– The state is eager for the tourism sector to recover after a devastating
season in 2020. –
Viviane Faver
Since March 2020, a 15-day quarantine had been required for anyone arriving
on the island, but last month this measure was relaxed, allowing travellers to
submit a negative COVID-19 test, carried out by a state-approved company.
For up-to-date information on restrictions, go to Hawaii Travel Restrictions.
Hawaii residents sacrificed themselves to keep their communities safe during
this pandemic, and in doing so, achieved one of the lowest COVID-19 case
rates of any other state in the United States.
However, with the rules and law fluctuations determined by the Hawaiian
authorities, tourists arriving on the island are still confused by what is allowed
and prohibited.
This confusion also directly affects those who own businesses on the island,
such as Yoga teacher Alessandra Lopes, who moved to Hawaii in 2009 and
created, together with her partner, an outdoor Yoga class on Waikiki Beach
called @2FBeachpParkYoga.
In June, the island attempted reopening to tourists for the first-time, catering
predominantly to American tourists eager for a trip after being locked up for
so long. Alessandra Lopes says despite the influx at the time, attendance in her
classes did not recover to pre-pandemic levels. Today, student numbers are
still lower. The primary reason being international travellers from neighbouring
countries such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada still face
restrictions on entering the US.
“My classes used to be 50% tourists and 50% residents. Today
80% are locals – which has increased due to the demand for outdoor sports
classes – and the remaining 20% are mostly American tourists”; she says.
The masks continue.
Amid so many fluctuations, one requirement that has not changed is the mask
mandate – federal law requires all airline passengers aged two years and older
to wear a mask at the airport, during boarding, and during flight.
You cannot ride a bus on Oahu, for example, without a mask. Likewise, on the
popular hiking trail to the summit of Lēahi, also known as Diamond Head,
visitors are required to wear masks on lookouts and in indoor spaces.
Each county in Hawaii has its own rules.
Since November 13 on Oahu, anyone who wants to enter a restaurant, bar,
gym, movie theatre, museum, or other business will need to present proof of
vaccination or an FDA approved negative test obtained in the last 48 hours.
(Children under 12 years old are exempt.) In addition, restaurants and bars
must stop serving alcoholic beverages at 2 am.
In Maui, nobody is permitted to dine in restaurants without first showing
proof of vaccination. Tours are also affected, with limited group size for
snorkelling excursions, sunset sailing, and other activities.
Are you still confused?
“Our reopening plan is like roller skating”, said John De Fries, president, and
CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. “It just keeps moving.”
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, today, any person from the US
either fully vaccinated or with a negative COVID-19 test can fly to the Islands.
Hotels are open, restaurants are open, and public spaces – beaches, parks, and
hiking trails are open.
Plan ahead.
Many tours, shows, and attractions now require or highly recommended
reservations. The nature reserve Hanauma Bay, on Oahu, has launched an
online reservation system and raised rates to $25 per person for non-
residents. Spaces are limited and sell out in minutes.
Hā’ena State Park on Kaua’i, which includes access to Kē’ē Beach and the Kalalau Trail, also requires reservations,
and like Hanauma Bay, the park has a daily limit on visitors with new fees.
The Polynesian Cultural Center at Lā’ie on Oahu has sold out its popular lūau
VIP package until 2022. Day-to-day tickets still become available but be
prepared to be flexible on days and times.
Taking place on the first Friday of every month, First Fridays in Honolulu’s
Arts District in Chinatown is a hip festival highlighting the neighborhood’s art
galleries, shops, restaurants and featuring live entertainment, street vendors,
and more. Establishments offer discounts, food and beverage specialties, and
free entertainment. Most stores are open until 9:00 pm, and afterward, you
can have fun in the nearby bars. Chinatown on Oahu has become a
destination for hipsters and young adults.
Check out tours, shows, and other attractions before arriving and book tickets
in advance. The same goes for restaurants.
Hawaii’s restaurants are grappling with staff shortages – which translates to
shorter hours and sometimes long wait times – and government rules not
allowing them to run at full capacity. Smaller menus and limited availability
are to be expected while visiting.
If dining at a particular restaurant is on your must visit list, be sure to make
reservations in advance. Otherwise, you might end up picking up your meals
at convenience stores – yes, it’s happening!
While it may seem tempting – even wise – to make multiple reservations for a
single day then pick and choose which to show up to, no-shows are expensive
for restaurants that are already struggling. Remember to call and cancel in
advance if you must.
Difficulty renting cars
When Hawaii first reopened to tourist entry, car rental’s spiked to over $500
dollars per day– if you could even find it. Ingenuitive tourists rented U-Hauls
(they are cheaper).
After further restrictions due to new variants, prices fluctuated down.
Nevertheless, some entrepreneurs like Luciano Colle, who owns a car rental
company in Oahu called Island Auto Rentals, says he has reasonable
expectations for the holiday season.
“The forecast here is always to improve. Hawaii is one of the most dreamed-of
tourist destinations globally, and that has not changed. American tourists are
already back, Europeans are returning, and by the time Asians start to return,
it will get even better. My prediction is that by July 2022, we will be 100%
normalized. Let us hope everyone gets vaccinated soon!”, says Luciano.
What happened?
Car rental companies sold vehicles in 2020 in anticipation of the continued
financial blow suffered from COVID-19’s widespread travel restrictions.
Luciano recognized the opportunity and purchased cars from agencies at low
prices. Rental companies have not been to replace sold inventory in time to
meet demand. Supply is still low.
“People say I got lucky, but that was not it. I have worked in this sector for
years and have noticed and studied the situation. I already wanted to increase
my fleet and knew how to take advantage of the opportunity to buy vehicles at
low prices. Also, I still did a lot of business with small local businesses by renting to
mechanics and other companies on the island. That’s how I survived the
pandemic”, explains the businessman.
Finding a rental car is not as difficult now as it was earlier this year. Still, book
early to ensure you have transportation to get around and enjoy the island.
Travel rules are changing all the time, so stay tuned.
As of July 8, 2021, fully vaccinated people in the US or its territories can enter
Hawaii on domestic flights without pre-trip testing or quarantine on arrival.
(Persons must wait 14 days after their second COVID-19 injection to be
considered fully vaccinated.) All other travellers must have their COVID-19
negative test results from trusted travel and test partners uploaded to the
program portal State Safe Travels prior to departure to avoid the mandatory
10-day Hawaiian quarantine.
And the last but not least: Be respectful, polite, and follow the rules.
We know you are on vacation. We have all been stuck at home for months,
worried, scared, tired, eager for a change, and desperate to feel normal
again.
It is important to remember, though, that Hawaii is not just a visitor
destination. First and foremost, it is a nature reserve home to hundreds of
varieties of endangered plants and animals. Walk on public trails. Respect the
sacred places.
Wear a mask inside establishments. Be friendly and respectful to service staff
at hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies (especially them; it is not their fault),
and anyone you meet. It has been a difficult time for many. The people you will
meet during your trip would love to be on vacation too.
