As state asks visitors to stay away, major Waikiki hotel closes its doors

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Hale Koa Hotel. But the Waikiki resort, which caters to military families, decided to close its doors Thursday.

In a statement on the hotel’s website, management said:

“It is now apparent that this crisis requires collective action to slow its progression in the United States. Guests will be asked to return to their home station as soon as they can make the necessary travel arrangements. We are waiving any cancellation or early departure fees for reservations during this time.”

On Thursday night, the lobby of the hotel was deserted. The surrounding streets were a similar sight.

The normally bustling Waikiki scene has significantly quieted this week, with luxury shops and eateries also shutting down.

The closure of the hotel and area shops caught some visitors off guard.

“We didn’t really find out about everything shutting down until a couple days ago. We planned this trip months in advance, before everything started happening," Jerron Bruce, who was visiting from Alaska.

“So when we came here, we had the first two days to just enjoy all the shops, the beach and everything."

Hale Koa says they are waiving all cancellations and early departure fees for reservations.

“It’s a little bit concerning but at the same time, I think it’s good of them to care about their military personnel," Annora Bruce said.

They added that they will continue to accept reservations for visitors arriving after April 15.

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