This thread is for factual updates on Hawaii Travel News - O.N.L.Y.

[DeniseM]

$36M approved for Hawaii airport public health screening system

State lawmakers approved hundreds of millions of federal CARES Act expenditures Friday, including $36 million for an airport public health screening system they said is needed to reopen tourism.

Instead of creating centralized thermal scanning stations for arriving passengers, the House subcommittee endorsed a plan that includes taking photographs with thermal scans at gates for arriving passengers, to reduce the risk of passengers spreading the new coronavirus as they pass through Hawaii’s airports.

Luke said the new system could “potentially be up and running in two months.”

$36M approved for Hawaii airport public health screening system | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

State lawmakers approved hundreds of millions of federal CARES Act expenditures Friday, including $36 million for an airport public health screening system they said is needed to reopen tourism.

www.staradvertiser.com

 

[Tamaradarann]

$36M approved for Hawaii airport public health screening system | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

State lawmakers approved hundreds of millions of federal CARES Act expenditures Friday, including $36 million for an airport public health screening system they said is needed to reopen tourism.

www.staradvertiser.com

It doesn't specifically say in the article that this screening will allow Hawaii to open to tourists without a 14 day quarantine?

 

[DeniseM]

You're right, it doesn't - the state legislature just voted on the funding on Friday, so I suspect that there are a lot of details to hammer out before they implement this plan. What interested me is that this is the method that they are going to use to screen incoming passengers. Even though the article says that it could potentially be up and running in 2 months, my predictions is that it will take them at least 4 months, maybe 6. YMMV

Also - the governor's comprehensive plan which was mentioned in the article is supposed to be released soon, and one would expect it to provide more details.

 

[slip]

You're right, it doesn't - the state legislature just voted on the funding on Friday, so I suspect that there are a lot of details to hammer out before they implement this plan. What interested me is that this is the method that they are going to use to screen incoming passengers. Even though the article says that it could potentially be up and running in 2 months, my predictions is that it will take them at least 4 months, maybe 6. YMMV

Also - the governor's comprehensive plan which was mentioned in the article is supposed to be released soon, and one would expect it to provide more details.

That’s about right, all we can do is wait until the plan is released. The Governor hasn’t really been following a script for this either. Two weeks before he said he would probably extend the restrictions to the end of June, he announced that he wouldn’t make extensions that long and he would use 2 week intervals. That’s what gave many people hope about things changing sooner. The next big announcement will be inter-island travel. That may open up more hotels.

 

[LannyPC]

As I said earlier I can see both sides of the stay closed to tourists or open up to tourists arguments. I am glad I am not the person who needs to make the decision.

Yes, I see both sides too and yes, I too am glad I don't have to make the decision.

 

[csodjd]

It doesn't specifically say in the article that this screening will allow Hawaii to open to tourists without a 14 day quarantine?

Since Hawaii is "open" to tourism right now WITH a 14-day quarantine, it would seem to make sense that any discussion of "opening" the state to tourism is implying elimination of the quarantine, at least under some conditions, if not generally.

 

[DeniseM]

Friendly reminder: This thread is ONLY for updates on Hawaii travel news.

Please post other Hawaii Coronavirus discussions here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/¿will-hawaii-open-by-july.304580/page-5#post-2449685

 

[csodjd]

I read this morning that the Governor has approved restaurants opening in Honolulu for dine-in starting June 5. Not clear if it's state wide or just Honolulu, and the "conditions" are to come out later this week. But that's important progress. Certainly a necessary step along the path to opening for travel.

 

[DeniseM]

I read this morning that the Governor has approved restaurants opening in Honolulu for dine-in starting June 5. Not clear if it's state wide or just Honolulu, and the "conditions" are to come out later this week. But that's important progress. Certainly a necessary step along the path to opening for travel.

Thank you for the update! When you quote a news article, please post a link to the article. Just go to the article, copy the link in your browser bar, and paste it into your post.

 

[csodjd]

Thank you for the update! When you quote a news article, please post a link to the article. Just go to the article, copy the link in your browser bar, and paste it into your post.

Here you go.

City says come June 5, restaurants can open for dine-in service

Lt. Gov. Josh Green continues to push for medium-risk businesses to be able to reopen.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[slip]

Governor Ige just said there will be an announcement on inter-island travel this week. Today, He also extended the 14 day quarantine to the end of June.

 

[controller1]

Governor Ige just said there will be an announcement on inter-island travel this week. Today, He also extended the 14 day quarantine to the end of June.

Thanks. Here is a link to the official announcement on extending the 14-day quarantine to June 30. https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-cont...lamation-for-COVID-19-distribution-signed.pdf

 

[DeniseM]

Gov. Ige released his reopening plan today, but it doesn't contain any specifics for lifting the 14 day quarantine. My guess is that it is dependent on the plan that that the state legislature funded on Friday, for monitoring incoming travelers at the airport. It reiterates that the 14 day quarantine is extended until the end of June, but that is the same extension that was announced last Thursday:

Gov. David Ige unveils four-phase reopening strategy for Hawaii’s economy
Monday, May 18, 2020

Gov. David Ige unveiled today a four-phase reopening strategy for Hawaii’s economy with the state gradually reopening medium-risk business such as churches, gyms, museums, theaters, restaurants and hair salons beginning in June.

 

[slip]

Thanks. Here is a link to the official announcement on extending the 14-day quarantine to June 30. https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-cont...lamation-for-COVID-19-distribution-signed.pdf

Mahalo, I was listening to it on the internet at work. So I didn’t have access.

 

[DeniseM]

Wow - you mean you actuallty leave your home and go somewhere to work? What a crazy idea!

 

[slip]

Wow - you mean you actuallty leave your home and go somewhere to work? What a crazy idea!

 

[Tamaradarann]

Thanks. Here is a link to the official announcement on extending the 14-day quarantine to June 30. https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-cont...lamation-for-COVID-19-distribution-signed.pdf

I understand and totally agree with the extending of the 14-day Quarantine to June 30th for incoming people to the Islands. However, with the low number of cases in Hawaii I would have thought that Governor Ige would have set a date for moving the islands to Stage 3. While that wouldn't allow unrestricted tourists, which is a real threat, it would allow all businesses to open in Hawaii for local people and take that pressure off the remainder of closed businesses. Stage 3 as stated would still limit gatherings to less than 50 people and require 6 foot social distancing which would certainly help contain the spread.

 

[slip]

I understand and totally agree with the extending of the 14-day Quarantine to June 30th for incoming people to the Islands. However, with the low number of cases in Hawaii I would have thought that Governor Ige would have set a date for moving the islands to Stage 3. While that wouldn't allow unrestricted tourists, which is a real threat, it would allow all businesses to open in Hawaii for local people and take that pressure off the remainder of closed businesses. Stage 3 as stated would still limit gatherings to less than 50 people and require 6 foot social distancing which would certainly help contain the spread.

When the Governor spreads there usually a question and answer period. The question of the next stave was asked and he did say that it is coming but he didn’t want to give a timeline yet. That may also come in stages.

 

[DeniseM]

Update from the Star Advertiser:

Gov. David Ige faces the dilemma of eventually reopening to both tourists and new infections

When Ige unveiled his reopening and recovery plan Monday, he said lifting the quarantine for travelers from outside the state is not part of any of the four phases of the new plan. “We are considering what conditions we would feel comfortable with lifting that quarantine,” Ige said. In a separate online discussion earlier in the day, Ige said that any suggestion Hawaii would open for tourism by the late summer seems “premature. Definitely, domestic and international travel is one of the last things that would be brought back,” Ige said Monday.

Gov. David Ige faces the dilemma of eventually reopening to both tourists and new infections | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii’s extraordinary success in curbing the local spread of COVID-19 has left Gov. David Ige with a dilemma unlike any in the nation. To a greater degree than any other governor, it will fall to Ige to eventually reopen the door to new infections when he finally authorizes the restart of the...

www.staradvertiser.com

More Info specifically about tourism: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020...ige-rejoins-the-covid-19-care-conversation-3/

 

[klpca]

Well that doesn't sound good. Thanks for the update though.

 

[slip]

When I was listening to the question and answer section of the conference yesterday, the Governor did say it would be weeks if not months before they welcomed visitors to the islands.

Pretty vague but that is how he said it.

 

[DeniseM]

Friendly Reminder: This thread is only for Hawaii Travel News Updates - I have moved several posts to the "Will Hawaii open in July" thread. Please use the other thread for discussions, so that updates don't get buried in this thread.

 

[gdrj]

I just received an email in regards to the Westin HOTEL in Kaanapali is closed until August 1st. I had a reservation there in mid-July for a couple extra days after a timeshare stay. Not sure what that means for timeshares and other hotels opening, but definitely not a good sign, if you were planning a July stay.

 

[DeniseM]

Just to clarify: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa (Hotel) is closed, not the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas Timeshare - a separate property.

 

[gdrj]

Just to clarify: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa (Hotel) is closed, not the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas Timeshare - a separate property.

Correct. I have no information on WKORV, though it could be an indication of whats to come.