Hawaii Plans to Delay Reopening until September 1, 2020. Previously, the state planned to reopen to out of state visitors on August 1, and Hawaii confirmed that visitors who tested negative for coronavirus could avoid the state's 14-day quarantine, which is currently mandatory for all arrivals and returning Hawaii residents with few exceptions (such as those engaged in essential medical work and military personnel).
But with Hawaii coronavirus cases rising–42 new cases were reported on Saturday July 11, the highest number of new cases in a day, since the onset of the pandemic–Lieutenant Governor Josh Green and county mayors in Hawaii have urged the mayor to delay reopening the state to transpacific tourism, which Ige announced on 7/13/20. Leaders have also pointed to the surge of new Covid-19 cases in California, Arizona, and other Southwestern states that send many visitors to Hawaii.
Unlike Alaska, Hawaii has stressed that no Covid-19 testing is available at the airport, and visitors have to get tested before arriving. Hawaii testing is limited, even for residents, due to the current shortage of reagents, and there is the concern that many would-be visitors will be unable to get tested prior to getting on a flight to Hawaii, due to local testing shortages in mainland states as well.
The delay will be costly, however, for Hawaii's economy, which is heavily based on tourism. It also throws into flux hotel plans, since it can take weeks to a month of planning to ready a property, particularly luxury hotels such as Four Seasons Maui at Wailea and Four Seasons Hualalai, which were slated to reopen August 1, 2020, due to Governor Ige's earlier announcement of Hawaii's 8/1/20 reopening.
Are you hoping to plan a first or return trip to Hawaii, once the state reopens?
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I had an extremely light case of the virus which lasted just 24 hours, but my husband had it for 3 weeks after me. I’m thinking we’re in the clear but still have an ominous feeling that I’ll never get back there again since the virus will be with us well into next year. Would you go once Hawaii reopens, Hilary?
Peggy, sorry to hear you and your husband had coronavirus, and hope that you’re both feeling fully recovered. Ostensibly I’m supposed to be in Hawaii later this year, for work, but will see how things go in terms of cases, testing, and the reopening.
Hawaii reopening September 1
Yes, we’ve updated our post to note Governor Ige’s announcement today that 9/1/20 is the earliest Hawaii will open to out of state visitors with the option to test to avoid the mandatory 14 day quarantine.
Keep me updated
I hope Hawaii is open by September 15.
How is September 29 looking if Hawaii reopening September 1
If Hawaii indeed reopens September 1, a stay at the end of the month would be fine; the issue is that a lot could change between now and then. Hawaii has limited testing capacity, so there’s concern about keeping in check the recent uptick in local community transmission, not to mention the surge in cases in Arizona and California, some of Hawaii’s major visitor markets. If possible I recommend booking award flights with miles and refundable hotel reservations, to limit any out of pocket expenses should the state’s reopening dates change again.
Keep me updated