Hawaii has been operating on a mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement for people arriving in Hawaii. This quarantine was set to expire at the end of May and has now by extended by Governor David Ige.
The Travel Restrictions for Hawaii
Anyone arriving in Hawaii by air travel will be required to complete a 14-day quarantine in their place of lodging. This policy also affects returning residents and interisland air travel. All new arrivals are required to provide proof of lodging or face arrest and possible mandatory relocation to their place of origin.
Enforcement of these restrictions has stepped up significantly, with many dozens of arrests made in recent weeks of residents and visitors alike who have chosen to flout the new rules. In some cases, visitors who arrived in Hawaii without proof of lodging were sent back to their places of origin. Their return travel was subsidized by the Hawaii Visitor Aloha Society through a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. There was a honeymoon couple that left their hotel to get a pizza and found themselves locked out of their room. While they were gone, the hotel rekeyed their room and they were forced to leave.
Governor Ige Just Announced That The Quarantine Has Been Extended
The current form of the quarantine was scheduled to end on May 31, 2020. With today’s announcement, this quarantine order has been extended through the end of June, 2020.
“We, like most of the United States, are still dealing with the challenges of this pandemic,” Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell told CNN. “But right now, we see traveling as bringing the virus, and we would prefer people not come until it’s safe to travel again.”
What Is Closed In Hawaii
Most forms of lodging, food, businesses, parks and tourist attractions are closed. Here is a link where you can find specific information. You can expect closures for:
- Lodging – hotels and time-share condos,
- Most restaurants – those that are open are for take-out or delivery orders,
- State Parks and Monuments – some may reopen where physical distancing can be maintained,
- Hawaii Federal Parks
- Retail businesses and services, including apparel and electronics, and shopping malls are considered low-risk businesses and allowed to re-open on the islands of Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui. The island of Oahu order will take effect on May 15.
- Most farmers markets and
- Tourist attractions.
Final Thoughts
Hawaii has some of the most stringent travel restrictions in the country. The 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement has been extended through the end of June, 2020. The order has most tourist attractions and services closed so now is not a great time to visit the Islands.
Stay well, stay distant, wash your hands frequently and we will all get through this together.
