Hawai’i Visitors Can Offset Their Carbon Footprint When Planting Trees

In the spirit of giving back as Hawaii tourism recovers, Alaska Airlines will plant one tree for every flight flown to the Hawaiian Islands until 2021, in support of Malama Hawaii.

Malama means to “take care,” and as visitors return to Hawaii, the Islands are asking travelers to be respectful of Hawaii’s beauty and leave with a better understanding of what it means to care for the earth and each other.

Whether you plan to work from Hawaii or are planning a future vacation to the islands, we’re encouraging our guests to experience the Islands on a deeper level with a greater emphasis on connecting with the community, culture and to leave Hawaii better than when they arrived — and help preserve it for the future, stated Alaska Airline’s press release issued on November 17, 2020.

“Travel has fundamentally changed, and travelers have become aware of their personal impact on the places they visit now more than ever,” said Jeffrey Dunster, Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative’s co-founder and executive director. 

“By planting an Alaska Airlines Legacy Tree and helping to offset your carbon footprint during your stay in Hawaii, you’ll be making a difference for our island home — and the only footprint you’ll leave behind will be left in the sand of our beautiful beaches.”

In exchange, tourists can receive a complimentary extra night at participating hotels across Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. The list includes Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea; The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Waikiki Beach; the Fairmont Orchid in the Big Island of Hawaii and the Sheraton Kauai Resort.

‘We’re helping our guests travel to destinations that require a negative COVID-19 test result. Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program allows anyone entering the state which tests negative for COVID-19 in advance to proceed without the current 14-day mandatory quarantine’ added Alaska Airlines.

Hawai'i Governor David Ige confirmed that starting on November 24, 2020, travelers wishing to bypass the state's 14-day mandatory quarantine must have a valid COVID-19 test result before departure for Hawaiʻi. If test results are not available before boarding the final leg of the trip, the traveler must quarantine for 14-days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter.

“We’re taking this added safety precaution now in response to the dramatically increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the continental United States and around the world. The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, especially as more people travel to Hawaiʻi to celebrate the holidays,” said Gov. Ige in a press statement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Hawai'i, with a population of about 1.3 million, has reported over 238 fatalities related to coronavirus infections.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes research-based travel vaccine news.