Blissful New 12 months! Right here on the HAT Weblog, we stored our head down over The Holidays, spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with our small group of fast household. We spent New 12 months’s Eve hunkered down at dwelling as torrents of rain thundered down and the skies lit up with numerous 1000’s of unlawful arial fireworks and roared with violent explosions. I’ve by no means been in a battle zone, however I do know what they sound like, in all probability. (As does anybody who has been in a Hawaii zip code throughout the 4th of July or New 12 months’s Eve.)
It was tempting to put in writing a 2021 year-end wrap up. But when I’m being sincere, the yr handed a lot because the years handed as I toured the US Mainland with a rock and roll band in a beat-up passenger van of doubtful reliability. Plainly 2021 was only one lengthy day and one lengthy evening, with mind-numbing boredom punctuated by moments of pleasure and of terror, and near-constant uncertainty.
So, let’s give attention to what we all know is definite for Hawaii in 2022, what we all know will assist lead us out of the darkness of a cursed 2021 and into the sunshine of a yr stuffed with hope and progress. We’re resolved to be optimistic.
Hmmm…That’s a tall order because the stormy climate that soaked NYE revelers continues to be parked over a lot of the state, and a spasm of thunder and lightning shudders my plate glass lanai doorways as I write this. However this indignant climate will move, perfect Hawaii weather will return, and with it the human tide of holiday makers wanting to take pleasure in it.
A thread of uncertainty has adopted us into the New 12 months: will guests be required to point out proof of a booster shot? What about giant gatherings? How lengthy will we have now to point out proof of vaccination to eat at a restaurant or see a film in a theater?
The quick reply: “Dunno.”
The excellent news is that the State’s Hawaii Safe Travels Program stays in place with no new restrictions on Hawaii journey. Guests can anticipate to take pleasure in their Hawaii trip as deliberate. And cautious planning for a Hawaii trip is all the things proper now. Know the necessities. Be versatile. Be affected person. And, please, don’t be the sort of customer that calls for a refund from Hawaii officers as a result of it rained. Sure, that actually occurs (in apocryphal tales from the trenches of the hospitality business, anyway).
It’s important to remain knowledgeable about what is going on in Hawaii earlier than you get right here. Aloha Bruce and Yaling Fisher and the Hawaii Aloha Journey ohana of specialists are monitoring COVID insurance policies and journey situations for guests every day and serving to aware vacationers to make changes as vital or desired.
We’ll word right here that the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, a nonprofit that gives help to guests whose holidays take a flip for the more severe, has stepped up efforts for guests needing quarantine lodging after testing COVID constructive earlier than their journey dwelling. The State is “phasing out” providing quarantine accommodations and is leaving it to the Counties to type it out. Be told. And be suggested by our HAT specialists.
Right here on the HAT Weblog, we’ll proceed to attempt to maintain it gentle and spotlight the particular folks and locations that embody the Aloha Spirit in Hawaii, no matter 2022 brings. Have enjoyable, be secure!
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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