Just the beginning. As one alleges infringing on the right to interstate travel, another hopes to reopen vacation rentals.
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115 thoughts on “Two Lawsuits, $1 Billion+ | Hawaii Travel Woes Escalate”
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Just the beginning. As one alleges infringing on the right to interstate travel, another hopes to reopen vacation rentals.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
I am so happy that my daughter who lives in Hawaii is safe. She can now do things in groups of 10 people or less. Businesses and restaurants are re-opening. Should she risk her life and lose her freedome for those who want to vacation there? I would disagree. I suggest Brazil as a vacation destination for those who can’t appreciate the need to keep people safe. Thank you Governor Ige for keeping Hawaiians healthy. Thank you that I can live each day knowing she is ok. By the way, mortality is not the main thing. This disease permanently damages many of the people who get it. I can wait, and I will be back, and I will spend even more money in the great state of Hawaii.
I am not the other Nancy M, the woman who is angry about not being able to rent her Kihei condo.
I’m sorry for the people who are upset about missing out on their vacations and those who are losing money from their vacation rentals, but there’s a bigger picture here. Hawai’i has very few cases of C0VID and they want to keep it that way. I commend Governor Ige for that. Of course, some businesses will suffer, just as businesses are suffering on the mainland. I don’t know how it is where the rest of you live, but here in Oregon cases are rising, as they are in Washington, California, and numerous other states. That was part of Governor Ige’s reasoning. Maybe it is due to increased testing, but we still have people dying here, as do other states.
We had to cancel our all-family Kaua’i vacation this summer. We weren’t thrilled, but we accepted it and we respect the reason. Our daughter and her family live on a neighbor island and they respect the latest quar antine extension. There’s no way they would want to have their children or her wonderful in-laws be exposed to this. The kupuna especially need to be protected.
The governor isn’t trying to harm people or their businesses. He’s walking a tightrope trying to manage priorities and has come down on the side of health and safety. Most governors are doing the same thing, aren’t they?
Okay, I’m dragging my soapbox back to the corner now.
Mahalo, BOH, for the information you share with us, and for giving us this forum.
Malama pono.
Hi Nancy.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Very well put. If everyone were as mature and reasonable, we would have fewer problems. Aloha nui loa.
Dave R,
You and I seem to be on the same wavelength regarding these issues. I respect your views and your regard for the people of Hawai’i.
Malama pono.
By the way, I never meant to disrespect locals with my comments about enjoying no tourists. I just meant, it must be nice to enjoy their home again without extra people coming in every day. I truly wish everyone good health. I’m ok with postponing our trip till it’s safe for locals and for us.
Aloha!
Hi Sarah.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Residents dont really care if the island opens up or if there is discrimination. Clearly most of them just want the island to themselves until they run out of thier mainland tourist dollars, or the howle cash cow.
I was right though, the private and federal lawsuits are coming due to the stupid and reckless approach Hawaii has implemented. And yet still no real date for reopening, the highlight of how things work in Hawaii. Disorder denial of the long term problems and kicking the can down the road is king.
All this stuff happened in hawaii before the pan demic, but for some reason this has increased the bad behavior and put it under the spotlight.
CF,
I don’t understand how you think it’s “stupid and reckless” for the governor to put the health and safety of the people of Hawai’i first. It’s just the opposite.
And the correct spelling of the nickname for Caucasian is “haole.”
“still no real date for reopening” – How inconsiderate of the vi rus to not set a date for going away!
Dave R,
Sometimes I wish we had a Like or a Laugh button here!
Nancy M
I’m sure there’s plenty of Hawaii residents enjoying this time of quiet without tourists on the islands. I was really hoping to hang on to our September reservations we made for our anniversary trip but I’m going to have to start canceling soon. We look forward to hopefully visiting your islands when all this madness is over, but it’s painfully obvious tourists are not wanted at this time. Stay safe and healthy!
The governor should be congratulated for eradicating the vi rus on the islands by his actions, therefore potentially saving many lives. If he suddenly opened up the numbers would spike, just like states we can watch on the news every day. Unlike those states, the Hawaiian Islands are a long way geographically to get additional help if the hospitals and other resources get overwhelmed.
I do understand and commiserate that hospitality workers are suffering. Here in San Francisco many of us have seen our jobs disappear altogether as our industry goes through many changes.
As for mainlanders whining about missing their vacations, please be respectful. If you believe your vacation is more important than putting the health of local people at risk then go somewhere that has more resources and where local people are happy to ignore the very real threat of this.
I would love to see my family from the main land they cannot stay 14 days in my house. It’s just not vacation people. Also Kauai is slowly dying many shops just closed down and will not reopen.Testing is the way to go. If Alaska can do it so can we.
Just wow. Our borders are STILL closed but yall want to force open Hawaii. I am betting most of the suits are being put on by non residents who own condos. There must be a reason IE properly staffed properly cleaning etc.
I am hoping that Hawaii can open with a safe plan in place. NO politician is going to make everyone happy and just because this particular governor is not popular there does not mean he isnt trying to do the RIGHT thing. I for one will be patient. Even if I end up losing my vacation money so that Hawaiians can remain safe.
I own a zoned “Condo-Hotel” in Kihei.
I am not allowed to rent it short term.
Then I shouldn’t have to pay the inflated property taxes as I have no income!!!
This is just not right. I have lost thousands of dollars in bookings this year all while trying to upgrade my unit thinking that renting will resume soon – and keeping contractors employed.
Now it looks like 2020 is turning into a gap year.
Unfortunately, it’s turning into a gap year for many of us in different ways, but we still have to pay our taxes.
Hawai’i has one of the lowest hospitalization and death rates in the country, and I hope they’re able to keep it that way so we all have a safe vacation spot to return to, or in your case, to rent to tourists. The recent spike in infections is troubling.
What’s BOH’s best guess when Hawaii opens up again? Our pastor and his wife have plans to visit Maui in September, flying Southwest.
It’s about time someone sue the worst Governor in the US for destroying so many lives over his irrational paranoia and fears not based in science . Maybe he can go live in a bubble and allow rational folks to enjoy Hawaii masked a d soc. distancing but without living in a locked cell. Recall IGE!
I hate to burst most of your bubbles, but I’m talking to friends living in Hawaii they’re ok with the quar antine. They’re really enjoying this time of having the islands to themselves.
I keep asking if there’s any uproar about re-opening and they keep telling me no, but they do understand it could all change when the $600.00 federal unemployment money runs out.
Aloha Cristano,
Your friends must be independently wealthy, because most of us that live hear are barely hanging on and what the state to open.
I fully understood why the Governor instituted the 14-day quar antine from the mainland. Many areas have been a hotbed of C0VID infections and he didn’t want it introduced to the islands.
In my opinion, though, he lost all credibility when he allowed thousands of protesters to roam his streets last weekend. No one was even close to practicing soc. distancing and many were not wearing masks or had them down around their chins(not sure why).
Thank you again for keeping us posted on these new developments.
Hi Curtis.
Thanks for your many comments.
Aloha.
Hello! I really appreciate the daily updates and your dedication to providing some great information. I have a 7 day vacation on the Big Island beginning August 1. We’ve been anticipating this for two years. Your governor makes it really impossible to buy plane tickets since it looks like he wants to keep mainland (California) visitors out. Would you buy tickets if you were me? Best of luck and thank you!
Hi Rich.
We want to say yes it will open August 1 but we just don’t know. That’s the frustrating part There is just no way to plan yet. Sorry to not have more information.
Aloha.
I would cancel your plans for August 1st trip. It is such a shame. I have a September 17th and I’m afraid that we will have to cancel also. Our plans have been in the works for over a year for a retirement celebration trip. If Hawaii opens, but requires masks and beach reservations, I will still cancel. Not worth the hassle and difficulty of wearing masks in the heat. I have already started making plans for an alternative trip.
I so hope that the frustrated (believe me I understand because I run a vacation rental business) posters with their Hawaii dreams understand what’s happening now in at least nine mainland states. Cases and positives are on the rise again after stay at home orders were lifted in time for Memorial Day. It is not simply increased testing. Arizona just saw its positive rates go from 5-12% in one week. The State health director has openly blamed the increase on Gov. Ducey’s hasty reopening and only a mask use suggestion rather than requirement.
Opening up unrestricted travel now is an open invitation to import the virus, and Hawaii will float in the same viral boat as now being experienced by dozens of mainland states with rising caseloads.
Even though I’m losing a boatload of money, nothing is worse than opening up the state to a new round of cases and an even longer quarantine period. I would urge understanding and patience without the politically seasoned vitriol expressed by some.
Mahalo nui loa for the patience exhibited by you, the Beat of Hawaii staff as you try to manage the more obnoxious posters.
Hi Jim.
Thanks for your many comments. We appreciate your nice words.
Aloha.
Your comment regarding Arizona is not entirely accurate. I live in Arizona and I’m very much in tune with the C0VID-
situation. Testing in AZ has increased by more than 200% since the stay at home order was lifted, over a month ago. Which would account for the increase in positive C0VID results. Our hospitals are not even close to capacity and ventilator use is minimal; comparatively speaking. When the stay at home order was lifted we all expected a rise in confirmed cases. However, at some point, life must return to something that resembles normal. We can’t stay locked in our homes forever. What good is life if we aren’t allowed to live?
Arizona was never as locked down as many other states and certainly nothing like Hawaii. We didn’t have a curfew, police didn’t stop anyone on the streets. All supermarkets including Walmart, Sams Club and Costco remained open. Any business that provided auto mechanic services, plumbing, physicians, veterinary services, accounting services (and many others) remained open. Even building construction companies were allowed to continue working. Arizona Department of Transportation continued repairing old roads and bridges as well as continued construction of new roads. In fact they worked overtime to take advantage of people staying off the roads.
So you see, it isn’t necessary to absolutely lock everything down and make life miserable in order to control the vi rus. Yes, we need to wear masks, wash our hands often and do what we can to remain healthy. But locking down a state to the extent that Ige has locked down Hawaii is completely unreasonable! Forcing people to stay in their homes for as long as Ige required is a recipe for increased suicide. I’ve read quite a lot about the substantial increase of suicides in Hawaii since the mandatory stay at home order was issued. In fact, four young men committed suicide in Kauai just in the first week of May. That is such a sad situation. In short, yes AZ has had an increase in C0VID cases, but for the most part life is getting back to a new normal. Our economy is doing well and people are going back to work. We live under Governor Ducey. Our state is managed differently than Hawaii. I believe that Governor Ducey did the right thing by lifting the stay at home order in AZ.
I hope Hawaii is also allowed to return to a new normal as well.
Mahalo!
Agree with you TJ and Cristiano. It seems to me that the “locals” who don’t want tourists on the islands are transplants and forgot that they were once visitors too. Of course they have been enjoying having the islands to themselves and that’s expected but it will definitely change once the extra $600 unemployment allowance run out and they will realize they need their tourism related jobs back. I just hope those who are unemployed that are eager to get back to work will not suffer much and small business owners will be able to bounce back. Leaders will have to come up with a plan to have a safe re-opening soon to get the economy going. Yes, I’m all for keeping the at-risk and vulnerable safe – let them stay home to keep them safe however let the healthy ones live their new normal lives while still taking precautions – ie good hygiene, wearing masks, etc.
Mahalo to Beat of Hawaii for always keeping us informed and up to date. You are my go to source for HI travel updates. Stay healthy.
Hi Inah.
Thanks so much.
Aloha.
Deaths per million population as of 6/17/2020:
Arizona: 170.
Hawai’i: 12 (twelve).
Since AZ has about 15x the death rate of HI, it’s hard to see AZ being a role model.
Also, 6/17:
At Tucson Medical Center in Arizona on Monday only one intensive care unit (ICU) bed designated for C0vid patients was available with the other 19 beds filled, a hospital representative said.
“ICU to be expanded, hopefully, in coming days,” Dr Steven Oscherwitz, an infectious disease expert at the hospital, said in a tweet on Monday night. “Not sure where people needing ICU care will be able to go, since most AZ [Arizona] hospitals are pretty full now.”
Again, not a good model for HI.
What a terrible Governor. She has overreacted from the start. We will be traveling to Florida (state with a good Governor) this year instead or Hawaii. Hawaii used to be an inviting place to vacation but all the restrictions make it seem not much better than being in prison. It is scary how quickly power hungry politicians have destroyed such a beautiful place and it’s economy.
The Governor is a man…
Our islands have not been destroyed. Please do feel encouraged to go to Florida during this time.
Your Islands have been economically devastated. It will take many years to recover. Many businesses have closed for good. People will lose their homes. Hawaii is already in financial distress without adding Ige’s reckless handling of the C0VID pan demic. It’s time for people like you to quit sticking their heads in the sand and wake up. I’ll bet you’re retired and financially comfortable. What about the working people of Hawaii? The ones that have probably lived there all their lives and haven’t had the opportunity to make a good living on the mainland, like you probably did. Those people need to work. They have bills to pay and families to feed.
As far as the person you told to go ahead and go to Florida, I’m sure they will. I’ll also bet millions of other people that were regular visitors to Hawaii will also choose to spend their money elsewhere. Hawaii “will” feel it. You may not think so now, but you soon will. The relief runs out in July. When those people have absolutely no money you’re going to see some very unhappy people; and rightfully so. Maybe you should go make a large donation to your local food bank on behalf of your unemployed neighbors.
Maholo
Wow Jill Where is your Aloha?
First of all IGE is a man not a woman. Second you obviously DONT understand the delicate nature of hawaii. So go ahead go to Florida and I hope you dont get infected there. They are hiding the TRUE numbers of c0vid cases there. Hawaii doesnt need someone like you there. Your the one who will refuse to quar antine refuse to soc distance or wear a mask, so by all means go to Florida. PRISON? REALLY WOW
A governors FIRST DUTY IS THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THEIR CITIZENS which Desantos could care less about where as IGE does. So stop your complaining here and just GO to florida and leave Mahalo and hawaii to those of us who appreciate her
Hello this is a FYI from a person born in Florida. We have greatly increased our C0vid-19 testing and therefore the positive results are up. I can assure you and the person that plans to change their travel plans from Hawaii to Florida that we’re doing well and most things are open or will be shortly. Soc. distancing is recommended and masks when you can’t. I’m sorry that Hawaii hasn’t felt they can open up yet as my husband and I would have liked to spend our 50th wedding anniversary there and visit our friends on the Big Island! We have been frequent visitors since our 20th and our oldest son will celebrate his 1st anniversary tomorrow. They were married on the Big Island. Mahalo for many wonderful times thru the years!
Doing well…
Deaths per million population:
Florida: 141
Hawai’i: 12 (twelve)
If FL is “doing well” then HI is doing amazingly well. Which makes more sense? Give me a free flight and hotel in FL tomorrow and I wouldn’t take it. “Freedom” means freedom to get sick and/or contaminate others.
Very well stated! This woman deserves florida…..
Good for you enjoy Florida and their “good gov”
I recommend Brazil. You will love it.
It’s about time for lawsuits. That is unfortunately the language that politicians understand. We live in a state as well where small businesses are being devastated by the decisions of those in charge. Much luck to the people of Hawaii. You are not alone in this! Hope to reschedule for next year and spend our money there when your governor and mayor allow us.
What I don’t understand is where is the house government in Hawaii???? In Wisconsin governor Evers tried to continue the quar antine and the house of representatives stepped in and reduced our quar antine sentence. Ige does not hold all the cards or does he???? Maybe if the residents of Hawaii make a stand, call their government representatives maybe they would listen.
Being retired, I am fortunate to be able to stay at home here in Southern California. When I do venture out once a week for groceries, I wear a mask and observe soc. distancing. I wash my hands frequently, and get exercise working in our yard and doing daily chores. I sympathize with fellow mainlanders and with Hawaii’s residents. We all want to “normalize,” but it can’t happen yet. We have to be more patient than ever. The lovely islands and their people will be there for the remainder of my lifetime, and beyond, so I urge everyone to keep the faith and, until conditions are safe, re-think your priorities. Thank you for providing this forum for presenting the facts and all contributors’ viewpoints.
Hi Lee.
Thanks for your comments.
Aloha.
Well said Lee. Thank you all around for your consideration. We look forward to welcoming you back when the time is right.
C0VID deaths per million population:
Wisconsin: 122
Hawai’i: 12 (twelve).
With 10x higher death rate, it seems that WI should have listened to the governor.
So funny how mainlanders from states with far higher death rates are telling the people in Hawai’i what should be done.
Sorry for continuing confusion Gov Ing is bringing on the citizens of Hawaii and the visitors. After cancelling my trip twice, it’s impossible to know a firm date when open travel will return to beautiful Hawaii. Today I booked 2 weeks to Florida. I may return to Hawaii next year, but I suspect that may not materialize either. It has become painfully clear the governor wants nothing to do with tourists now or in the future. Best wishes to the residents who must tolerate loss of jobs and income. I’ll miss the Aloha spirit
Same…..looking at Florida Keys now for this summer since HI not viable now or in future for us for a couple years (due to other travel plans, my girl is a serious travel planner). So sad as we are respectful visitors and enjoy supporting the local restaurants, farmers markets, etc and always leave w new local friends. People need to get rid of their Governor; he’s literally the bottom of the barrel.
Christian, how is he literally the bottom of the barrel? Can you explain that? I don’t understand. Thanks.
Clearly none of the aloha spirit rubbed off on you.
I hope the lawsuit pushes them off the bubble! Governor should visit a homeowner about to lose his home or a business owner about to lose his business, or a resident who will have to move to the mainland to find a job! No surprise that a former engineer who worked for a protected industry (Hawaiian Telecom) and now liberal bureaucrat has virtually NO concept of what the destruction of an economy does to the human beings he claims to care so much about. And by the way, CVS is not the only place on the west coast a person can get tested for C0vid. Good grief! Require a test 3 days prior to travel, and require the tourist to provide a test after (medical expert determined number of days__) after arrival.The travel policy driven by fear and emotion is foolhardy at best and downright unconstitutional at its worse! Continuing the quar antine “(basically a ban) will permanently damage those these so called “leaders” profess to protect for a generation!
The problem with the 3-day rule is if you have the antibodies and not the symptoms will you be able to travel? Three days is not enough time to cancel your trip and get deposits back so you could be out thousands$$$$.
The CVS test is highly unreliable. And any compulsory testing program would keep people away as much as the quar antine. Let’s leave the accusations of “fear and emotion” out of it. There seems to be far more emotion on the “let ‘er rip” side anyway. As for constitutionality, that’s a common claim by people who want things their own way. The courts see it otherwise.
Our Founding Fathers saw mass death due to the mosquito-borne Yellow Fever on a nearly year-in, year-out basis in the 1790s and the decades that followed.
They did not know that the fever was mosquito-borne, and that their efforts to quar antine would not “flatten the curve.” They simply knew the fever took lives indiscriminately. And so they quar antined. In 1798 conditions became so bad that the governor of Pennsylvania banned travel between Philadelphia and New York.
The most significant early decision from the U.S. Supreme Court to mention the state power to quar antine occurs in an 1824 case known as Gibbons v. Ogden. Considered a landmark decision on the federal power to regulate commerce on the interstate waters, Chief Justice John Marshall — our greatest chief justice; the competition is only for second — explained that one of the powers the state possessed was the power to quarantine.
This was not controversial; as Marshall put it, the power to quar antine was seen as a power “flowing from the acknowledged power of a State to provide for the health of its citizens.”
The Supreme Court’s most direct comment on the power to quarantine arose in Compagnie Francaise de Navigation a Vapeur v. Louisiana Board of Health, a case from Louisiana, when the court considered a broad quar antine order, not unlike some of the orders our state leaders have considered over the last few weeks. Louisiana had faced outbreaks of Yellow Fever two out of every three summers throughout the 19th century, leading to a very aggressive state stance on the power to quar antine. The order the court considered read: “hereafter in the case of any town, city, or parish of Louisiana being declared in quar antine, no body or bodies of people, immigrants, soldiers, or others shall be allowed to enter said town, city, or parish so long as said quar antine shall exist.”
The Supreme Court, by a vote of 7-2, approved that order as constitutional when it was challenged by individuals who attempted to enter the state on a ship from Italy. Even though there was no evidence of symptoms of the fever or other disease on board, the court held that a state was justified to keep people out in order to protect the citizens of the state; that to do so did not violate the Constitution.
(Source: Pacific Legal Foundation)
Hi,
I usually travel to Hawaii with my husband, daughter, her husband, and at least of my adult grandchildren. Staying in a hotel would cost us $600+/day, and we wouldn’t have the time together that we want. However, staying in a 2 or 3 bedroom condo costs half the amount and we get to spend a lot more time together, which is why we vacation together. Not so we can just lay on the beach and eat meals together. We want to spend all of our time together. We are happy to spend the money we save on eating out and activities (we don’t like to do any work on vacation, because, well, we’re on VACATION), so typically eat out most meals. We also spend a lot. I saw someone cite a study that stated they wanted to get tourists back in hotels to avoid the “peanut butter” spenders. We’re definitely not them, but if that is the plan, we’re out. We won’t stay in hotels, because of the reason we stated. We like to travel together and stay together. We like to be right on the beach. If we can’t do that in Hawaii, I guess we’ll go somewhere else. Aloha.
Hi Eve.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Thanks for the update.
I hope for the sake of Hawaii’s economy and the people of Hawaii, that the quarantine is lifted Aug 1st.
We were scheduled to arrive July 1 for 2 weeks and had rented a vacation rental condo. I just got off the phone cancelling everything.
We will try to come later in the year or most likely wait until July 2021.
We are so bummed………………
Hi Adele.
Thank you.
Aloha.
You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet … wait until the lawsuits start (class action?) over the bogus/fraud “quar antine” and “must wear a mask” government diktats …
All in all, those will be an ambulance-chaser’s lawsuit dream …
Don’t know what I’m talking about, you say? Perhaps I don’t, but my 1st hand info comes from my biochemist daughter who is a decades-experienced professional in this discipline and is working on the production side of a potential CO-whatever vaccine as we speak/read/write/type.
Believe it.
You could have stopped at “don’t know what I’m talikin’ about” …you don’t.
Like I said — my professional daughter does … Aloha to you, too.
Once again [edited] Ige takes Hawaii further down the path to bankruptcy.
Why is there no local effort to RECALL this fool? Failing to PLAN is planning to FAIL! Ige has had plenty of time to plan and give residents/businesses/travelers a plan that is common sense and follows common sense health protocols without putting the people he governs or lords over in the bread-line. WHY is the cure going to be more devastating (unemployment, mental health crisis, alcohol abuse/drug abuse etc….) than the disease?
This reply didn’t make it through moderation the first time, and I’m trying again. Scott’s comment and Pearl Harbor reference about Hawaii’s AMERICAN governor who is of Japanese ancestry is racist and he should be ashamed. I hope that the fine folks at BOH will re-review and remove his comment, even if you don’t post mine.
Hi Carolyn.
The comment to which you referred has been edited. Thanks for pointing that out.
Aloha.
I am profoundly disppointed at the extension of the quar antine through July 31. I’m a vacation condo owner and never thought I’d face sovereign risk at the state level in the USA. Whilst I can appreciate the need to safeguard limited health resources on the islands, the extension now seems like an illegal taking of property. Vacation rentals attract property tax at one of the highest rates. Since we can’t use them for their intended puropose will we get refunds from the County for this period? Perhaps a serious threat of legal action will shake the State government out of its stupor.
Totally agree with you Bob! My husband and I are 70 yrs old, we depend on the income we used to get from our 3 vacation condos in S. Kihei and they have been sitting vacant while we pay mortgages, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, utilities, and maintenance! We don’t have any government help! At least hotels and resorts and their employees can claim unemployment and get some reprieve, we were told we don’t qualify for anything at all!! So what the heck happens now we have to fund another month?! We depleted our savings, and can’t even get loans now! I bet Mr. Ige is NOT a business owner, because if he was, he would understand what the small business owners are going through?
I can understand why Hawaii doesn’t want to open up to mainland flights. I live in California, and the c0vid cases are growing more each day. We had reservations for mid-July, but I don’t believe that’s going to happen at this point. It’s frustrating, but I’m sure many Hawaiian residents would feel threatened if we all started to fly over. Maybe next year!
David- Not EXACTLY TRUE! I live in OC, California and have a ton of family in healthcare (one runs a hospital!) and we are on the decline of Hospital cases/deaths- of course with more testing you will find more people 1)have had C0vid, 2)have without needing any extra care ..PS California is on PHASE 3 of 4 Phases (live pro-sporting events/concerts etc…is part of the final Phase 4)… FACTS/FEAR
Yay, Governor Ige… KEEP HAWAII SAFE!!!
So let me get this straight. Vacation Rentals are opening up “for anyone not under 14-day isolation restrictions”, but “Visitors must complete the 14-days in a hotel first.” That would still mean practically no tourists visiting the islands, since most tourists stay one -two weeks, and why would they elect to self quarantine for 14 days? Those that stay longer usually stay in vacation rentals, and why would they want to stay locked up in a hotel for 14 days, pay exorbitant room prices, pay high hotel restaurant prices, just so they could spend another couple weeks in a vacation rental?
I may not be reading this correctly, so where am I wrong? If I’m not, again, the Governor and mayors clearly haven’t thought this through.
You are wrong. They have thought this through. It is a de facto method to prevent all US tourism.The State of Hawaii plans to open tourism up to Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. So maybe those countries could bail out Hawaii and pay for the unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, and small business bailouts. They are enjoying the benefits of being a US State while bad mouthing US tourism.
Just FYI, to all travelers that have purchased Travel Insurance through Hawai’ian Airlines Allianz, the policy DOES NOT cover cancellation due to C0VID.
All epidemics and pan demics are not covered. The same as acts of terrorism or war.
The only way you can get a refund is from Hawai’ian Airlines itself.
If you’re not wanting to get a travel voucher, wait to cancel until the Governor enacts another extension of the quarantine. Hawai’ian Airlines loves their Ohana and will extend a refund.
Aloha to all.
I am so glad to see that this is being addressed. Half of the people on the islands family is on the mainland, not inter island ! Hoping we can at least have the 72 hour test for visitors to eliminate the 14 day quarantine and allow travel and businesses can thrive. I have had to change reservations twice now. Very difficult to make plans without a firm plan in place. The fact that we have more positives is because people are getting tests, there have been no further deaths. It’s time to take back our freedom.
Please explain these “developments”. Wasn’t it at least a week or so ago that Ige stated he would be extending the 14-day quarantine for mainland passengers beyond June 30. We assumed just this would go to at least July 31 because that is how he rolls.
And of course it has been known for some time that the lifting of the interisland 14-day quarantine would occur on June 16.
But- I thought I heard late last week that THIS week there would be new information/details on what type of program mainland passengers would be facing when Ige finally relaxes the 14-day quarantine. Is that correct? Something like pre-travel testing, etc.
If I have it all wrong, does this mean that we are all still in the same boat waiting for bits of information to be revealed? So much for planning.
Thanks for the great updtes.
Hi Mike.
Thank you. Yes he indicated that he would provide the details of reopening this week and he has not done that.
Aloha.
Sorry it’s impossible to feel sympathy for vacation rental companies. They gouge tourists with a fee for this and a fee for that and fee for charging so many fees. They are the reason why middle class travellers can no longer afford visits. Shame on the establishment in Hawaii for throwing us under the bus. I have been there 12 times and each time is noticeably more pricey that the last.
Aloha Beat of Hawai’i for the news and updates!
It’s about time that someone’s doing something in regards to let Governor Ige know that he’s not the boss of this ridiculous restriction game he’s playing.
Hopefully Hawai’i’s legal team will help him realize that he cannot keep Americans away from “his” state.
Mahalo for your continued information.
Hi Pam.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Barry
I agree we need to get back to normal. I would assume that the people who do visit Hawaii are people that can afford the trip are going to be a little more mindful of health standards and distancing. Yes c0vid is a big deal, but then again I also agree this whole c0vid thing is a bunch of hype so government officials can make out of it more than what it is.
Aloha!
As I said in a post the other day that the mods apparently didn’t think was good enough as it was deleted or not approved posthaste, many people will not travel and then quar antine for 14 days. Its a non-starter. Many like myself do not have the time to get C0VID tests in the hectic days leading up to a trip. And anyway, working in an industry facing pay cuts I can’t afford to travel right now, anyway.
Gov. Ige hasn’t done himself any favors by selectively calling some sectors of the economy essential and others non-essential. He isn’t alone, as MANY state governors have done that, resulting in many lawsuits like these. And, the various governors tend to be losing these lawsuits, something that Governor Ige might want to take notice of. A better solution (which I suggested in my post from yesterday) would be to limit the number of flights, thereby limiting the potential medical impact of C0VID on Hawaii. This would allow businesses to slowly and gently reopen – call is a soft opening. If the medical situation deteriorates, then restrictions could be reimplemented based upon hard medical data, and there’d be just cause to do so. If the situation didn’t deteriorate, then the soft opening could become a hard one, allowing more flights and bolstering the Hawaiian economy.
I hope a vaccine can be tested and deployed by fall or early winter and then all of this drama can become a distant memory.
Thanks for somebody finally dealing with this legal issue. Clearly the state has discriminated against ‘legal TVR’ owners.
The restriction against short term rentals of a TVR is clearly discriminatory, when a short term stay at a hotel or time-share is
considered allowable and safe.
Probably won’t make any economic difference until 14 day quar antine is lifted, but it is a sign that maybe the state and local governments are seeing the light and avoiding a legal problem.
My family and I are extremely upset at the news that Ige has postponed yet another month for mainland travel. I don’t know what to do???? August 8th will be here before you know it and were in limbo. I sent an email to Ige’s office this morning, but my husband said it’s probably sent for nothing. I’m a planner and like my ducks in a row. Does this guy know that he’s playing with people’s lives??? Not just me and my family, but all of you too!!!! Not happy!!!
Aloha or maybe not!!!
Aloha,
I sent a letter to the Governor and the Mayor Kawakami on April 8 still have not heard back.
Hi Rebecca.
Thanks.
Aloha.
My opinion has always been that those people at risk of falling ill to c0vid should self quar antine. 99% of people afflicted get better or have no symptoms. Why not let the rest of us go back to normal lives while practicing distancing, etc. I’m talking about the whole US, not just Hawaii. Our country has been irreparably damaged because of a lot of hype. Let’s reopen and get back to our lives!
Less than hopeful news. Nothing is easy right now, anywhere. Vacation rentals vs hotel or condo stay? We were due to be at a vacation rental in Maui right now, one that we have stayed at many times over the years. Because of the c0vid and the 14 day shelter in place, we had to cancel, getting back a fraction of the deposit. Our friends that had booked at a big name hotel cancelled and got 100% of their money refunded. There does seem to be a difference in the way that they operate.
Until some real direction is agreed upon, traveling to Hawaii, as nice as it is, is not in the cards for us. Waiting on a vac cine before I commit one more dollar to Hawaiian tourism.
It’s an expensive vacation to start with, and these extra fees take it over the top for us.
Ok Hawaii rental companies are you listening? The fees the fees the fees. Fee creep is going to render most of the average quality condos empty and it will be 100% your own doing. Already so many would be tourists are feeling the same. Wake up call? You decide.
Aloha! We have rescheduled a trip to Oahu twice now. We currently have plans to visit in mid-July. Do you think it is worth holding on to the plans in case the emergency order is struck down? If it is, will we be welcome? I appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!
Hi Nick.
We don’t think anything will change day enough for your timeframe unfortunately.
Aloha.
We have really noticed a huge increase in Oahu natives having to live on the beach to survive….especially in the west side. We have felt bad for so many people. With the pan demic and ceasing of travel and tourism….is that exploding even more??