This is the news many frequent visitors to the Islands have been waiting for. Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige announced today that out-of-state travelers with negative COVID-19 test results may be able to skip the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the Islands starting Oct. 15. This much-anticipated pre-travel testing program—first announced back in June and postponed […]
The latest plan was to start a pre-arrival testing program to reopen tourism in Hawaiʻi on Oct. 1. That might get postponed again. After a surge in new COVID-19 cases, primarily on Oʻahu, the state implemented another stay-at-home, work-at-home order, with strict guidelines on what businesses can open and restrictions on gatherings and the use of public beaches, trails and
Earlier this month, Neighbor Island counties were considering the idea of “resort bubbles,” where out-of-state visitors to Hawaiʻi could stay in self-contained, full-service resorts during their mandatory 14-day quarantine. That means they could leave their hotel rooms and enjoy the resorts’ spas, golf courses, restaurants and shops—but that’s it. Today, at a press conference, Hawaiʻi Gov. David
I was hiking along Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail in East Honolulu when I got the text. “Aaand they just closed Nā Ala Hele trails.” Last week Hawaiʻi officials launched restrictions to travel and outdoor activity as a way to combat the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, primarily on Oʻahu. Beaches, parks, playgrounds, campgrounds, skateparks and other outdoor
A series of satellite images taken from 11 a.m. Thursday through 12:50 a.m. Friday shows the progress of Hurricane Douglas as it heads toward the Hawaiian Islands. Credit: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration If it’s not a pandemic, it’s a hurricane. Hawaiʻi is bracing its for the first big
Visitors to Hawaiʻi will continue to have to self-quarantine for a mandatory 14 days through the end of August, period. Last month, Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige announced plans to end the quarantine on Aug. 1 for trans-Pacific passengers who test negative for COVID-19 before arriving in the state. But with a recent uptick in coraonvirus
This is the first of three blogs about how Oʻahu neighborhoods have changed since the spread of COVID-19. Read what Kailua looks like here and Haleʻiwa here. Growing up on Oʻahu, there were only three reasons I ventured into Waikīkī: to go to a wedding or prom, to surf, or to celebrate a special occasion at a fancy
Starting today, guests will be allowed to tour the USS Arizona Memorial again. Access will be limited to a maximum of 50 people on each 45-minute tour, which includes a boat ride to the memorial. You must book your reservation online and face masks are required. The national memorial, operated by the National Park Service, had been
Do you actually have to be in Hawaiʻi to enjoy mai tais, Hawaiian music, Island cuisine and culture? Not necessarily. Sure, nothing beats leaving your hotel room, stepping across the street—towel in hand—to the beach and chillaxing Island-style, however with this comprehensive itinerary, you will be able to bring some of that Hawaiʻi magic into
Here is a list of popular events, festivals and activities that are cancelled, postponed or still going on in the Islands. Bookmark this page or check back for updates. ALL ISLANDS Photo: David Croxford Noodle Fest, which was originally scheduled for March, postponed to June, postponed again to September, has now been canceled. Rice Fest, which
A month ago, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park began increasing access to its 335,259-acre national park on Hawaiʻi Island, coinciding with the state slowly reopening beaches, parks, malls and other public places. On June 15 the park rolled out its next phase of reopening, which includes some of its most popular hikes with new guidelines on safety and social distancing.
The 14-day quarantine order for Neighbor Island travel was lifted on June 16 and I took a day trip from Honolulu to Līhuʻe the very next day. Working in communications at Hawaiian Airlines, I was well versed in what to expect. But I was also ready for surprises. (Aren’t we all, these days?) SEE ALSO:
