Hawai‘i COVID-19 News Update – June 10, 2021
Aloha,
Bennet Group observes the Kamehameha Day holiday tomorrow and wanted to ensure we provided the latest COVID-19 news and issues facing Hawai'i that you need to know this week.
As more people get vaccinated, Governor Ige plans to lift travel restrictions incrementally beginning June 15.
- The new rules are tied to vaccination rates, but the benchmarks include:
- On June 15, all interisland travel restrictions will be dropped.
- When 60% of the state’s population is vaccinated, the state will accept proof of vaccination for all trans-Pacific travelers.
- When 70% of the state’s population is vaccinated, Gov. Ige will drop all travel and COVID-19 restrictions.
- Gov. Ige told Hawaiʻi Public Radio, “The easing of travel restrictions is a direct result of our robust vaccination rate, and a community that sacrificed and did what it had to do over the past year and a half to stop the spread of COVID-19. We need to push hard now so we can get to the point where Safe Travels is no longer needed to keep the people of Hawai‘i safe.”
- State officials did not share any information on lifting restrictions for international travel.
- Gov. Ige also plans to lift the indoor mask mandate when 70% of Hawai‘i’s population is inoculated.
- Meanwhile, there’s a movement to shift Hawai‘i’s number one industry to “regenerative tourism,” a system where the benefits of tourism outweigh the costs, as residents feel the impact of the post-pandemic influx of visitors.
- John De Fries told Hawaiʻi Public Radio, “Unless we’re clear about who we are, our responsibilities, caring for our ʻāina, caring for our kai, caring for our children and communities—Unless we mold that into a new model for tourism, we’re not going to be able to compete successfully. And we’re not going to be able to hold the confidence of our communities that this industry, in fact, can be of benefit to our quality of life.”
COVID-19 restrictions could remain in place through October if the pace of vaccinations doesn’t increase.
- The Honolulu Star Advertiser writes Hawai‘i’s vaccination rate has plummeted in recent weeks, following a national trend. The state was giving around 32,000 shots a day, and that number has now dropped to 3,100.
- Governor Ige plans to loosen restrictions on restaurants and social gatherings once 60% of Hawai‘i residents are vaccinated. Up to 25 people will be allowed to gather indoors and up 75 people outdoors once the benchmark is achieved, while restaurants will be allowed to increase their capacity to 75%.
- Hawaiʻi News Now reports restaurants in Maui are struggling to keep up demand amid the current 50% capacity restrictions, with wait times of over one hour or reservations booked through the end of July.
- The new rules won’t impact the counties’ policies related to structured events like weddings.
- In other news, Governor Ige extended the state’s eviction moratorium for another 60 days through early August.
More than 100,000 residents sign up for the chance to win prizes through the state’s vaccination incentive program.
- The HIGotVaccinated program launched last week. Individuals who have been vaccinated can win prizes like 100,000 Hawaiian Miles or a trip to Las Vegas and receive discounts at participating retailers and restaurants by showing their vaccination cards. You can view the list of incentives and learn more about the program here.
- State officials are closely monitoring the vaccination rate but say it’s too soon to tell if the program is making an impact.
- Josie Howard, executive director of We Are Oceania (WAO), has been working with Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities to share the benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine. She is focused on education rather than incentives.
- Howard told Hawaiʻi News Now, “Culturally we don’t announce (incentives). When you announce it’s almost like you’re defeating your whole purpose of being genuine, in being kind and sharing the spirit of aloha.”
- Meanwhile, new state data confirms disparities in vaccination rates among income levels and ethnicities. For example, higher-income individuals are more likely to get the shot, and Native Hawaiians and Filipinos less like to get inoculated than Japanese and Caucasian residents.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team