Hawaii’s Lanai Closes to Visitors Following Tourism Reopening

Hawaiian island Lanai is under a stay-at-home order, following a COVID-19 outbreak, just as the state reopened to tourism.

Governor David Ige issued the mandatory order and travel restrictions on Monday.

Residents and visitors must remain home or at other accommodations, except for essential reasons such as grocery shopping, until Nov. 11.

Travel to and from the smallest of Hawaii’s islands will be restricted to essential workers and anyone arriving to the island will need to quarantine for 14 days. Those traveling to other islands from Lanai will need to quarantine when they return.

Governor Ige said that most spikes on the island have been directly correlated with large private gatherings. “They do anticipate more cases. The super spreader events seem to be private events. We’re seeing those events can really accelerate cases,” he said during a COVID-19 briefing.

The stay-at-home order will remain in effect for at least two weeks but may be extended if needed.

Over the weekend, mass COVID-19 testing events were held on Lanai, which is just nine miles from Maui. So far, there have been 79 confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with the outbreak. Before last week, the island had no confirmed cases.

Non-essential businesses on Lanai were required to shut down on Tuesday.

Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort are both closed. After reopening Oct. 15, their websites state they “are currently closed but accepting reservations for stays from Nov. 10, 2020, onward.”

Hawaii reopened to out-of-state travelers Oct. 15, allowing visitors to bypass the mandatory 14 quarantine requirements. In the first week of its pre-travel testing program, the state welcomed over 60,000 people, including tourists and returning travelers.

Advisors have told Travel Market Report that clients were waiting for Hawaii to open up to travel.

“Hawaii by far is the most requested, but once clients find out the restrictions they back off,” said Mary Misinco, a Travel Experts affiliate in Macon, Georgia. “Lots of looking, but no one is booking.”