pam.
It is all still cooking.
Thanks so much for your nice words!!
Aloha. R/J
Better yet, one of you run for Governor and the other for Lt. Governor
Mahalo
Hi Bill.
LOL. Thank you!! Neither of us has any political aspiration.
Aloha.
I am on the mainland and booked a trip almost a year ago to arrive on Maui first week in Augus. My family was on Maui mid March and saw the shut down, it was not fun, but understandable. I’ve been following the news since we left last March. In May when they started talking about opening up travel with possible pretesting I started my research for our trip. I’ve sent three emails to Lt. Gov. Green and three emails to two legislators because I do not think they understand the logistics of what they are talking about. This last week Lt. Gov. Green in statement made it sound like there was testing all over the Islands. I called the two CVS/Long drug stores on Maui and neither are testing and told me I had to go to Oahu to get tested. As of now there is no test at the airports. If you arrive and do not have the pretest it seems like they are going to ship you home understandably.
There is good news and bad news depending on where you’re coming from on the issue. I do not think Hawaii will get the influx of visitors they are counting on and you only have to do a little research to confirm what I say next is true.
It is difficult if not impossible to get a test for Covid here on the mainland unless you have symptoms. If you could get a test the results as quoted by CVS here on the mainland and on Oahu is 3 to 5 days. CVS’s website says 2 to 4 days, but when you call the recorded message says 5 days. 90% of people wanting to come will not have their test results in hand when they go to the airport. In the emails I sent above I asked those officials to have their staff check my information, which I assume they didn’t otherwise they would be saying what they are saying unless they just want to give people some hope. There are going to be many people on the mainland who are in for a rude awaking and unfortunately that much hoped for visitor stimulus is not going to be any where near what is needed.
We love the islands, the people and have been coming since the mid 70’s generally twice a year. We are scrambling trying to find testing that meets the rules and no luck so far and I’ve been on this search since May. Our August trip is in doubt. We have another trip in March, which is also questionable. The State doesn’t have the money to continue to support those off work and testing is something that needs to be tried, but I understand those that question is now the right time. In my emails above I suggested daily temperature testing of both employees and guests and the application of universal waterproof colored wrist bands for each day of the week, which would indicate those who have been tested Staff/guest were safe for that day.
Good luck to all of us and much Aloha to you all!
Hi Shane.
Thanks very much.
Aloha.
I have read most of the posts stated hear and I can not believe the ignorance! This is a worldwide pan demic and Europe is considering banning US citizens from traveling abroad! Our Federal leadership has a survival of the fittest type attitude which is so incredibly sad! I reside in California but currently in Texas and the virus is spreading here to the point hospitals are reporting C0VID-19 case and hospitalizations are rising and many towns including Dallas are listed as hot spots!
I realize HI economy is suffering but opening up to quickly will cause further suffering to the economy as well as the people of the HI islands with the small hospital infrastructure needed if this overwhelms the islands?
Tracy, you are ignorant!! If we don’t work our families starve!! Get a clue.
The insanity of thinking that any State in the Union can make it’s own rules up to preclude anyone from coming to said State is mind boggling.
The fact that Hawai’i keeps moving the bar on “allowing” residents and others to come and go is insanity.
Argument is futile when arguing with with unreasonable individuals.
Mahalo to Beat of Hawai’i for keeping us informed on the situation.🌺
Hi Pam.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Start looking around many states are now considering quarantining citizens from high covid testing regions. The insanity here is you and people like you demanding hawaii open up.
Paul, you too have succumbed to the fear mongering. SAD!! Having bad information sources does not excuse ignorance! Think for yourself
Really? So I should not believe my sister who has extensive experience with viruses? I am fearful of nothing. I am simply being cautious. So your saying my sister is a bad information source huh? I do think for myself however I also rely on experts who know way more than I do and CERTAINLY more than you do. Your the sheep not me
WOW Paul, I hope you find a way to calm down. Such vitriol is tiring.
Aloha
Pam, well said. Most are ignorant of the greater agenda at play here. With you 💯!!
and what agenda does the ENTIRE WORLD have? The virus is WORLD WIDE not just confined to our borders. You want to get sick and die do it quickly so that the rest of us never have to come in contact with you. THIS IS REAL not some cooked up BS
Ok I’ve read these comments. I’m guessing we have all been exposed but are all still alive. Dumb luck? I think not. Facts include lower immune systems are at higher risk. So let’s do something about it. Get off the sofa. Quit eating crap. Take care of yourselves. I have an autoimmune disease, have survived a more rare form of breast cancer. I’ll survive this with my mental health intact. Don’t be afraid, be a problem solver.