In countless comments, you’re still asking the same question. How will Hawaii treat travelers who have received COVID vaccines? Will there be any further requirements? When can we expect the new rules to take effect? We’ve got some more answers, and unfortunately, it may not be what you want to hear.
Latest: The target date has been moved to “Spring.”
Lieutenant Governor Josh Green indicated he now believes vaccination travel, both transpacific and interisland, will need to be postponed from February 1 to sometime in the Spring. He approached Governor Ige on his plan to eliminate both quarantine and testing for those who have received the vaccination, and that was the governor’s response. Green indicated that the state is awaiting results of a CDC report to confirm that those who have been vaccinated are not carriers.
Vaccination passport travel to Hawaii is obviously seen as great news for visitors and residents who want to travel more freely.
The Cleveland Clinic says regarding the vaccines, “We don’t know if getting immunity through vaccination also prevents you from being able to carry the virus asymptomatically and shed it, even if you yourself are protected.”
So can vaccinated people still spread COVID during travel?
While the current vaccines may prevent illness, that is somewhat unrelated to the issue Hawaii is next concerned about: transmission.
New terms to us are “sterilizing immunity” and “effective immunity.” If the vaccines don’t stop transmission, they only provide effective immunity, which means that further precautions will need to remain in place here in Hawaii and elsewhere. Multiple studies are in the process of determining just that.
It still isn’t known whether the vaccines control the virus completely in the nose and mouth. As with other types of vaccines, some create the needed Immunoglobulin A (IgA) transmission-prevention antibodies while others don’t.
However, if you don’t cough and don’t have a fever or other symptoms, you are still far less likely to transmit it, even without those antibodies. A recent study in monkeys indicated the current vaccines might in fact not provide sterilizing immunity. Other vaccines being developed have shown to provide it, but that would imply some further period of time would be required, perhaps even beyond Lt. Gov. Green’s spring estimation.
State legislature to become involved.
Last week, we indicated that the governor had largely taken over Hawaii travel rules as Green attends to the huge project of managing our state vaccination program. However, the legislature has a significant role to play in all of this, and we expect they may start taking control of the travel reigns when they reconvene starting tomorrow.
How will Hawaii vaccination travel work?
Proving vaccination obtained from virtually anywhere will be very different than proving negative test results from one of the limited number of Hawaii trusted (test) partners. Last month the US Dept. of Defense revealed its new Covid-19 vaccination record card, the “simplest” method of tracking vaccinations. That could well be what Hawaii requires when it approves vaccine passport travel, at least initially. The government said, “Everyone will be issued a written card that they can put in their wallet that will tell them what they had and when their next dose is due. Let’s do the simple, easy thing first. Everyone’s going to get that.”
Safe Travels and vaccinations.
How vaccination results get integrated into the Safe Travels program isn’t yet clear, but we assume that will happen. Hawaii established that system to track test results digitally. It is considered more secure than paper results.
Will mask mandates remain?
Regarding masks, Green said that while vaccinations will be a great boon, he anticipates Hawaii will nonetheless keep its mask mandate and other health safety measures in place for the foreseeable future, or until there is herd immunity in the islands. As he pointed out, we won’t know whether someone has or hasn’t been vaccinated, and vaccination will not be required.
IATA coming to the rescue for travel.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is looking at an app that would provide a global and standardized solution. This would validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements. The app would then be shown to border control. It would contain your personal ID, test certificate, lab verification, and an “OK” to travel message.
And another next-generation vaccination and testing portal.
More new technologies coming to the app stores also hope to become the global standard for vaccinations and tests. One such app in a trial is Commonpass. It provides secure and verified documentation of health status for travelers. Swiss International, JetBlue, United, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic Airlines is testing the app that is soon to be rolled out globally.
“A broad coalition of public and private partners is collaborating to launch CommonPass, a trusted, globally-interoperable platform for people to document their COVID-19 status (health declarations / PCR tests/ vaccinations) to satisfy country entry requirements while protecting their health data privacy.” The development consortium includes US Customs, CDC, and airlines. CommonPass confirms compliance with the specific current entry requirements and creates the scannable QR codes used in travel.
Revised on January 19, 2021
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Debra F. says
I have positive antibody test. What are they going to do with those that have already had the coronavirus and have antibodies and are protected by those?
Diana P says
I find it interesting that a state that is part of the United States of America is getting away with this. Just because you are an island does not mean you can put such harsh requirements on your own US citizens who pay federal taxes that go to support your state. No other state is doing this and it’s about time lawyers look into this as unethical and unconstitutional to almost ban citizens of your own country from entering without going through ridiculous measurements. I think if federal tax dollars to Hawaii were suddenly cut, the governor there would sing a different tune in a split second.
David B says
Diana,
Lot’s of state governors, red and blue states, have declared people must self quarantine for two weeks when entering their state, whether from anywhere, or from select other states. The only difference with Hawaii, and possibly Alaska, is you have to fly there. So, they can actually enforce it in Hawaii starting at the airport.
Our mainland home is in WY, just over border from Idaho. But we have no services/shopping, except over the Idaho side. Theoretically, we were supposed to quarantine 14 days when we’d go to the supermarket last spring. But, we’d always forget until we got home back over the border.
Forget about this “constitution” thing, or what’s left of it. It doesn’t apply if enough people are panicked or just don’t like the result. Perhaps you’ve noticed that?
Pauly says
Hello,so I’m coming from Oklahoma City heading to Oahu. I was wondering where can I go to get tested? When majority of the trusted partners are on the west coast.example: Washington or California
Tammy T says
Aloha!
Go to a Walgreens website and put in your location and you should be able to see area Walgreens that test. Make sure you understand exactly what test is acceptable in the state of Hawaii! Also there is a very strict window of 72 hrs to get tested and your results back in time. Good luck and I hope that helps you! PS I would not advise CVS as they can’t guarantee results in time.
PAM says
My husband and I will have completed our vaccination by feb 16,2021 and we plan to fly to Hawaii Feb 18-22 for his birthday and for a much needed vacation from being nurses. Pls tell me if our plan is possible without having to quarantine in Hawaii and when we get back to SF? Thanks!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Pam.
We have this comprehensive guide to Hawaii travel during COVID. Since the rules are island by island and you didn’t say where you are headed, please check there and let us know if you need further clarification on anything. We can’t speak for any rules on return to SF.
Aloha.
Janet Y says
Why does Hawaii need tourism….
At least 1,300 school-level positions, including nearly 800 teachers, librarians and counselors, and 48 school administrator slots, could disappear by June under the state Department of Education’s proposed reorganization plan, which is to be presented to the Board of Education on Thursday.
Tourism=Dollars+Jobs+Tax Revenue+Education funds+….
I understand the virus can be deadly to the elderly and infirm but wouldn’t it be easier to have that small portion of the population quarantine, and let the rest of the islands continue to thrive? Get that group vaccinated and go back to living free. There are approximately 253k people age 65 and older. An organized vaccination program could get them immunized in 30 days.
michael s. says
I may have missed it, but could you please tell me if the Islands have started vaccinating and if your suppply is adequate? Here in Ohio the available vaccines are running out quickly and it is reported that resupply is questionable. I am 70 so my turn is still in the future but if we continue at this pace, I may be waiting for at least another month. I know this has little to do with the subjects you normally address, I was just curious and wanting some info from first hand sources. Thanks for your contribution.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Michael.
We don’t know the answer. Sorry.
Aloha.
Stacy J. says
Sure glad we made reservations elsewhere for this year. Visiting Hawaii is now more work than its worth.
Alfred says
Stay safe, places that have lenient entry requirements like Mexico, have inadequate hospital facilities, should you fall ill.
Steve C. says
Well, that’s disappointing. My wife and I are both nurses and have had both vaccinations and were planning on coming in March. Made the reservations in December on the info that the governor was likely to approve a vaccination exception to quarantine. Really not interested in quarantining for the 1st 3 days at several hundred dollars a night, as we only have a little over a week anyway. Probably could have tolerated it if we could have done it at our chosen condo, but we really aren’t the resort type.
Really miss coming to Kauai, as we used to come often, but frankly it hasn’t been on our short list as we can travel so many other places, including internationally for so much less. This time we were able to find reasonable lodging and airfare , undoubtedly due to COVID. But, I guess it’s not to be.
Hello Costa Rica!
Beth C. says
The Orange County Airport just started the BD Veritor Plus System rapid antigen test. Is this on the approved list that Hawaii accepts?