News just in this afternoon is that the request from island mayors, legislators, and others for a 2nd test 72 hours after arrival and quarantine until then, has been firmly rejected by Hawaii Governor Ige. Hawaii travel will resume starting October 15, as previously planned. A single approved test within 72 hours of travel to Hawaii will be required to avoid quarantine.
Kauai Mayor Kawakami said, “…While this news is disappointing, we have said since day one that we must be flexible and ready to adapt to our ever-changing environment in order to keep our community safe. Today is no different. We will keep moving forward and utilize our resources to help protect our residents… Our proposed pilot was intended to augment the state’s pre-travel testing program. Our county administration has been clear that a single pre-arrival testing program alone does not provide the needed level of protection for our Kauai community.”
But, Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, the Hawaii official in charge of travel testing had said that no one will come to Hawaii with a second post-arrival testing with quarantine. We concur as did Governor Ige.
We are still awaiting an update on inter-island testing and quarantine.
At present, there is a 14-day quarantine in effect when flying from Honolulu to the neighbor islands as well as between neighbor islands. When asked today about the status of changes to that, Green said, “That’s between the mayors and the governor.”
Lieutenant Governor warns on further travel delays.
Green unambiguously admonished Hawaii today, regarding any further delays to reopening. He said, “If we are not comfortable opening up our economy safely, and we have to delay all the way until May because we will not have a vaccine, then there will be incredible consequences.”
When will we get more details needed by travelers about Hawaii’s reopening?
Governor Ige said earlier today that there will be a press conference with details coming “by mid-week.”
Today’s news should instill confidence in Hawaii travel shareholders.
It has been abundantly clear that airlines, accommodation providers, and others have been waiting for this clarification in order to begin final preparation for reopening in earnest. That can now begin.
my wife Shelley lives in Honolulu. She’s a local, born and raised and works in Honolulu. I live on the mainland currently. When she visits and returns, what should she expect? Thank you.
Jack
Hi Jack.
We should have an update later today.
Aloha.