Governor upended Hawaii Covid travel rules while Lt. Gov. add his thoughts on what we can expect next.
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Governor upended Hawaii Covid travel rules while Lt. Gov. add his thoughts on what we can expect next.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Well we fly to Oahu on April 1st, so I have no doubt that all changes will take place the week after we’ve returned home! I suspect there will be masking on planes for a while, but hope the capacity requirements for restaurants will be eased so reservations are more available. Thanks BOH for keeping us up to date on COVID requirements. I always recommend you to people who ask about travel to HI. You’ve done a great job throughout the pandemic.
Hi Lee.
Thanks for those kinds words! We appreciate your input on this, and nearly 100 comments to date.
Aloha.
Agreed! Without BOH I would have no idea what is going on! Thanks for being on it! As a home owner in Maui, We really appreciate you!!!
Hi Nita.
Thank you for the nice words. Happy travels!
Aloha.
As soon as Safe Travels ends, I’ll be looking to set a vacation date for Hawaii. Nice to see an end in sight and get back to some normalcy.
Dear Scott, I’ve been postponing my trip because I’ve been wanting things to cool down. Good things come to those who wait!!! 😊 Now I’m planning for July 2023🌞🕶🏖🌍✈🍍🥥🌺🌈❤💕📅🎈🎉🛍🎊🐢🐠 I’ve always wanted to go to Pearl Harbor to pay my respects because my Grandfather was in Navy & in Pearl Harbor!! He survived & lived for many, many years. I’m getting very super excited & I’m dreaming of the day when I’m sitting on 🛩 traveling to Hawaii❤🌺
Good timing for our trip back over in late April, but I’ll believe it if/when it actually happens. The airlines will be happy not having to keep paying staff to dole out wrist bands.
As for perpetuating mask theatre, this should be left up to individual businesses, like the vax card check on Kauai. People could choose where they want to shop/dine/work out, etc., accordingly. Maybe have special “masking” hours at the Costco for those scared of non-maskers.
The Federal funding of the Hawaiin State Safe Travel program ends in April. Could
that perhaps be the main driver behind the projection to discontinue the program in March/April ? Or has the “science” demonstrated clearly that covid 19 variants from here on out will be less virulent and life threatening and therefore the need for testing and prevention practices can be eliminated. I suspect money drives all as usual…
Its about dam time that the political officials grew some brains!
I spent over an hour trying to figure out this safe travels website and downloading all my stuff and then today this
The cat’s out of the bag. The masks and vaccines didn’t work. COVID still spread and that’s a good thing. Lots of folks walking around with natural immunity. I have to giggle at those who want masks and mandates still. Having recovered from COVID (unvaxxed, oh my, the horror), I’m safer than your vaxxed friends and family who haven’t been infected with this highly survivable virus. Mahalo for this terrific update. Now, if they could just lift everything by our trip next month 🤙
Quit putting out fake information! Over 900,000 people have died so far.
But did they die from or with Covid? CDC did not keep good records (which is so insane) but I hear they’re going to start now. At the end of the pandemic.
My Brother in law runs a Hospital & his sister runs The Biggest Hospital in my area-Anyone who came in, say Heart Attack- tested, if tested positive They counted as a Hospitalized Covid Patient! The numbers are Way Off! I know exactly how they tested & counted at these Hospitals. You will Never Know the Real Numbers because they are Super Inflated, & yes they did receive Money to “treat Covid Patients” so No effort to distinguish between True Cases and Real Cases & “Died with” or “Died Of”
Jennifer: Tell that to all the hundreds of thousands of people that have died! Just because you survived Covid does not mean everyone does! How selfish of you to rub your good fortune in everyone’s face that have had family members die a horrible suffering death. Maybe you should visit a hospital and see someone struggling to get one small breath or watch someone say goodbye to loved ones via Ipad. So terrible for you to brag.😢
Jennifer, your perspective that if you recovered it mustn’t be bad is hugely disrespectful to the many that haven’t been as lucky. Covid is like Russian Roulette, many many have lost. I hope you are more respectful when you visit.
Your comments…. Did you not hear that nearly 1,000,000 Americans have died from COVID–mostly unvaccinated? Or have you not heard the recent, factual statistic that the mortality rate for unvaccinated in America is 78x higher than the fully vaccinated?
Thank you, both for your timely updates. IMHO, HI is moving too quickly with lifting their restrictions, but only time will tell.
As for some of your readers who feel the virus is over or “no big deal” please review how viruses 🦠 spread. We may want to be done with COVID but it’s not done with us.
Mahalo
Hi Evan.
Thanks for your many comments including on this important topic.
Aloha.
Perhaps the Lt. Governor should have consulted you first before saying the worst is behind us. You must have information he doesn’t.
Ed, Perhaps you are a scientist? Excuse me, am I missing something?
“IMHO, HI is moving too quickly with lifting their restrictions”
I’m not the one who thinks he knows better than the Lt. Governor. Are you a scientist???
Having recovered from COVID within only the last 90 days is a ridiculous criterion. The latest Johns Hopkins study revealed people that had COVID 22 months ago still have antibodies. And 22 months is cited only because that’s how long COVID has been active. When will Hawaii, and the US government for that matter, recognize that acquired immunity from previous infection provides better protection than vaccines, as affirmed by at least 40 international studies, Johns Hopkins being one of them?
Thanks for the timely update. Thank goodness we did not get the booster. Makes sense he backed down, numbers are down everywhere, this pandemic is over.
Kudos to you for keeping everyone up to date!
“Thank goodness we did not get the booster.” Why? If you’ve already had the first and second dose, how would a third dose harm you? That’s some pretty goofy logic.
Get bloodwork done after each booster or shot. Note the section on lymphocytes, o cytes, etc down toward the bottom. This is your immune system and if you track these numbers they go down sometimes very dramatically with each jab. This is your innate immune system which you will need to fight cancer or any other ailment that your immune system is called on to fight.
Please keep the mask indoors mandate.
There are still many unvaccinated.
And people traveling from mainland
can be a source of spread,having more exposures from airports ect.
Mask mandates will help prevent worse spread if a surge develops.
Mainland is loosening restrictions too early could at least wait 2 weeks.
It’s been 2 years and masks have done nothing to prevent the spread. Feel free to wear yours forever, I am done with the nonsense.
It’s been noted many times by reputable sources that most masks do notation stop the spread of Covid, so let’s just be honest and eliminate the mandated masks. If you want to wear one that should be your choice. If you don’t wear one that should be your choice to. Too many Government fingers in the pot!
“Mainland is loosening restrictions too early could at least wait 2 weeks.”
So many internet experts on here that know more than all the cities and states health experts know and are now eliminating or greatly reducing restrictions and mandates. Including more and more states and European countries.
Stop the nonsense. The vaccine/booster and masks don’t work.
I think what you mean Joe is it’s possible to still get Covid if you’re vaxed. True, but less likely. However, the people dying from Covid are primarily the unvaxed.
That data is just not true. The jab does nothing to limit you from getting Covid. And the real data shows that people are dying with covid not because of covid and the Jab has nothing to do with that.
Joe, just be aware that the anti vax argument has been consistently proven to be misinformation over and over again (no Bill Gates isn’t tracking the vaccinated). On the other hand the medical profession and professional medical researchers are pretty much unanimous in disagreeing with your perspective.
The anti vax movement has killed a lot of people.
The antivax, fact checkers, misinformation drama is the nice way to say just get the jab. Look at the data, look at the science, start with the ‘COVID-19: A Second Opinion’ panel. If you want to get the jab go for, take as much as you’d like. But don’t force it on everyone. Funny how this will all end when the federal money stops. Build your immune system to fight a virus, don’t take the jab that they will tell you the science behind in in 75 rs.
Joe, The time has come that everyone has made up their mind and we need to move on. America isn’t and shouldn’t be a place were everyone has to think the same. Protect yourself with a jab, live healthy and improve your chances or just hope for the best. It’s time to move on and respect that we all aren’t the same.
Joe – you are spot on. For those who are interested, the recording he is quoting is chaired by Senator Ron Johnson and has a panel of expert doctors. It is posted on Rumble – it is over 5 hours, we watched it over 2 nights. It is a real eye opener. With all the information coming out on these shots, we will not be getting them again (we got the initial 2 unfortunately). But as you said, each person needs to decide – talk to your doctor and do what is best for you.
Cynthia, those “expert Doctors” you are talking about are at odds with the vast majority of reputable Doctors and medical researchers….Ron Johnson even more so for all the misinformation he has spread. He’s simply playing to the source of were he thinks he can get the most votes. Lack of integrity.
JohnW why do you think they are at odds? Goes against the machine and Dr Fauci’s. Look at the data and facts they are showing and make your own educated decision. Not just because they are at odds.
Actually Joe you are partially correct, the people dying from Covid that are vaccinated are often dying of other issues, they just had Covid. It didn’t kill them…. The people that are dying of Covid are the unvaccinated.
It prevents you from getting seriously I’ll and requiring icu. Why is this so hard to understand ?
It’s amazing isn’t it, yet there are people that believe in Chemtrails, the election lie and believe it or not there are people that believe the earth is flat.
A lot of vulnerable people have been scammed. Sad.
Then let the individuals decide. An experimental jab that “may” limit how sick I am and who knows what it can cause or natural immunity? Leave it up to the people.
Aloha Rob & Jeff.
Mahalo for your continuous updates.
My sense is that some sort of ‘normality’ is approaching. If we all take personal precaution then we might get beyond COVID. Mind you, it’s only fair to say the darned thing hasn’t exactly gone away, but perhaps the new variants are not causing as much havoc. Stay watchful and be reasonably careful and, I trust, all will be well.
Keep safe and well yourselves.
Hi Michael.
Great to hear from you. Just thinking that is things return to normal, we all will be the regulars on that upcoming lhr-hnl route. A hui Hou.
Aloha.
Yikes! I don’t know how you’re able to keep up with all the latest in travel requirements and changes! But you do an amazing job and I thank you!! Covid truly is a novel virus and even this latest news is probably subject to change. Thanks also for your personal recommendations of getting boosted-good advice. Mahalo!
Hi Toni.
Thank you! Happy travels.
Aloha.
I’m hoping all of this mask and vaccination goes away as I have been coming to Maui every year since 2001. I call Maui my 2nd. Home . Its my favorite place to be.
If people are that paranoid Stay Home.
We’re in Big Island this week and Maui last week – having an amazing time, and we’re appreciating the masking requirements everywhere, which seem to be taken in stride by everyone — it’s just not a big deal to be compliant. The Safe Travels program was also no big deal, and truthfully it helped confirm our decision to go ahead with this trip. I hope it stays in place longer. We’ve received a lot of aloha here, and hope we’ve given some back!
Right around the time when primary elections about to start
They want those tourist dollars back.
Aloha,
I wish I could say what I want to here but I simply cannot and expect to further my lively hood.
Mahalo for sharing
That would be ridiculous!! People here need confirmation of full vaccination at a minimum
or we will see quick increases in Covid cases that will just put further pressures on the
Healthcare system and economy
When will you understand that vac and booster does not prevent civid or stop you from spreading it
When will you understand that the vaccination and booster keep you from dying and/or causing a severe over burden of our healthcare system and personnel. There are very few vaccinations that totally prevent a disease. Vaccination not only helps you from getting severely ill or dying but it also helps prevent the disease from mutating to a more dangerous and contagious strain. If the hospitals are full of unvaccinated Covid patients, they cannot treat other emergencies.
It’s the healthcare system. The more healthcare staff is infected, the fewer folks available for care. And for those with a number of comorbidities, it can be deadly and has been to people I know.
With due respect, you might want to look at Israel, who mass vax xed their population a couple months before others, & many have had 4 shots there. Their numbers are still jumping in mostly vaxxed citizens:
israelnationalnews.com/news/321674
CindyM: yes numbers are up in Israel but it is the 14% that are unvaccinated that are filling up the hospitals especially ICUs. Israel has had over 3 million cases but only 9337 deaths while the US has had over 77 million cases and 910,205 deaths. Vaccinations help keep you alive and out of the hospital, not from contracting Covid altogether. I am not absolutely sure about the number of unvaccinated in US, but I bet it is way over Israel’s 14%.
The healthcare system here on the Big Island is overwhelmed by those who refuse to defend themselves against the fork and spoon. Too much over-eating, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and general lack of self-control by the locals should be the next “mandate” to keep the hospitals from being “overburdened”. Let’s stop kidding ourselves…the drunk driving and poor diets shouldn’t be rewarded by our health care system. If the unvaxxed shouldn’t get healthcare neither should the foodblisters.
Vaccinations are a completely inappropriate treatment for airborne illnesses, that’s why there’s never been a cure for the common cold. What people should worry about is when are bioweapon labs going to be secured where thousands of viruses sit on shelves waiting to be released by governments that propose cures that violate every basic principle of Virology. How about #1 rule of Virology…. Never quarantine healthy people. 26 peer reviewed articles on masks and viruses ineffective
I’m beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully all restrictions will end before summer. We plan to be in big island & Oahu in May. Thank you BOH for keeping us up to date with current safe travel requirements. I always check your site before I plan for travel to HI.
Hi Ina.
Thanks. We hope that is true and that you’ll have a great time on your vacation.
Aloha.
I was gifted a trip to Hawaii for my 60th birthday by our 4 children. We have had to cxl the trip three times. The last was the first week in Jan we lost over $500 from one of the airbnb spots. We followed all the rules, I’m vaxed but my wife had covid in September and had the test however could not get on the flight because she did not get the results until the 69th hour. With no flights available we cxled. Hope you all will cut all restrictions.
About time.
Is the safe travels website ending in April for sure
Thank you
Hi Greg.
No one know yet. Stay tuned.
Aloha.
Not to be too insensitive here, and I’m familiar with HIPAA laws, but someone might want to have Gov. Ige evaluated. In most societies, he’d be involuntarily committed.
Hard to believe he was elected.
I will continue to be careful and cautious. I will be getting my third shot within a couple of weeks and I’m very happy about it. Those who think freedom is being careless, I can only wish you good luck … and stay a bit away from me 😉
Seems like the correct the to do, cases are dropping, everything that can be done has been done to mitigate COVID’s impact on Hawaii and it’s time to get on with our lives.
The chances of dying from COVID have gone way down and the vaccines are saving lives if that’s your choice. It’s gonna get crowded very soon……..
Dear John, I agree. I’ve been postponing my trip & it looks like I’ve been doing the right things. Things are looking up!
This is the best news I’ve heard all day! Can’t wait til
It’s fully implemented and the mask mandate goes away like other states are doing. If it continues with this positive trend, I’ll be back in the islands this year after all!
Lol, wait until they have no choice but shot down everything again..
Interesting that there is no mention of the Federal funding (which ends 4/1/22) that allows the Safe Travels program to run. Its safe to say that Safe Travels will end when the money stops coming in, not when the Gov says so.
It’s right there in the blog post, quoting Ige:
“If conditions require the continuation of Safe Travels, federal funding will continue to support the program.”
Translation: “The condition required for the continuation of Safe Travels is more federal funding.”
It is truly astonishing how quickly Hawaii can respond when the science (polling and/or political narrative) changes.
There is a message in this for those that take time and reflect upon it all.
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”
― Ernest Benn
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again & expecting a different result. No one knows what the next variant will be like – how infectious & how lethal – but the only assured things are a) there will be other variants and thus b) declaring the pandemic “over” is idiocy. Maybe we’ll luck out and the next variants will be no more lethal than the coronaviruses that we associate with the common cold – but we’ll not bet our $$ and health to find out.
So what’s your solution Bill M? Should we go back to hiding under our beds or cringing in our closets?
Thank you again BOH for staying above the current political discourse and providing solid info regarding Hawaii travels. Hope to see you soon in Kauai.
Hi Curtis.
Thanks. We look forward to your return.
Aloha.
The solution is to live life but cautiously. Meaning masks, social distancing and vaccines.
We’ll be back to Kauai again in April and May, like we we’re last year. Hopefully with no Safe Travels and no masks or vaccine cards. Can’t wait. Hope the good news holds up. It should since the midterms are just around the corner!!!
I’m with you, Curtis. Let’s take our chances. I believe we’re closer to the influenza variant now then ever.
This virus, which is now miraculously appearing to move between animals at a never before seen rate (and I’m sure is not related to any “gain of function research paid for by the US), will probably be weak enough not to kill most (but not everyone).
Here’s to betting everyone’s life (but mine or my family’s – not willing to do that!) that it’ll be okay! 👍
Best of luck!
For me and my family, we will take whatever vaccines are advised to protect against the next variant or the one after that, we will avoid indoor poorly ventilated spaces where there is significant community spread and wear at least a medical quality mask when we need to be in such spaces. Basically, what scientifically informed countries with order of magnitude and greater lower mortality rates have done and will continue doing.
So The price of freedom from wearing masks and getting vaccinated is now the lives of 900,000 Americans. Mahalo to BOH and it’s commenters for supporting this sad version of freedom.
Mahalo! Great news. My wife & I just booked 2 weeks in May to look at condos with our Hawaii Life agent. Hopefully the Safe Travels program will be gone by then. We plan to retire in Kauai this year. Thank you for all of your valuable and informative stories. BTW you have my email address. I’d love to meet you guys in May. Aloha
Hi Tom.
Thanks. We look forward to meeting you.
Aloha.
Why would anyone lean on this latest” slender Ige reed” and buy airline tickets to Hawaii again? I’ll refocus my travel planning time and money toward a more reliable vacation spot. Enjoy the no mask/ no vaccination ” artificial constructs” as the cruise ships arrive again.No doubt someone will then being whining again for “government” to come to the rescue. Hard to fathom how smallpox & polio were ever eradicated. Constructive amnesia is Covid’s best travel companion.
Covid is not like small pox or polio, so there’s that.
Really? According to history, 400000 died of smallpox annually and only 3000 of polio in year one. Both led to massive vaccines for the people. So there’s that.
Covid is very different from smallpox and polio. That being said, back when those diseases were around more, people believed their doctors and cared about each other enough to not want to give anyone a deadly disease. Almost everyone got their vaccination eagerly with no whining and cries of “it’s my body and I won’t get vaccinated “. Everyone is tired of this disease and over 900,000 people have died and their families wish they still had them to talk to.
Sounds like Hawaii needs money now….
Are the Safe Travels Form still a necessity?
The key word in the headline and in the post is “PLAN.” Nothing changed today. So the Safe Travels requirements remain the same until there is an announcement the plan has turned into a decision and an end date.
I hope Safe Travels has ended by the time I arrive in Honolulu on February 24. But I am not expecting anything to change or the program to be canceled in just 16 days. If it is canceled by then, I will be pleasantly surprised, along with all of the rest of us who want to visit.
🌺Aloha Libs, the Health questionnaire form has been eliminated if that’s what you’re talkin about
Aloha and mahalo for this great news!! I am relieved that my friend can come over in 3 wks with no more loopholes to jump through. It’s been very hard on her brain as with many others. I am looking forward to our trip to show her the island which is my second home. Stay safe and cool!!
BOH this is just great news!!! Have been hoping Safe Travels might be discontinued. Fingers crossed it doesn’t change again…thanks for keeping us updated!
Hi Maur.
Thanks. Yes, things are certainly looking up.
Aloha.
As predicted, once Governor Ige got the OK, of course he still has the convenience of “Federal Funds” to continue Safe Travels, despite the PCR now being exposed!
I really hope this is the case. I have been putting off visiting Kauai due to the constantly shifting requirements. I’m starting to feel cautiously hopeful that I may be able to put Hawaii back on my Vacation itinerary.
🌺Aloha David, I’ve been postponing my trip as well because I’ve been wanting things to cool down. I’m planning on coming to Oahu in 2023!! 🏖✈🌍🥥🍍🌈📅🎈😍🐢🕶
Could sanity be breaking out? Be still my beating heart!
Now I can concentrate on getting my Dunn and Bradstreet approval rating to be worthy of being a Hawaii visitor “in good standing”.
Great comment!!!!
“He (Rep. Quinlan) said that Hawaii Turo makes Hawaii travel more affordable, and that isn’t something that he wants going forward.”
Indeed, please be sure to send Rep Quinlan your last five years tax returns for consideration before his soon to be established Hawaiian Visitation Approval Committee.
“The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance”
– Samuel Butler, English Author
Fantastic news. But, what’s to develop? Just end it. No need for more government bureaucracy.
Just more evidence that this thing is done. Israel, UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden have all called an end to the pandemic.
I’m glad that the governor is finally waking up Masks and social distancing are artificial constructs of the government trying to control the people.
Sure all those hospitals bursting at the seams and the 900,000 deaths didn’t require any government involvement….
DP: if the media and government hadn’t have instilled fear 24/7 about the virus you wouldn’t have had as many people going to the hospital getting incorrect treatments which further worsened their symptoms. They would have thought it was just another cold and that there was nothing hospitals/doctors could do and ride it out on their own. We have lost 600,000 more people in one year doing the same thing over and over again. It’s time for the government and media to take a break and back off.