Kauai could shut down tourism at any time. What can you do if you get caught in this Catch-22?
82 thoughts on “Will Kauai Visitors Risk All and Return With This Looming?”
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We have a trip planned for three weeks from now and thanks for all the comments so far. They have been helpful but worrisome as well. As I read the Rule 19 for Kauai, it seems to indicate daily average has to go to 5 or more for 7 days for 2 consecutive weeks before the tier will go to 2 or 1 for 2; am I right? That would mean 10 cases could be one day, none the next, 4 the next, etc., as long as the 7 day average didn’t go to 5 it would be okay??? Please comment.
Hi Patricia.
As we’ve been discussing this morning with other commenters, how that is determined isn’t clear from the ruling.
Aloha.
Lets see, I pay for airfare, obtain lodging, reserve a car, pay for additional test (maybe) and then buy travel insurance. This vacation just became expensive and high risk. I think waiting for a couple months is going to be the norm. I own a vacation rental in Oahu and I personally am planning on very little usage until spring. I hope it get better for all the good people of Hawaii.
Thanks
Ted
Hi Ted.
Thanks. Additional tests are at no-cost, by the way. Otherwise, we certainly understand.
Aloha.
The 10.15.2020 Hawaii entry guidelines are sadly only the initial stages of this continuing confusion. These entry rules will morph and will likely cause many people to not go to Hawaii (perhaps these barriers are in part intentional to suppress travel). I am speculating here on a possible 2021 “end game” that I have not seen anything in the media even trying to address. Travel clarity will arrive when a readily available vaccine arrives. Then Hawaii (& perhaps many other entities exclusive of Hawaii) will require one to show vaccination proof before entry. This possibility is Orwellian to say the least and has all kinds of privacy / civil liberty implications. Just a thought to consider as 2021 and the inevitable vaccine approaches.
I agree 100% a mandatory vaccine is Orwellian and a Violation of constitutional civil and human rights I Love Hawaii I Live there I’m in NM trying to sell my home and get back to my family there it is very frustrating and hurts quite a bit as I haven’t seen my family since July 2018 I’ve missed bdays and Christmas and a lot more I wish people would do research for themselves and go off Facts and Not what the Media Lies about
Made it to Kauai last night! It was a huge hassle getting here from Seattle and I consider myself savvy with all the tech to expedite this all but that was expected being the first day pretest travel. Setting up trips on the Safe travels website was not quite clear and faced wrinkles in HNL and then LIH that had to get smoothed over. We were very fortunate to get our Covid testing results before departure as we would not have been able to get a rental car or check into our timeshare without it. I was expecting to get my result as late as Saturday and that would have totally blown up our arrangements. Props to the Hawaii National Guard in LIH for processing everybody through Covid inspection in an orderly and timely manner.
I have to hand it to Kawakami- he definitely outsmarted the governor and may be himself even. Because the weekly average of under 5 active cases for tier 3 and tier 4 is more strict than 3 day quarantine and a second test. Assuming that 2-3 new cases are found per week the island will shut down during the second week and remain shut down for four weeks at least. So the businesses and tourists will be responding to a yo-yo, open today closed tomorrow! This means tourists, airlines or island businesses can not make any plans. As was the case previously, if there are new cases they will be from residents returning to the island and not from tourists. I or one have cancelled our family get together scheduled for new year and will go somewhere more welcoming.
Any idea what percentage of tourist businesses are reopened? After going all thru this do we really want to vacation where there are few restaurants and activities? I have rescheduled 2x now. Great expenses and time and aggravation. I thought vacations were supposed to be fun!
I totally feel the same about this I have rescheduled now three times and feel like it probably won’t even happen. I spent many long hours and lots of money trying to get each trip finalized with only to find more complications each time. Since March I have been dealing with trying to plan my first time trip to Hawaii . I am so excited to come to the island but feeling I should just look into vacationing elsewhere until they get a better plan Not only for the visitors but for the residence and businesses as well.
It’s all overreach to the highest degree. Cuomo is now blaming “we the people” for the lock downs… because WE were scared. (Well, I wasn’t scared.) Once they start deflecting…. you know they are about to get caught in a massive lie. Ugh! It never ends, I tell ya… never. *sigh*
Thank you so much for the updates! Very appreciated 🙂
Hi Kimberly.
Thanks for your comments.
Aloha.
On 9/4 we cancelled our 2 wk.trip to Kauai for 11/8-11/22 that was made before COVID-19. This trip was made to celebrate our son & daughter-in-laws 11/13 5th wedding anniversary. By 9/4 we had come to the conclusion that HI might not open up the negative 72 hr.COVID test results program in time for our trip,since it had already been pushed out a couple of times & was currently sitting at 10/15 – & we had to make a decision that related to our timeshare. If HI pushed the date out to 11/1,did we really want to wait until then to see if it was actually going to start then? So we cancelled. Just a couple of wks.later HI announced that 10/15 was the date that everyone had been waiting for! We were able to re-book our 2 wk.stay with slightly different dates(11/13-11/27),get our airline tickets,& rent a car. Then the mayor came up with his proposal 18,& we held our breath waiting to see if the governor would approve it,and when he didn’t,we finally uttered a sigh of relief. But the mayor wasn’t done yet – he sent his new proposal 19 to the governor,& it looks like the governor approved that one. To “add insult to injury”,while waiting for the news on proposal 19,we learned from Beat of Hawaii that after 1/31/21,our home resort may no longer be a Marriott Kauai Beach Club. We haven’t heard anything from Marriott yet,but as owners there,we’re anxious to learn how this news is going to affect our ownership. But-getting back to proposal 19,what happens if there are 0-4 cases on the island when we start our trip,& we have 72 hr.pre-travel negative COVID test results,& part way through our 2 wk.stay,maybe just a few days into our stay,the island has 5 or more cases? It sounds like we’ll have to be quarantined for the rest of our stay,even if our voluntary 72 hr.after arrival re-testing results are negative. Am I interpreting that correctly? If so,it doesn’t sound like Hawaii,at least Kauai,is “anxious to welcome back visitors to Hawaii”. T Y for being there for HI visitors!
Hi Donna.
Thanks. We don’t know the answer; it simply isn’t clear. Perhaps it will be amended to specify if that only relates to new arrivals following the change in Tier. We will keep an eye out and let you know.
Aloha.
I messaged County of Kauai that very question and they said if I am cleared to enter with my negative test in tier 3 or 4 and the island goes to tier 2 or 1 while I’m there then I don’t have to quarantine. I’m free to go wherever. Here is part of their reply:
Yes, once you’re cleared from quarantine, you won’t have to go back into quarantine unless you leave the island (or develop symptoms that was prompt you going into quarantine on Kauai).
Aloha Guys,
Did I read that right? You said the Big Island is forcing people to take a test on arrival? Does this mean you still need to take a test before you go? Since there is a connecting flight to ITO, are they allowing people to pass through (on a layover), and take the test on the Big Island?
Appreciate the daily updates…thanks again!
Hi Jim.
Thanks. Yes you have that right. The first test on the mainland then retest on arrival on Big Island. Different than Kauai and Maui which do optional tests 3 days after arrival. Well, at least that is how it stands at this moment. 🙂
Aloha.
We have spent 4 months of the year on Kauai, for 20 years and generously contribute to the economy, however, because of of all the rules, clearly not being welcome and thought of as an disease spreader enemy, to the residents…we will not be there this year and are strongly considering finding a new favorite winter home, where we will not only be welcome but greatly appreciated.
We think Kauai is in for a surprise when visitors don’t return and their economy will continue to spiral downward which is sad for those who want to work. For those on govt assistance…they get paid regardless, unfortunately.
Disappointing indeed.