Even after enduring a collapse of the state’s economy this year, most Hawaii residents aren’t eager for a return to the 2019 tourism numbers.The downturn in Hawaii tourism has led to thousands of lost jobs, temporary and permanent business closures, and strained social supportprograms.Still, a new survey from OmniTrak showed that resident sentiment towardHawaii tourism has fallen to its lowest level since 1988.Only 54% of Hawaii residents who took the OmniTrak survey agreed that “tourism has brought more benefits than problems.” Some 34% supported the statement that tourism has been “mostly...…Even after enduring a collapse of the state’s economy this year, most Hawaii residents aren’t eager for a return to the 2019 tourism numbers.The downturn in Hawaii tourism has led to thousands of lost jobs, temporary and permanent business closures, and strained social supportprograms.Still, a new survey from OmniTrak showed that resident sentiment towardHawaii tourism has fallen to its lowest level since 1988.Only 54% of Hawaii residents who took the OmniTrak survey agreed that “tourism has brought more benefits than problems.” Some 34% supported the statement that tourism has been “mostly...WW…

The county mayors are proposing travel-related rule changes amid surging COVID-19 cases on the mainland and Hawaii, but so far their requests are just piling up on Gov. David Ige’s desk.Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami was alone in taking the controversial step Tuesday of requesting to temporarily opt out of the state’s pre-arrival traveler testing program. But the other county mayors have asked for tweaks of their own. So far, Ige hasn’t formally announced a decision on any of their requests.Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing using a combination of post-arrival testing and phone...…The county mayors are proposing travel-related rule changes amid surging COVID-19 cases on the mainland and Hawaii, but so far their requests are just piling up on Gov. David Ige’s desk.Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami was alone in taking the controversial step Tuesday of requesting to temporarily opt out of the state’s pre-arrival traveler testing program. But the other county mayors have asked for tweaks of their own. So far, Ige hasn’t formally announced a decision on any of their requests.Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing using a combination of post-arrival testing and phone...WW…

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami is requesting to opt-out of Hawaii’s pre-arrivals testing program after dozens of new cases reached the island.Kawakami today sent Gov. David Ige a request to approve Emergency Rule No. 23, which would temporarily pause Kauai’s participation in the state’s Safe Travels pre-travel testing program.If Ige approves the rule, as of Dec.1, all incoming Kauai travelers — trans-Pacific and interisland— would be required to quarantine for the full 14 days regardless of testing.“We are facing alarming COVID-19 numbers on our island as well as across the nation,” Kawakami...…Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami is requesting to opt-out of Hawaii’s pre-arrivals testing program after dozens of new cases reached the island.Kawakami today sent Gov. David Ige a request to approve Emergency Rule No. 23, which would temporarily pause Kauai’s participation in the state’s Safe Travels pre-travel testing program.If Ige approves the rule, as of Dec.1, all incoming Kauai travelers — trans-Pacific and interisland— would be required to quarantine for the full 14 days regardless of testing.“We are facing alarming COVID-19 numbers on our island as well as across the nation,” Kawakami...WW…

In the second week ofHawaii’s pre-traveltesting program, visitor arrivals fell 25% compared with the first week.The first week brought 27,028 visitors, but that number dropped to 20,188 during the second week.“If you look at the data,it shows the first week was the strongest and it dropped off after that,” said Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, one of Hawaii’s largest travel wholesalers.The pre-travel testing program allows visitors to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine. But the quarantine isn’t the only impediment to recovering tourism.“The election, rising COVID-19...…In the second week ofHawaii’s pre-traveltesting program, visitor arrivals fell 25% compared with the first week.The first week brought 27,028 visitors, but that number dropped to 20,188 during the second week.“If you look at the data,it shows the first week was the strongest and it dropped off after that,” said Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, one of Hawaii’s largest travel wholesalers.The pre-travel testing program allows visitors to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine. But the quarantine isn’t the only impediment to recovering tourism.“The election, rising COVID-19...WW…

|The daily number of transpacific arrivals jumped when Hawaii started a pre-arrivals testing program to welcome travelers back. Now, one week into the state’s tourism reopening, visitor arrivals already have started leveling off.The number of visitors coming for a vacation or to visit friends stood at 463 on Oct. 14, the day before Hawaii began its pre-arrivals testing program that gave travelers the opportunity to bypass a 14-day visitor quarantine. That number peaked at 5,124 on Saturday, but by Tuesday had dropped off more than 48% to 2,637.Hawaii visitor industry leaders credit...…|The daily number of transpacific arrivals jumped when Hawaii started a pre-arrivals testing program to welcome travelers back. Now, one week into the state’s tourism reopening, visitor arrivals already have started leveling off.The number of visitors coming for a vacation or to visit friends stood at 463 on Oct. 14, the day before Hawaii began its pre-arrivals testing program that gave travelers the opportunity to bypass a 14-day visitor quarantine. That number peaked at 5,124 on Saturday, but by Tuesday had dropped off more than 48% to 2,637.Hawaii visitor industry leaders credit...WW…

Two restaurants on the north shore of Kauai have posted social media notices that they won’t be serving visitors, who arrive through the state’s pre-arrivals testing program, in their dining rooms.Saenz Ohana Breakfast in Princeville posted Friday that it would only allow visitors to order online and pick up and that only residents with local state IDs would be allowed to order, sit and eat.“Visitors we are sorry for the inconvenience but we, as a island, are not ready for opening now,” the post said. “(Our) plan is to keep our area safe of travelers so the locals can have somewhere to feel...…Two restaurants on the north shore of Kauai have posted social media notices that they won’t be serving visitors, who arrive through the state’s pre-arrivals testing program, in their dining rooms.Saenz Ohana Breakfast in Princeville posted Friday that it would only allow visitors to order online and pick up and that only residents with local state IDs would be allowed to order, sit and eat.“Visitors we are sorry for the inconvenience but we, as a island, are not ready for opening now,” the post said. “(Our) plan is to keep our area safe of travelers so the locals can have somewhere to feel...WW…

The final count of arriving passengers on Thursday was 10,102 — an even more robust reopening of Hawaii tourism than preliminary counts showed.Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green said today that a final Thursday passenger count included 6,918 visitors and 3,184 residents. That’s a 68% visitors to 32% residents split.Green said 8,496 — or 84% of the 10,102 arriving passengers cleared the quarantine. About 16% or some 1,606 of Oct. 15’s arriving passengers went into quarantine, Green said.Passengers that arrive without taking a pre-arrivals test or another qualifying exemption have to quarantine...…The final count of arriving passengers on Thursday was 10,102 — an even more robust reopening of Hawaii tourism than preliminary counts showed.Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green said today that a final Thursday passenger count included 6,918 visitors and 3,184 residents. That’s a 68% visitors to 32% residents split.Green said 8,496 — or 84% of the 10,102 arriving passengers cleared the quarantine. About 16% or some 1,606 of Oct. 15’s arriving passengers went into quarantine, Green said.Passengers that arrive without taking a pre-arrivals test or another qualifying exemption have to quarantine...WW…

|State officials said they will not accept the less costly of two COVID-19 tests United Airlines wants to offer passengers to encourage travel to Hawaii.United, which brought more travelers to Hawaii than any other carrier pre-pandemic, said Thursday it will offer COVID-19 tests for $250 or $80 to Hawaii-bound customers originating from San Francisco. A negative test will allow Oahu visitors to avoid spending 14 days in quarantine at the start of their trip. The $250 test can be done at the airport in 15 minutes. The $80 test is done at home and mailed to a lab days before travel.United...…|State officials said they will not accept the less costly of two COVID-19 tests United Airlines wants to offer passengers to encourage travel to Hawaii.United, which brought more travelers to Hawaii than any other carrier pre-pandemic, said Thursday it will offer COVID-19 tests for $250 or $80 to Hawaii-bound customers originating from San Francisco. A negative test will allow Oahu visitors to avoid spending 14 days in quarantine at the start of their trip. The $250 test can be done at the airport in 15 minutes. The $80 test is done at home and mailed to a lab days before travel.United...WW…

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine is seeking recently diagnosed patients for a 21-day study.The study is led by Cecilia Shikuma, JABSOM professor of medicine and lead investigator, and researchers hope to find evidence that taking telmisartan, a medication used for blood pressure control, will prevent harmful effects of the virus.Participants will be placed on either a placebo (sugar pill) or telmisartan.“Finding an effective therapy for COVID-19 is very important. In fact, it may be more important or as important as finding a vaccine. Because you do not want to get...…The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine is seeking recently diagnosed patients for a 21-day study.The study is led by Cecilia Shikuma, JABSOM professor of medicine and lead investigator, and researchers hope to find evidence that taking telmisartan, a medication used for blood pressure control, will prevent harmful effects of the virus.Participants will be placed on either a placebo (sugar pill) or telmisartan.“Finding an effective therapy for COVID-19 is very important. In fact, it may be more important or as important as finding a vaccine. Because you do not want to get...WW…

|Gov. David Ige’s announcement last week that Hawaii will launch a pre-arrival testing program Oct. 15 kicked off the start of a fall tourism reopening for Hawaii.There are those Hawaii residents and business leaders who are still questioning the need, workability and usefulness of Ige’s plan, which has been pushed back three times. Given the delays, some critics are wondering why the state didn’t roll out a fully developed playbook for executing the plan in conjunction with Wednesday’s announcement.The reopening is just 23 days away, and many details of the plan are yet to be worked...…|Gov. David Ige’s announcement last week that Hawaii will launch a pre-arrival testing program Oct. 15 kicked off the start of a fall tourism reopening for Hawaii.There are those Hawaii residents and business leaders who are still questioning the need, workability and usefulness of Ige’s plan, which has been pushed back three times. Given the delays, some critics are wondering why the state didn’t roll out a fully developed playbook for executing the plan in conjunction with Wednesday’s announcement.The reopening is just 23 days away, and many details of the plan are yet to be worked...WW…