Oct 8, 2020, 2:27 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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When will Hawaii re-open for tourism?

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Aug 7, 2020, 1:08 pm

#766

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by COSPILOT

Hawaii continues to confuse me. Based on the news this morning one needs to quarantine again for inter island travel, which is what I understood from yesterday. What caught me off guard is that arrival into Oahu will not require quarantine inter island, just the other islands? I’m positive that is what Josh Green said this morning.

Seems odd that I could fly OGG-HNL and not quarantine. Not that I’m going to, just curious if others caught that comment from him.

The purpose of the ruling is to protect neighbor island communities from the rampant spread of COVID-19 seen on Oahu. So, you can fly OGG-HNL without quarantine, but you would need to quarantine if you flew back to OGG or any other neighbor island.

Aug 7, 2020, 1:52 pm

#767

nomad420

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: San Francisco

Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold

Posts: 3,614

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

You are having trouble understanding that ALL beaches are state beaches. Period.

I fully understand that, I questioned whether the closure only referred to STATE PARK beaches such as Hapuna Beach State Park and a multitude of others or indeed is virtually any beach access now restricted. You tell me, from your profile it appear you are in Honolulu so what's the deal? Let me be clear my intent isn't to skirt any rules. My intent is to preserve my business in Hawaii which right now is on the brink of collapse. Would it be nice after quarantine to hit the beach, you bet. But as far as I am concerned that is a secondary/way down the list issue right now.

Aug 7, 2020, 3:10 pm

#768

LIH Prem

Join Date: Nov 2000

Location: Upcountry Maui, HI

Posts: 13,303

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad420

Looks like I just made it then, leaving tomorrow AM. Again from the sound of it you can fly inter-island you just have to quarantine right? Although not sure how many flight will now be running, probably just enough for "essential travel". The beach restrictions are a bit of a bummer but I have access to semi private remote beach area that I can't imagine would be shut down as it is not a state beach park. Still trying to figure out much of what went down yesterday.

right, there is no "travel ban" and calling it a "travel ban" is a fabrication. It's purely political commentary, not surprising given the source.

The new 14 day quarantine applies to travelers leaving Oahu and flying to other islands. If you are flying between islands, not including Oahu, if they are still operating those flights, there is no mandatory quarantine. That's my understanding. I don't know if there's an exemption for simply connecting at HNL or not. The idea is to prevent spread from Oahu. Two Oahu based construction workers were recently tested positive after spending the weekend on Lanai. They are attempting to stop that.

Edit: My understanding as of this moment: 14-day inter-island quarantine is exempt only for arrivals on Oahu. All other i/i arrivals require a 14-day quarantine, including routes that bypass Oahu like OGG-KOA.

Also the Governor did not close parks or beaches or ban team sports. That was done by the City of Honolulu. I believe the Gov has to approve the plans, but does not implement them and the request came from the City and it applies to Oahu.

-David

Last edited by LIH Prem; Aug 8, 2020 at 1:51 pm

Aug 7, 2020, 3:38 pm

#769

nomad420

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: San Francisco

Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold

Posts: 3,614

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIH Prem

Also the Governor did not close parks or beaches or ban team sports. That was done by the City of Honolulu. I believe the Gov has to approve the plans, but does not implement them and the request came from the City and it applies to Oahu.

-David

Mahalo, that's very helpful. Just called family and friends on the Big Island and from what I am hearing beaches are indeed open there. Can't speak for Honolulu/Oahu.

LIH Prem likes this.

Aug 7, 2020, 4:57 pm

#770

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad420

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad420

Mahalo, that's very helpful. Just called family and friends on the Big Island and from what I am hearing beaches are indeed open there. Can't speak for Honolulu/Oahu.

I misspoke when saying beaches are being closed. Only Oahu beaches. My point is that while there may be county or state "beach parks," all beaches are "state" beaches. There is no such thing as private or semi-private beaches.

Aug 7, 2020, 5:04 pm

#771

st3

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: TPA

Programs: United MP

Posts: 463

I've been watching this thread pretty regularly as my girlfriend and I have a weeklong vacation planned for early October. With each development it seems more and more likely that this simply won't happen and we've started planning accordingly. It's a disappointment from my end as I have lived on the east coast most of my life and I've never been, but such is life in 2020. I hope Hawaii's government is able to figure out something to keep their residents safe both medically and financially.

747FC and mtofell like this.

Aug 7, 2020, 5:11 pm

#772

nomad420

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: San Francisco

Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold

Posts: 3,614

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

Gotcha, I probably misspoke as well by using the term "semi private" . I know that is a very sensitive term to use in Hawaii. FWIW, I couldn't agree more with the current laws which as you have noted mandate all beaches are "state property/state beaches". As an example as to what it could be horrifically like, go to lake Tahoe and try to sit on the beach and see what happens. Much of the beach line is indeed private property at Tahoe.

Aug 7, 2020, 9:40 pm

#773

mtofell

Join Date: Oct 2019

Location: PDX, OGG or between the two

Programs: AS 75K

Posts: 2,859

I can't seem to find it now but I thought I read earlier this week that Ige was to announce by today a repeal (or not) of the negative Covid test = no quarantine thing set for 9/1. Is that just assumed to be off the table given all the chaos in Oahu? As of this post the airlines are still reporting as of 9/1 that a negative Covid test within 72 hours or arrival gets you out of the 14-day quarantine (at least for Maui... I didn't check other islands).

Aug 7, 2020, 11:29 pm

#774

LIH Prem

Join Date: Nov 2000

Location: Upcountry Maui, HI

Posts: 13,303

I just saw on the news that there’s no exemption for inter island flights that bypass Oahu.

-David

Aug 7, 2020, 11:40 pm

#775

COSPILOT

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Colorado

Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE

Posts: 5,640

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIH Prem

I just saw in the news that there’s no exemption for inter island flights that bypass Oahu.

-David

i joked with my wife that trying to keep up is a loosing proposition.. About the time I think I have it figured out, the news changes.

I guess I watch the news in the morning, and later and still not be sure what the plan is. Uncertainty is the only thing I know for sure.

Aug 8, 2020, 10:52 am

#776

slippahs

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]

Posts: 15,826

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtofell

Looking back on my "staycation" cancellation emails from hotels that were for early August, the August 1 exemption date was pushed back to September 1 on July 13. So if past history is an indicator, it's still too early in the month for the Gov to make the call.

I don't see how the Sept. 1 date will ever work with Oahu's numbers spiraling out of control. While I am usually ever the optimist, I am not seeing Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 working either.

inlanikai and mtofell like this.

Aug 8, 2020, 1:46 pm

#777

LIH Prem

Join Date: Nov 2000

Location: Upcountry Maui, HI

Posts: 13,303

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIH Prem

I just saw on the news that there’s no exemption for inter island flights that bypass Oahu.

Some confirmation here that the only exemption is inter-island arrivals on Oahu.

https://mauinow.com/2020/08/07/inter...r-maui-county/

I think it's odd that other inter-island travel, like OGG-LIH or OGG-KOA non-stops are not exempt from the quarantine rules. Maybe they will update, but are they even running those flights now? Is there enough traffic on those routes without tourism? So for now, maybe it's moot.

-David

Last edited by LIH Prem; Aug 8, 2020 at 1:53 pm

Aug 8, 2020, 3:28 pm

#778

LiquidHonesty

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: Maui, HI

Posts: 132

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIH Prem

They are still running those flights, but the issue is also the cabin crews are mostly from Oahu and those plans were probably on Oahu earlier. To be really safe, they say going to any other island you have to quarantine because you could have gotten exposed by Oahu.

It seems backwards but it's not really. I don't agree with it, but that's another story....