Hawai‘i COVID-19 Special News Update – March 2, 2022
Aloha,
We present a special edition of our news update to share with you that many COVID-19 restrictions are coming to an end across the State of Hawai‘i. We’ve gathered the key details and updates that you need to know, and we will continue to send news updates on an as-needed basis.
Statewide
- On Tuesday, Gov. David Ige announced that the state's Safe Travels program for domestic trans-Pacific travelers coming into Hawaiʻi would end March 25. Under the state's plan, travelers could arrive in Hawai‘i without any Safe Travels restrictions beginning March 26.
- In addition, Gov. Ige said other restrictions, including vaccination or COVID testing requirements for state and county employees and vaccine-or-test mandate for a long list of state properties, including libraries, will also end March 25.
- There is no set end date for the indoor mask mandate.
Oʻahu
- Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi officially announced the Safe Access program will sunset on March 5. The repeal means required businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, will no longer be mandated to request proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from their customers. Individual businesses can continue the policy if they wish.
- According to the latest figures from the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH), Honolulu County is 80% vaccinated and has the lowest positivity rate of all the islands at 2.6%.
- Mayor Blangiardi said, “Ending our emergency order and the Safe Access O‘ahu program does not mean we are putting an end to acting safely as it relates to COVID, it means we are focusing our efforts on economic recovery and the return of much-needed community activities. This is an enormous step forward in a positive direction.”
Maui
- On Tuesday, Maui County repealed all of its remaining COVID-19 emergency rules, though residents will need to continue to follow state mandates and masking rules and comply with local businesses' requirements.
- Other changes include reopening all three county campgrounds and smaller community centers with capacities of up to 300 people. Announcements are to come for the larger-capacity community centers later, following renovations.
- Mayor Victorino previously dropped vaccination or negative test requirements for restaurants, bars, and gyms on February 21.
Hawaiʻi Island
- On Monday, Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Mitch Roth announced the end to all Hawaiʻi County emergency rules related to COVID-19. The termination of Hawaii County's Thirteenth Supplementary Emergency Proclamation means no limit on gathering sizes for indoor and outdoor facilities and venues.
- Mayor Roth said in a press release, “We are excited to announce a new day for Hawaiʻi County as we shift our efforts from response to recovery.”
Kauaʻi
- Mayor Derek Kawakami repealed the county's Emergency Rule 28, ending the required proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result for admittance to large events. The rule repeal means there are no longer any county-level emergency mandates in place on Kauaʻi.
- Mayor Kawakami's announcement also removed the caps on indoor gatherings at 40 people and outdoor groups at 100 people, unless the event had a professional coordinator charged with implementing COVID rules.
- Mayor Kawakami said in a release, “I thank you all for your patience, your willingness to adapt at a moment's notice, your innovative solutions, and your teamwork to overcome the most extraordinary and unprecedented challenges over the past two years.”
The end of county-based COVID restrictions and the Safe Travels program will benefit Hawaiʻi's recovering economy.
- State officials report that Hawaiʻi's economy is rebounding quicker than expected, as growing visitor arrivals have contributed to a growing labor market and tax collection. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism cited data on the state's gross domestic product, which showed that the state's economy grew by 3.2% during the first three quarters of 2021. DBEDT expects that 2021will bring economic growth of up to 3.8% when data for the entire year is released.
- Hawaiian Airlines reports it is seeing promising signs regarding the demand for travel to the islands. The company says the trend of strong bookings it is seeing this year indicates that its economic recovery is "going in the right direction."
- During the Omicron surge, the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization presented three forecasts for financial impact ― base, pessimistic, and optimistic. UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham says we are trending towards the positive forecast due to changed behavior and the decline of cases and restrictions. Bonham says recovery will accelerate when international visitors return and warns forecasts could be affected by supply chain issues caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your Bennet Group Team