LIHU‘E — As governments figure out how to open without overwhelming the health care system, for Hawai‘i, it’s about finding a balance between reopening to a mass amount of travelers and keeping residents safe.
For about two-thirds of Hawai‘i residents surveyed in May, a slow reopening through the end of the year without the 14-day quarantine requirement is preferred.
The Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation released the study, “COVID-19 in Hawai‘i – Facts and Insights” which surveyed 1,096 participants statewide by phone and internet between May 14-22. The report gained to better understanding of residents “feelings, fears and financial hardships related to the virus.”
On the other hand, about 5% of those surveyed would like to see visitors come back immediately, and about 45% believed phasing businesses over the next month or two, as Mainland governments are trying currently, would be preferred.
While only 11% of the survey’s respondents worked directly in the tourism industry, the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization (UHERO) reports that until tourism is reopened, non-tourism sectors will lag.
Talking of “the new normal” or “returning to normal” is underscored by tourism. Travel is expected to drop by 45% by the end of this year and not return to pre-pandemic numbers until 2024, according to a projection from the U.S. Travel Association.
Less than a majority of surveyed residents (44%) believed a realistic “return to normal” would occur in more than a year. Equally, however, people believed that either Hawai‘i life would return to normal within three months or never.
In June, UHERO forecasts that the state could lose more than 30,000 residents over the next two years as the state’s COVID-19 recovery trails the trajectory of the overall U.S. economy, according to the study.
It is the flu people. I live in a county that had the 2nd highest infection rate in the country the first 2 weeks of May. Most everyone I know feel they had the virus. Some got tested some did not get tested. It was like a very mild flu in most cases. Some people have found they have covid antibodies but never felt sick. We shut down states for that?
Well, for all the people you didn’t know who died from it, and all the people who very well may, whether you know them or not, die from this if action isn’t taken.
Wow. Filling up the back of trucks in New York City with dead bodies is mild? Trucks and trucks and trucks driving down the main drag in Italy is just mild? Doctors and nurses furious because people aren’t wearing masks and they are getting worked to death and having to watch people die in isolation is Mild? The amount of obstinate ignorance and lack of Compassion or even basic good citizenship in this country is absolutely frightening.
PLEASE CONTINUE THE QUARANTINE FOR VISITORS!!! You have NO idea what the reality is on the mainland. Keep Kauai safe.
who are these crazy residents who want visitors to be able to return? don’t they enjoy watching the island’s economy sink into depression? aren’t we all enjoying the despair that has gripped so many?
also, living in fear is fun.
NOT.
That survey is from mid-May. It needs to be totally disregarded.
I see residents squandering their weekly $600 federal handouts. In August the grim reality will catch many off guard as we head into years of poverty for many.
We need to mandatory test all incoming passengers before they board AND after arriving in a way that will ensure the safety of Hawaii’s residents! If(when) tourists start bringing new cases its not gunna be pretty. Flights are cheap so they will come but make them pay for a couple tests!
This is SO not true! At least not now. This survey was taken 2 months ago when cases were low. Take that same survey now and you’d see the opposite.
You can’t take old data and claim it’s current news.
This survey was taken 6 weeks ago. Not sure why they took so long, but I bet the opinion has changed. In mid May we were having very low numbers. Also not sure if I’d trust a survey done by a bank – they’re definitely pro- tourist.
we aren’t ready for plane loads of people coming. look what’s happening on the mainland! the 14 day quarantine should stay in effect!
Kauai has 72,000 residents, half of whom are over 45 years old and 15% of our residents are considered high risk. That means over 11,000 high risk residents for 9 ICU hospital spaces. Think about it.
Exactly, still only 9 ICU beds! After millions showered on us by Trump.
Where are the newly built isolation facilities?!
Where are the additional ICU beds?
Where is the preparation?
The virus isn’t going away. What horrible leadership. Cower and do nothing. Pathetic. Now…budgets are depleting…what money remains for preparing infrastructure and medical resources? Highschool level leadership. Cowardice.
Please show the accounting of said funds.
This is such an incorrect headline, article and research. Please get correct facts. Nobody wants arrivals with potential Covid, after all the sacrifice the community has made to keep kapuna safe. Kaua’i research please, Kaua’i facts please, Kaua’i protection please. People over money.
The survey, at least as reported here, seems silly. It’s useless to talk as though quarantines were the only tool in the box. What about testing of visitors prior to arrival? What about selective admittance, opening up to travelers coming from “safe” regions where infections are well-controled? What about a plan to deal with infected visitors who slip thru? All of these need to be taken into account for an effective survey!
This article should be removed from the TGI website as the survey It reports on was taken nearly two months ago. The article does not state what the current sentiment of Kaua’i residents is.
This article DOES NOT REPRESENT RESIDENTS, probably interviewed mostly money grab residents of Oahu or Maui. They put themselves on those islands, most likely not Hawaiian Nationals, now they hurting because not getting tourism income. Wether you are Hawaiian of have the heart of Hawaiian, No QUARENTINE NOT GOOD FOR SACRED ISLANDS, KUPUNA, KEIKE, RESIDENTS, K?