Dreaming of a Hawaii vacation? You’ll no longer need proof of a COVID vaccine or test
Hawaii is dropping its COVID-19 travel restrictions for those in the U.S. dreaming of a tropical getaway.
Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test won’t be needed for domestic travelers as of March 26 to enter the state, Gov. David Ige announced March 1. The quarantine requirement is also ending for travelers without vaccine proof or a negative test.
The state’s indoor mask mandate will remain in place “for now,” Ige said.
The upcoming update to Hawaii’s Safe Travels program comes after Ige discussed a potential plan to start requiring booster shots for incoming U.S. travelers in late January, McClatchy News reported.
“We’ve worked hard to protect our community. But the pandemic isn’t over,” Ige wrote March 1. “You don’t need an emergency proclamation to take precautions to keep yourself and your family healthy.”
“If you feel sick – don’t go out. Don’t travel. If you have COVID symptoms, get tested.”
The governor’s travel announcement came one day before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 Community Level data, which shows community virus levels by counties and recommends preventative measures based on them.
“As of March 3 more than 90% of the U.S. population is in a location with low or medium COVID-19 Community Level,” the CDC said in a statement. The agency will update its data each Thursday.
This means roughly 10% of the country lives in an area with a high COVID-19 Community Level where mask-wearing is recommended while indoors in public.
The CDC’s map shows the entire state of Hawaii colored green with a low COVID-19 Community Level. For green communities, the agency recommends staying up to date on vaccinations and getting tested if one feels sick.
Ultimately, Gov. Ige said in his travel announcement to do what’s “pono,” a Hawaiian word that commonly means “righteousness.”
“We’ve seen how variants can cause case counts to spike. Please remember to do what’s pono. It’s taken our entire community to get to this point, and will continue to be a collective effort to keep pressing forward,” Ige wrote.
Hawaii’s state motto is “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” or “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Dreaming of a Hawaii vacation? You’ll no longer need proof of a COVID vaccine or test."
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