The Travel Challenge of Getting to IRONMAN Kona
As the virus bedlam continues around the globe the challenges of international travel, lockdowns and quarantine restrictions makes it hard to say whether getting to IRONMAN Kona is going to be easier, or more of a challenge this year or indeed whether there will even be an IRONMAN Kona this year.
In this world-wide pandemic, getting to IRONMAN Kona on October 9th may be as hard as finishing it with plethora of precautions on travel restrictions, quarantine, covid testing, letters of exemptions, temperature checks, masked wearing right down your medals being handed over in paper bags.
Then there comes the 10-day mandatory Trans-Pacific quarantine which continues to be in effect for those traveling to Hawaii Island subject to the exceptions of those who can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a state-approved trusted testing partner 72 hours from the final leg of departure. USA residents are currently exempt from quarantine if double vaccinated.
On a positive note, as of August 16 2021, Hawaii had a state-wide vaccination rate of 61.3% and all travel restrictions will potentially end when Hawaii reaches a 70% state-wide vaccination rate although that may need to be revaluated due to the recent outbreak of the Delta variant.
It is a possibility that due to the surge of the virus on the islands caused by the Delta variant, stricter travel restrictions will be re-instated.
Last year the Ironman Kona World Championships were cancelled for the first time since its 1978 inception.
Now questions are being raised about whether this year’s event will still go ahead.
The state of Hawaii has once again imposed restrictions as a surge in COVID-19 infections has now been recorded. Travellers going to Hawaii must bear in mind that there are certain rules and regulations to be followed. The state has imposed restrictions on its hospitality sector, as well as gatherings. These restrictions are aimed at reducing the further spread of the virus.
Moreover, the state is also working to tackle over tourism, with the tourism board currently trying to reduce the number of visitors to the island.
Outdoor gatherings cannot be allowed for more than 20 people, while indoor gatherings will only be allowed for a maximum of 10 people as numbers any larger are deemed to be high-risk. This implies there would have to be a special exemption order for IRONMAN Kona to go ahead which one would suspect there is.
Hawaiian Lt. Gov. Josh Green said that the state could see another lockdown due to the number of people not vaccinated against the coronavirus, Hawaii News Now reported.
Green, who also works as an emergency room doctor in the state, said that Hawaii is two to four weeks from seeing “major adjustments” happening if the recent surge doesn’t slow down, according to the news outlet.
For some travel to Kona will become more trouble than it’s worth. The rules seem straightforward enough, but then, exactly what document counts as proof of a covid test or vaccination to an immigration officer at the airport. For others it will be time and money spent hunting down a Covid-19 test, even though their already fully vaccinated.
