The Aloha 360

On this episode we’re answering some listener questions we’ve received this week. What are some of the lodging options along the north shore of Maui? What is the current travel policy for Maui and will things be open by the time I arrive for my vacation? Do you ship The Aloha 360 store products outside of the United States? Do you recommend driving the back side of the Road to Hana?

Many visitors who come to Maui, especially for the first time, might not explore some of the unique north shore beaches. And it’s understandable! But if you’re looking for a spot off the beaten path, want to watch expert-level surfers, or spot Hawaiian sea turtles, you might want to consider one of these local spots. If you’re an aviation geek like us, there’s even a lesser-known beach just beneath the departure end of the main OGG runway. It’s the perfect place for sun and plane spotting!

United Airlines announced Covid-19 testing will be available to travelers from the San Francisco Airport to the state of Hawaii beginning October 15. This is great news and a step forward to bring visitors back to the state. However, it comes at a price as the test is not inexpensive and not covered by insurance. Also on today’s episode: John asks Leslies to give an update on her flight instructor training. What is she struggling the most with?

This is a two part update episode. First, new information and clarification was released by the Governor’s office regarding the travel testing program. The authorized test to skip the 14 day quarantine is not available to children under 12, according to state officials. Does this mean families with kids will have to quarantine until further notice? Second, Leslie shares what happened on her flight which resulted in shutting down a runway at Hawaii’s second largest airport. Uh-oh!

Maui doesn’t just offer a variety of experiences for the five senses. Many of the things you’ll see, hear, taste, feel and smell on Maui are so unique you can’t experience them any other place in the world. From singing humpback whales, smell of plumeria in the air to feeling lava rock under your feet, Maui is the place to make unforgettable, lifelong memories. We’re sharing some of our favorite things on this episode!

There’s finally some news regarding what’s happening to the proposed October 1 reopen date for Hawaii tourism. The governor’s office announced more specific guidelines for pre-travel testing and said the date for the state reopening is now October 15. In other news, we’ve added to our family as well as The Aloha 360 store. Find out the details in this week’s episode. Aloha!

We took the opportunity of a beautiful weekend to take a few hours off from work and venture up to West Maui. It was interesting to see firsthand an empty Front Street, Ka’anapali, and beaches. We walked the Kapalua Coastal Trail and only saw a handful of local residents enjoying cliff jumping at Cliff House. The weekend ended with an “aviate date” flight to Hana and back. Catch the video on our YouTube channel!

On this episode we join Dean Showalter of the Airplane Owner Maintenance podcast to share about our aviation journey and how we moved from Arkansas to Maui over three years ago. We enjoyed sharing our stories how we got into flying, started a flight school in Arkansas, our first solos, and the business decisions that led to our big move to Hawaii.

Tourism is still on hold in Hawaii. As of this recording, the earliest there is an alternative to quarantine with testing is October 1. We’ll give an update on the feeling around the island as Maui’s unemployment reaches nearly 25%. We’re excited about shipping pineapples out tomorrow, and John reminisces about sweet Arkansas peaches. Also: welcome to our new listeners from the Fly Maui podcast! Mahalo for being a part of The Aloha 360 ohana.

More restrictions and extended travel dates for tourists…. That’s the news this week as Hawaii, specifically Oahu, saw a surge in Covid-19 cases. There are a lot of mixed feelings around the state. But what does this mean for you and your travel plans? We’ll try and give honest advice on this episode.