Imminent announcement on Hawaii tourism as PR nightmare continues.
308 thoughts on “Hawaii Tourism Reopening Plans This Week as Feds Get Involved”
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Typical government, try and control the 20 million tourists instead of putting all their resources protecting the few thousand people at risk living in the state.
Yet 70% of Hawai’i residents polled support the quar antine.
Our business collapsing! Look at Florida and Ige in his dreams. How unfortunate to have bureaucratic government who can just elevate TAX! God Bless Hawai’i. Aloha
the state that we know and love will never be the same. just as dumb as the governor is the Mayor of Kauai,maybe dumber? we are devastated here wake up Hawaii we need to elect officials that have brains.Politics will not work here.
Friends who live in Kauai called me yesterday and told me of restaurant closures (Merriman’s, Tortilla Republic, Plantation, and more), lost jobs, homeless camps in Salt Pond, Anini, and others. They are volunteering with the Salvation Army serving the homeless until their tourist-dependent jobs a restored. They said one thing that is very noticeable is that the water is unbelievably clear, and the coral reefs are growing again, which makes for a healthy marine environment. I think a 30-60 day lead time for airlines, hotels, restaurants and support services to prepare is necessary. Some of the smaller businesses may not need that much time, but large hotels and restaurants will need to restaff, possibly train, stock, and clean. And airlines will definitely need the lead time, more likely a 60 day lead time, to resume operations. And then, it will be a phased reopening. It will be impossible to allow 30,000 visitors on day one. Ige needs to consult hoteliers, restauranteurs, airline reps, Chamber of Commerce, Medical reps, Police and Fire Departments to first, ask for their required timelines, and second, give them an overarching plan for reopening. Given these necessities, I don’t believe a reopening will or should occur before 1 August, with full service restored by September or October. Of course, this is all based on no resurgence of C0VID.
Can Govenor Ige actually stop tourism from the mainland? After all they are a part of the United States. I live in Wisconsin and work in Wisconsin Dells the “Waterpark capital of the world”. We cannot stop tourist from coming, it’s our livelihood in the summer. I thought we were the land of the free!
He can’t stop people from coming, per se, but he can leave the 14 day quar antine in place which is pretty much a deterrent. That is within his governance to do so.
Hopefully lifted in the near future for all involved.
Here’s what the State of Wisconsin has to say about it:
“We do not recommend travel between your private homes within the state. For example, do not travel to seasonal homes or rental cabins. You may spread C0VID-19 to areas with few doctors or hospitals. This is for your safety and wellbeing as well as the safety of our rural counties and tribal communities.
“Several counties in Wisconsin have issued travel advisories for seasonal and second homeowners. If you must travel, be sure to check for area-specific safety updates and closures. You may need to stay in place, or self-quar antine, for 14 days.
“Bring everything you will need, including your own groceries, medications, and toiletries.”
Why do so many people on the mainland pretend that only Hawai’i has restrictions?
Restrictions for guar antine has been lifted and businesses in Wisconsin are up and running with businesses having to have strict cleaning, disinfecting, social distancing and capacity rules in place. I see where Ige is concerned because some tourist tourists do not follow guidelines. Believe me I deal with it every day. When working with the public we just have to be vigilant and adhere to what each county health dept. Expects. But then again, without tourism, like Hawaii the Dells would be dead in the water. Ige, it’s time to open up. Share the beauty of your island!!!
Hi all,
I planned my summer holidays in your wonderful islands last August, almost one year ago:how many things have changed since then, it seems another era…
We are ready to undergo all kinds of reasonable checks, before, during and after the trip to guarantee you and us a peaceful and joyful ‘coexistence’.
I really hope we can have certain news related to the reopening date of travel from Europe next week (I should be arriving on August 10th).
I also hope that these decisions are not based on what was heard on TV or read in the newspapers, but on real data.
With the desire to visit four of your incredible islands, little ‘corners of paradise’, I wish you all the best!
Marcello
I believe many hotels are already open or working on plans that will allow them to open asap without having to wait 60 days. as a travel agent I have clients scheduled the middle of aug and hope that the decision is made soon. So far their flight aren’t canceled and hoping the rental cars are open again .
Thank you for the updates. We are following the situation there because we have reservations for Maui in November for our 42 anniversary. I applaud you for taking all of the precautions to make sure everyone is safe. We will continue to follow your updates. Thank you, and be safe.
Hi Judy.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Aloha Guys!
I truly wish that they would get it together at the State Government level. It’s pretty clear Hawaii hasn’t and won’t be hit that hard (at least this summer) by this, and the politics are destroying the fragile economy, that is dominated by tourism.
I read today in a Honolulu Star Advertiser op.ed, Hawaii is “ranking among states with the lowest per capita C0VID infection rates — and with a total of 17 deaths, has the lowest mortality rate in the nation”. Although I do understand that there should be concerns with protecting the elderly and those with co-morbidity issues, There should have been plans with some sort of procedures and protocols in place, at least a month or 2 back…to be set in motion and implement much more rapidly, when the time came. It’s poor planning and administration to say the least.
Leaving thousands of people (like me) that have property and call Hawaii home for part of the year hanging, and not giving us clear-cut protocols, as to how we can return to our Hawaii homes, and stock up our food supply for a 14 day quar antine, for example, is just a horrible way to treat those of us who pay hundreds (if not thousands) in property taxes to the State so we can live there when we want to. I could get no information, from any source I tried to contact, and heard of no service that would help people like me, who would be forced to quar antine, to get our needs met.
Fortunately, I was told by neighbors that they would help, if I decided to risk traveling, but because I live outside Hilo, there was no direct flight, and I may have been forced to stay on another island, for 14 days, before going to Hilo. Truthfully, these types of unique circumstances should have been dealt with by the Government to ensure security (and survival for that matter) for those of us who spend several months out of the year there. But, the reality is they can’t seem to deal with the basic decisions, let alone the nuances of situations that would only affect a smaller minority. It’s definitely disheartening that Ige and his administration, are moving so ineptly slow.
As always, I appreciate the info you get, and pass along, and let’s hope they get it together and make some decisions soon, and stop the bleeding, so to speak. Mahalo Guys!
Hi Jim.
We appreciate all of your comments!
Aloha.
HOW exactly do you figure Hawaii wont be hit that hard with 20 million visitors per year? Keep your politics off of here and allow Hawaii to open how they need to
Paul C,
First, Hawaii, has never had 20 million visitors in any year, let alone “per year”. The most it’s ever recorded is just under 10.5 million, and that was in 2019.
Second, there was over 2.1 million visitors through march (the 1st quarter of 2020) all while this Vi rus was supposed to be spreading like wild fire…that’s before the majority of the shutdown took place. The fact is with more than 2 million visitors, during that time period, the number of cases and death toll is absolutely minuscule, in comparison, and I haven’t even mentioned the roughly 1.4 million or so residents.
Finally, I have actually done research on this topic, and I’d suggest you actually do some, before making false claims about visitor statistics. Really…are you actually trying to tell someone how they should voice there opinion, when you can’t even give basic (researchable) facts in your own??? It’s best to know what you’re talking about before you speak, if you’re going to chastise someone else for their comment.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/monthly-visitor-statistics/
Paul C completely agree with everything you have said on here!! The cases are low because they took control and prevented people coming in droves because the airfares were so low! The hospitals in Hawaii literally could not handle a huge number of cases! If they need to be super slow reopening and careful to not have a sudden increase in cases (Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona) that is what they need to do to protect THEIR people!! Sorry if the possibility of an increase in cases and people dying messes up your vacation plans.
I had wanted to visit the Big Island again this summer, but knew that it most likely would not be a possibility. I will gladly wait until it it safe for both myself and the Hawaiian people.
HI has a low rate of cases and deaths precisely because they followed the restrictive practices that you are complaining about. And please realize that they haven’t been “horrible” in their treatment of you. It’s not about you, it’s about health. And similar restrictions are in place in dozens of other US states. As for timetables, the disease doesn’t do timetables.
Frankly I truly hope that all the mainlanders who are so critical will decide to go elsewhere. They tend to be the kind of visitor who has a negative impact on both locals and other visitors, with self-centered attitudes.
I hear you about self centered attitudes. I work in Wisconsin Dells and we are going crazy now that we opened up. Our biggest complaint is respect for others. Especially to those working. When I go on vacation I thank those that serve and help me because I know how they feel. I think of it this way, people DO NOT owe me my vacation, I need to be respectful and appreciate those helping me make my memories. I can’t wait to come to Kauai make a memory with my family, make a positive impact and help those that live there by spending my money respectfully.
Aloha, yesterday I had planned to cancel my 4 week holiday to Oahu in September. A place my wife and I met 24 years ago and have returned every year since.
However, Since reading your latest report in Beat that the Governor is to announce dates for International visitors to return, I shall wait to hear if I can return. Mahalo for all your news and updates.
Hi John.
Stand by, as we certainly expect to be able to update with definitive information in the next week or so.
Aloha.