Locals Take Back Tourist-Free Waikiki During Pandemic

[TexasTowelie]

HONOLULU (AP) — Growing up in Hawaii, Amber Lethem's family avoided Waikiki, the world-famous tourist mecca.

“I reflect back on my childhood, Waikiki has always been this pinnacle of like that’s where all the tourists are,” Lethem said. “We didn't really go into Waikiki, ever.”

Many other locals would also shun Waikiki's congested streets and herds of slow-moving tourists.

But now that the coronavirus pandemic has forced state leaders to impose a 14-day quarantine on travelers arriving to the islands, Waikiki is mostly a ghost town. Gov. David Ige has extended the traveler quarantine through June.

Read more: https://hosted.ap.org/berkshireeagle/article/b59464ef60b5e2a17bdb4983cf3b9809/locals-take-back-tourist-free-waikiki-during-pandemic

[Mickju]

1. I love the photos at the link.

I especially like the one of the empty street in Waikiki. Normally there would be cars everywhere and the sidewalks would be packed with people. I lived there for 26 years.