04/27/2020
UPDATE ON TRAVEL TO MAUI (LONG POST): Many of you are wondering when it will be okay to travel to Maui again. Here’s the latest word: Yesterday afternoon, Hawaii’s Governor announced that the Stay At Home mandate for our state, originally to end on April 30, is now extended to May 31. In addition, a 14-day mandatory quarantine, which started last month, is still required for anyone arriving into Hawaii and has been extended to May 31. These mandates apply to residents as well as visitors, meaning all are confined to their home or hotel room (or other place of lodging) during this time. Restaurants, beaches, parks, tourist attractions, and non-essential businesses, as well as most resorts, are closed.
If you were planning a trip to Maui in May, we respectfully ask that you postpone it. There is no reason for you to be here just to sit in your room, and there are hefty fines (and possible arrest) for those who disregard the quarantine. Our governor has asked visitors not to come to Hawaii right now, and the 14-day quarantine was implemented last month in order to discourage tourists. But there are still a few who continue to arrive daily, whether they are welcome or not. The governor cannot close down the airports or stop all flights into Hawaii; he would if he could, but air traffic is under Federal jurisdiction. All we can do is ask you…please don’t visit Hawaii now.
People here are suffering, and emotions are running high. More than 35,000 people on Maui are unemployed, and hundreds of small businesses are struggling to survive. There is a tremendous spirit of aloha within our community—neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers. But I will be very frank in saying there is a growing undercurrent of resentment against those who still insist on coming to our islands to vacation during this challenging time, possibly reinfecting our quarantined communities and vying with residents for food, supplies, health care, and other limited resources. This is not the time to vacation in Hawaii. Please stay home and stay safe until this global pandemic is over. Allow our island community to do the same.
We want to welcome visitors back as soon as we possibly can, but we don’t know yet when that will be. Definitely not April or May. Possibly June or July. No one knows for sure. Along with you, we are just hoping and praying the threat from COVID-19 will diminish and Hawaii’s tourism shutdown will end soon. Believe me, we are not lounging around on the empty beaches (that’s currently against the law), exploring the island (also against the law), enjoying the lack of tourists. We are at home looking out our windows. We want our visitors back--35,000 Maui residents are anxious to get back to work! But only when it is safe for all.
Maui will heal. The island will open to visitors again. And when that time comes, we will welcome you back with genuine aloha…and open arms, if that’s allowed! Meanwhile, mahalo for your patience and understanding. And mahalo for postponing your trip until the time is right.
To stay current on daily Maui-specific news, I recommend https://mauinow.com. And for updates on Hawaii (and Maui) travel restrictions, check out the Hawaii Visitors Bureau’s site at https://www.gohawaii.com. Aloha! I’m
