Visitors/Residents Sound Off on Return of Hawaii Tourism

In countless comments spanning many posts, you are talking about the pause in Hawaii tourism and how we move forward from here. Relations feel strained, more than we can ever remember in the past, with points of view voiced being both heated and friendly. Here are some of thoughts expressed by website visitors, as well as our own views, on the return of Hawaii tourism.

BOH: We’re here to say that in the end, Hawaii loves and needs its visitors, and our visitors love and will continue to come to Hawaii. A visitor based economy always has its challenges, but this is perhaps as close as can be to heaven on earth.

Diana is hopeful of returning to Hawaii later this year. “I am confident enough that things will get better that I have already booked our next trips, Kauai just after Thanksgiving and Waikiki/Kona in early February. Blessings to all.”

BOH: Good planning, and thanks. We expect to have details in the next few weeks about when things will be opening up. 

Nancy wasn’t happy about resident concerns. She said, “My thoughts about Hawaii being rude and not wanting anyone to come there for a visit or vacation, then don’t leave Hawaii to go visit your loved ones in any of the other states. Whatever state Hawaiians decide to fly to, then they need a 14 day quar antine as well. What makes your state better than any other state. How is it right for you to not let us visit Hawaii? You had no problem with it before. It is much our right to fly there as it is your right to fly out of there to another state.”

BOH: Sadly, Nancy doesn’t understand the limitations of being as isolated as we are, with extremely limited resources, located 2,500 miles from the rest of the country. Or the lessons from historic issues of disease in Hawaii. Prior outbreaks of measles, smallpox and other diseases decimated Hawaii.

Rich, a regular commentor, replied to Nancy. “It is not about you, it is about saving lives across the country. Time to wait it out and when it is safe then come. If there was a plane that had a record of crashing would you complain if people told you to wait until it was fixed?”

Marty added compassion, “My heart goes out to the residents there on Kauai. While we all have challenges right now, the added layer of extremely limited resources is akin to a wartime era. I am torn between wistfully looking at the natural beauty and uncrowded areas and the reality of preventing the spread of this. We will all be in a better world after this.

I hope we appreciate each other more when we get there.”

BOH: Thanks Marty. For example, in the entire state of Hawaii, there are only 45 ICU beds for this crisis, according to UW Health Data. Enough said? 

Akepa’s wise words: “It is heartening to read the thoughtful responses and ideas here. There is a safe way forward, we just don’t have a solid plan YET; it will come and hopefully soon…. Sharing this special place, our home place, is usually a reminder of how truly lucky we are to live in Hawai’i and be the ambassadors of the aloha spirit.”

BOH: Yes we look forward to welcoming visitors back with Aloha. 

Nancy summed things up from a visitor perspective in reply to Akepa: “Thank you for the kind words. I realize that some will not welcome us, and that makes me sad because the 3 times that we have visited, the islanders have always been so nice and I can’t imagine them any other way.”

BOH: Our sense is that is not going to be an issue. Our existence relies on tourism and we feel certain that you will be most welcome. 

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Beat of Hawaii photo at Hapuna Beach on the Big Island.