Hawaii Targeting May for ‘Vaccine Passports’

Fully vaccinated individuals may be able to skip pre-travel tests to enter and travel within Hawaii.

With Hawaiian tourism already experiencing an increase in numbers with the current spring break, it could well be on its way to continue rising all the way until summer. The Tourism Authority reported an arrival number of 20,000 just last week, a mix of tourists and returning residents.  And with quarantine fatigue and green lights for responsible travel, it’s no surprise that so many from the mainland are looking at Hawaii as one of the closer premium vacation destinations. Hawaii currently requires travelers to take a pre-travel test within 72 hours of travel. Once a negative result is proven, travelers can forego the mandatory 10-day quarantine (but varies with the island of Kaua’i). 

Tourism is a driving force in Hawaii’s economy and has taken a hard hit last year increasing employment rates statewide with an estimated 67,000 unemployed for January. But as vaccinations are being rolled out both locally and nationally, Hawaii‘s current tourism requirements could change with the introduction of a “vaccine passport.”  The vaccine passport will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter and travel within Hawaii through an electronic code.

According to Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, the vaccine passport will show proof of complete vaccinations of travelers entering Hawaii instead of the COVID pre-travel test which will not require them to undergo the required quarantine period. According to Green, he is targeting May 15 for the vaccine passports to be integrated as part of the travel clearance protocols. Those who are not vaccinated, however, will still need a negative COVID pre-travel test result or undergo the 10-day quarantine under the Hawaii Safe Travels program entry requirements.