escapefromphl

Unfortunately US citizens may end up being unwelcome in many parts of the world due to our inability or unwillingness to suppress the virus.

FFMilesJunkie

While no solution is perfect, these scenarios will need to be addressed before tourists will feel comfortable coming back. There are many who will not want to deal with the uncertainty of arriving in Hawaii asymptomatic, and finding out a few days later that someone on their flight or someone at their hotel has tested positive. What will the procedure be? Will they need to self isolate in their hotel? For how long? Will they be allowed to fly back to the mainland? If they end up testing positive in the middle of their trip, where will they be allowed to quarantine? What if they do not have the ability to pay for 2 additional weeks in Hawaii?

I understand that no solution will be perfect, but there need to be guidelines in place so that people can make an informed decision whether they should fly to Hawaii for leisure (or business). I cannot wait to return to Kauai for a week of relaxation, but these are the questions we would need to be addressed before returning.

cmtlatitudes

This is good additional info, thanks. I've found exactly what you're saying --- that every article seems to have a different "tidbit". Appreciate you posting these.

I'd be interested in which news and media sources those from Hawaii consider to be widely respected? (i.e., factual articles, presenting all sides of an issue, without undue bias or slant. You know, good old fashion journalism! LoL. Harder and harder to find.)

FlyinHawaiian

KHON has been and still is a very well-respected source of television news. The Star-Advertiser does, IMO, an average job of newspaper reporting.

HaleiwaFlyer

Looks like the 14 day quarantine is being extended beyond June.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/0...waiis-economy/

nomad420

Now I know how my dog feels every time I take her to Hawaii....LOL Hey, but she loves it there as much as I do. She goes crazy on the beach and loves the warm weather.

JNelson113

I think that a lot of us can now relate to your dog's feelings!

sdsearch

Yes, but take out that "but", and there are other states that have 14-day quarantines for Americans arriving from out-of-state, including Maine and Vermont:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...s/5256975002/:

sdsearch

The governor is now planning to extend the quarantine beyond June 30, but no new "until" date has been announced yet::

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/0...waiis-economy/

ksucats

I don't get it. It has to be frustrating for the locals that rely on tourism for their livelihood. At least they should come out with a plan so people know what to prepare for.

azepine00

perhaps i missed it - are HI residents visiting mainland subject to 14d thing?

ksucats

Yes, but it is different. They are required to quarantine for 14 days, but not required to do it at a hotel. They can do it at their own home and if they live with people who didn't travel out of state, those people aren't required to quarantine even though they may be in close and frequent contact with somebody who is required to quarantine.

JNelson113

Yes, when they return to Hawaii.

cmtlatitudes

Quarantine light, similar to the mainland. Hawaii residents can fly stateside, vacation and visit family wherever they like, fly back, and quarantine in their own homes in Hawaii. Their car is not confiscated. They are not bolted inside their home from the outside. The other members in their household are not subject to quarantine restrictions when the traveler returns.

Night and day difference with what travelers from the mainland have to comply with. Hawaii is requiring US citizens from the mainland to quarantine for 14 days in a hotel room from an approved accommodation list of hotels, with a one-way, one-use access card. If you leave the room, you can't get back in. When you request to get back in, the hotel calls the police to report you've violated quarantine. Can't leave your room, outside food delivery only to your door, no access to amenities, literally cannot leave your room for two weeks, if the hotel cooperates with the state's requested one time access policy. If you have a balcony or lanai, you can sit on it. Well, maybe. There's been reports of certain hotels having problems with that also. US travelers from the mainland are prohibited from staying in a VRBO to quarantine and prohibited from renting a car until quarantine is completed.

I'm not advocating anyone break quarantine. Of course not. But supposedly quarantine is based on a reasonable belief you've possibly come into contact with the virus. OK. So Hawaii residents are allowed to leave, go to any Covid infested city they like, stay at the Grand Canyon, whatever - and come home to their household with no restrictions. They have to call every day and are subject to a possible home visit. They retain their car keys. They aren't locked in their houses. They can enjoy their yards. For all practical purposes, they can de facto go and do pretty much anything "essential", just as in the mainland, and aren't going to bothered. Their spouses and kids can come and go as much as they'd like, even though theoretically they are potentially just as exposed and infected as a traveler from the mainland.

What possible scientific or medical rational is there for this inequity in civil and constitutional rights? A resident back FROM a non-essential trip to the mainland gets, well, basically nothing, except mostly camping out at their house for two weeks and keeping a low profile if they leave, and US citizen traveling to Hawaii - also FROM the mainland - gets a one room hotel room jail cell. How can they even pretend this is even about containing the virus?

The inequity is particularly galling since these new reports of Hawaii trying to broker deals to admit "desirable" tourists from Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, and not require quarantine. While thousands of US families are in limbo about their pwn planned vacations, yet to receive refunds, etc.

Look, I don't want people from Hawaii to be subject to staying in a government mandated accommodation when they return. I don't want them to suffer through that. What would be nice however is if the Hawaii state government were not stirring up and feeding off the general contempt the Hawaii populace already seems to have for mainland tourists, to make it seem like they're doing something. And because it's an easy target the populace will accept.

cmtlatitudes

Not exactly. The palatable alternative of a VRBO type accommodation to quarantine, or stay-cation, is an available alternative in Maine, Vermont, and several other places. Many folks visiting these places rent oceanfront, lakefront, mountain or wooded cottages and cabins. Huge difference. A high percentage of visitors might decide they can live with having their property pre-stocked, stay on the property, sit on the porch, go in the water, etc., fairly easily without coming into contact with other people. And still have an enjoyable vacation. Maybe not the one they wanted, but acceptable under extraordinary circumstances. Especially if their vacations aren't being refunded.

Hawaii has specifically prohibited VRBO/AB&B/HA from renting to mainland visitors. A family stays in one hotel room or hotel rooms with adjoining doors. They aren't allowed out of the room or to use resort amenities (if they are open). They are purposefully telling visitors they are not wanted. Big, big, difference.

But hey -- let's talk about letting those "desirable" tourists in from foreign countries, while folks from our country are still trying to get refunds, and the governor won't even give the courtesy of a real plan to date, so their summer plans stay in limbo.