Bubble

“Bubble Tourism”

The governor of Hawai’i has disclosed a new plan to revive the tourist industry rapidly ... “bubble tourism.” Tourists from nations with allegedly low “super-duper corona” cases will be allowed to vacation here without any testing or quarantine. He mentioned that Japan and Korea are the “safest places” insofar as “super-duper corona” is concerned.

Well, tourists from Asian nations, particularly Japan, spend more money per day here than tourists from anywhere else. The governor wasn’t swayed by that fact, was he? Just a coincidence, right? In addition, Asian tourists have no issues with full-time face mask requirements. In their homelands, face masks are worn in public primarily because of bad air pollution.

And, what if the current “honor system” quarantine? Observations during the morning walk to Fudgepacker Park reveal that hundreds of tourists are out and about at the beach and all of Waikiki. Did they book vacations longer than 14 days to accommodate the quarantine? Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Face Mask Dining

As of today, “face mask dining” is allowed on O’ahu. Patrons must wear face masks and sanitize their hands upon entry. Some restaurants offer contactless options for menus. The number of available tables is limited by “social distancing.” Many establishments have liberally installed large clear plastic shields for “protection” as well. Face masks can only be removed while eating. Don’t people breathe while eating? That’s the irony of the farce. And, why would anyone spend $40 to $100 per person for such a horrible dining experience?

Food courts are opening up for dining, too. The same rules apply with seating being limited by “social distancing.” The experience is somewhat surreal ... people walking around with face masks while people dining have no face masks. Does anyone even notice this potentially high risk scenario? There’s no doubt that the farce will attain new heights of absurdity once the floodgates of tourism are opened.

Addendum: Gyms will be allowed to open in two weeks, along with bars and theaters. There has been some curiosity about the “regulars” look like after three months without gym access. Of course, there’s no telling how many people will simply terminate their memberships because of the one-hour appointment boondoggle and “face mask workouts.”

Update: The latest news is that the gym is currently in the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its huge debt load. The move had been contemplated prior to “super-duper corona.” There are rumors that several locations will be closed down permanently across the nation.