Hawaii will get tourism surge as coronavirus guidelines loosen up

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Tourists travel to Hawaii in greater numbers than officials expected, and many wander Waikiki without masks, despite a statewide mandate to wear them in public.

Hawaii’s Safe Travels program reported that approximately 28,000 people flew to and from the islands on Saturday, the highest number of travelers in a single day since Coronavirus pandemic began the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported Monday.

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Before the pandemic, Hawaii had about 30,000 arrivals a day. When quarantine rules were put in place at the start of the pandemic, arrivals plummeted and the state’s tourism-dependent economy rebounded.

In October, state officials launched a pre-travel test program that allowed visitors to bypass quarantine rules. However, travel remained sluggish until the second week of March when the tourists arrived on the islands for the spring break.

The president and CEO of the travel company Pleasant Holidays, Jack Richards, said that Honolulu Star Advertiser that the agency’s bookings have increased by 30% in the past two weeks.

“We haven’t seen such high demand in Hawaii in over a year,” said Richards. “I thought we’d recover in a U-shape. it is V-shaped. January and February were horrible, but we went from zero to 150 mph in two weeks. “

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Hawaii News Now reported officials receive complaints about visitors who do not wear masks. With a few exceptions, people in Hawaii are still required to wear masks in public.

“I think if you’re outdoors you can remove it,” said Glenn Day, a visitor from Indiana.

Visitors said the rules in their home states are different from Hawaii.

“We wear our masks around and when we go into a house we wear one, and when people look like they’re uncomfortable with us we put one on. But otherwise, like I said where we’re from, people really don’t have to wear them, ”said Wisconsin visitor Larry Dopke.

“I’m not wearing any right now, I’m outside,” said Todd Hasley, who was visiting from Idaho. “Boise City has a mandate for inner masks. The rest of the state has a mask recommendation. “

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Some lawmakers have expressed concern about a possible backlash from local residents.

“I think we all have to be prepared for a possible surge in tourism,” said Hawaiian Democrat Scott Saiki. “I think we need to be prepared because the public may react to a sudden surge.”

Such a reaction could hinder economic recovery.

“Pushing back on tourism is like telling your neighbor not to have a job,” said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii economic research organization.

Hawaii requires all visitors and returning residents to receive negative COVID-19 tests prior to travel prior to flying to the state in order to be exempt from the 10-day quarantine rule.

The island of Kauai has additional measures This is valid until April 5th. All visitors to Kauai must either spend three days on another island or quarantine for three days at a county-approved resort and then receive a second test upon arrival.

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Violation of the state’s coronavirus mandates set out in David Ig’s recent report from Hawaii Gov. David Ige are outlined Distress announcement, is an offense that can result in a fine of up to $ 5,000, one year in prison, or both.

The police in each island district are responsible for enforcing the rules. Messages from The Associated Press asking Honolulu police to comment on the enforcement of mask rules in Waikiki were not immediately returned.

Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, said in an email that the city recently posted banners across Waikiki reminding people to wear masks and stay socially aloof.

“These banners provide a tool that Honolulu police officers can use to do their job in complying with COVID-19 rules,” Sakahara said. “The majority of residents and visitors stick to the rule or cooperate when informed about it.”

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However, some residents have also spoken out against wearing masks. Two people were arrested and two others were during one Weekend anti mask Rally in Waikiki.

Hawaii had one of the lowest confirmed coronavirus infection rates in the United States