Mufi's Message - April 3

Vaccination Update

Aloha,

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued updated guidance regarding travel that suggests that fully vaccinated people, meaning those that have received their shot(s) and waited the prescribed two weeks, can travel freely around the United States without pre-arrival testing or mandatory quarantine. The guidance also provided for international travel, stating the following:

• You should continue to follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely and get tested 3-5 days after travel.
• You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
• You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.

This is extremely heartening news as the nationwide debate regarding vaccination passports continues to heat up. As you may recall, HLTA has strongly advocated for the establishment of a vaccine passport at the State and county government and in public forums.

"Hawaii travel restrictions might loosen as CDC guidelines change for those fully vaccinated," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 3, 2021

Our position remains that a vaccine passport is our state's best route toward the full restoration of travel and that a program of this nature could possibly start with interisland travel. This would allow fully vaccinated Hawai'i residents to move freely around the state, thereby allowing families to reconnect, those in need to seek critical medical treatment, and more. It would also serve as a proving ground for the vaccine passport program prior to allowing trans-Pacific and international travelers to come to Hawai'i without a pre-arrival test or a mandatory quarantine period.

"Hawaii visitor industry urges governor to loosen travel restrictions after latest CDC guidance," KHON2, April 2, 2021

All this being said, an effective and well-run vaccine passport program will still be contingent upon our community continuing to do the right things in regard to public health mandates. This includes the practice of proper social distancing and the diligent use of face coverings. Hawai'i is doing an outstanding job of vaccinating residents, but it will all be for naught should we have another outbreak of the virus or, even worse, of a variant.

Finally, enjoy your weekend and Happy Easter to you, your families, and loved ones!

Mahalo, 
​Mufi