Hawaii is about to tell tourists what they have wanted to hear! Governor Ige said yesterday he will proclaim Hawaii is open in a reversal to his “stay away” request less than sixty days ago. As to exactly when the travel announcement will happen, read on. This news comes as Hawaii just announced only 49 new COVID cases as of this morning, a number lower than we’ve seen in a long time.
Ige said yesterday that he is “working on the timing and the message right now.” The focus now has shifted to getting the state’s on-again, off-again tourism engine restarted in preparation for the return.
Hawaii Tourism crush to resume starting November.
We expect to see Hawaii suggest visitors return starting in November.
BOH: Thanksgiving followed by the end-of-year holidays is typically very busy in Hawaii and it looks like it will be especially so this year. A very small window of time exists for savvy visitors to get ahead of the restart of tourism. And that time is this week.
Ige said he wants to provide travel stakeholders “time to rehire people back.” And he is looking to ensure that Hawaii has “space and we have restaurants and other activities for them to do.”
State research and legislature concur: Restart tourism now.
At the same time, the state legislature heard from UHERO (University of Hawaii research arm), whose head said they “would like to see state-level pronouncements that we are open for business. And really now, so that people plan for Thanksgiving, they plan for Christmas.” UHERO said the Governor “needs to speak out and explain what happens on November 1. If I were the governor, I would say that we are going to be welcoming back vaccinated travelers. We don’t want unvaccinated travelers. We want vaccinated travelers to Hawaii. The governor needs to speak out clearly and quickly at this point.” Upon listening to the testimony, the state’s House Speaker agreed with UHERO’s assessment.
Hawaii’s largest hospital/medical provider also tells Hawaii to open tourism.
The head of Hawaii Pacific Health told the legislature yesterday that “Given where we are at, in this course of the pandemic and the course of the vaccination rollout, I think the much greater risk to the public health of this community are those social and economic factors beyond the virus itself… Poverty is the greatest risk of public health.”
What says risk-averse Governor Ige?
In spite of other state leaders and industry stakeholders telling Ige to proclaim Hawaii open now, the governor isn’t able to speak the words they are requesting. He said yesterday that the announcement of reopening will come within the next one to two weeks. With ever-increasing and outspoken pressure, the hesitant governor is likely to move sooner rather than later this time.
Why plan your Hawaii vacation now?
With an imminent announcement that Hawaii tourism, especially for vaccinated visitors, is safe to resume, we do expect an onslaught. We should expect to see a return to lack of car rentals (especially at the holidays), replete with super-high prices. Restaurant reservations will again be at a premium. Vacation rentals and hotel accommodations will be harder to secure.
International travel is still not fully returned and probably won’t be until next summer. So for at least the next 9 months, and perhaps even longer, there will be a shift to greater demand than capacity here in Hawaii travel.
The smart move is to book your travel to Hawaii in the next week if you are determined to visit. And, if you want to get ahead of the curve. Reservations should include Cheap Flights to Hawaii, Hawaii car rentals, accommodations (hotel or vacation rental), and any must-have activities or restaurants.
Please let us know your plans. And welcome back to Hawaii!
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Now that the cases are down will be interesting to see what happens when they allow only vaccinated people and cases spike again. Who they going to blame the 3% left on island without the vax due to religious or health reasons? I really hope that’s what they do then we can finally expose everything going on.
Unless you are single-sourcing your news, you are aware conflicting reports regarding the effectiveness and safety of the various COVID-19 vaccines exist. Additionally, a substantial population have had the virus, fully recovered and possess the natural antibodies. HI should consider these factors + <1% fatality rate when making decisions otherwise, a huge % of the domestic population will be excluded from visiting the islands.
Good lord, “We don’t want unvaccinated travelers”. Segregation, discrimination much?
Prices have already gone sky high! The exact same package I had booked for Fall 2021 at around $3000 is now $8000 for Spring 2022, if it’s available at all and many dates are not. What the heck? I guess I won’t be rebooking any time soon. 😞
Thanks for the updates!
We’re looking forward to our two week trip in November. We will leave the weekend before Thanksgiving Day’
We made our reservations last April so a couple of activities have gone up, but basically it’s the same.
Aloha, I will be traveling with my 2 yr old to Honolulu mid November. It’sa special trip to revert and honor my husband who passed on 12/24/19. This year was our 10 year anniversary. So my new date is an adorable tornado of sunshine and sass. We rebooked once things were cancelled at the req of the Governor. I would love to make some special dinner reservations or experience for the two of us and would greatly appreciate any suggestions that are toddler friendly, yet special. I love your updates! Thank you!
Hi Mandy.
We’re very sorry to hear about your loss. Honolulu fine dining isn’t our specialty by any means, so it would be best to get others’ comments or to check via Yelp or Open Table. Our ideas would tend to be more down-market, which is what appeals to the two of us when in Honolulu. In looking at what TripAdvisor recommended, one that we have found enjoyable is Senia.
Aloha.
I’m sure the beach alone will be plenty of fun for your little guy, but maybe the Dole plantation maze would be fun. He’d probably appreciate if more if older, but could still have fun running around trying to find his way out.
“Price gouging is coming to those who travel to Hawaii!”
Nice.
I have everything but flights booked for three trips in 2022, two to Kauai, and one to Maui. Already well ahead on all three car rental reservations.
We are planning to visit Hawaii soon. I have a few questions that I hope you would be so kind to answer.
My wife and I have already had COVID so the science states that we have built up an immunity to the virus. As a result we opt not to get the vaccine.
Why does Hawaii only want visitors who have had the vaccine? Those who have had it can still get it and can carry it also.
We are no more of a treat than anyone else on the planet. Thank you for listening.
Hi Curtis.
We’ll throw it open for others to comment.
Aloha.
During Summer, proof of vaccination was the only requirement for travelers, eliminating pre-travel testing(except for unvacvinated) That did not work,
Cases went through the roof.The Governor asked to “please don’t come” which slowed down travel, with the seasonal drop-off and cases decreased from 400-600 a day to 49.
Just being vaccinated did not stop Covid from spreading. Every person entering should be tested, Vaccinated people transmit Covid too.
With the emphasis on Vaccinated visitors only, I would love to take off my mask. You don’t have to wear it outside. You don’t wear it when you eat. Let’s drop the other shoe and take off the mask.
The mask has been the single most aggravation producing limitation. It ,could be our gift to the mainland. “If you are vaccinated and will not crowd, (6 feet separation) come enjoy the fresh air and Aloha of Hawaii.”
Aloha,
I was in Kauai both in May and Sept this year. I planned well ahead and was fortunate to not only be able to go, but had no problems with car rental (approx. $55/day) and an average fare on Alaska. I will be returning in May and still feel very lucky to return to my timeshare.
The key is to plan ahead if you are able.
I follow BOH’s each posting and it helped keep me abreast of all the fluctuating changes during these unprecedented times.
Mahalo for all you do 🌺
Laurie
Hi Laurie.
Thanks. We’re glad your recent trips to Kauai worked out well!
Aloha.
Can’t believe people pay to put themselves thru this. Best of luck to everyone. Not sure what the rush is. Maybe it’s because I lived there 20 years but paying double and triple for rooms and cars waiting hours in line for overpriced food and what will be lacking service doesn’t make much sense to me anyway.
seems like so much fun to vacation in Hawaii… I’d pass.
Nobody is mentioning the 12/8 “deadline” for all (major) airline employees to be vaccinated or lose job if not. This will, indeed, affect air travel across the board. If airline employees are willing to lose their jobs rather than get vaccinated, many flights will suffer as airline staff diminishes and more flights get cancelled.
please stop with the vaccine discrimination
and segregating. we seem to be going backwards…and yes poverty is worse for humans then a virus poverty affects the whole family and community and has long lasting affects…yes some people die we are not going to get around death
my body my mind my soul
thank you for all the information you all give
Mahalo
I don’t believe the gov.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
The Hawaiian tourism roller coaster continues.
Warning to all flying out of Kahului(OGG) it took us a good hour to check our bags and get through TSA line, on a slow Tuesday!
I can only imagine what it will be when the late fall early winter crush begins.
I spoke with staff at Grand Wailea they said reservations are roaring in for that time period.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for that feedback from on the ground on Maui.
Aloha.
I will be there Thursday for 12 days! Looks like I timed it perfectly. As always, thank you for all the detailed updates.
Hi Jo.
Thanks. We’d concur that you did.
Aloha.
Am I reading this correctly. Only vaccinated travelers? If so then I believe we are ‘shooting off our nose to spite our face.’ Does not make sense at all other than hidden agenda purpose.
John – if the Feds follow other countries RE only vaccinated can get on plane, then Hawaii’s announcement only falls in line.
Hawaii isnt another Country…
Aloha guys, the big problem with lots of tourist will continue to be really poor staffing levels. The May-July fiasco was not welcomed by us who live here.
I am all for reopening but we know what this will look like. We have seen it before.
Thank you for the heads up. Let’s hope the timing and the clarity of Gov. Ige’s “Welcome Back” statement will be on the mark. This time.
Would you expect the airlines to anticipate a favorable announcement and increase prices accordingly? It appears some of the great fares offered for early 2022 have already been eliminated. At least on American Airlines.
Hi Mike.
We’ll still have Hawaii airfare sales, as there are definitely unique factors at play in that industry.
Aloha.
My friend is planning to visit the Big Island in November and is fully vaccinated. Even so, she did contract Covid after being vaccinated but is now fully recovered and symptom free for the past couple of months. Since she is fully vaccinated, does she need to do anything different other than to certify to her vaccination?
Just wondering, when they say ONLY vaccinated may travel to the islands, will they say it one day and enact it the very next day, or will they give a period of time warning? Some people already have plans to visit in November and plan on using negative COVID tests. It would be nice to get a heads up, and an exact date.
How is the vog on Big Island since Kilauea’s eruption? We have plans to visit early November…
The vog is not as bad as the last eruption that was also contained to the caldera. That being said it is still very hazy over the water and the sunsets are obscured with only an orange ball of sun. We are at 1300 feet, above Kona airport.
Aloha Megan,
Right now the vog is not bad. As of October 8 the USGS reported sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions of 5,300 tons per day at Kilauea. That is down from at least 85,000 early in the eruption.
Of course things could change anytime, for better or worse, depending on Madame Pele’s mood.
will there be pre-travel testing for ALL, regardless of vaccination status? It seems like just requiring proof of vaccination was not working, as cases have clearly dropped with less tourists/travelers coming in.
Great news! Booked our trip for February-April 2022 in March. Booked the car back then before the rates skyrocketed. Booked flights in June. The only hiccup I see is the timing of the birth of our grandson–if everything goes well, he will have his first trip to Hawaii in February. 👼✈🌴
We have had our Nov 1st reservations for The Big Island and Maui since last Spring. It is for vacation and for a conference that my husband attends each November. We have been to Hawaii enough that we are confident we’ll have a great trip!
We were lucky to be on both of those islands last May, and the main difference we noticed was longer waits at restaurants. We were lucky to get on a Molokini tour because the guideline for excursions went up from 50% to 75% a few weeks before departure.
I’m curious if they’ll start accepting foreign vaccinated tourists without PCR tests.