In a statewide poll this week, Honolulu was ranked number 3 for this year’s summer vacation destinations, just behind popular perennials like Orlando and New Orleans.
Our weather and safety – the latter is based in part on our low COVID-19 case numbers and deaths – are the top draws.
But getting to Hawaii is not that easy as the state does not yet have a vaccination record system to welcome trans-Pacific travelers.
Hawaii Governor David Ige said Monday that this may come in a month’s time, but for people who book flights, cars (if you can find one), accommodations and attractions now, they can choose to go elsewhere, rather than undergoing our tests and quarantine logs.
The governor must make his promised change in state policy as soon as possible. It shouldn’t matter where you took your shot – Hawaii or the mainland.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now say that fully vaccinated individuals can travel domestically without being tested. Hawaii itself has provided relatively hassle-free travel for passengers between the islands for the past 10 days who can prove they are vaccinated.
But because the state has not changed its travel regulations, this led to great confusion for many arrivals and got stuck in long waiting times at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to leave the airport.
“Hawaii is still alive in October 2020,” said one passenger on Monday.
Ige has raised concerns about the validity of vaccine verification documents approved beyond our coasts. But his own lieutenant governor and our senior US senator say the chances of fraud are slim.
“It’s a pretty heavy penalty for forging federal documents, so we’ll make that clear when the program is launched,” said Lt. Gov. Josh Green last month.
Earlier this month, Senator Brian Schatz said, “If the CDC tells us it’s safe to do something, we should probably let it happen,” adding, “I would include in that category the opportunity to be in the state of Hawaii to come or travel within the state of Hawaii if you have proof of vaccination. “
Just last week, the CDC reported that Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines are 94% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 disease, according to a new study of over 1,800 U.S. health workers.
The New York Times also reported that, according to CDC data, over 70% of Americans ages 65 and older are fully vaccinated, while 84% received at least one dose, “a much higher percentage than younger Americans,” according to federal data. The numbers have exceeded President Joe Biden’s goal of partially vaccinating 70% of US adults by July 4th.
It would be a shame if Hawaii doesn’t lift its vaccination record restriction soon, as we’ve relied heavily on summer travelers in the past to keep our economy going. Booking trends are on the rise – well below pre-pandemic levels, but a dramatic improvement over 2020. Daily passenger arrivals are developing similarly well.
And in April, Hawaii hotels nationwide reported “significantly higher” revenue per available room and average daily occupancy compared to the same period last year – the first full month of the pandemic – the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Thursday.
Hawaii is always more ready to welcome visitors. For example, the battleship Missouri Memorial said it will restore its full operational schedule from Memorial Day weekend. And a 14-week sand clean-up on Waikiki Beach has just completed, roughly doubling the width of the beach in most sections.
Governor Ige, it’s time to let annoyed people fly.
