Just the beginning. As one alleges infringing on the right to interstate travel, another hopes to reopen vacation rentals.
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.
Comments are closed.
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.