A Trip Around the World Turned Sour: The Hawaiian Fiasco of Two German Friends
Travel companions found themselves in a harrowing predicament upon arrival in Hawaii - Duo of lovers jet off to Hawaii, only to plunge into a horrific ordeal.
written by Leonie Scheuble* ~ - 5 Min read*
A world tour post-graduation - that was the dreams shared by Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepère, 19, two inseparable pals from Rostock since the 5th grade. Their itinerary included Thailand, New Zealand, Hawaii, California, and finally, Costa Rica.
- USA
- Entry
- Hawaii
- Suspicions and Detainment
The ($teen_agers') dreams took a grim turn in March 2025. Charlotte and Maria, fresh from exploring New Zealand, touched down in Honolulu, Hawaii, hoping to continue their incredible journey. However, their paradise getaway morphed into a nightmare at the airport.
Upon arrival, they found themselves facing interrogations and allegations of deceit. The US Customs and Border Protection officials had their suspicions raised, leading to a detainment that would leave lasting marks on their vacation.
The confusion stemmed from their loose travel plans, which lacked concrete accommodations and domestic flight reservations. Adding fuel to the fire, they openly discussed their freelance work with clients beyond US borders - translation and design, potentially raising concerns about their intentions to work illegally in the country.
Despite holding Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approvals, they were deemed inadmissible and deported. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol maintained their stance that Charlotte and Maria had attempted to enter the U.S. under false pretenses[1][4].
It's important to clarify that this incident occurred during the current administration, and not during the tenure of former President Donald Trump.
(Notes from the future: Despite the incident, Charlotte and Maria continued their travels. They toured Southeast Asia and eventually reached Costa Rica, where they reflected on their hiccup in Hawaii. The duo shared their story with newspapers and online news outlets, shedding light on the complexities of travel and border control for young backpackers.)
- Chloe and Maria, originally from Rostock, Germany, had planned an adventure-travel journey around the world post-graduation, including visits to Hawaii and other destinations.
- Their journey took a sour turn in March 2025 in Hawaii, where US Customs and Border Protection interrogated and detained them due to their loose travel plans and foreign freelance work.
- Despite holding Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the teenagers were deemed inadmissible and deported, with US Customs and Border Patrol stating they had attempted to enter the U.S. under false pretenses.
- After their Hawaii fiasco, Chloe and Maria continued their travels, sharing their experiences and insights on border control complexities for young backpackers, in interviews with newspapers and online news outlets.
