With 14 confirmed cases of coronavirus including the state’s first case of community spread, the Governor of Hawaii is asking Americans on the mainland not to visit for the next 30 days. Hawaii travel has been one of the few bright spots for airlines, and early on in this crisis Oahu was one of only two major hotel markets to be doing well.
Gov. David Ige today took the extraordinary step of asking all Hawaii visitors to postpone their trips for the next 30 days and reschedule “for another date.”
Ige had no cost of the economic impact on an island economy that relies on tourism.
…We’re suggesting all activities shut down for the next 15 days,” he said.
Hawaii is following the lead of several other states in asking restaurants to shift to takeout and delivery and bars, clubs, and theaters to close. Cruise ship passengers will be thermal scanned on disembarkation starting Friday. Non-essential state workers are staying home and non-essential state travel is banned.
Many Americans kept Hawaii spring break plans, and others added Hawaii trips during ‘work from home’ periods interpreting home as a warm beach. Hawaii reproduction rates for the virus should help us understand whether the summer period will provide respite from the virus as it does flue – something experts are divided on and certainly isn’t guaranteed.
Quite ridiculous the logic behind that summer or warmer weather will help… what about the countries in South East Asia? Or Australia (which is in summer season now).
@Mike – based on CONFIRMED CASES which in some instances may be limited to less testing in Africa and South America those regions haven’t been as affected, Central Africa of course would have seen fewer infected people entering to begin with. Australia has cases, and hasn’t had enough testing, but they’re certainly less affected than many other places for sure. We do not know yet whether this is climate-based, it’s something vigorously debated.
They should just shut down the resort hotels for a few months. Just asking people not to come is not enough.
Any chance airlines will offer (or be forced to offer) full refunds instead of just waived change fees for another date?
I am awaiting a response from a Maui B&B which has a no refund within 60 days policy. I feel I can keep myself safe enroute, certainly safer than on the job in an urban ED, but I do think the lock down our best shot at mitigation. My res is in 2 weeks.
In an effort to requalify for EXP I have about $12K at risk 🙁
Keep your fingers crossed
I have a nonrefundable reservation at a B&B on Maui April 1-5, and have asked for a refund based on the crises. I work in an urban ED and am sure I’m safer traveling than on the job. But I do believe that the lock down is the best shot we have for mitigation.
As an all leisure traveler trying to requalify for EXP I have about $12K at risk. 🙁
Keep your fingers crossed..
Citizens from Guam, Saipan and American Samoa are still welcome to visit Hawaii.
Some Hawaiians – mainly in Maui – have created roadblocks to Hana and are physically hostile towards tourists. My friends had rocks thrown at their Jeep on the road to Hana and were told to “go the F*** back home”. Along with protests at the airport, and as sad as this may be, I figure this would be more icing on the cake if you’re still on the fence to take your trip.