Governor Ige issues 16th COVID-19 emergency proclamation, tightening restrictions for trans-pacific travelers heading to Hawai‘i
Policy change takes effect tomorrow as COVID cases surge on mainland
News Release from Office of the Governor, Nov 23, 2020
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed a 16th COVID-19 emergency proclamation requiring all transpacific travelers to have a negative test result from a trusted travel partner before their departure for the State of Hawai‘i, in order to bypass the 14-day quarantine. The new policy takes effect tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 24.
“We are implementing this added layer of safety in response to the dramatically increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the continental United States and around the world. The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, especially as more people travel to our state during the holidays,” said Gov. Ige.
Travelers heading to Hawai‘i must upload their negative test result to the Safe Travels system prior to departure or, as an alternative to uploading, bring a hard copy of their negative test result with them when boarding their flight. The State of Hawai‘i highly recommends that all transpacific travelers departing for Hawai‘i carry a hard copy of their negative test result as a backup.
The policy change means that test results will not be accepted once a traveler arrives in Hawai‘i. Travelers who did not have a negative test result prior to departing for Hawai‘i, must self-quarantine for 14 days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter.
Post-arrival testing and results will also not be accepted once a traveler has arrived in the State of Hawai‘i.
This policy change applies to domestic transpacific flights and flights from international locations in which pre-travel testing programs are in place. It does not apply to inter-county travelers.
The 16th emergency proclamation is posted at https://governor.hawaii.gov/emergency-proclamations/
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Two Republican Lawmakers Side with Ige’s Updated Travel Restrictions
News Release from House Republican Caucus, Nov 28, 2020
HONOLULU–Hawaii State Representatives Reps Gene Ward (R-17 Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley) and Bob McDermott (R-41 Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa By Gentry, Iroquois Point) cite their pre-testing proposal as reason to support Governor Ige tightening travel restrictions going into the holiday season. They released the following statement lending their support:
“Governor Ige is correct and following what we proposed last May in our White Paper, Making Hawaii Safe for Travel. As we anticipate more visitors during the holiday season, the mantra is no longer, ‘if we build it, they will come,’ but rather ‘if it’s safe, they will come.’ The promise of COVID-free flights, COVID-free hotels, beaches, shops, etc. is essential to making Hawaii the safest place in the world to vacation. We’ve got to kick start our $18 billion visitor industry wisely and the Governor is on the right track.
“Through our work with the current federal administration, Hawaii was the first in the nation to receive the green light from the FAA and USDOT over six months ago. We’re encouraged by Gov Ige tightening up travel requirements; we would like to see a second test within a week of their arrival. This should be a pragmatic request once the ASSURE-19 test receives its federal EUA very shortly.
“Bottom line: with frequent and fast and cheap COVID-testing, we can throw this virus on the ash heap of history and get Hawaii back to being Hawaii. Requiring passengers to show proof of a negative test or quarantine 14 days, is wise science and a good business practice call by Governor Ige.”
LINK: Making Hawaii Safe for Travel