Hawaii [may] require booster to be fully vaccinated and avoid quarantine

[DianeG]

Ige official announcement today: no booster.

Ige Says No Covid Booster Shot Needed To Come To Hawaii - Honolulu Civil Beat

Gov. David Ige's decision comes as the state's seven-day average number of coronavirus cases plummeted 75%.

www.civilbeat.org

 

[csodjd]

Ige official announcement today: no booster.

Ige Says No Covid Booster Shot Needed To Come To Hawaii - Honolulu Civil Beat

Gov. David Ige's decision comes as the state's seven-day average number of coronavirus cases plummeted 75%.

www.civilbeat.org

Should probably be a new thread, "Hawaii Won't require booster to be fully vaccinated and avoid quarantine."

 

[TheHolleys87]

Great! Now to find out whether SafeTravels is going away and what will be in its place — no quarantine at all, or long lines to check vaccination status of every individual arriving and give them an exemption?

 

[csodjd]

Great! Now to find out whether SafeTravels is going away and what will be in its place — no quarantine at all, or long lines to check vaccination status of every individual arriving and give them an exemption?

I’d guess that SafeTravels is not going away anytime soon. The sense I get here as I sit in Waikiki is that the changes they are making are -because- of vaccinations, not in spite of them, and ensuring visitors are vaccinated will continue to be a baseline to avoid a 5-day quarantine for an indefinite future. With Hawaii you are talking about perhaps the most cautious/protective state in the Country, and also the one that was most effective in the US at mitigating the non-economic effects of COVID. Expect them to remain that way for a while.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I’d guess that SafeTravels is not going away anytime soon. The sense I get here as I sit in Waikiki is that the changes they are making are -because- of vaccinations, not in spite of them, and ensuring visitors are vaccinated will continue to be a baseline to avoid a 5-day quarantine for an indefinite future. With Hawaii you are talking about perhaps the most cautious/protective state in the Country, and also the one that was most effective in the US at mitigating the non-economic effects of COVID. Expect them to remain that way for a while.

Yes, I know - but Lt. Gov. Green said in his interview that SafeTravels will likely end in April due to the end of Federal funding for it. That's why I'm concerned about what the replacement might be to ensure that visitors are vaccinated. I don't want to book a trip and then have to plan to spend an hour in line to get my vaccination card reviewed!

 

[Luanne]

Yes, I know - but Lt. Gov. Green said in his interview that SafeTravels will likely end in April due to the end of Federal funding for it. That's why I'm concerned about what the replacement might be to ensure that visitors are vaccinated. I don't want to book a trip and then have to plan to spend an hour in line to get my vaccination card reviewed!

Maybe the Lt. Governor knows more than the governor does? As of yesterday the governor was saying that the program won't end anytime soon.

This from an article I'll post a link to. No mention of when any funding might be ending, or what/if will replace it.

"The Department of Health is currently working on criteria and conditions that would allow the state to eventually end Safe Travels Hawaiʻi. Until that time, the state is using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to support the program."

Office of the Governor News Release: Booster shots will not be added to Safe Travels Hawaiʻi requirements

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced that the Safe Travels Hawai‘i program will remain unchanged at this time, and booster shots will not be required for “up-to-date” vaccination status for […]

governor.hawaii.gov

 

[TheHolleys87]

Maybe the Lt. Governor knows more than the governor does? As of yesterday the governor was saying that the program won't end anytime soon.

This from an article I'll post a link to. No mention of when any funding might be ending, or what/if will replace it.

"The Department of Health is currently working on criteria and conditions that would allow the state to eventually end Safe Travels Hawaiʻi. Until that time, the state is using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to support the program."

Office of the Governor News Release: Booster shots will not be added to Safe Travels Hawaiʻi requirements

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced that the Safe Travels Hawai‘i program will remain unchanged at this time, and booster shots will not be required for “up-to-date” vaccination status for […]

governor.hawaii.gov

Thanks. I’m not going to book anything until the “criteria and conditions that would allow the state to eventually end Safe Travels Hawaiʻi” become clearer and allow me to assess the impact on any travel plans.

 

[Luanne]

Thanks. I’m not going to book anything until the “criteria and conditions that would allow the state to eventually end Safe Travels Hawaiʻi” become clearer and allow me to assess the impact on any travel plans.

We're going in March. We'll just deal with whatever is in place. We're already vaccinated, boosted, and have our information in Hawaii Safe Travels.

 

[TheHolleys87]

We're going in March. We'll just deal with whatever is in place. We're already vaccinated, boosted, and have our information in Hawaii Safe Travels.

We were considering a summer visit, until Lt. Gov. Green said that SafeTravels might sunset in April. So I’ll continue following this forum, for the most up to date information on changes!

 

[csodjd]

The latest I’m hearing here is that there are “ongoing discussions” about eliminating all COVID restrictions for travel to Hawaii, and there is talk of trying to do so this spring. The reasoning being the combination of high vaccination rates and a lot of “natural” immunity from recently infected people. That would bring Hawaii in line with pretty much all other states in the US in terms of entry/travel.

 

[Tamaradarann]

We were considering a summer visit, until Lt. Gov. Green said that SafeTravels might sunset in April. So I’ll continue following this forum, for the most up to date information on changes!

You can wait to make summer plans but from my experience with timeshare booking you are already too late to book the summer of 2022 in Hawaii. Summer is one of the peak times since schools are closed so families are free to travel. If you want to go this summer using timeshares I would try to book something right now. You can cancel HGVC upto 30 days out without losing anything but the reservation fee.

 

[TheHolleys87]

You can wait to make summer plans but from my experience with timeshare booking you are already too late to book the summer of 2022 in Hawaii. Summer is one of the peak times since schools are closed so families are free to travel. If you want to go this summer using timeshares I would try to book something right now. You can cancel HGVC upto 30 days out without losing anything but the reservation fee.

Fortunately, this would not be a TS trip! My dad wants us to stay at “fancy” hotels for a few nights here, a few nights there (all at his expense, so hard to turn down). In addition to watching what Hawaii’s restrictions or requirements will be, DH and I are contemplating how much of a nomadic life we want and exactly where we might want to go.

 

[JIMinNC]

Yes, I know - but Lt. Gov. Green said in his interview that SafeTravels will likely end in April due to the end of Federal funding for it. That's why I'm concerned about what the replacement might be to ensure that visitors are vaccinated. I don't want to book a trip and then have to plan to spend an hour in line to get my vaccination card reviewed!

This from an article I'll post a link to. No mention of when any funding might be ending, or what/if will replace it.

"The Department of Health is currently working on criteria and conditions that would allow the state to eventually end Safe Travels Hawaiʻi. Until that time, the state is using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to support the program."

I didn't realize that Safe Travels Hawaii was funded through ARPA, but that would possibly explain what I saw in Maui this past Sunday evening. Our departing flight at Gate 29 was right across from where they do the Safe Travels screening for arriving passengers who are not pre-cleared by their airline before departure. We arrived too early for our flight since our final dinner at Mama's Fish House didn't take as long as we thought it might, so we waited for well over an hour in the waiting area. There were a total of about eight or nine Safe Travels screeners at their desks the entire time, and I quickly noticed they were just chatting with each other (often maskless) or looking at their phones. We only saw them process three incoming passengers in the 60-90 minutes we were waiting there. I suspect some people in state government will do a more critical cost-benefit assessment/staffing analysis once Uncle Sam stops paying the bills.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I suspect some people in state government will do a more critical cost-benefit assessment/staffing analysis once Uncle Sam stops paying the bills.

I guess that depends on whether Hawaii does away with requiring vaccinations in order to escape quarantine. If all those vaccination cards have to be reviewed manually, those screeners (and maybe more) will be needed. That’s why I’m waiting to see what Hawaii does before booking anything.

 

[JIMinNC]

I guess that depends on whether Hawaii does away with requiring vaccinations in order to escape quarantine. If all those vaccination cards have to be reviewed manually, those screeners (and maybe more) will be needed. That’s why I’m waiting to see what Hawaii does before booking anything.

Remember Safe Travels Hawaii refers to the entire travel screening program, not just the web site. Those screeners in Hawaii are most probably being paid through the Safe Travels Hawaii funding, and it would not surprise me if the state of Hawaii doesn't pay something to the airlines who pre-screen at mainland airports. I can't imagine the airlines are doing that for free. If the LtGov's speculation that Safe Travels could end in April when the funding ends turns out to be reality, I think the entire program probably goes away, not just the online part. I can't imagine the web site costs that much to maintain and would expect that all of those screeners who are being paid to sit at Hawaii airports and kill time reading their phones are the main costs of operating Safe Travels Hawaii. So, if they do opt to sunset Safe Travels Hawaii over funding as the LtGov speculated, then I think the entry restrictions would sunset, as well as the jobs of those screeners.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We just stayed at a fancy hotel in Wailea, the AC Marriott. $1,200 per night + tax, but we used 60,000 points. It was not my cup of tea. It was starkly furnished, very contemporary, but the bed was very comfortable. The toilet is square. I haven't sat on a square toilet since my days on the farm. I had to use the outhouse toilet because there were ten of us that week trying to use the one bathroom, and I had to go. I decided to plan ahead after that trip to the outhouse. I was never in a hurry to go after that.

Fortunately, this would not be a TS trip! My dad wants us to stay at “fancy” hotels for a few nights here, a few nights there (all at his expense, so hard to turn down). In addition to watching what Hawaii’s restrictions or requirements will be, DH and I are contemplating how much of a nomadic life we want and exactly where we might want to go.

 

[easyrider]

I booked Hawaii and Puerto Vallarta for the same time period knowing I can cancel PV if Hawaii implements stricter covid measures. I was leaning towards canceling Hawaii.

Bill

 

[TheHolleys87]

Remember Safe Travels Hawaii refers to the entire travel screening program, not just the web site. Those screeners in Hawaii are most probably being paid through the Safe Travels Hawaii funding, and it would not surprise me if the state of Hawaii doesn't pay something to the airlines who pre-screen at mainland airports. I can't imagine the airlines are doing that for free. If the LtGov's speculation that Safe Travels could end in April when the funding ends turns out to be reality, I think the entire program probably goes away, not just the online part. I can't imagine the web site costs that much to maintain and would expect that all of those screeners who are being paid to sit at Hawaii airports and kill time reading their phones are the main costs of operating Safe Travels Hawaii. So, if they do opt to sunset Safe Travels Hawaii over funding as the LtGov speculated, then I think the entry restrictions would sunset, as well as the jobs of those screeners.

Yes, that's my hope - that the entry restrictions sunset, not just the program/website!

 

[Denise L]

Green: Most mandates may be lifted soon; county rules should be consistent | Maui Now

Lt. Gov. Josh Green told Maui Now in an exclusive interview today that state officials are “hopeful and cautiously optimistic” that most COVID-19 restrictions could be lifted by the end of next month. Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz, meanwhile, said the Safe Travels program may be...

mauinow.com

This article in Maui Now today talks about how Green says restrictions might end at the end of March. But nothing is set yet. They are having discussions.

 

[lynne]

Green: Most mandates may be lifted soon; county rules should be consistent | Maui Now

Lt. Gov. Josh Green told Maui Now in an exclusive interview today that state officials are “hopeful and cautiously optimistic” that most COVID-19 restrictions could be lifted by the end of next month. Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz, meanwhile, said the Safe Travels program may be...

mauinow.com

This article in Maui Now today talks about how Green says restrictions might end at the end of March. But nothing is set yet. They are having discussions.

Green officially announced his run for governor and has not been on the same page as Ige since the beginning of the pandemic. I am not sure how this will play out but the funds supporting the safe travels program will run out at the end of March.