Traveling to Hawaii: When to go and where to visit

This week we’re traveling to the Aloha state with our contributing editor for Hawaii, Tovin Lapan, and experts Frank Haas, a consultant and former Hawaii Tourism Authority executive; Gail Stringer, who owns the Hawaii General Store in Seattle, and Terry Uemura, a travel advisor at Hawaii General Store Travel. Hawaii has been very serious about managing inbound travel, but it can be confusing, for example, Gov. David Ige’s recommendation – not a formal mandate -- that people not travel to the islands. So we’ll talk about that, as well as about ways to manage tourism on the islands; demand and rates; and some of our favorite new travel programs, some off-the-beaten path tips and a few forever favorites. This episode was recorded Thursday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity. On Oct. 8, Hawaii rules changed again, this time on Oahu, where Ige and Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi eased restrictions on dining capacity and other gatherings. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Related reading: Travel battles blowback from Hawaii governor's 'don't come' comment https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Travel-battles-blowback-from-Hawaii-governors-dont-come-advice Oahu eases restrictions on gatherings as Covid-19 cases drop https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Oahu-eases-restrictions-Covid-cases-drop On Oahu, visitors show vax records and businesses adapt to Covid rules https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/On-Oahu-visitors-show-vax-records-and-businesses-adapt-to-Covid-rules Hawaii offers vacations with a purpose https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Malama-Hawaii-blends-vacations-with-volunteer-work 'Inspired' changes at a refreshed Halekulani https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Inspired-changes-at-a-refreshed-Halekulani  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.