E Komo Mai

HO‘OMAKA | TKTK HO‘OMAKA to begin

E Komo Mai

Welcome back, we missed you.

BY KEVIN ALLEN

photo: aaron k. yoshino, getty images / okimo, getty images / jeannehatchs E KOMO MAI. IT MEANS “WELCOME,” IN ‘ŌLELO HAWAI‘I (HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE). And it’s what we beauty and splendor while promoting local producers and products. This is being accomplished in a few key ways. Hotels and airlines are teaming up say to you as you begin to with “voluntourism” organizations, such book trips back to the Is- as Travel2change and the Mālama Hawai‘i lands. While there are certainly things that Program, to off er travelers a chance to give have changed, Hawai‘i’s beaches are just back to the ‘āina (land) while also saving as beautiful as ever and the aloha spirit money on hotel rates. Aside from the savcontinues to thrive. And with coronavirus ings and deals, travelers can learn so much cases showing a steady decline as we march more about the Islands by working with through the year, travelers and residents kama‘āina (longtime residents or locals) in face fewer restrictions. There is no longer a local areas to improve and beautify their quarantine period for domestic travelers— communities. vaccinated or not, the Safe Travels program The industry is also backing Hahas ended and all Hawai‘i counties have wai‘i-made products and produce like never dropped their local COVID-19 restrictions. before. Eateries and restaurants are making We’re moving back to normalcy—slow and it a point to highlight locally sourced prosteady—and it shows. duce, from the freshest greens to raised-

While tourism has reopened, and many in-Hawai‘i beef. So taste what the Islands businesses, restaurants and tours are re- have to off er at these fi ne establishments; turning to their pre-pandemic pace, there oftentimes these restaurants will cater are a few things Hawai‘i visitors should their menus seasonally to what’s being keep in mind. First, grown, leading to exciting culinary dishes while the Islands are and choices. welcoming back travel- Putting aside the regenerative tourism LEFT ers with open arms, the initiatives and programs—more than Lei are often visitor industry here is anything we’re happy to have you all back. used to welcome visitors. placing great emphasis on “regenerative tourHawai‘i is not the same without its visitors, and you all bring so much to the IsTOP LEFT ism.” So what does that lands. So, from the bottom of our hearts, Waikīkī still mean? Regenerative e komo mai. P looks stunning. tourism aims to enrich TOP RIGHT not only the visitor experience in the Islands, Views just like this are waiting but also to maintain for your return. the Islands’ natural Read more about the new Hawai‘i by scanning the QR code on the page.