As the islands struggle, some Hawaii residents have begun a revolt against re-opening amid COVID-19. What’s happening in Hawaii?
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UPDATE: The previous title of this post was “Hawaiian Islanders” but was not intended to indicate a subset of residents of the state of Hawaii by ethnicity. Rather, it was intended to include all who reside on the Hawaiian Islands. The title has been changed to “Hawaii Residents.”
Hawaii Re-Opened the Islands to Outsiders
The governor of Hawaii has removed a strict 14-day quarantine requirement for arrivals to the islands and replaced it with a waiver for those who have a negative COVID-19 test result. Several airlines have made accommodations to offer travelers an opportunity to conduct their test in the airport terminal.
The Hawaiian economy was clearly suffering and the state had flattened the curve (sufficient medical resources to absorb new COVID cases). For the sake of the long-term livelihood of the islands which depend on tourism to survive, the Governor gave the order, still one of the strictest in the US.
But They Didn’t Open Their Hearts Or Restaurants
The people of Hawaii weren’t really ready for outsiders. Some restaurants are not serving non-Hawaii residents. There’s no doubt that businesses in the US have the right to refuse service, but there are limitations on that. For example, businesses can’t discriminate, but geolocation is not likely to fit discrimination criteria.
It’s more of an attitude and unjustified concern. The people of Hawaii have to protect themselves more than other states due to their isolation, if hospitals are overrun, they can’t just run an ambulance ten minutes down the road to another town. That said, visitors to the islands have already proven themselves to be free of the virus in a way that locals have not. Logically speaking, if limitations are imposed on the public, shouldn’t those limitations apply to those who cannot prove they are COVID-19 free as locals who have not been tested cannot. It seems they should only serve tourists if COVID-19 is the restaurant owner’s principal concern.
From Hawaii residents I know, the impression is that the rest of the US is ludicrous in their approach to the virus. I’d note that it’s a little bit easier for Hawaii to isolate and control their situation without highways and nearby states. That said, animus toward tourists is backward and unfounded.
Or Their Hotels
Hotels weren’t ready to re-open either, many remain closed. I personally reached out to half a dozen high-profile properties around the islands and many not only aren’t open but don’t have a date for re-opening. This is a little surprising to me, given the push to return tourism.
Big ships turn slowly. Hotels that committed themselves to refit the hotels after weeks or months of struggling while trying to remain open can’t now walk back that commitment and investment. However, if the negative test model that Hawaii is running becomes the standard (I think it will), hotels might miss out on potential revenue when they need it most.
Conclusion
What is being masked as COVID-19 concern by some Hawaii residents is, in my opinion, more endemic of the local view of outsiders than it is a matter of safety. As stated, on a purely logical basis, if one could choose to only have confirmed negative COVID-19 clients, they would have an objectively safer business environment. To shun those that have been confirmed safe, in favor of those who are completely untested is cognitive dissonance. Hotels, I feel, were likely simply too late to react to shutdowns, too optimistic about re-opening periods, and as the virus dragged on globally longer than virtually anyone imagined, they found themselves committed to carrying-out extended shutdowns.
What do you think? Are these microaggressions against tourists generally? Is there a stigma about travel that’s so ingrained that people assume the opposite of what’s true?
The refusal to serve visitors is really an outgrowth of the larger anti-tourism movement in Hawaii. COVID just gives them an opportunity to refuse dine in service in a way that people are more likely to accept.
Kyle……excuse me, but residents of Hawaii are not necessarily “Hawaiians”. There is a distinct Hawaiian culture and heritage and generally only “native Hawaiian people” are considered to be “Hawaiian”. Other ethnic groups are not “Hawaiian” even though we live in Hawaii!!!!!!
Asked and answered elsewhere.
You must up went to the wrong island
Obviously some people that are replying to this article are ignorant and know nothing about Hawaiis history, if you did, you would check yourself before making your uneducated comments. By the way Hawaii has the most resources in the good ole USA and doesn’t solely rely on tourism and can survive without it
@Hammah – You’re right that Hawaii’s economy is only 21% based on tourism. However, that is the largest single sector.
A relatively well written article that generally outlines the update well. Save for the fact that there are still a large number of visitors that haven’t taken the test that still arrive in the islands everyday. And though yes, they are supposed to quarantine, with your wit I refuse to believe you’re naive enough to think they all or even the majority obey that law. Local businesses not serving tourists is an issue that I as a local have not been made aware of or even heard of, so I’ll definitely investigate. And though I will indulge you and say that yes, local people may have an easier disposition towards tourists, the majority of people that are here live a kapu aloha lifestyle. Meaning we are cordial. We are inviting. But take advantage of us, and the privilege of that aloha being extended is retracted. And burnt trust (especially because of the way Hawaii was forced in to the Union (another topic altogether) ) is a tear in the fabric that is tough to mend. I personally am more compassionate. I’m more travelled, hence more worldly, but I can say this; Hawaii is a delicate place. People see it as a beautiful vacation destination, but when their vacation is over, we’re left to live here. I agree with many of your points but to say that locals reactions are unfounded is asinine. From the beginning of our shut down to this very day you can find people blatantly disregarding our quarantine mandates. And as locals, though we appreciate those that have taken the test and proven to be negative, there’s no discernible way that we can tel them apart! So I’d hope you can understand our trepidation in this matter. Because you’re dead on about this: Tourism is imperative for our economy. But exactly how was your article written to help that? I ask that you review your slant thoroughly next time before publishing. A fair assessment and empathy would go a long way towards helping us restore our economy. Mahalo for your mana’o
@Kawika – Thank you for reading and for your comments. You stated, “Save for the fact that there are still a large number of visitors that haven’t taken the test that still arrive in the islands everyday.” How is this possible? Travelers must present a qualifying negative test to board an airplane to the islands. Much like visiting a country, one has to pass through a passport check to ensure they will be accepted upon arrival. It’s my understanding that the documentation is checked for: date, validity, method, and result. Can you please share how visitors are arriving without passing through this process?
Kyle, you are incorrect. People can travel to Hawaii with no test and choose to quarantine for 14 days. It sounds silly that someone would make that choice, but many are doing it and banking on the fact that they will not be checked on during their trip. So people get a negative quarantine test, then sit on a five-hour transpacific flight with people that have not cleared. I believe we’ve also had at least two people land here that were found to be positive after their arrival. After their recirculated sir flight with hundreds of others.
It’s nearly impossible to contract COVID-19 with the current protocol in place. https://bit.ly/3kxDWLo
Chances are 1 in 27 million. Chances of dying in an airplane crash are 1 in 11 million for context. Chances of dying from COVID-19 after contracting on a plane are 1 in 2.7 billion – essentially three people on the face of the earth.
Kawika, The whole 2 restaurants mention in the article was a blatant twisting of truth. 2 restaurants are asking anyone who has been traveling In the last 14 days, resident or tourist, to not dine-in. That’s it. It has nothing to do with Hawaiian or non-Hawaiian which have it racial connotations. It is a consequence of so many holes in their testing program, like the quarantine option that isn’t enforced like we need it to be, as you are well aware.
14 people who came through with no tests were quarentined on Kauai where I have lived for the past 20 years. I’m a Kapuna (elder) . We have been following all the rules to stay safe. However, these 14 people have been arrested because they broke the quarantine. People who don’t live here are VISITORS and if they want to share the beauty of the island they should prepare before traveling and obey our rules. Plus restaurants have the right to refuse service to anyone. No shoes, no shirt, no Covid test, no service.
I agree 100% that if they want to visit and they know the rules, they must be followed or endure the consequences. That’s not in question.
The report you cite, Kyle, was from IATA, a travel industry group. There are literally dozens of articles regarding relative risk of various activities, from epidemiologists, doctors, and the CDC, and on every single one of them, airplane travel is high risk. Here’s one, but there are plenty more: https://www.cnet.com/health/use-caution-with-these-activities-that-could-expose-you-coronavirus/
LiveAndLetsFly has published four separate studies regarding the transmission of COVID-19 on planes. They have been published by IATA, the Australian Government, an epidemiologist, and the US government. All of them have stated that it is very rare if not impossible to catch COVID on a plane.
Your linked article from CNET, a technology site reporting site, utilizes an MD to explain what some of the risks could be. But the Dr. doesn’t cite any studies and uses as reasons “stress” and people not “paying attention” as justification to declare it high risk. I’m far more confident in these sources than CNET.
You people on the North American continent need to leave us to make our own decisions based on what is right for Hawaii. Stop knocking our responses.
You are strengthening the cause of Independence from the sick man called the United States. You destroyed our culture. Now you bring another plague to our Islands. Save yourselves before you come here and flaunt the laws of Our State. We don’t need you.
All you have to do is go to every counties website and hawaii tourism authority to look up the rules, for example Honolulu.gov or Kauai.gov. And, no you don’t have to prove you’re negative when you go to the airport only that you took a test from the approved providers. The airports and airlines are not checking to see if you went to an approved lab. When tourist arrive here they have to provide their negative test results or else quarantine. 15 tourist have already been arrested this week for breaking quarantine on Kauai and that’s a small island (small resources). Many other tourist had to quarantine at a hotel instead of their vacation rental because they didn’t take their test at an approved lab or their test results hadn’t arrived yet from the lab. A lot of them decided to go back home instead of quarantine. To say that an individual is safe because they took a test before they flew is really ignorant of science. You take the test 72 hours before flying and the virus can be dormant in your body for several days before testing positive. Hence, the case on Kauai with a returning resident from the mainland who tested negative. Kauai is the only island requesting passengers to voluntarily retest 3 days after arrival – Guess what? That person tested positive. This isn’t new information. Iceland has already been doing it. I was at the beach yesterday and I had to tell a group of 3 women to please keep space between me and my daughter because they kept swimming around us instead of staying in their space. This is the new way of life. Locals are very cognizant and respectful of this, including mask wearing. No Mask, No Aloha. Meaning not wearing a mask means you don’t care about me. Many tourist still need to be told to wear a mask. Really??? 8 months into the pandemic and Americans still have to be told? Asian tourist are so much more respectful. They believe in science. So please do not say that tourist who take tests are safer because it could be dormant or they could get it from an asymptomatic local. And please do not blame it on micro aggression. It’s this kind of ignorance that makes local people’s eyes roll. The bottom line is it’s not safe to travel or be in groups even your own families at this time. We all need to mask up and pray a vaccine will arrive soon. When it’s safe, locals will welcome tourist. Until then tourist need to be aware of the valid concerns locals have and not expect a welcome wagon, but rather a quiet retreat and oasis from wherever they cane from. I would also suggest you learn more about Hawaii history and read our local papers and government sites if you’re going to write about Hawaii.
Just by looking at the comments you have replied to, and what you said it is clear that you don’t know what you are talking about with the Hawaii restrictions and don’t plan on actually learning them. Yes I admit there is a bias but what would you expect when the state of Hawaii says it’s okay to have tourism back but still have restrictions for the locals and their jobs. As another commenter said not all residents of hawaii are called Hawaiians, it’s not the same as being from California and being called Californian. Hawaiian is a ethnicity not a title of where you’re from.
The article is well written but definitely doesn’t have all the facts
Ya white guy easy with the Hawaiian bombs ya know we didn’t invite you anyway. Yes please go to French where ever we have enough burial mounds filled with the bodies of Hawaiian s piled 10 high from white plague the last time.(see) Maui Lani for reference
@Nick – Thanks for reading and for your comments. The Department of Health for the state of Hawaii has, in fact, invited visitors:
“We are excited to welcome travelers to the Hawaiian Islands with a pre-travel test beginning October 15, 2020.”
https://bitly.com/2Tto28R
There are some really prejudiced remarks here. “white guy” brought the plague here. And now white mainlander binging it again. The last I heard was this virus came from China. It went all over the World so fast that every country in the world had some cases regardless of what they did. It probably came to Hawaii directly from Asia without ping ponging from the US Mainland. But who knows for sure. The point is bringing up old history only serves to promote this hatred of Mainlanders, white people or any one different. No one has mentioned the Philippinos living and working in Hawaii. They do all the hard jobs that no one else wants. Some have been there for several generations. They are also Pacific Islanders and not Asians, although many people are mixed race. Hawaiian economy can not function without these hard working Philippinos. Especially the tourist portion. But they are not singled out because they are not White. But they are foreigners. So this just shows that this really is a racist anti White prejudice which is driving a lot of this anti tourist/ Mainlander attitude.
“The point is bringing up old history only serves to promote this hatred of Mainlanders, white people or any one different.”
Roger is either completely ignorant of, or completely insensitive to, Hawaiian history, for he does not understand that the sentiments are rooted in the fact that the white man killed/decimated 90% of the Native Hawaiian population on first arrival to these shores. That is well-documented fact. Consider that that is an act of aggression against the people of Hawai’i. Consider that that fact gives the people here all the justification they need to be side-eying ALL outsiders, and start from there. (Gotta love how the dominant culture dominates and then blames the victim when they stand up for themselves – such good little gaslighters they are.)
Also: we wouldn’t have to keep bringing up history if people weren’t enduringly trying to ignore it, erase it and escape culpability and accountability.
He also does not understand that non-whites cannot be racist because racism = prejudice + power, and the non-whites in this country don’t have institutionalized and systemic power. We can be prejudiced, but without the power to carry out prejudiced policies the way whites do/can.
And while I’m here, Kyle – the main issue here is that, like so many mainlanders, you are pushy, entitled and ignorant. You may have some technically correct points, but you are missing the forest for the trees, you have been completely insensitive to all of the locals here who have been trying to educate you and set you straight, yet you just keep repeating yourself, evidencing zero comprehension or even desire to comprehend or be senstive to, the complicated situation ON THE GROUND. But just keep repeating the official line from our misleaders………
I aloha you, and hope that you will one day show enough humanity to see the grave error of your approach and thinking on this matter. TIP: stop focusing on your ego and attachments to expectations, and work on your empathy.
Thank you for your comment, Lelaine. What’s frustrating for some of the commenters, and myself, is that sometimes an article is about one particular thing and not the entire encompassing and contributing world around it. For example, if hot dog sellers in New York City were closing up their stands to protest new vending laws. I don’t feel the need to research the history of cart vendors in the city, the migration patterns of cart owners, the switch from once all kosher to now kosher and non-kosher dogs. I’d need to write about what happened, and why it happened and as it is a blog, I’m allowed to take license with what I think about it.
In this case, as you point out, I state the facts, I also state contributing factors such as the isolation of the islands and their unique need for special measures. I also mention that there may be some anti-tourism sentiment. Based on the comments – I’m not wrong. You may not like to see that, but it doesn’t make it false.
Sometimes it’s just about the “thing”, and not about the other things. And it’s okay to write (and to read) a post that might be about bad service at a steakhouse without understanding the history of all steakhouses and the life story of the server.
Respectfully, if you read through the comments, the expectation of a writer about anything that involves Hawaii suggests I should take a Pacific History course, research the islands and their current political climate, and examine the colonialism… to write about restaurants and hotels that aren’t reopening. There’s empathy (I mentioned that business owners can do what they want, Hawaii can’t simply absorb additional patients like other areas, need special approaches) it’s just being ignored.
If you are thinking about going to Hawaii think again do not support this State ever. They changed the rules of approved covid testing labs they will accept. However loading your hotel and negative results does not indicate they are invalid. I got the email and needed bar code from there website.Now they only accept certain labs. Our negative results came from a lab not on the list. Rules changed after we uploaded our test to the State of Hawaii’s website. Oct 21st. So we have great pictures from the plane coming in and after being held hostage with hundreds of others who also have negative covid tests we are all being turned away sent home tonight. We all have printed proof with negative covid results. We have been denied leaving the gate area. No food on the plane no food in the airport. 100’s arriving and being held hostage. Is this America. We asked if we could stay at our hotel in quarantine as we had an Ocean View on the beach for a day or two. Well darn our Kaanapali Beach resort is not approved for quarantine. Rent a car hell no without approved hotel for quarantine either. Uber only if we were at an approved resort or hotel. No need to worry we cannot do that either. If we could have we would have under surveillance as the Hotel would be put on notice we were on our way and if room had a balcony or patio off limits. Not able to open sliding doors either. $1200.00 airfare and car, 12500 points from time share, $250 for rapid covid test. 6.5 hours to get here from Phoenix. 8 hours held hostage in airport and 6 hours back to Phoenix. WTF Hawaii never support this horrible State. Truthfully they do not want you here anyway. Happy Anniversary to us. Well at least we have coke or water that’s it.
Aloha means goodbye as well….
Auwe! It’s sad you had that experience. You probably shouldn’t have traveled to Hawaii during a pandemic though. People need to use common sense. Wait till the pandemic is over, then travel. Our government should help it’s citizens through this awful time & not open tourism till we have a vaccine.
I’m really sorry liz that this happened to you. As all of us from hawaii have said the state opened too soon. They recklessly didn’t have any of the proper safety precautions implemented or systems set up to properly process and track all the testing requirements they had required. They constantly change everything required. It’s made it a nightmare for tourists and residents alike. It’s why we are pleading with people not to come and why we don’t trust safety clearances when they arrive. The whole system in place is a joke. I’m so so so sorry for you guys please don’t hold it against hawaii resident’s were trying to get the truth out there to people about why they shouldn’t come yet to save them and us a world of problems. For what it’s worth happy anniversary. Please try us again next year.
Aloha
People like you SHOULd stay tf away from Hawaii you ignorant Haole
Good riddance. French Polynesia has been welcoming tourists for months, and were very happy to have my Christmas reservations. What a shoddy way to treat fellow Americans. If Hawaii does not want to welcoming, they need to find a new economic model that does not rely on tourism. Looks like they are determined to be the Mississippi of the Pacific. Poor, backwards, and inward looking.
I live in Hawaii and I’ve never seen anyone turn down service. Your opinion is biased and one sided do not think you were here long enough to give it an Apple chance.
If you live on the big island and work for Spectrum, lmk. We talked at length yesterday and I really liked you. – Brent (sorry)
Its obvious author knows nothing of Hawaii and the people. First off the fear you mentioned is for anyone coming in, residents and tourist. The covid test waiver can be taken up to 72hr before your flight. so anytime in a 3 day period you can get the virus then fly in to Hawaii. My island had zero cases for months after Oct 15 we have 2. Check your facts before your spread fear and hate. For those of you who had a bad time here sorry to hear. I know tens of thousands of people enjoy their trips here year after year for generations. So you might want to check who has the bad attitude. Aloha.
Were the cases from outsiders?
Kyle this article is needs to be re-examined and rewritten. It is full of false micro aggressions, starting with how you identify POC living in Hawai’i. How can you refer to local residents as Hawaiians. That’s an insult to indigenous Hawaiians and I would never in my life refer to myself as Hawaiian. Hawai’i has a mix of culture, Filipino, Marshallese, Mexican, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Samoan just time name a few. None of these folks are Hawaiian. And I don’t feel any empathy coming from you in the way you portray Hawai’i. That is what we call “mainland mentality” or “haole mentality” There is a dark history here with colonizers so any visitor coming to the islands really needs to educate themselves before arriving to even begin to understand the people. Many visitors show up with an entitled attitude, and often disregard the rules.
And you seem confused when hearing that visitors are coming without COVID tests. Well we are just as confused, but it’s happening. Our local news has been covering it and you’re wrong, airlines don’t require you to present them with the test before boarding, this isn’t up to the airlines. They could give a shit, they just want to fill those seats. It’s when landing at the airport that the test is presented. If you kept up with our local news here in Hawai’i you would know this. Did you read about the traveling nurses that were coming to work at one of our hospitals? I’m sure you haven’t, it mad the news so you can check the source. They arrived in Hawai’i to work and protocol at the hospital is to have them tested, well guess what, yup they both tested positive. They rode on the airplane with COVID and tested when they arrived due to the hospital protocol. So airlines could give a shit really. It’s up to the state to regulate. Anyways I find your article inaccurate and offensive and I encourage you to do more research and talk with more locals of Hawai’i before writing about something you clearly know little about
I love you❤️
Thanks for posting this, Kelley. Spot on.
Just wow!
There a few corrections I feel compelled to point out. First, the pre-travel test is optional. Tourist can either test or quarantine. If your test is positive, you can still get on the plane, and then quarantine here on the “honor system”. Most visitors opting not to test are not quarantining, and now we can’t tell the difference. Second, a single test 72 hours before you arrive still allows people to get infected in the following three days of high exposure to travelers, and on planes. The people and mayors of each county requested a second test upon arrival, the governor did not approve if. Finally, there are only 2 restaurants in Kauai that are only serving locals, and that is to keep their people safe.
Get a clue. Aloha. Please stay off my island.
Kyle,
So u know back in March when Oahu had our 1st case it was at Koaloa Ranch a employee caught it from a “TOURIST” it was a “TOURIST” that brought this deadly virus to the islands and Gov. Ige didn’t shut the airport fast enough to protect the locals
(him and as well as so many politicians are driven by revenue/profit & not by how many lives can we save mentality even in the mist of a Pandemic!! So Sad!! (But that’s another issue all together) therefor it lead to thousands of un-necessary deaths on the islands. If u live on the islands Kyle u might feel & think like so many locals that are responding to your article. Cause it’s so bias and 1 sided!! U really didn’t check your facts and u call yourself a published author ♀️ disgrace to your profession!!! I believe if u actually lived on the islands and have close ones that were effected by Covid or even died from it u might feel & think like the rest of us that are “local” there’s nothing wrong in protecting your loved ones. Perhaps if u reach out to those establishments that u say are refusing to serve tourist, “why” they decided to not serve tourist then perhaps your article wouldn’t offend so many natives locals and your article would be more interesting to read stating 2 sides of the story and also more factual.
The bottom-line is until there’s a vaccine there is no guarantees even with 72hrs. Pre-testing. Please go to YouTube and check this out….
In April this video was made to educate mainlanders like yourself to please stay home!!! Not a good time to come to Hawaii now PERIOD!!
“Stay Home Now, Aloha Later”
The tourism committee with the support of local 5 (hotel unions) made this video with island entertainers to fore-warn visitors there’s no “Aloha” now please come back later when it’s safe!!! Hawaii had the lowest cases in the USA and we just wanted to keep it that way for our locals families keiki’s, kapuna’s is that so wrong Kyle?? Like I said u don’t live here so it’s really not fair for u to make any sort of statement or judgment just by the article u have read even tho u say your sources are reliable but as u can see by all the locals responding and correcting u on your article we are just saying your sources are wrong!!! We live here we know it first hand so who are u going to believe a “local” or a “writer” that is relying on “sources”!?!? Well, by posting this article u sure brought up some intense conversations perhaps that was your goal all along?!? ♀️
I’m so proud of my fellow neighbors in my community like Kawika, Kaulana, Tutu & Kiawe and so many others all voicing there legitimate concerns. We have a saying on the islands……..
“NO HAWAIIANS NO ALOHA!” isn’t that part of why tourist vacation in Paradise? Not only to enjoy the natural Nature beauty but also experience the
“ALOHA SPIRIT” only a local that lives eats and breaths that life style can project that secret ingredient that tourist yearn for when they visit our islands.
So until it’s safe which is when we produce a successful vaccine that works please stay home where u are safe and we as locals are safe too!!! This is a good time for Hawaii to reassess our economy and not rely so heavily on tourism, so a lot of good may come of this Pandemic like our Ocean is a lot cleaner and we have sea life dolphins, whales etc… that are venturing closer to shore now which that never happened before due to pollution in the ocean
sunscreen, litter, oil & gas pollution etc….
(all man made )
Soon US mainland and perhaps the world will see what natural resources Hawaii has to offer and we won’t be in this same predicament if history ever repeats itself
(which it always does every 10-20yrs) cause by then we would already diversify and not rely solely on tourism. So u know Kyle HI has a lot more than “tourism” to offer, we just wasn’t ready to share it with the world yet cause we don’t want anymore un-necessary pollution polluting our Aina
✌♥️
Kyle, Yes, we have had people who tested negative on the pretest then tested positive when doing the voluntary test after arrival.
You should really to more though homework before writing an article like this.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/shutting-down-hawaii-historical-perspective-epidemics-islands-180974506/
I agree with you 100%, as The cure should not be more dangerous than the disease meaning being shut down causes depression violence abuse and suicide along with people losing their livelihoods. let those of us who are over 60 and those who are at risk take the extra measures and let the rest of the people live their lives. Those of you who want to keep Hawaii clothes must be on fixed incomes or on the take of the government . The rest of us have to work for a living.
Choose life before income/profit!!!
WOW!! I didn’t know u could put a price on a life!
1. The last time I checked USA is not a communist country!!!
2. I don’t know about some of u but I value my life and my life is priceless!!! U can ALWAYS make $$$$$ even in a Pandemic u just need to be creative and adapt! So many people are doing it why can’t u??
Perhaps that’s something one should be asking one-self and not force everyone to open when it’s not safe!! RIDICULOUS!! Again risking the lower /middle class income people cause those are the people that are the backbones of the tourist industry hotel employees, restaurant employees, nurses, firefighters, lifeguards etc, etc…. all to serve tourist while risking there own life to do it!!! Absolutely RIDICULOUS!!!
Bakerman is spot on. Most everyone here on Maui is opening their arms and spreading Aloha to our tested visitors. Several hotel were not ready for the Oct 15th opening and are choosing to open Nov 1. As always there is a minority who whish to have no visitors but most of our are happy to see the island open again
I think this article is horse [redacted by admin] and you really have no idea of island community.
Ahree
Not really too surprising. Even before COVID, Hawaiian-born citizens were incredibly xenophobic towards outsiders from the mainland. Everything from housing, employment, and general socializing is a chore for outsiders unfortunately. So this is nothing more than them trying to have a ‘better’ justification for their well-known discrimination. Maybe the populous thinks some kind of traction will come of it? All I can say is karma’s a…
Hawaii should gain independence. The reality is race is real and every group is best on its own and self governing. I don’t think genetic/ethnic/racial Hawaiians are anti-tourism. They would probably embrace tourism like the Japanese do and like the Swiss do. However, they want their own country. It’s exactly what we whites want as well. We support Hawaii leaving the union and gaining independence. They can take their terrible federal district & circuit court judges with them. The American Indians (native Americans) should also receive complete independence and complete sovereignty. If blacks want to form their own country here & self govern, good for them. We want the same for whites. Racial tension won’t go away until we all can live independently. Force is always the wrong answer. Everyone just wants to be left alone.
Here are some examples above (Chase and Jackson Henderson) of how this article is inciting racism.
This post further promotes the “otherism” of Hawaii, which makes it easier for others to say things like this on this post.
I live on the Big Island, and it saddens me to say that I have been judged solely on the color of my skin from people who think I do not belong here. Our community and state relies on tourism heavily. Of course we are skeptical and fearful of what this may bring. We want to protect our families. Be safe everyone. Spread love and not hate, and please do not spread the COVID 19 virus to this beautiful archipelago.
That didn’t work so well for South Africa. Wasn’t that exactly the theory behind apartheid?
Learn Hawaiian History before you write and blame locals for your Haoleness…absence of breath..life. White is NOT a RACE, IGNORANT IS WHITE in this sense. Talking about white self governanace is discussing WHITE THIEVES. YOU HAVE NO CULTURE OR LINEAGE EXCEPT PRIVILEGE that you didn’tearn or deserve. YOU’RE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF ALL NON-WHITES AROUND THE WORLD. YOU WALK AROUND LIKE STUPID TEENAGERS WHO KNOW NOTHING BUT GREED AND TAKING FROM OTHERS. You come here during a pandemic from areas having difficulty controlling COVID and as usual do whatever the fuck you want without care for others. You don’t follow our rules and think You’re DESERVING of more than every resident. GTFOH
Mymymy! Tell us how you really feel, democRAT!
During the pandemic we have learned several things:
1) many tourists from the continent selfishly refuse to wear masks, in violation of our local laws.
2) many tourists from the continent choose not to get a test, say they will quarantine, and then do not
3) the people who did not get a test are on the same airplane as the people who did. So, you may have been covid free before the flight…but you are not necessarily covid free when you got here.
We can compare the behavior of Japanese, southKorean, and American tourists. Few of us are asking for protection from Japanese tourists.
Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders. That is how they are counted in the cencus… is ONLY 10 % of the people living in Hawaii. Nearly 40 % is Asian . No independence here . It would send the Hawaiian Islands into what the other Islands in the Pacific are. Poverty striken . No infrastructure. No MILITARY protection. That is why other Pacific Islanders come here looking for a better life because this is the USA.
This is some of the most ludicrous, white privilege garbage I have ever read. For those that are kanaka maoli (indigenous people of Hawaii) have the v right to protect ourselves. We are a limited group of people. With less than 8000 since 2010. This virus for us is an extinction virus for us. As for those that are kama’aina those born on the islands but not Kanaka it is the same for them to want to protect the people and the culture. We are all a tight knit community. We have to be with our islands being so small. I doubt none of you would want some strange person coming into their home. That’s how they feel. I live in the mainland now and I have been through my fair share of racism. That sir is not racist. If I go to a town here and they were to tell me that aren’t accepting outsiders I would completely understand. I am so sick and tired of my people being treated like an accessory or just a welcome mat for you all to walk all over. It is bad enough you have made our way of life difficult and in some cases even illegal. So many of these tourists are so self entitled and it is ridiculous
Oh my! As a resident of Honolulu, I see nothing of what you’ve reported hands down. While I cannot speak for the two feed trucks on Kauai that you refer to in your article, I can tell you that Oahu is open for business and accepts any customer that followers the very basic rules. Yes, Hawaii is strict in its approach. Yes it has devastated our economy, and Yes we have slowly reopened travel with criteria that should have been that of our entire federal government. It was not, so Hawaii, like 49 other governors had to create and mandate rules according to what they were told and to the political implications for their state. As far as the chain hotels still not open, I agree with you that it’s a problem, but please remember, these hotels had significant time to re-open under the guidelines, so the failure to do so lies with each separate property. Incoming visitors are treated equally to incoming or returning residents, testing, negative results, or quarantine. There is no discrimination and in fact, the Oahu police have confirmed over 4,500 citations for violation of safety requirements, and at least 50% have been returning residents. I’d like to suggest you turn this article around, and focus on the reality of strict requirements. Hawaii averages under 100/day, far below nearly all the states. I don’t believe Hawaii doesn’t want visitors to return. I believe that Hawaii is accepting visitors back as long as they follow the basic rules. Common people! I’m tired of the blame placed on people, tired of the insensitivity of people who, as well as refuse service, exploit 2 restaurants out of thousands, as the standard that Hawaii doesn’t want any visitors. That’s as pandemic as the pandemic itself. Perhaps the writer has some deep down conviction from previously negative experiences. Finally, for anyone that thinks Hawaii was too strict? You may be correct that our governor and officials became a bit too draconian in their approach….. and all you have to do is to review the daily case counts of all 50 states, and you’ll clearly see the benefit of such rules. Under 100 cases per day, and minimal deaths compared to other states. I believe that our State Government has placed the lives of people a priority over the increase in the stock market, which by the way is meant to protect the residents and those directly in contact with the our visitors, and….. very importantly to protect our visitors also. Unlike the huge gatherings on the mainland, that defy all odds, Hawaii had maintained a very low Covid 19 case count, and wants to keep it that way. So how about a positive story on Hawaii controlling the virus from the beginning, how it’s measures are likely the closest to Asian countries that have exemplified control of the spread, have implemented strict requirements and testing, and may I point out, are extremely in control with any new positive case. And most importantly, how Hawaii residents have overwhelmingly followed state (CDC guidelines) with little or no problem. Had most other states done the same, maybe the two Kauai restaurants wouldn’t have thought twice about not servicing tourists. Who knows? Were they from Ghosts Florida (God bless us), or from one of the many midwestern states that defied and refused to put into practice the basics of mask wearing. Shame on them for promoting the spread of the virus through their incredible lawlessness, and for creating the indifference of those two restaurants to accept visitors. It sounds like this writer came directly from the Proud Boys Trump support group, so it surprised me to see that he’s also a contributor to MSNBC, THE WASHINGTON POST, and other honorary examples of truth in journalism. Visitors are most welcome to Hawaii, and yes, right now there are guidelines that appear draconian, but wouldn’t you all like to enjoy a beautiful, relaxing vacation after this horrible year, and feel most confident that your travels will cause you no harm and your safety is most important not only to Hawaii’s success in future tourism, but Hawaii’s commitment to the safety of you and your loved ones.
Can we just pull my tax dollars from that hole and see what happens?
So sad, I have never been to a place that seems to hate me so much…
I’m done with Hawaii. Better beaches, service, food, and friendlier people in SE Asia, and for a fraction of the cost. As I recall, Hawaii has highest % of people on government assistance, so Im guessing playing up Covid is just an excuse for them to sit around on their fat asses and eat poi.
Have a friend that moved to Hawaii a year ago to manage a big project that involves a lot of labor needed to get it done. He shared with me his biggest challenge and frustration: people in Hawaii don’t work hard. He said people are lazy and don’t get the job done. Also, every time I flew Hawaiian I had the worst experience I had with any other airline. Staff was rude, lazy and treated customers like sh.t. I agree with @WR2 that there are way nicer places with a much better customer service to visit other than Hawaii.
This is exactly what the is post is inciting. More division and racism in the US. The title is over generalizing and makes it look like all “Hawaiians” hate tourists and is just as guilty as fear mongering because you couldn’t bother to dig a little deeper.
One or two experiences is not the entire state.
Snowflake much?
Hypocrite much?
We were in Hawaii in March. They cracked down hard. Now look at them. People it’s time to leave Hawaii behind and visit friendly places!!
@Hawaii Resident – the post isn’t intended to imply any racial identifiers whatsoever. Fear mongering? Wow! Relax.
I live here and have to largely agree with the author. And locals, in all honesty, can be very quick to point the finger. Recently, the state park near where I live had to be closed shortly after reopening because of massive vandalism. Having no tourists to blame left some speechless. However I have seen some stereotypes expressed in a couple of comments that I truly thought hadn’t existed in reality for 50 years now. I guess they are right to still be defensive against such nonsense. The truth regarding covid is a little disparaging. I travel to Oahu from Kauai regularly for same day medical appointments. They have a quarantine exemption that one can apply for online for these trips, as we don’t have many services here on Kauai. I mentioned this to a couple of locals in a park pavilion one evening upon my return. They immediately gave me major stink eye, got up and left. It was one of the most ignorant reactions I’ve ever seen. I have always needed to live amongst the uneducated segments of society, living on SSI myself, and man let me tell you, there is no shortage of that here and sadly, local natives tend to be amongst the worst. I blame society, not genetics. I see a lot of people, Asians in particular, walking around wearing masks in totally senseless situations. But we have the full spectrum of attitudes here as well as in other places. Still, I must say that a visitor might consider not mentioning that fact at this point until after you have “vibes out” your particular audience, because the normal background level of resentment and hostility does seem to be heightened by the pandemic.
This journalist has not done their homework. Call me. I’m born and raised on Kauai and very connected to my community. You’ve got your whole story mixed up. Too many points to point out all but here is just a few
1. “Some restaurants closed to non Hawaiians”
Absolutely false! That would be racist. What they have said is unless you’ve done a 14 quarantine there’s no eating in. You may order your food to go. This is for the safety of all.
If you’re not met by aloha when u are here it’s because many feel u should not be coming on vacation during a pandemic. We have very limited resources on our islands. Only 9 icu beds. This is not the time
You didn’t leave your number.
1) Look at the link. If that report is inaccurate, then let’s deal with that.
That said, I don’t disagree with your assessment that Hawaii’s resources may be too fragile to allow tourism. I stated such in the piece. I also stated that the islands have a unique geolocation and challenge. But the tourists are the least likely (assuming a negative COVID-19 test) to cause a medical threat. Yet, these are the folks that are being excluded, not an untested local.
Hawaii, being the only State to get a leash on COVID, is not thrilled with people flying in from places where the numbers are rising. Most locals won’t eat someplace if it’s serving tourists, we are justifiably paranoid. A restaurant with a predominately local clientele can’t afford to invite strangers in the door.
You see, we all know each other, we know who hangs out with who. We know who is safe and who is risky. We know when it’s okay to drop the mask. If you have a strange face, we will step away from you. And OK YES, most of us really dislike the tourist industry. It’s been 7 months of nobody drowning in a snorkel or falling off a waterfall. 7 months of no bumper to bumper rental cars up Haleakalā. 7 months of no children photographed sitting on turtles, 7 months of watching the coral reefs return to life. The Hotels are suffering, but that’s not the entire economy, 80% of us can live without the excess pressure on our social and eco systems. Why do you think , even for a moment, COVID or not, any of us would be HAPPY to see you.
There isn’t a damn thing justifyable about your paranoia. Disliking tourists, on the other hand, is totally understandable. Most of the tourists I’ve met in by 13 years here on Kauai have actually been fairly cool people – but still the crowds and all, I don’t mind not having them around for the most part at all. It’s just that the fun stuff tends to all be closed too. But then there is the whole money thing isn’t there. It’s like my first encounter with a local as soon as I arrived. He asked straight away if I had money. I responded no and was told that I had better go back to where I came from. That’s really the one thing I hold against local culture. The hard truth is that the attitude is very much one of Aloha – until you say that you have no money, then all the sudden it’s ” What? You got no money? get the “f” out of here haoli”. (At this point, I live in public housing and could turn my Kanaka on you in a heartbeat) See where that got them. – Still it’s hard not to be sympathetic, considering the history of how they got their land stolen and culture squashed. None of which justifies the paranoia at issue in this instance.
“Are you visiting the island” is how they initiate their discrimination under the guise of “screening” when trying to book personal services. As if locals are immune from the virus. If anything, visitors have proven they do not have the virus in meeting all the travel requirements. Also, while eating dinner on an outdoor patio, walkers were challenged by passengers in a car driving by to wear masks while walking. “If your not a local wear a mask in public”, the aggressive passenger yelled at the walker. “Ya you” he threateningly shouted. He was fortunate it wasn’t me walking and spoke to because he would have d a different response. The attitude and discrimination are real weather anyone wants to admit it or not. Covidiots.
Really!!!! Obviously you don’t know anything about our culture or us as a race. Thats unfortunate that we have to deal with shallow minded people. Since the reopening, Haeaii’s counts have gone up.. Deal with it morons!!!!
Good go to S.E Asia, another uneducated comment. Hello if you knew your hostory you would know that the Hawaiians migrated from S.E Asia. We are an archipelago known as Pacific islanders categorized by our skin color and hair type bu archeologist whom sub categorized us for case studies. I’m a Kanaka maoli born and raised here in Hawaii. My ancestors come from this very land that all you privileged white people treat as the wild wold west, coming here with your “I know what’s best for you attitude disrespecting the people and desecrating the land, and belittling our culture, We have been illegally occupied our land, water, resources and burials all desecrated due to the greed of white greedy businessmen. I’d like for everyone with their one sided opinion about our people to know your history before judging us. We are a peaceful people always were, yet this type of racism didn’t come from Kanaka maoli, It was brought over with disease by the Europeans. Another thing Captain Cook wasn’t the one whom discovered Hawaii. It was already a thriving well governed lands before his arrival by the Hawaiians. Cooks arrival bought disease that cause more than half of the population to decline.q There are so many issues we need to fight because people with your type of mentality are the very type that have come to our islands thinking that your so privileged and disregard the opinion and safety of our communities. Yes, I agree the author of this article is straight out racist. If you don’t like the rules of engagement then stay the hell out…
@Kapi’olani – Thanks for reading and your comments. I appreciate some of the historical backgrounds of your comment but I have to address two statements you made:
“The author of this article is straight out racist. If you don’t like the rules of engagement then stay the hell out…”
What about the article is “straight out racist?” I’d be happy to correct if something ignorant has been conveyed, but racist implies intent and there’s nothing intentionally racist about this piece.
You also say “If you don’t like the rules of engagement then stay the hell out…” but that’s just my point. The tourists have been advised that they must pass a test and follow protocol. For the 4500 that have been issued warnings for not complying with mask policy, they should have been fully cited, not just warned assuming it warranted a violation. But for those that have complied with mask policy and have a negative test, they have followed the rules of engagement. That’s the whole issue. They are in compliance but the people of Hawaii do not want the tourists anyway. For those that have traveled, they haven’t done anything wrong but are being treated (in the listed cases) as though they are flouting the rules and being unsafe. But they aren’t or they wouldn’t have been permitted to board the plane.
Kyle, you are wrong regarding people who get on the plane all have to be tested. Not true, only if you don’t want to be quarantine. I know some people who live here part time and didn’t take test got on the plane and said they will quarantine who knows if they will. Also they get on the plane without test and unknowingly have Covid they passed it on to passengers. So your statement of everyone is tested before getting on plane is totally not true..Also with Kauai they were for 8 months no Covid, the state’s open now that island Covid is raising due to tourist. It started with three employees that was working at hotel that just open for tourist.
Please open your eyes. The words you have used to describe people here smacks off “otherism”. It’s what inciting others to promote this as well. If you can’t see why others on here are calling you out on the racism, then read up.
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/nov/08/us-vs-them-the-sinister-techniques-of-othering-and-how-to-avoid-them
Kyle….
Before Hawaii’s opening to tourism Oct 15th visitors came anyway. They were to quarantine for two weeks before leaving their accommodations for any reason. They were to have food delivered. They were not supposed to exit their hotel room, at all.
For the past seven months there have been many visitors posting their vacation pics from all around the Islands, on social media. Many posted things that made it obvious they had recently arrived. Not quarantining. People saying outright they just arrived, or overhearing them talking about their plans when they should have been in quarantine.
Who pays to come here only to sit in their hotel for 14 days? Yet here they were, not quarantining. Not wearing masks. Not social distancing. If that’s not entitled, I don’t know what is.
Now we’re “open” for not even two weeks yet—there are huge gaps in the “plan” that need to be fixed: glitches with the testing, emphasis on mask-wearing even outdoors with the info given on the flights in and more broadly once here, some history about illnesses previously brought into Hawai’i. Given the non-adherence to quarantine the past seven moths, there shouldn’t be an option to decline testing. But “my rights” won’t allow that, even in a pandemic.
You sound like most transplants do when they first move here—like you know everything. I know that b/c I did that, decades ago. Bumbai I learned, still learning. Try being humble and hear what commenters have said.
Kyle,
Racist does not imply intent. Yes, people can make hateful statements and they would be called racist. Racism is so woven into white culture, whites don’t recognize it:
checking if your car doors are locked if you see a BIPOC nearby, touching your purse or wallet, walking through a door you thought was opened to you, thinking you know more about the people you speak about than the people you’re speaking about…..
But what does that have to do with this? Are all stories about Hawaii linked to race because Hawaii has a strong indigenous culture? This is about insiders vs outsiders, not the skin color of either.
Why is it the Tahitians who are much more controlled by Paris than Hawaii is by Washington in many ways seem to not have the negative view of outsiders that seems so prevalent among Hawaiians? This is not meant to be rhetorical, but is a true question? I would like to try to understand.
I am 67 and have purchased my first ticket to Hawaii, I also have purchased my stay at an Airbnb and was received with the acceptance and enthusiasm I dreamed was what a trip to Hawaii would be. Can’t wait to go on New Year’s Eve!! Also, I’m planning to look for a permanent residence there, and to substitute teach as an income supplement. Every time I call there the person is very friendly and helpful. Also, I wasn’t aware if such reckless practices if the airlines, I don’t travel much at all. But I have no problem wearing a mask, in fact I plan to take some Thieves oil with me to spray on my mask and clothes to prevent carrying the illness to Hawaii, it seems to be working well, I’m careful about how close I get to others, I thought the airlines were restricting the space between passengers, so if that’s true, and I’m faithful with my mask and spray, maybe I’ll bring some alcohol too, or hydrogen peroxide, whatever it takes to prevent me from spreading this disease. Also, I’m very glad to postpone my trip, I’ve waited 58 years dreaming of this, so another few months won’t be s problem. I always thought Aloha was another name for love anyway.
It’s good question you raise about the tahiti hawaii comparison. Couple things that may help you find your answer and understand why tahiti residents feelings on tourism is different from ours.
1. Tahiti has 133,627 residents on an island that is 403 sq miles.
Oahu has 953,207 residents on an island that is 597 sq miles.
2. Tahiti has 78,000 annual visitors.
Oahu has 10,424,995.
Do you see why we may have a different view of tourists? One of us at absolute max capacity while the other is struggling to get visitors at all.
It helps get a little understanding why we maybe a little more visitor weary than they are.
Have a great day!
Hi Donna! you must be staying outer island on your visit because Airbnb is illegal on Oahu. That being said as of 10/21/2020 this is the updated pre-travel requirements for arriving in Hawaii.
IMPORTANT: The State of Hawaii will ONLY accept Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab test results from TRUSTED TESTING AND TRAVEL PARTNERS: AFC Urgent Care Portland, Bartell Drugs, Carbon Health, City Health Urgent Care, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, Color, CVS Health, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Discovery Health MD, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente, Minit Medical, Quest Diagnostics, Urgent Care Hawaii, Vault Health and Walgreens (as of 10/21/20).
Be sure to the original document they won’t accept a copy now. That can be tricky because the test is only good for 72 hours and it’s hard to get an original sent in that time. So that’s one of the hang ups people are having.
also here’s a link to help you understand the system in place right now. Just FYI they change this ALL THE TIME. So check back DAILY before your trip to make sure your up to date.
https://hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Flying-Into-Hawaii.pdf
Best of luck. After 58 years i would hate for you to miss out.
Aloha
And we are done with people like you. Stay away. Mahalo nui.
Do us a favor and don’t come back.
Tough (albeit anonymous) words from someone who either went to school or is a fan of a school in the Midwest. Clearly it’s okay for you to benefit from the Mainland but Mainlander’s aren’t welcome in Hawaii. Might wanna rethink your position so you don’t look like such a hypocritical [redacted by admin].
This is funny. I work with the underprivileged and homeless population here. I can tell you that a huge amount of people recieving government assistance and housing subsidies are from the mainland. In my program about 90% of clients move here form the mainland thinking they can make it off of one income or come with the specific intention of living on the beach. The romantic fallacy that this is a paradise where people don’t have to work hard is utterly false; which leads to the high rate of homelessness in our islands. The fact is that most “locals” have to work two or three jobs to survive. I was born and raised on Kauai and every one of my family members worked two jobs. The high cost of living for most is just that…too high for most (literally and figurtively). The exodus of locals to the mainland where the quality of life is higher (less stress etc.) proves that. Outer states also send their homeless here to prevent deaths caused by the elements. Those people then apply for benefits. This definitely does not help our numbers. Until you have lived and worked here..I wouldn’t speak to the “laziness” of locals which is far too generalized and ignorant. Do we have lazy people here? Yes. I am guessing wherever you are from does as well. I hope this helps.
The proper and official term is “Hawaii Resident,” as Hawaiian implies Hawaiian heritage, not residence in the islands.
This is the only state that officially makes this distinction.
Please get your facts straight before posting. It is 2 restaurants on one island, Kauai, that are refusing dine in for tourists, but still allow them take out. Please stop furthering this narrative that the handful of restaurants on one island is representative of the entire state. Waikiki is glad to be open to take tourist dollars.
And not all people who live in Hawaii are Hawaiians. Hawaiians are the indigenous people and the people in general are referred to as Hawaii residents.
As a permanent Hawaiian resident but not Hawaiian by blood, I can tell you this article is far more complex than anyone from the outside could truly understand. This land is sacred. The Hawaiian blood has been so diluted by outsiders and disease it isn’t reasonable for anyone including myself to Judge the tiny island of Kaui. The Hawaiian people are the happiest on earth despite us. Despite outsiders influence. The kindness that has been poured on my family can only be compared to the ancient religions of Christianity and Buddhist.
Let’s try not to Make blanket disparaging Statements about a race or state because of ancient inhabitants lifestyles. I sell Real Estate to many many hard working people of all races creeds and people.
Actually it’s just land, like any other part of America. Would you tolerate whites in the deep south telling immigrants they weren’t welcome? You can only call yourself a Californian if your parents were caucasian??
Most locals are *not* racist, only some that care about preserving racial purity and bringing back a monarchy run exclusively by people with certain DNA. The locals I work with consider those folks to be nutjobs and pilau.
It was hard to take this article seriously when it stated early on that restaurants are refusing to serve non-Hawaiians. There is no restaurant in the state that only serves Hawaiians, and TWO on the island of Kauai that ask those who have not completed quarantine OF ANY RACE not to dine in. Anyone who finds that unacceptable is free to spend their dining money at a place more to their liking. Micro-aggression? Please. Kauai has one tiny hospital that can’t accommodate many covid patients. Locals understand and respect that, which is why I haven’t hopped over to visit in months.
What a misleading article.”Revolt?” It’s commendable that Hawaii has taken steps of caution. You are wrong about “Hawaiians” (you should begin by knowing the definition of a Hawaiian) revolting against tourist. Like many other states the economy is suffering along with the people who rely on visitors coming to the islands. There are eight islands and thousands of restaurants. Who knows what your actual experience was if not an embellishment for an article?
14 people who came through with no tests were quarentined on Kauai where I have lived for the past 20 years. I’m a Kapuna (elder) . We have been following all the rules to stay safe. However, these 14 people have been arrested because they broke the quarantine. People who don’t live here are VISITORS and if they want to share the beauty of the island they should prepare before traveling and obey our rules. Plus restaurants have the right to refuse service to anyone. No shoes, no shirt, no Covid test, no service.
If you believe this statistic
https://i.redd.it/hgoyefm6e5v51.jpg
(And there is no reason you should) we should soon be seeing wannabe rambos in red states kicking the bucket.
Remember folks this is a beautiful hoax. The best hoax. Remember that while you choke on your spit.
It has more to do with respect. We are bombarded with tourist who will slow down to take pictures and block traffic. It takes half the time to travel with out them. There is an attitude that” I tested so I don’t need a mask.” There have been hundreds arrested for quarantine violations. Finally, since October 15 the police have issued over 4,500 warnings and over 400 citations for Covid violations. Is it any wonder we are losing our aloha? The majority of Hawaii residents do not want the tourists in the middle of a pandemic.
@James Anderson – Thanks for reading and for commenting. To your first point, if you live in Times Square, do you expect to have the place to yourself? Obviously not. Across the entire state, 216,000 jobs are directly supported by tourism, occupying the largest single segment of the Hawaiian economy (21%.) More are supported indirectly and many costs subsidized by visitor spend (all according to the Tourism Authority of Hawaii.)
Second part – if you test negative… do you need a mask? Masks stop the transmission to others, not the transmission to the wearer, so if you don’t have it, to whom would you transmit it? Following the rules is of course part and parcel with visiting so if the rule is, “must wear a mask to visit” then fair enough. But logically, it doesn’t make sense if we are following the science.
Lastly, Hawaii residents don’t want tourists in the pandemic? Sure. But what about permanent job losses as a result. A friend of mine who is a Hawaii resident owns a business that is centered around tourism. Even with PPP loans, he may go under. He absolutely wants tourism spend, even if that means tourists come with it. I can appreciate that some (not involved with tourism) don’t want tourists there during a pandemic, but based on what you’ve mentioned above (due to traffic inconveniences) some just don’t want tourists at all. If you don’t like casinos, Vegas probably isn’t for you, right?
A negative test is not fool proof, just look at the White House. And how do you enforce this if you have a negative test? So people in public who do not have masks on because they test negative, and people who just don’t want to wear a mask without testing, there is no way the government can enforce this. It’s either no mask or mask for all during the pandemic.
Just because you test negative to Covid 19 within 72 hrs of travel does not mean that you are covid free on arrival to the island. Many people from the mainland do not practice covid safety measures. They could infect you as you travel through your day in the airport or anywhere else you go before getting on the plane to hawaii. I am an RN & resident on Kauai. Our mayor asked the governor to require a simple 3 day self quarantine and a retest on 4th day on Kauai. Our mayor even purchased these tests with our fed covid funds to be able to offer this 2nd test for free. Governor Ige refused. The medical community here is furious with this decision. Putting our very isolated community at risk is dangerous to everyone. YESTERDAY A RETURNING RESIDENT WHO TESTED NEGATIVE RETESTED ON DAY FOUR AND TESTED POSITIVE!!!!
And he was responsible -self quarantined for those 4 days. Also yesterday our police department arrested 14 people ,10 of whom were visitors, for not complying with our simple mask and social distancing ordinances. SO THATS WHY WE DON’T WANT VISITORS. We don’t trust you to respect us.
Sir, your article was simplistic and attacked our community for not liking tourists. What we don’t like is tourists and writers that don’t respect us and only want to use our resources for self indulgent gain.
Perhaps the regulations should change instead. If one negative test doesn’t suffice, then alter the rules to require additional testing – it’s your state, it’s your regulations. But you’re not in disagreement with the assessment that Hawaii residents don’t want tourists at the moment. Why should a tourist feel guilty? Hawaiian Airlines and United have moved to offer in-terminal testing (5 hours not only 72-hour tests), they comply with regulations only to be met with resentment upon arrival. They aren’t skirting the rules, they’re following them and they are as likely as possible not to have the virus.
perhaps you shouldnt travel during a pandemic? how bout that? its infuriating to know that people place “dream aloha vacations” over the safety of others. but whatever white haoles!
also, edit your article. its LOCAL RESIDENTS, not “hawaiians.” we aint all natives of this land ♀️ are you Shawnee because youre from PA?
Bingo!
This is the Best Response of all, in my opinion!!
Suzen = “The Best Comment!”
My god, you are such a complete [redacted by admin].
Family went to Maui this week. One person’s negative test results came in shortly after they left the airport. Hawaii had no way to process the thousands of people in the same situation this week. Consequently, family never got to leave quarantine. After reading this article I wonder if it was intentional by state employees who are employed!
It’s,
No, just the “plan” full of holes and it being 11 days after this whole new process.
“Hawaiians I know”
I doubt you know any. If you did, you knew that:
1. Hawaiian is a race, people living here are residents but not always Hawaiian.
2. Those restaurants do serve to non-residents but make their distinction based on travel history. Locals and non-residents both cannot dine in when they travelled in the prior two weeks. They can still order take out, and can dine in if they travelled more than two weeks ago.
3. Nobody is revolting. A large part of the population isn’t agreeing with the people that make the decisions, but revolting is a big word.
Finally, people shouldn’t make unnecessary travels during as pandemic, it will only prolong the duration. Stuff happens and lockdowns can happen at any time. If that’s a risk you want to take, then do go crying if you end up sick, in mandatory quarantine, or simply with places that aren’t open to you.
Common sense it’s sadly not that common.
@Jay –
I do know both Hawaiians and Hawaii residents, neither of which have ever bristled at being called a Hawaiian, or an Islander. In fact, I have received an email detailing this issue because of this post whereby the writer outlined she is not indigenous Hawaiian, yet later referred to herself as an “Islander” several times.
1) Sure, but so are “Omahan” – both indigenous people from the Omaha Native American tribe as well as those that reside in the city of Omaha. It wasn’t meant to distinguish by race, but if you want to make it out to be an attack based on that, there’s nothing stopping you.
2) The policy still doesn’t make sense. Not at all. If someone traveled and tested negative, and someone hasn’t traveled but also hasn’t tested, the person who has not been tested has a higher chance of being infected and either being asymptomatic or simply not yet showing signs than the negative test holder. Why is science and probability being thrown out the window?
3) Is rebelling better?
On your last point, do you have any statistics that support this? Any math at all? An IATA study shows (https://bitly.com/3kxDWLo) flyers have a one in 27 million chance of catching COVID-19 on an airplane (you have a one in 11 million chance of dying on an airplane, a one in 785,000 of becoming a billionaire in the US.)
You talk about common sense, but those odds suggest that no one is getting sick on an airplane right now (44 have been infected directly linked to air travel out of 1.2 billion, many of whom were flying before measures and precautions were put in place.) It’s not me crying that I can’t come to Hawaii, but applying the opposite of a scientific approach to intentionally single out the tourists that support one of every five dollars of the economy may have a lasting effect.
Kyle really wants to characterize “Islanders” as rebellious or revolting based on the 2 restaurants on Kauai, a few hotels who haven’t opened up due to business reasons, and a handful of his “Hawaiian” friends who probably don’t even live here. People here do not revolt or rebel. Even when there are protests, they are peaceful. No one is actively revolting or rebelling against tourists. People are concerned and worried, and the incompetent city and state government is part of the blame (state did nothing while we were on first lock down in terms of building testing and contact tracing capactiy) and the state does not enforce quarantine very well for those who did not do pre-arrival testing, so there are tourists running around who have not tested at all,
Ignorant editorial. My fellow Hawaii residents have outlined why for you.
Just to be clear, not Hawaiians, just the Hawaii residents right? Or are they islanders? I just want to know who exactly objects.
On the island of Kauai we had no cases before the islands opened for non-quarentine travel. So yes-we are taking extra precautions with visitors and returning residents. Our isolation from other states should be testimony for the results of social distancing and mask wearing. Covid 19 tests aren’t always accurate and you can still board a plane without results. When you visit here or return home you know our rules. Please wear masks and practice social distancing. Most of all, unless your trip is essential stay where you are.
Aloha Kyle,
Mahalo for your insight and your opinion. I am Native Hawaiian. In my opinion it doesn’t matter if you are Native, reside in Hawaii or an Islander as long as you Malama the aina, respect the culture and be pono, your opinion and perspective matters in Hawaii.
My daughter has a small restaurant, my husband lost his job, many of my ohana own businesses or work in the tourist industry and we welcome visitors back. I am however scared that this reopening will cause infection rates to increase and with the limited resources both visitors and kamaaina have to compete for.
Our states leadership and visitors bureau need to do a better job ensuring all visitors know the law/guidelines before and when they arrive and visitors need to abide by them.
The visitors that have been cited or arrested I believe knowingly and maliciously broke quarantine however majority of visitors are complying.
I am offended by this article and some of the comments… but that’s my kuleana. Like I mentioned above how most visitors are complying same with Hawaii residents native or not majority are welcoming. The picture this article painted was majority of restaurants are not serving visitors but I don’t know of any on Maui who has that restriction. Also alot if Maui hotels are open we’ve enjoyed many staycations this past 7 months.
Please come and visit so you can experience this yourself. Warning I heard the airport lines are nuts… Aloha is thriving.
Mahalo.
Arguing about native Hawaiian vs Hawaii resident is semantics at this point. A lot of mainlanders we do business with (and even news media) commonly make this mistake. This is for the poster’s education so that there’s some credibility in the future if he wants to talk about Hawaii.
Agreed about the tone and the title of the article. “Hawaiian Islanders Revolt…” makes it sound like the entire state is picketing and actively harassing tourists. A more accurate title, which is still punchy without overgeneralizing would be “2 Restaurants on Kauai Ban Tourists from Dining-in”. No one is revolting here; many are concerned (and more so with the state government’s handling of the reopening), and there might be a couple bad apples here, but that is not the entire state. Hotels that aren’t reopening are not opening because they don’t want to; the economics doesn’t make sense for them when demand has not fully returned (a lot of hotels and businesses caters to Asian, especially Japanese, tourists who are still not allowed to visit the wider USA).
Kyle has demonstrated his disrespect for the people here with this comment, “That said, the thinking on islanders revolt toward tourists is backward and unfounded”, referring to “islanders” as “backwards” has hints of racism and superiority. This is inciting other commenters to come forward about how people in Hawaii are “lazy” etc.
And in the comments on this post and other posts, Kyle is incredibly stubborn. He is entitled to his opinion. The thing that I find disappointing is that the picture he paints is not completely accurate. His readers are pretty impressionable, especially the ones that post here who don’t live in Hawaii or are from here, and the bottom line is, a lot of people here are wary of increasing infections because it will trigger lockdowns, but many are eager to get our economy back up because even if a person is not individually struggling, there’s someone in their family or circle of friends that are.
THE most accurate and truthful comment so far. Kudos @Hawaii Resident!
I would say this piece is written by an uninformed author not familiar with Hawaii or the current situation taking place across the islands. The state of Hawaii is not ready for tourists which is the reason residents (not all are Hawaiian) are upset about inviting visitors to the state at this time and the reason hotels remain closed. Testing is incomplete as are the necessary precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19. Poorly written article.
Dissapointingly ignorant and inciteful article. The reason why so many are pointing out the author’s failure to honor the distinction between native Hawaiian and Hawaii Residents is that it immediately signifies failure to do the research to support any notion of educating oneself on the facts, culture and history. For those calling Hawaii xenophobic… The US literally annexed, colonized and overthrew a rightfully ruling monarchy, with no reparations. Failure to acknowledge that demonstrates a complete lack of ability to comprehend the social underpinnings of these island communities, where our county governance is like that of state government– O’ahu residents, even, are currently under interisland quarantine restrictions on the other islands. When mainlanders show blatant disregard for attempts to protect the aging community, and disrespect towards state and county laws, it’s no shock that the aloha spirit has reverted to protecting the island family.
No one is calling Hawaii xenophobic as you assert. What would you like the title to say instead? “Hawaii Residents Revolt Against COVID-19 Re-Opening Measures?”
“When mainlanders show blatant disregard for attempts to protect the aging community, and disrespect towards state and county laws, it’s no shock that the aloha spirit has reverted to protecting the island family.”
Mainlanders that are visiting are complying (for the most part) with Hawaiian tourism protocol (that’s referring to the state, not the people) as they, themselves, have chosen to outline. Those that visit have tested negative proving they do not have the virus. Is it not the untested Hawaii residents, dining in public, and going about their lives without definitively proving they do not have COVID-19 that presents the higher risk? Scientifically speaking, those that have not tested negative (even if they live in Hawaii) are an unknown but greater-than-zero risk.
Ignoring the science to shun tourists while embracing higher risk fellow residents is contrary to logic and supports the thesis.
Hey Kyle what is the science of irresponsible tourists? Your statistics are weak due to the fact that manyvisitors throw out responsibility upon arrival. A bit cherry picking you seem. You make some valid points, but only as one who knows the price of everything but not the value.
I think that because the COVID-19 is rampant in other states, they should be more careful in traveling. I lost a parent due to Covid-19 and it was not a great experience. One day he was okay next couple of days he passed away. He never went on vacation and when this pandemic started all our household stayed home for months before leaving. One trip to the grocery store he fell ill. Went to the Dr. , Says it was covid and few days after my parent passed away. We are just trying to keep our community safe because some other people don’t care about others lives please stay home til this pandemic is gone. As a Hawaii resident and born and raised here we feel it’s the responsibility of an individual or their family to protect others from this COVID-19 virus…Can the government/ medical tests prove that people have this, can they make sure that once they get off the plane that it will be a negative test instead of false positive…We cannot be sure. Use your conscience. Lives are at risk. Save your family as we save ours. And no we are not racists…
I am sorry to hear about your parent and understand your concern. I certainly haven’t called or implied racism and if a commenter has and it slipped past our censors, please identify it and I will remove it and ban them.
That said, why not test everyone in Hawaii in addition to those arriving from elsewhere? Statistically speaking, those that have received a negative test (false positives are somewhat common and can be retested – false negatives are extremely rare) are almost certifiably safe, but your neighbor, the postman, the grocery store cashier who have not been tested pose a much higher risk. The problem is that the tourists being singled out are the only ones that have proven they do not have the virus. If the concern is the virus, they should be the only ones allowed in, instead of the only ones excluded.
As someone who doesn’t live in Hawaii, I believe only people who live in Hawaii should have a say in who they want to let in, not people who live outside Hawaii. Afterall, if COVID spikes, they’re the ones who need to live with the consequences, and it’s their home.
Ditto for any place really. Unless you live in that place, or else you have no business telling them who they should let in and what is or isn’t considered risky.
I agree and stated as much in the post.
Your suggestion that everyone should get tested is absolutely right. But Kauai does not have the testing or tracing capability to do that. I am an RN, married to a “local boy” 3rd generation kauaian. Kauai went one month with no reported cases. We had a total of 48 cases. 10 days after opening to non quarantine travel we now have 60. Just because you test one day negative doesn’t mean you won’t get contract the disease tomorrow. My nephew in Oahu felt I’ll, got tested negative, four days later tested positive and was dead in 2 weeks. He was 48 and healthy. So please, stay safe, be kind to one another.
Yeah the idea that travelers testing out are safer to serve than locals is difficult to get behind given that Hawaii was able to keep its COVID-19 numbers down after implementing a travel shutdown. I get it, the presumption is that the tests are accurate, but there’s still room for some variability via exposure to others during travel. Let’s not forget that the virus spreads across long distances by people carrying it, it didn’t just show up in one’s home town by happenstance.
Not everyone has the economic resources to travel. I happen to be lucky enough to do so and view it as a privilege, not a right. I wish that I could travel now and regret that I’ve had to cancel multiple trips this year but have done so after consideration of the impacts that protective measures others may take in the cities I would travel to would have on the quality of my trip. I respect the measures others take to protect themselves and their local residents as they no best what to do for themselves, not I.
As a Hawaii resident born and raised my advice to the writer is to ease off on the making of bold statements and assumptions about the current safety of travel. You’ve questioned how it could be possible for travelers to be unsafe to serve upon arrival – look no further than the statistics of travelers that have come to visit us thus far in the first week of the new program. It has been reported that only 63% of them have had negative tests in hand. With 86k visiting us in the past week that’s potentially 31k visitors slipping by initial screening and landing on our doorstep having to be tested here instead. Even if we test everyone in Hawaii as you suggest, there’s still the risk of infection from outsiders.
I’m not going to defend the actions of those who choose not to serve tourists here. What I will say is that it is known that the majority of residents disapprove with the way things have been handled by local leaders, so people outside of Hawaii shouldn’t assume that what this article is trying to portray is a true picture of the hearts and values of the people here.
Agreed! Every state is dealing with this pandemic differently. I live in on Kauai and I would never criticize or pass judgment on another state because of their rules. And as a visitor, I definitely would not defy the rules of that state because like anyone’s home that you visit, after you leave, hosts are responsible for the clean up. So do your research before you travel. If you decide to go, respect their rules. And if you don’t like their rules DON’T GO! Especially if it’s non-essential travel.
Some people responding to Kyle’s post, including Kyle, seem to be assuming that if you take ONE Covid test (at the airport (what’s the false negative rate on those quickies?) That it’s all cool!
1. It takes 4 days for Covid to show so a test at the airport (or within 72 hrs) creates a statistic but not much else. People get exposed ON the plane, IN the airport, IN the Uber, IN Macy s buying the new bathing suit, and their results show negative because the virus isn’t detected yet.
2. Covid tests are like Aids tests: as soon as you GIVE the sample, you could be infected 10 min later and no result would show on the test you turned in..
3. A quote on accuracy of the fast tests: ” For example, if you are tested on the day you were infected, your test result is almost guaranteed to come back negative, because there are not yet enough viral particles in your nose or saliva to detect. ”
4. And let’s not forget while our outer islands have far fewer cases than Oahu (and fewer people), Covid IS spreading on all the major islands. The Big Island had 51 new cases just yesterday. Before tourists, our average was about 6.
5. It’s a pandemic. If I am staying home and not seeing my children, grandchildren, and family for a year, you can, too. Read the statistics, the US is the biggest spreader of this disease IN THE WORLD.
@Lorraine – Thank you for reading and for your comments. First, false negatives are incredibly rare, false positives are much more common. The tourists buying tickets and paying for lodging didn’t make the rules, they are following them. Revert to the 14-day quarantine if that seems more stable.
1) It’s next to impossible to contract COVID-19 on an airplane. Study after study after study has shown this. The latest from IATA shows that transmissions on airplanes (including prior to ANY safety measures and the stoppage of most flying in March) are so rare that you’re more than twice as likely to die in an airplane crash than catch the virus on the plane, and if you do, you’re chances are one in 2.7 bn (there are only about 7 bn on the earth) of dying from it. Yes, the other areas are of concern, but some people already own their bathing suit and drive themselves to the airport – traveling is not the pariah it’s made out to be. https://bit.ly/3kxDWLo
2) I don’t disagree with this sentiment, but again, tourists following this protocol are in line with the guidelines and frankly, far less likely to transmit than those who have never proven negative on a test.
3) I can neither confirm nor deny this. I’ll have to take your word for it.
4) That was also prior to widespread test availability too. We can’t link one fact and ignore other elements out of convenience.
5) That doesn’t answer the question. If they are following protocol and are the least possible likely transmitters of the virus, are not the untested locals more likely to transmit and should actually be the ones denied service? Or does that not apply because it’s fine to exclude outsiders, but not Hawaii residents?
I’m a resident of Oahu. There are no restaurants here that are refusing service to travelers from the mainland or other countries. Some simply are still not offering dine in service yet. We ourselves just moved from tier 1 to tier 2 of reopening. Until this past Thursday I could not eat in a restaurant with anyone outside of my household. Now we can eat out in groups of five. Mask wearing is not an option for any of us. It’s the law, as is social distancing. And it is enforced here. This is not a change and not directed at tourists. It has been the law here for awhile and unlike some other states, it is enforced regardless of if you have had a Covid test or not. A negative test on one day does not mean you cannot be exposed the next day. A negative test does not confer immunity to Covid. Mask wearing has been proven to be an effective way to keep Covid numbers down. I am a medical provider and I can tell you that Hawaii does not have the medical infrastructure, ventilators, etc to handle the number of Covid cases seen in other states. Perhaps some residents of Hawaii are wary, even fearful, of more cases being brought into the state from elsewhere when we have been following restrictions and working very hard to control our numbers. And in fact, the first cases here were brought from elsewhere, so this wariness is very understandable. But that wariness should not be interpreted as hostility or an unwelcoming spirit. In fact the opposite is true, People have anxiously been waiting safe reopening. Many have been out of work in our tourism driven economy. Articles like this are sending out the wrong message, especially since tourism from the mainland with a negative Covid test just began October 15, 11 days ago. There is a great deal of sanitizing that has to happen in hotels, restaurants, etc and some hotels have plans to reopen soon although they have not reopened yet. They have to bring back laid off workers and train them in operations during Covid. This takes time and a plan. Don’t rush to judgment so quickly. Covid has affected us all. Let’s show grace to one another and when you do visit, be a courteous visitor. Don’t be belligerent when the police ask you why you’re not wearing a mask as required by law (as the police have reported). They are there to enforce the law, not make it. And here in Hawaii, it is a necessary law.
As a resident of Hawaii’s Big Island, I think Aloha has said it very well. I’m not a medical provider, but did work on fast PCR test development as a Manufacturing and Process Engineer during its inception years. PCR tests are accurate, and increased testing will actually let us get a handle on the spread and provide minimally invasive containment measures to keep folks employed and the economy humming along. The other point I would add to Aloha’s opinion, is that any person undergoing the Covid-19 test is only negative at the moment they provided the sample, and cannot be assured they would not test positive in the next hour, up to the entire 3 days before they arrive. The ONLY way to help prevent (or at least limit) the spread of this virus is to wear masks AND social distance, and the cost is very minimal. If the “powers that be” would ramp up the production of N-95 masks to provide them for every person in the USA, and convince everyone of the benefit, we could knock this thing out in under 2 months. Vote.
Mahalo! Perfectly said…. Noe on Maui
Another outsider that doesn’t live here and gets information from friends who live here. Don’t try to pretend you have a clue unless you’ve taken Pacific Island history to understand the history fully of what you are so ignorantly telling in your article. No we don’t want people traveling here in a pandemic. One test 72 hours before arrival doesn’t tell us that they didn’t catch it on a plane. I’m sure you know that much. Another test should be required. We are 2500 miles from the mainland and only have a handful of hospitals to handle the COVID patients.
Hawaii needs leaders that think outside of the box that can diversify our economy so we’re not so dependent on tourism which has destroyed our reefs and beaches and made it so Hawaiians and those born and raised here, have to leave because they can’t afford to live here without working 2 and 3 jobs to just survive. Our leaders are just the first part of a much bigger issue.
@Lika Stewart – Thanks for reading and for commenting. In fairness, no one needs to take a history course to comment on hotels not re-opening and some restaurants saying “no” to tourists. You wouldn’t expect this of any other blog, on this topic or any other, and certainly not the news (who by the way reported it in the linked article.)
I agree with you that Hawaii’s unique location challenges pose a unique threat to the islands and her visitors and stated as much in my post. If the people of Hawaii, and the government think a second follow-up test should be required, they have the power to change the rules. They set them in the first place. However, if one were to visit New York City and they said “take three tests in order to enter and visit the sites and restaurants as normal” and had you taken those three tests and all returned negative wouldn’t it be a reasonable expectation that your experience would be as advertised?
The point of the article was to demonstrate the disconnect between what the tourism board, airlines, and governor are selling and what the people of Hawaii want and plan to deliver. Based on what you’re saying here, it seems the intent of my piece was right on target.
Despite the intentions of this article to start a discussion about re opening hawaii and the subsequent predictable racism and stereotypes in the comments, perhaps you should look at why these businesses would not want to serve tourists. Assuming, of course that that is true. I live in hawaii, and have not heard of a SINGLE local business that does not want to serve someone from the mainland. Most businesses here are desperate for any kind of income. Restaurants and shops are closing for good daily here. There have been no stories about restarants or retail stores refusing to serve anyone that complies with the local mandates about masks and social distancing. Perhaps there are, but if that is the case than it is a tiny fraction of currently operating businesses. That being said, if a business here were to discriminate against tourists (both illegal AND stupid), it is because hawaii sacrificed ALOT to keep the infection and death rates as low as possible. We sacrificed our jobs, our savings, and our social lives to ensure that the most vulnerable among us survives this pandemic. The problem some businesses may have is not mentioned in this article; namely that tourists merely have to have a negative test 3 days before they board a plane, and only have their temperature taken upon arrival. 3 days is more than enough time to become infected after a positive test, and symptoms for Coronavirus are not always immediately apparent. With skyrocketing infections all over the mainland, it is very easy for one infected person to begin spreading the virus into our community. We have a very vulnerable population, with pacific islanders and older people that are highly susceptible to infection. We re-reopened because our economy has been destroyed trying to keep people alive, and we are cautious because we don’t want to see people die. Thats all it is. But before I believe that a business here turned away a customer, I would like to hear the circumstances of the situation. Did they refuse to wear a mask? Did they refuse to allow contact tracing? Were they told to social distance? Hawaii is in such a dire financial situation right now that I find it hard to believe anyone would turn down money from a tourist. Even if some people out here don’t like tourists, (a VERY small minority) i absolutely promise you that they like their money. People out here are terrified that a bad outbreak will be catastrophic, they dont give a damn where someone comes from. If you have money, you follow the rules and respect the locals, Hawaii will welcome you with open arms. Otherwise, go to Florida. I hear they are pretty flexible with masks.
What are you talking about? Everyone who lives on Maui loves less traffic and fewer tourists at prime spots; but everyone who works on Maui wants to see tourism return to normal for the holiday season and be back at 70% of pre-Covid. No local wants a return to 14 day interland quarantine where you can’t lasik, carpal tunnel, routine medical (that must be done on Oahu) without a 14 day quarantine on Oahu and puter island. Tourists did not drive up Oahu’ surge – it’s us – having one memory of our ohana travel to the Mainland, get infected, spread it at a large ohana gathering; we all wear masks out and about, but we’ve all become pretty laxed about making sure everyone wears masks into our homes, and we mask up when folks outside our bubble come along.
As a tourist I slow down for your speed limit
and have coined the phrase Hawaiian time as being
much slower from mainland (60 mph is highest).
We wish to thank Maui and Oahu tourest attractions for all of thier hospitality we have been to the Surfing Goats, Offroad atv, Haleakala sunrise, Pearl Harbor with island tour, Gemini Sunset Cruise, Pac Whale Eco Adventures snorkeling and reserved a rental boat from Aloha Outdoors and SeaEscape Boat rentals. Everyone has treated us with tremendous hospitality.
This is just tourist attraction lists hospitality as well from open restaurants, jewelry stores and gift shops.
We have had a trip of a life time and are greatful we felt welcomed.
MAHALO MAHALO!
ALWAYS welcomed with your great attitude! Mahalo!
We can’t close the state or the country forever. There are plenty more dangers in the world than covid. It’s unbelievable that shutting down our economy, putting people out of work and destroying the livelihoods of millions has become an acceptable response. Look at the CDC statistics by demographic on their website. Covid kills less than 1% of people below retirement age. *BREAKING NEWS* – seniors are vulnerable to disease and illness. This news has me so SHOOK (sarcasm). There is a direct correlation with age and fatality rate with disease, this is NOTHING new. The message should be that people over the age of 65 should exercise caution and should quarantine and wear masks for protection. Let the rest of the world who are at relatively low risk move on and make their own decisions. If you don’t want to get sick, quarantine yourself and wear a mask while you sit alone in your home ordering door dash and watching Netflix until heart disease, cancer or any of the millions of other ways of dying catches up with you. If you want to ruin your own personal finances, career and overall quality of life because you have an irrational fear of vivid, be my guest. Just don’t don’t drag everyone else down with you so you can feel “safe.”
This a terrible article and the person who wrote this obviously has a limited understanding of Hawaii….it’s not true at all. And please don’t call all locals Hawaiians…just because you live in Hawaii doesn’t make you a Hawaiian. Just because you were born in Hawaii doesn’t make you Hawaiian. I’m Caucasian BTW…I don’t want you to think I’m a tourist hating Hawaiian.
Oh Kyle. What a shame and a waste this article is. Another mainlander speaking for Hawaii. I’m not surprised it happens to us all the time just disappointed that America’s 2020 click bait culture is giving this ignorant article such press.
You will have to excuse us over here. We’re hot off the longest hardest restrictions imposed on any state in America. We have literally sacrificed everything for the health and well-being of our communities. So when you come for us like we’re some selfish [redacted by admin] who are hurting your feelings because we’re not welcoming you with open arms when your someone reckless enough to travel recreational during a global pandemic you will just have to excuse us for not jumping for joy. We’re literally too busy trying not to die Kyle. Why can’t you see that. There are 3700 restaurants in the state of Hawaii. Do you know how many of them aren’t serving tourists Kyle? TWO!!!!! You have the audacity to come for us as a state and judge our character and lump us all into some agenda driven narrative because 2 restaurants want you to quarantine first. Do you know why they do Kyle? Because the out of the 35,000 people we had flood our shores the first week we were open 8,000 refused to be tested and chose “quarantine” only to break it and just go about living like nothing happened. We now have a major outbreak on Molokai which is shutting down we have outbreaks outer island and guess who pay the price of this Kyle. NOT YOU …. US. We will shut down again we will pay the price for you and your selfishness. So yeah Kyle were not pleased. Our state sold us out and you selfish morons bought right into. Go to Florida. They will welcome you with open arms your just their kind a guy.
I take it you didn’t click on any of the supporting links. Hawaii is lovely, but I don’t have any intention of visiting before or after this post due to lack of hotel availability (which I also stated.) you can make this about me, but I’m not the first to report on it and as you will see from other fellow Hawaii resident opinions in the comment section, it’s not inaccurate. Hawaii residents don’t want outsiders now. I didn’t misrepresent anything, you don’t disagree with it. You just don’t like how it looks in print apparently.
First off you had one Kauai resident named Brett who agreed with you. One. The rest of us actually living here and from here said the same thing. Your whole narrative is that Hawai’i has always hated tourists and now we’re using Covid as an excuse to persecute them. It’s just not true. The entire article as has an undertone of pity party that tourists don’t feel welcome during a global pandemic. The fact is we need and want tourists but not if they are going to be disrespectful and rude and flaunt health regulations the way they have ALL YEAR LONG. From the onset of the pandemic all we have dealt with is lockdowns and watching tourists find ways to dodge quarantine and mask and social distancing rules. Now we’re so inundated there’s no way to track them. Tourists everyone are refusing masks even though we have mask law flaunting social distancing rules. Our worst nightmare is realized.
Yeah we opened too soon that’s why you don’t have a hotel to stay in. We’re not ready. That’s why we don’t want you coming. There is t anything for you to do! The testing is bogus it doesn’t work and we’re All just sitting ducks watching selfish tourists come risk our lives so they can play and they their mad we don’t want to serve them.
Since opening inter island travel Molokai is having an outbreak and fully locking down, Kauai cases are in the rise after successfully containing this whole year, our hospitals are getting filled again. But you know you would know all about this since you emailed a few friends who lived here for this article. Read the room Kyle you got this one wrong.
Maybe take a chance since to educate yourself on Hawaii before you come back. You would experience our home from a whole new perspective if you saw it through the eyes of the native Hawaiians and not some mainland agenda driven PR company. I recommend “shoal of time” and “waves of resistance”
At least learn to distinguish between local and hawaiian.
Anyone who comes to Hawaii as a tourist in the middle of a PANDEMIC is selfish and doesn’t deserve to be welcomed here. PERIOD
@Local Girl – Then change the rules. Tourists who comply with the rules should be welcomed. If California said “You’re welcome to visit as long as you pass a test and comply with our rules.” and you bought a ticket and made hotel reservations only to find when you arrived that despite following these rules you weren’t welcome – you’d probably feel it was disingenuous.
You assume that we as Hawaii residents and kanaka maoli have not been trying to change the rules. Its pretty hard to do that as an average citizen when the illegally occupying government is only concerned about money and not the welfare of their residents. Locking us up when we take a stand and say enough is enough. Sure reviving our economy by opening it up to tourists to bring in money will help to a degree but its not the answer. I hope for Hawaii that this pandemic has made everyone here realize our economy should not be so relient on tourism as the main source of revenue and that we as an island in the middle of the Pacific should be more self sustaining. If you knew what it is like to live here with tourists coming here thinking because they have money or spent money here that it is ok to impose their ideals and ways of behaving with blatant disregard to the hawaiian culture and community, even if they follow the rules, you would realize how offensive your article is. You should step outside of your colonized mind for a bit and realize traveling and visiting other places outside your own community is a privilege not a right. That is how 99% of the tourist come here, thinking it is their right to be here, having very little respect or knowledge that we are an illegally occupied country that the colonizer has set up Hawaiian culture for your entertainment, and the land for your enjoyment. Like I said before its selfish for tourists to travel during a pandemic whether it be to Hawaii or anywhere else. Thank you for not coming here.
The author makes no mention of the more than four thousand (!) violation warnings the police have issued because this new crop of visitors, having tested negative, feel they can flout mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines. Hawaii has the right to enforce appropriate infection prevention measures; unfortunately, visitors’ sense of entitlement puts everyone at risk.
I have traveled to the Hawaiian islands every year for many years and have never experienced the kind of biased behavior this article speaks of. In fact, my experience has been just the opposite. I have found the locals (native Hawaiian or other wise) to be friendly and very engaging. I can appreciate the locals being concerned about their health and safety in light of this terrible pandemic and respect their management of the circumstances. The Hawaiian island situation is very different than those found on the mainland. I am disappointed in the jabs I have read toward the locals and the government. As with the rest of us, they are doing what they think is best for their citizens, visitors and economy. I look forward to better days ahead for the islands and the rest of us.
ALWAYS welcomed with your great attitude! Mahalo!
Unjustified!? We had 1 new case per week when the islands were shut off to tourists. Now we have 600 per week and it’s going up. Tourists running around without masks acting like jerks as usual. Go home if you can’t follow the rules. Cook your own food!
I agree – tourists implicitly agree to comply with the rules as soon as they arrive. States and territories are permitted to enforce their regulations as they see fit, just as New York has a very large penalty for violators, Hawaii can choose to do this too. However, if the tourists are complying with the rules but it’s not enough, then the governor has an obligation to revise those requirements.
Spoken from a true and ingrained position of privilege with the audacity to suggest that you know the actual situation in Hawaii and you have some kind of authority to tell Hawaii what to do. “I’m a big part of your economy so I can do whatever I want.” It’s this kind of trash attitude that makes locals (not Hawaiians) not want visitors to return. Even folks working in tourism wouldn’t want a visitor like you.
And while you’re on logic, it’s not a good idea to travel during a pandemic to a state that wouldn’t handle a sharp increase in cases.
Only people in Hawaii can read articles and reach conclusions if the matter is about Hawaii? It’s not an act of “audacity” or “privilege” to read, cite and interpret reports.
To your second point, I address this in one of the paragraphs and cite yet another post that discusses the matter. I agree that Hawaii needs to be uniquely cautious because they have unique geolocation (isolation.) The traveling itself, however, you are wrong about. You have a better 33x better chance of becoming a billionaire in the US than catching COVID-19 on a plane. If someone has a rapid test before the flight that comes back negative, there is virtually no chance they are contracting on the plane and bringing anything to the islands.
Brah, after reading these comments I can tell you that covid-19 is minor when it comes to the real sickness we need to heal. It will take some time, but if we can just slow down and take our time we can avoid jamming up. We got to realize that forces in this world want us divided. We were all born out of this land.
All tribes come from the Earth. There will come a day when the righteous unify and bring about the unification of the planet. Not under the forced United Nations / New World Order plan that they are trying to push forth right now, but through a wave of aloha that will begin in Hawaii.
It may not be easy, but it will be so. All that is waiting is for the people to awaken to the fact that we are all one, to treat everyone you meet as if they were someone you loved, as if they were family. It will take time. But be assured the trumpets have sounded and a new age is be assured in.
For the curious look into an ancient Indian belief called the yugas. According to some we are in a stage of reality and time known as Dvapara Yuga, put simply it is a stage of time in which good and evil forces are balanced. In 70 years we will enter into a time where 3/4 of reality is good and 1/4 is evil. This will last for several thousand years, and will be followed by many thousands of years in which reality is 100% good.
These are things I have come to believe. I could be wrong. Trust your own heart to guide you. Aloha.
UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO
MITAKUYE OYASIN
E ALA E
EA
Piss po journalism… intended, relax. I’m obviously trolling, just like this guy. He obviously read the wikipedia article about Hawaii, so he definitely knows what he’s talking about.
I am from Kauai. We went to Poipu Beach Park this Sunday and it was packed with people. You can easily distinguish who is local and who is not, just by looking at who has a mask and socially distancing. You can see locals with a mask trying to socially distance while a tourists without a mask just rudely go rudely close to anybody, seemingly without any respect to local guidelines. Respect is earned not just given.
That’s just not true. It’s the locals who were holding super spreader events in the last months that have delayed reopening of the island several times.
Do us a favor and don’t come back.
Traveling to Hawaii for a vacation in the middle of a PANDEMIC is selfish and deserves to not be welcomed. PERIOD
Yup, and he can stop whining.
So much hatred from the blood born of the land. Anger kills. Love is your ancestry. King Kamehameha shed tears of love for his white brother. No one can change history but You can change the future. Unite as one to be a voice of reason to the people you elect. You have the ability to choose your people to represent these islands. Why are you choosing hate over change? Get up. Come together great warriors of the land. Fight your battle to represent yourselves. Where are your representatives? Who are these people you choose to represent your land. Why do they not protect you and the land? Why do you not hold them accountable? Arise to the occasion! Not in revolt. Not in hate. How can you look ahead when you are looking so intently looking behind you to the past? Your country now is not to blame. It is the people you put into office that are to blame. Unite all who want a voice. Unite!
Selfish haoles this is why we Hawaiians don’t like you. Entitled [redacted by admin] whinny [redacted by admin]. You all should be ashamed of yourselves my people died from a virus that you euro Americans (your not American) brought here and demolished our people. Good owners are fighting back against tourism. You pilau people trash our beaches your sun tan oils and lotions killed our reef. Yall made our housing market ridiculous that native people can’t even afford a home. So please tell me whats so great about tourism. FYI most of our tourism comes from Asia so why do we need yall again. At least the Asians tip our hotels and restaurants all we get from yall is attitude and entitlement. So I ask again whats so good about Americans coming here again? Stay your [redacted by admin] home and go [redacted by admin] yourself with your mask.
I have zero respect for the natives living on that islands. Completely selfish and entitled, with no concept of where they would be without the US. It’s the same reason why I do no support statehood for Puerto Rico.
First off, you don’t need a Covid test to board the plane to come to Hawaii. In fact you don’t need to take a test at all. It’s not forced or mandatory. You do however have to fill out a Safe Travels profile and verify your information. Such as if you’re a visitor or returning resident, where you’ll be staying. So that authorities and or military can do quarantine checks. For non residents you must have a confirmed return flight. The mainland airports won’t deal with checking your Safe Travels paperwork. That is only to be dealt with when you land in Hawaii. How do I know this? Not cause I read it after googling it, but because I have already flown over 7k miles to see family. Upon returning i quarantined, not two weeks, but four weeks. Why four weeks? Because I care about my hanai fam on Kaua’i and wanted to be extra cautious. I can tell you, many other locals have left Hawaii and flown back and forth to the mainland. Alot of them didn’t even say a word on social media. Some were on my flight out and back… They didn’t want anyone to know. After leaving my four week quarantine I sat in my car at the beach. Ate my box lunch and people watched. All I’ve seen at the beaches everyday is locals (mostly) unmasked in large groups. Some tourists without masks… and yea we can spot them, we all pretty much know everybody. I have seen tourist targeted on social media. But they brought it on themselves by touting violating quarantine and posting pics. You can see the hesitation to be near tourists if they’re walking amongst locals. During my quarantine, a police officer came to check on me, he had no mask. I told him, he needed to put one on and he did. On O’ahu security handled my phone which was unnecessary. The Safe Travels app qr code could be scanned with their device, however they were having so much issues using their equipment. They were also a foot away from me most of the time. I kept stepping back. So there’s clearly bigger issues to deal with. Personally I think Hawaii opened up unprepared and too early to maintain the rules they want. I don’t know about y’all, I’m keeping my distance local or not. Cause face it, locals have been traveling alot too. We need to educate incoming flights better. A short video, a pamphlet with the opening phase of tiers. Something, we can’t expect stellar behavior after opening the gates without clear messages. Like wear a mask, it makes us more comfortable.
I can’t say I blame Hawaiians for their concern. I’ve read articles of people testing negative before a flight and positive after they land. I live in Texas and am hibernating away from everyone as much as I can because of so many – how can I say this nicely… I can’t – stupid attitudes. My husband and I want to go back to visit the wonderful islands again but won’t until its proven safe for everyone. We wear masks and try to consider those around us tho many won’t.
ALWAYS welcomed with YOUR great attitude! Mahalo!
I don’t blame them one bit if they’re not opening their arms to non-residents. 72 hours before arrival is too large a window for accurate testing, and for maximum safety they should require a post arrival test and symptom check 2 days after arrival. Still a far cry from the former 14 day quarantine, but significantly safer than the current half-assed plan.
I wish my state could close as thoroughly, and that our residents were as concerned.
Kyle, you are wrong regarding people who get on the plane all have to be tested. Not true, only if you don’t want to be quarantine. I know some people who live here part time and didn’t take test got on the plane and said they will quarantine who knows if they will. Also they get on the plane without test and unknowingly have Covid they passed it on to passengers. So your statement of everyone is tested before getting on plane is totally not true..Also with Kauai they were for 8 months no Covid, the state’s open now that island Covid is raising due to tourist. It started with three employees that was working at hotel that just open for tourist.
I would say this piece is written by an uninformed author not familiar with Hawaii or the current situation taking place across the islands. The state of Hawaii is not ready for tourists which is the reason residents (not all are Hawaiian) are upset about inviting visitors to the state at this time and the reason hotels remain closed. Testing is incomplete as are the necessary precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19. Poorly written article.
The inaccuracies in this piece are absurd. The restaurants do not distinguish between resident and tourist. If you’ve traveled and haven’t quarantined 14 days, you can order take out. Kaua’i’s mayor hasn’t pandered to tourism and the placing of money over lives like the rest of our state, so Kaua’i’s numbers have remained low. We wish the whole of Hawai’i would adopt his approach. You are sorely misinformed about the testing also. Among other reasons, not all travelers choose the pretext option, so testing negative does not mean you don’t have the virus when you arrive here. Many visitors do not educate themselves about our rules. Do you know that on O’ahu, you must wear a mask at all times, even on the beach, if you are not 6 feet away from others (including family members), so couples need to sit 6 feet away from each other or don a mask. These are our rules. If you don’t like them, don’t come. Nobody should travel for pleasure during a pandemic anyway. Those who do are usually the very ones who baulk at the safety mandates and are terribly misinformed about Covid (like your assumption that a test 3 days before travel means you don’t have Covid). Just stay away.
Kyle –
The pushback you are getting is because in everything you write, you fail to show empathy and understanding of the situation here. All I hear/see are pushy reasons for how you can get your way. And you keep on pushing pushing pushing. There is no “Wow, I understand. I’ll back off right now.” You are single-minded in your agenda. It is offensive. It is showing only one perspective. You are failing in understanding our side.
Along with all of the excellent comments already posted, this kama’aina would like to add a few things:
– 90% of Hawai’i’s population was decimated upon first contact with foreigners (this little fact simply cannot be ignored in this conversation)
– with the concept of ohana (family) so strong here, multi-generational living is VERY common here, along with the younger generations working frontline hospitality, which put our kupuna (elders) at greater risk
– please also understand that much of the population does not agree with how our state leaders have sold us out. This distinction is important, especially as I hear you keep repeating – well then the state needs to change things. Yes they do, but they too, have a single-minded agenda, and protecting and respecting the locals and Kanaka Maoli concerns is not on it. They kowtow to money only, working in cahoots with the real estate developers and tourism industry get everything they want every single time.
– there are very real limitations to what our hospitals can accommodate.
– how wise is it to “reopen” (a joke since we never really shut down, people have continued to arrive the entire time), when the entire mainland is in it’s THIRD SPIKE?
– Hawai’i is the ONLY “state” in America to have been a SOVEREIGN entity, with a MONARCHY in place that was overthrown by the white man. And a PALACE. With ELECTRICITY. They were internationally and formally recognized as such. They were once one of the most literate countries on the planet. There were 94 Hawaiian language newspapers in the 1830s-1840s. And my favorite fact of all time – they were self-sufficient in the middle of the ocean for 2000 years pre contact. Let me know if you think non-indigenous leadership would be capable of that, because we’ve already seen the near destruction of the planet in just 150 years.
Let me share with you a little story: I was well aware of the brutal history before ever moving here. One day I was having a conversation with a local friend, and I came to the understanding that my very presence and action of moving here impacts the local population. My presence exerts pressure on them by taking one rental off the market that could go to a family. You may not know that so many locals leave here to find work on the mainland that can sustain them. Tourism jobs pay sh*t for the most part, and the COL here is sky high. I find it heartbreaking that people from here are forced to leave to survive. (Not so dissimilar to, although not as extreme, as all the Filipino women who leave their children to go be nannies in other countries. Neither are a trend I find humane.) I had the epiphany and stated “Wow. The best way I can show love and support to the Hawaiian people (who have fought valiantly but to very little avail to maintain their sovereignty, is TO LEAVE.”
And that right there says so much. I was honored when my friend said “Absolutely not, we need people like you here.”
Give aloha, get aloha.
Give respect, get respect.
Go ahead and visit those [redacted by Admin] where waste water and rubbish flows right into the ocean.
I agree with Lehaine, understanding the context would help you empathize. One of the great things about travel is learning about history and local culture. Too often traveling is portrayed as a right rather than an experience or invitation.
I have many issues with the insensitivity to the Kanaka Maoli displayed in this article but almost all have been listed above by people far more knowledgeable and eloquent than I am. I do need to point out though that even if all of the tourists were pretested (which they are not), there is a still a high likelihood that they can arrive here infected. It’s not only the period after you take the test before you arrive in Hawai’i that is problematic. It’s also the period for a few days prior to taking the test. If you are infected and take a PCR test FOUR days later, you still have over 60 percent chance of testing negative. Then there’s the period prior to travel, crowded airports. Many people on a flight to Hawai’i will remove their mask to eat or drink something, particularly since it’s a long flight. I know that airlines have worked hard to make flights safer but I wouldn’t want to be sitting next to or near someone who removed their mask. Those traveling to Hawai’i to vacation during a pandemic do not appear to generally be the super cautious type. Cases are high on the mainland.
In addition to this, how many tourists who come to Hawai’i and become symptomatic are going to go get tested and risk having to stay in an expensive hotel quarantined for 14 days unless they become severely ill? No, most will just wait it out hoping they don’t get really ill while they or their friends and family go out to enjoy themselves, rationalizing their irresponsibility with the amount of money they spent. Meanwhile, Hawai’i state government will refuse to acknowledge this, downplaying the real numbers of tourist spread.
Not getting why locals follow this blog (always self righteous, but then again he’s haole so no can help). Mo betta you follow Island Miler blog / Jeffsetter. Dude gives the straight up facts with the proper frame and no bias + or – even tho he local.
I live in Waikiki and for the first time in 20 years, I’ve been treated with hostility when going to restaurants. I’m a Haole and there is an assumption made that I must be a tourist. I took a co-worker to a favorite spot and had to apologize for the service.
I did not appreciate this article at all.
I agree with many comments above especially when it comes to understanding our history and our local culture. I believe if you’re writing about travel it would benefit you to forsee the impact your writing has on the people, and the cultures in which you speak of. In this case, your article was not recieved well from many of us who call Hawai’i home.
Your perspective is very one-sided and it shows lack in understanding our context – especially when it comes to our realities as we have navigated life here on our island home these past months during COVID.
While I have many thoughts on tourism and how it both negatively and positively impacts my everyday life, I want to say that your perspective in this article and the language you chose perpetuate colonialism in many forms. The perspective you have is why at times locals have such a hard time with visitors with such jarring perspectives, many, if not all problematic encounters I have had are with people from the continental U.S.
I’ll save my aloha for visitors who will come and approach our ‘aina with respect.
Respectfully, how much history needs to be conducted to state that a couple of restaurants are rejecting diners who have fulfilled the requirements of their visit and are at lower risk than locals? The reporter that first reported it probably didn’t read through a history on Hawaii before posting, just as you wouldn’t do so if you were making observations of experience you had in San Francisco.
It may not have been received well by Hawaii residents, but does that make it untrue? You can state my perspective is one-sided, I suppose you’re right, but aren’t the (more than 100) comments clearly elucidating the Hawaii resident’s perspective? What is the other side of the story if not? I acknowledge in the piece that Hawaii’s unique location and limited medical resources make it particularly vulnerable. I state that hotels that have closed cannot simply re-open when the Governor changes policy.
This isn’t colonialism and isn’t intended to be. This piece (and the supporting citations) demonstrate that while the governor is ready for the state to re-open for tourists, the residents of Hawaii are not. In the comments you see here alongside your own, you’ll see some residents of Hawaii suggesting that tourism has ruined the state. That they don’t want tourists back at all, but not due to COVID-19 concerns, rather because traffic is lighter and they can get to their destination more quickly. Does that not prove the post to be true? Some have suggested racial concerns all while calling them a disparaging name in Hawaiian based on their ethnicity.
The state has re-opened given the protocol adjustments made. Those that follow the protocol should be treated as though they have done so, and in fact, they are scientifically less likely to have COVID-19 than untested Hawaii residents. Hawaii has a unique position and must tread more lightly than other states/countries/territories. All of this is in the post. Save your aloha, give your aloha – it’s up to you, but it doesn’t make what’s been written false.
Kyle, I understand you’re saying your writing isn’t colonialism and isn’t intended to be. But I notice you did not respond to Capn obvious’s comment above? He said:
“Can we just pull my tax dollars from that hole and see what happens?”
I’m not saying Capn obvious’ comment is colonialism either, but think of the tone and implications of his comment he decided to leave in response to reading your piece.
And of your not responding to it so far.
It’s not a good feeling, and I believe this is related to Cristina’s “perpetuate colonialism in many forms” concept.
There’s more than 170 comments on this post since Sunday. I’ve responded to many but not all of them. Responding to one commenter and not another doesn’t endorse nor condemn anything.
There’s no gross political statement being made.
As for that comment, what would you have me say? I’m not going to stop someone’s free speech (as long as the language is publishable and the comments aren’t personally denigrating to others.) In fairness, many of the commenters suggest that there is an exploitative relationship of the mainland to Hawaii, this person feels it may be more of a two-way street (I guess?) You said that the comment wasn’t colonialism but you’re concerned about the tone, we don’t edit for tone. And if some are free to make statements about people’s heritage (haoili) and the sins of ancestors they’ve never met (colonialism), then is mentioning the financial relationship of the islands and the mainland now somehow “out of bounds”? I’m not endorsing the comment but not censoring it either. If the word you object to is “hole” then clearly “cap’n” hasn’t been to the islands nor read any of the pieces we’ve written about its immense beauty.
So much hatred from the blood born of the land. Anger kills. Love is your ancestry. King Kamehameha shed tears of love for his white brother. No one can change history but You can change the future. Unite as one to be a voice of reason to the people you elect. You have the ability to choose your people to represent these islands. Why are you choosing hate over change? Get up. Come together great warriors of the land. Fight your battle to represent yourselves. Where are your representatives? Who are these people you choose to represent your land. Why do they not protect you and the land? Why do you not hold them accountable? Arise to the occasion! Not in revolt. Not in hate. How can you look ahead when you are looking so intently looking behind you to the past? Your country now is not to blame. It is the people you put into office that are to blame. Unite all who want a voice. Unite!
I’m appalled at how you tried to twist my post above into something approaching less than the dressing down it was meant to be, so here it is.
Kyle – you need to stop trying to be right.
I will repeat – let go of your ego and your attachments to expectations.
You are too attached to the technical here. Stop with the brain. Lead with your heart, if you have one.
YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE HISTORY HERE. Did you miss the part where 90% of the population here was killed off with the arrival of the white man? I guess as a white man, you wouldn’t have any idea about generational trauma, would you? Only the victor would say that the history doesn’t matter. And you know what they say about people who forget history……..
Only a privileged white person would say such a thing, because they are the only ones who can afford to, or who have the luxury to.
Are you living in a vacuum?
STOP.
I highly recommend some anti-racist training – focused specifically on implicit bias.
Also – empathy training. You’re in dire need of it.
You really need to stop.
Again, I still aloha you. But if you try to twist my intention again, there will be no more aloha.
I’m beginning to think you’re just a massive troll, out here trying to rile people up for the hell of it, because there is zero effort on your part to understand local sentiment.
Just like white people everywhere, you will just bulldoze over what is not convenient to get to what you want. THAT is why white people get called “f*cking haoles” here sometimes.
Wow, what a racist tirade.
White privilege?
“Just like white people everywhere . . .”
Racism and hate in full.
Clearly the ignorant, uniformed, and quite possibly undereducated are leaving the most ethnocentric comments. And this is no surprise, whether in Hawaii or elsewhere. Not everyone is entitled to the brass ring. There will be a spattering of losers amongst the winners, rich and poor, and Hawaiians and Haoles. I think Kyle Stewart presented the article quite well. These are his opinions. And some of these opinions could well be based on facts. And those of you “Hawaiians” experiencing the lack of amenities, financial freedom, and choices due to Covid-19 are victims as we all are. But you will feel it more when 21% of your economy is based on tourism and you shut down the islands. You may have the lowest of infection rates, but there is a cost. Some of these responses are almost bi-polar. You dislike tourists or the “white man”, but the very building of resorts you abhor was rubberstamped by people you elected to positions are allowed that expansion to begin with. So blame yourselves. You have the same sentiment as the American Indian. Progress is unstoppable. And the greed of those you elected put you in the irreversible position you are in now. So, choose carefully. The cause of the American Indian is a footnote in the history of the world…as is the worthless sentiment of those of the “locals only” mentality. Temeritas est damnare quod nescias.
The comments here are disheartening to say the least. There is so much anger, and what seems to be hate from both viewpoints.
I mean I have a trip scheduled in May 2021 that was rescheduled from May 2020, but for many reasons I don’t think I want to make the trip.
I have blood Hawaiian family members, but man, I just understand the level of contempt by the competing viewpoints here.
Even those that seem to be saying we are welcoming you, are not seemingly welcoming, or warm. This conversation puts a whole new spin on things for me. I do not want to arrive somewhere to experience any of the situations that I am reading on this post.
#ONEHUMANFAMILY
I’m an American and after 10 months of no flying anywhere I’m ready for a beach vacation. Just booked trip to Aruba in early December. Aruba has a proven process to keep COVID out: test before you arrive, test after you arrive; wear masks indoors. Other than that all hotels and restaurants are open. Its a simple but brilliant strategy. Its the only way we get out of this until a vaccine is available.
I’m really sad to see Hawaii destroy itself with their fear that manifests itself by doing crazy things like those described in the article and how they have subjected visitors to 2 week quarantines. Kyle you are right, “visitors” to Hawaii who have been pre-tested are by far safer to have as customers in restaurants and hotels than completely untested residents. I’m looking forward to returning to Hawaii in 2030. By then all of the establishments in place today will be bulldozed and new, better ones put up. There will be alot fewer of them too. I just hope the Democrats don’t use the funds of hardworking Americans from other states to support what Hawaii has done to its economy. The displacement is going to make Hawaii into Jamaica when it comes to poverty. All the people on here who claim Hawaii doesn’t need tourism need to prove it. You won’t be getting any of my tourist dollars for at least a decade so I guess we’ll see.
Bobby that’s great that your going to aruba over Hawaii. On behalf of everyone in hawaii thank you! Have a great vacation. Please spread the word for more people to go to aruba instead of hawaii. Your doing us a major favor and it’s great for aruba since they have zero natural resources and 100% rely on tourism.
Don’t want Haoles? OK, I’m fine with that.
I have only been in Hawaii between flights traveling first to/from South East Asia in the early 1970’s and later to/from Guam. Didn’t see anything then that impressed me to want to visit.
Don’t want me? OK, keep it.
Plenty of places to see on the mainland east of commiefornia.
It says they’re turning away “confirmed” people that are “ok”. That’s not entirely true. You can test negative for covid and literally be asymptomatically positive the next day. You go all over the island unknowingly spreading the virus because you don’t know you’re positive. Just because someone tested negative 5 days before their flight (or 3 days for that matter) doesn’t mean they’re negative when they arrive, or 2-3 days after arrival. They were negative on the day the test was taken ONLY.
What you are seeing is about fear and protecting ourselves. We DO NOT want to get sick and die like we’ve seen on the Mainland. Nearly 230,000 DEAD as of Thursday. Unlike the mainland, our Hawai’i is nearly 2500 miles away from any extra medical resources. So if we end up with an increase like we’re seeing in Utah, North and South Dakota, etc.. a lot of Kupuna, Moms, Dads, sons and daughters, and kids are going to get sick and many of them may die because we do NOT have the hospital space or medical talent to deal with a major case increase (to say nothing about obtaining regular medical care). Hawai’i was trying to deal with a doctor and nurse shortage at least 2 years before CoVid hit. That real fear, Kyle, is what drives the local reaction and concern about re-opening to tourists. Can you comprehend that ??? Your reliance on theoretical airplane safety studies (which are shibai–pidgeon for nonsense) and some of the other “facts” about CoVid you toss around show me your medical education comes from Trump University. (Please don’t drink any bleach.) The only way to ensure even minimal protection is with pre-travel testing and then a test on arrival and then a test every 5 days..or the 2 week lockdown with a test at the end. That, and masks and social distancing. That is what MAY work. Every single place on the Mainland AND around the rest of the world has seen CoVid re-emerge because people became careless. And why are you seeing so much anger from local people ? Because during quarantine, dozens of tourists ignored the rules or lied and basically gave their Hawai’ian hosts the finger. That total lack of respect is what is fueling the pushback and you seem to share that lack of respect. Your question about how many cases have been directly linked to tourists shows how little you really know or understand about CoVid. And your writings show that you think local people are obliged to welcome back tourists with open arms. Such arrogance !! I do not agree with some of the very angry comments on this blog. But I understand why people feel that way. While Hawai’i’s economy needs a tourist return, it needs people who have respect for other human beings. To those who cannot understand what we are going through, i’d suggest you go elsewhere. Aloha is a two way street.
@Ken, thanks for reading and for commenting. I’d encourage you to re-read the post. I highlight that Hawaii’s unique geolocation provides for some alternative approaches because patients can’t simply be transported down the road and that medical resources are limited. So to your question, I think it’s clear that not only can I comprehend it, I agreed with your sentiment before you commented and wrote it in the post. What you are proposing in terms of testing would supersede every accepted guidance from the leading health agencies in the world. Maybe that’s in order, however, that’s not what the state has offered to visitors. Rather, it’s offered acceptance with a single negative test result or a 14-day quarantine. That doesn’t excuse those that violate the rules. But if a visitor follows those rules of “aloha” they should, in fact, receive the promise they were sold. You say “Aloha is a two way street” and I agree but the visitors did their part, you can’t change the rules once they arrive.
@Kyle, well written article.
I’ve never been to Hawaii and I’m already over it. I understand and respect Hawaii’s position on keeping us from the mainland out.
HOWEVER, I also believe that if they want isolation then let them be. But please don’t ask for help and assistance from the government which is supported by stateside taxes when things get out of control.
Let them take all the revenue and taxes earned by their island and use that when times get rough. Don’t dare use taxes paid by stateside folks to support a place that doesn’t even want us there.
If they want isolation let them fail and suffer their own fate. If they happen to survive off of their own isolated taxes and land, good on them. But I’d be okay with taxes collected stateside to never be shared to support Hawaii. They win, we win.