Government David Ige opens the way for quarantine exemption for fully vaccinated travelers arriving in Hawaii

Hawaii appears to be aiming to establish a release of travel tests and quarantine rules for fully vaccinated passengers in the Pacific.

The new release is mentioned in Ige’s latest emergency proclamation, released today. Although not currently available, the release will take effect as soon as it is determined by the director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, with details to be announced later.

To be eligible for the exemption, incoming passengers must upload to the state’s Safe Travels program or be otherwise valid, according to the proclamation, a vaccine regime approved by the DOH. Ige also allows provinces to require COVID-19 tests upon arrival, with tests paid for and administered by the provinces.

Safe Travels already requires travelers wishing to circumvent the ten-day self-guarantee period to receive a coronavirus test from an approved test partner within 72 hours of their final departure to the islands and to deliver a negative test result.

Maui County received approval from Ige earlier this week to require Pacific passengers to test quickly upon arrival at Kahului Airport, even if they get a negative result before the trip. Mayor Michael Victorino said it would take at least another two weeks before a test system was introduced at Maui Airport.