Hawaii joined the rest of the country late yesterday and moved closer to CDC guidance, as Governor Ige proclaimed that masks are no longer required outdoors, period. The new rules have immediate effect and apply to everyone in Hawaii. However, that has in no way changed the indoor mask mandate, which as of today, continues to be in effect statewide.
This comes both as Hawaii moves into synch with the other states eliminating mask mandates. In addition, Hawaii’s vaccination program continues with upcoming incentives to encourage residents not yet vaccinated to get the shot.
The health department said that wearing a mask in large outdoor settings is still recommended while not required. Also, an increase in the size of permitted gatherings is likely coming soon. All of the counties are looking at that now.
The governor also said Tuesday that restrictions on outdoor water sports would be eliminated starting June 1. That means that events such as regattas and surf competitions, among other things, can resume.
“Surfing and outrigger canoe paddling are so much more than sports. They are a part of our culture and a way of life. I look forward to seeing our kids out in the water competing in surf contests and regattas again.” — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz said in a statement.
When will indoor mask requirements end in Hawaii?
CDC has already indicated that those vaccinated are not required to wear masks indoors or outdoors, except in limited situations.
At present, about 50% of Hawaii residents are fully vaccinated, with 70% partially vaccinated. However, the state appears determined not to eliminate indoor mask requirements until some unknown number of additional residents are vaccinated.
Ige said, “Until more are vaccinated, we must continue to take precautions indoors and in large groups because those actions are important to slow the spread.” The Health Department director confirmed the governor’s decision-making, saying, “We want to do it when it’s safe. What we’re really watching is the rate of vaccines.”
July 4 start of vaccination travel for visitors is still on.
There is no indication of any wavering in the state’s plans to allow fully vaccinated travelers, including those from the mainland, to travel here without any further restrictions.
Sadly, The true economic consequences are yet to be felt. Even if droves of visitors come back to the islands – will it be enough?
Inflation and evictions will hurt so many – not just Hawaii. :0(
Not just the renters and homeowners, but also the rental property owners. How would you like to have rental property and be unable to collect a cent of rent for over a year? How do you hang on? Or how about investing a ton of retirement money into a condo that you thought you could rent out to help make payments – only to find that YOU get to make the payments with no income from the property. (wish we had that problem, ha ha) But, it really isn’t that funny.
So, ultimately, the rich will get richer (those who HAVE $$$$ will be able to buy property for a song) and the poor (the renters, folks behind on their house payments, rental property owners who don’t have enough ‘back up’ to survive) will get poorer and have a hard time finding a reasonable place to live.
And so it goes…….
But, on a happier note, at least folks have come to their senses about masks. They don’t really protect. They just make you think you are ‘doing something’ when there wasn’t much we could do.
Masks DO help prevent the spread and the only reason that is being lifted is due to the amount of responsible people who are fully vaccinated. Why do doctors and nurses wear masks if they dont work. Please study some science
As for mortgages specifically there are forbearances which can help ease the pain but many home owners apparently don’t know that is available.
Paul
Wearing a mask outdoors is like putting sunscreen on at night.
Navigating a government program to get mortgage relief is a nightmare. Almost 3 million households are at least 3 months behind on their mortgage payments. 8 million renters are at least 3 months behind on their rent payments.
Also millions are in default on their automobile loans I’m not aware of any relief program for those people.
Do you think individuals that exhaust their mortgage forbearance options will start making their payments? Experts are saying when these options run out the housing market is going to be flooded with repo’d homes.
This is a looming crisis its going to be really bad..
Richard,
I never did get the outdoor mask rules. I do get them if your in close proximity just to be safe. But to walk on the beach you have to wear a mask? I have not once outside Unless there was no way to socially distance worn a mask.
I did a three month forbearance. It was as easy as contacting my mortgage holder, signing paperwork and I was considered on time with my payments thru the entire thing. They handled everything. SO for me it was very easy to do. All I am saying is with some effort help is there.
I was offered to skip car payments for up to a year if needed which fortunately I did not need that relief. I think many figure its just going to be too hard so they dont try. Now if one was already way behind which i was not I dont know how that works or if its harder.
“Do you think individuals that exhaust their mortgage forbearance options will start making their payments?” If they are working absolutely. I had to pay three months to straight to be considered whole and the three months will show up at the end of my mortgage.
You are right about one thing. With eviction moratoriums being lifted many many could be come homeless over night. Hopefully there is help. We pay taxes and I dont consider any money the government gives back to me/us free its tax money I/we have paid into the system.
Here in Portland where I live its estimated that 50 to 100 thousand could be homeless if something isnt worked out.
I am guessing that many who are defaulting already had financial issues prior to covid but covid shutdowns made it even worse. The government laid out billions of dollars for rent relief, mortgage relief etc.
I am also guessing the reason mine went so smoothly is my great credit rating. My bank actually contacted me about my car loan and offered up to 6 months no payment but interest accruing. I turned that down as I really didnt need that money.
This is where our government can step in and save all of those who are in default and help them start over again with a fresh slate.
We need the infrastructure plan to roll out and soon as that will create millions of jobs.
Paul
It’s great that you were able to take advantage of a forbearance program I’m not concerned about an individual like yourself you stay informed and make good thought out fiscal decisions.
The reason you’re able to take advantage of these programs is do to liquidity in the market place. Mostly pumped in by the feds printing of money.
This economy has all the ear marks of the mid 2000’s. Soaring home prices, an over valued stock market and now inflation which will lead to higher interest rates a tightened money supply and tightened credit restrictions.
I’m a car dealer today I was speaking to a friend that runs a Dodge dealership. A year ago they couldn’t give away HellCats which are a 70k to 80k Dodge Challenger. They had a ton of prior year models discounting 20k off.
Today he can’t keep them in stock they’re now selling for 10k over sticker.
Do your history and you’ll find that what’s going on today always leads to tough economic times. My guess is after the mid terms the economy is going to go south. Maybe worse then the great recession.
Richard I hear you. Yes things are going to get way worse before they get better.
Colleen,
Folks ran around with hair on fire saying the same thing when Hawaii was shut down. “Oh, it’s going to RUIN Hawaii’s economy!” and “no one is ever coming back to Hawaii”, and “they will never recover from this”, etc. Certainly, there was pain, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t the economic disaster that folks like you predicted. Visitors aren’t QUITE back to pre-pandemic levels, but they are definitely coming back. Since that didn’t happen, now it’s “well, it’s GOING to happen, the impact just hasn’t been felt yet”. Again, I’m not saying that some of the housing issues you referred to won’t be happening. But there ARE some programs in place to dull the impact for people. In the end, when history gets written, I suspect what we will see is that from an economic standpoint it will have been BAD, but not the doomsday that folks like Collen want to turn it into. Personally, I just want to know what’s happening, I’ll let the government of Hawaii decide how best to keep their citizens safe, and to help blunt the economic impact. I’m just a visitor there, enjoying the Aloha and the beautiful place for a few weeks out of the year. So I’ll jump through whatever hoops that Hawaii puts in place to safeguard its residents. It’s not the end of the world, and all of this clutching of pearls and complaining about it is exhausting to have to dig through in order to get to the latest information on what those requirements are in order for me to get on with my Hawaii vacation.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Life is full of choices.
To the woke Hawaii crowd, it’s Rob and Jeff’s Hawaiian travel site they chose who gets posted on their site if they feel an anti island comment is inappropriate they will not post it here.
I know this, because they’ve found a couple of my comments inappropriate, so they didn’t post it.
Second covid is not contracted during outdoor activity the CDC said as much last week. Conclusion outdoor mask wearing doesn’t protect you from contracting covid, because no one has contracted covid from an open air outdoor socially distance activity.
We used to call this giving people their personnel space. Remember that…..
Scientific evidence is your best chance of contracting covid is prolonged exposure, more than 15 minutes, in an indoor environment aka church, work place, packed bar, senior care facilities which killed thousands etc.
Weddings, large parties and any event where there is a lot of hugging or human to human fluid contact have also been big spreaders of the virus. No different than cold and flu season.
Look at the recent latest surge on Kauai from a bar and a large party event.
That’s how you catch covid.
Third other than Hawaii, lockdown states verses non lockdown covid infection rates are comparable. California a lockdown states infection rate is about the same as Florida’s a non lockdown state rate.
Forth there are no winners, other then big corporate, to the non-lockdown state crowd you suffered human lose to Hawaii it caused economic crisis which hasn’t fully come home to roost.
This is not over for Hawaiian residents who are really going to feel the economic impact when mortgage foreclosures and rental eviction covic mandate’s are lifted. That’s when the human crisis is going to hit Hawaii hard.
Hi Richard.
We appreciate your well over 100 comments to date.
Aloha.
Thank you so much for all this information. This is all great news. We are planning to do our family reunion in July on the Big Island (postponed from last summer) and we are thrilled to be visiting. Just to put in my two cents about indoor masks. I live in a state that got rid of indoor and outdoor masks altogether. However, I also have 2 children under 12 yo who are obviously not eligible for vaccination. It is overwhelming to walk into stores with them and be surrounded by people without masks, not knowing who is vaccinated or not. Since indoors in the main way that people get covid, I really appreciate the continuation of masks indoors at least until more people are vaccinated (and eligible to be vaccinated). Although individual stores can make their own policies regarding masks, I think it is a huge burden on store employees to try to enforce store mask policies if the state says they are not needed.
This is great news! Looks like with a little luck, by the time we head to the Big Island at the end of August things will be getting closer to “normal” and being fully vaccinated we will be able to breeze through the airport like usual. that’s for the timely updated BOH!!
Hi Joerg.
Yes, good news and that should improve by your August trip to the B.I. Thanks for all of your comments.
Aloha.
Oh you guys, I echo the comments, except Florida John. and thank you so much for the info and the positive attitude. Hoping for October/Novermber. Again thanks so much.
Mary M
Hi Mary.
Thanks! We appreciate our dozens of comments and look forward to your returning to the islands later this fall.
Aloha.
If a mainlander is fully vaccinated, is testing within 72 hours upon arrival still required?
Currently yes. But stay tuned, there is a possibility that us changing in July 🤷🏼♀️
Forever Maskers hit hardest.
Aloha!
We arrived Tuesday at the Kona Airport. Deplaning was pretty quick – people who have been vaccinated had to show their card and were allowed to leave. Those who were not vaccinated had to take a Covid test. You do not self-administer the nasal swab test, but they were extremely gentle & only swabbed the inside of your nose (thank goodness not up into your sinuses). They will only call you if you tested positive.
There was no line to take the shuttle to the rental car lot and no line to get our car. It took less than 15 minutes! (We we’re prepared for a 1-3 hour wait.) It was a lot faster and easier than all the other times we’ve been here.
When checking into our hotel they needed to see the 2 boxes below our Hawaii Safe Travels QR code that states we tested negative. The hotels do not any way to scan the QR codes, so they will need to see the complete screen on your cell phones.
We’re surprised how busy and crowded our hotel and the Waikoloa resort area is. It’s great seeing our hotel employee friends and very happy for them that they are back to work. And we are more than happy we are back on the Big Island!!!
Mahalo again BoH for all your invaluable info! It’s tremendously appreciated!
Hi Mignon.
Thanks. We appreciate your report and hope you are having a great time on the Big Island.
Aloha.
Hi BOH,
First off, thanks for all the updates in regards to all the rule changes covering Covid19.
I just wanted to clarify something….we are currently coming to Oahu next month for 8 days and do plan on getting tested 72 hours prior to arrival. We then plan on flying from Oahu to the Big Island for 4 days. Even though my entire family will be fully vaccinated by then, is it correct that we will still need to be tested 72 hours before our flight to the Big Island (since we weren’t vaccinated in Hawaii), but can avoid an additional post arrival Covid19 test if we show our vaccination cards?? Any info you can provide would be appreciated.
Mahalo!
Hi Eric.
Yes, your understanding is correct all the way around, as of today.
Aloha.
Things are looking up.
Indeed they are S.H.!! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!♡♡♡
I’m pleased to see the ability to release restrictions. As irritating as masks, social distancing, etc., are, or were, I applaud Hawaii for using a measured, science based approach to getting back to pre-pandemic normal life. It was, and still is, frustrating that the target keeps moving but this has been an evolving situation that none of us has experienced. Because of what Hawaii was/is doing we felt safe when we visited Kauai in March. Thank you!
Your Governor and Let. Governor has single handedly ruined the economy and they economic lives of tens of thousands there. It’s sad that they never missed a taxpayers paycheck through it all. Florida is basically a small island as well and they Governor here made the right call months ago to open up the economy full scale. Maybe your top two idiots there should have went to Harvard as well, but based on their actions these past 15 months, I doubt they would have been accepted, and rightfully so.
John come on Seriously.
WRONG Florida is connected directly to the mainland Hawaii in case you had not noticed is in the middle of the pacific ocean with very few quick resources available and very limited Hospital capacity.
Had Hawaii stayed open and half of its population died it wouldnt matter what kind of economy they have or had. Florida and your governor specifically has actively hidden and skewed the numbers of cases and deaths in Florida. This is a fact. We have had 600,000 citizens die of Covid19. Had the country not locked down the way it did that number would be in the millions and indeed may actually be since many did not go to the hospital when feeling ill.
whats with the name calling of the governors of Hawaii? Totally uncalled for. This has been a very difficult situation all the way around and each state has the RIGHT to make their own calls on how things happen in their state.
Again Please look at a map. Hawaii is in the middle of the pacific ocean and Florida is directly connected to mainland USA so your diatribe here is just that.
For everyone of YOU there are 100 of us who are happy and ready to head to Hawaii. I am planning to spend as much money as I am able to help stimulate the local economy which this is what its supposed to be all about right? Stay in Florida please and leave BOH alone since you obviously have zero plans of traveling to Hawaii.
Bravo, Paul C.
thank you. It gets really old
Paul,
Thanks for being a voice of reason. I’m SO tired of hearing about how wonderful Florida is. If you love Florida so much John and hate Hawaii, don’t go to Hawaii! More room for the rest of us to enjoy the Aloha there. But all this Hawaii bashing is getting SO TIRESOME to have to listen to on a site that’s about traveling to Hawaii.
Thank you for all the helpful info!
Thanks for the updates regarding the ‘ongoing covid saga.’
Has anyone extrapolated the number of residents who have probably already HAD COVID? Those who have had the disease already have immunity. Does anyone really think that these same folks are going rush to get the vaccine too? I seriously doubt it.
As per post: “We want to do it when it’s safe. What we’re really watching is the rate of vaccines.” Why are they not watching the rate of deaths and hospitalizations? If people are not sick and dying…………
Also, could you please clarify: If we are vaccinated – is pre and post testing no longer required? That is our hope.
Aloha and Mahalo for all your hard work!
Hi Colleen.
Good to hear from you. Start packing; looking forward to seeing you again. For today, post-arrival testing will be waived for those vaccinated on Maui and the Big Island. Pre-travel testing hasn’t changed yet, but the elimination of that for those vaccinated is planned to start about July 4.
Aloha.
WONDERFUL. Will start packing ha ha
Indeed they are S.H.!! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!♡♡♡God Bless you….Psalms 91:11♡♡ Enjoy your trip whenever you do go!!
So I should be good come sept. on Labor Day weekend? 😊
Aloha-Has it been discussed exactly how your paper vaccination card will make it to the Safe Travels site? Do you take a photo of it?
Mahalo!
Hi Jon.
Yes, that is the likely scenario for now. But nothing official on how that will work when opened to all travelers. We should know more very soon.
Aloha.
Aloha Rob and Jeff! It looks like things are going in a more positive direction for the first time in a long time.
I’m amazed by your stellar updates and the way you handle everything with grace and kindness.
To say that the past year has been trying at best, is an understatement.
You’ve helped all of us navigate unfamiliar waters.
As this saga continues, mahalo for all you do.
Stay blessed 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thank you so much. Your hundreds of comments are uplifting, to say the least.
Aloha
Dear Pam, well said!! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year!!!♡♡♡♡can’t wait God bless 🙏 you….Psalms 91:11
Thank you for this update. That is good news!
Indeed it is Jonl!!
Mahalo for this great news. This is a welcome respite from the stories of police ticketing people on Kaanapali Beach boardwalk that I’ve been seeing lately. Given what we know about outdoor transmission’s low risks, it’s the right call, and I’m happy to see the state making it.
So exciting to see Hawaii finally returning to some semblance of normalcy, however slowly. Hopefully by the time September rolls around we’ll be able to return for our 15th trip with no restrictions!
Aloha, BOH!
Hi Ed.
Thanks. We look forward to your being able to return in September.
Aloha.
Dear Ed, have a great trip whenever you go!!♡♡
This is great news! Thank you for sharing this. We look forward to visiting Maui in late June. I understand the mayor there had previously issued a separate mask order for people outdoors. Is that still in effect?
Hi Matt.
This elimination of masks outdoors is statewide and supersedes any other orders.
Aloha,
Aloha, I am so happy to finally hear the news I have been waiting for. See all it took was time and patience. Let’s all Slow down and enjoy LIFE!!! Mahalo for the updates and cheerful responses.
Hi Debra.
Thanks. We appreciate your comments and nice words!
Aloha.
Dear Debra, I’ve been waiting for this news too as well! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year♡♡♡♡
Debra, well said my friend! Blessings to you:)
Good morning from beautiful upstate NY and thank you for what you do to help keep us all informed.
My wife and I will be traveling to Oahu on June 25th for an 11 night stay. Currently we are required to provide a negative Covid-19 test that has been administered within 72 hours. We will be flying Hawaiian Air direct from Boston. Also, we are both fully vaccinated. Is it likely that the vaccine requirement will be waived by this time?
Thank you…
Hi Robert.
The date we continue to hear is July 4. Thus it is not likely that you will be exempt from testing requirements for June 25. Hope to know more soon.
Aloha.
Aloha Robert, have a wonderful trip when you do go!! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!!♡♡
This is fantastic news!!! Wish they had dropped the testing for those vaccinated but this is excellent!!! June 4 Hawaii here we come!