Starting July 8, U.S. travelers to Hawaii will no longer be subject to pre-travel testing and quarantine requirements if they show proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

Those who were vaccinated in Hawaii have been able to travel
without restrictions from the U.S. mainland since June 15; the updated
regulations extend the policy to all domestic travelers coming from the
mainland, no matter which state they were vaccinated in.

Earlier this month, Gov. David Ige said the restrictions would not be dropped for all domestic arrivals until Hawaii reached a 60% vaccination rate. However, the governor decided to go ahead with the plan before the state reached that threshold — it was at about 57% on June 28 — in order to give businesses and government agencies more time to prepare for the changes.

“We anticipate that on or about July 8, Hawaii will have achieved a 60%
vaccination rate,” Ige said. “Our residents have sacrificed and worked
hard to get to this point, but we still have more to do. Please get
vaccinated to protect yourselves and your loved ones.”

“This milestone is truly something to celebrate,” he added.

In order to be exempt from a 10-day quarantine and
pre-travel Covid-19 testing, travelers will have to upload their
vaccination records onto the state’s Covid-19 Safe Travels website () and bring a hard copy of their vaccination record with them, Ige said.

The governor also announced he would ease restrictions on social gatherings and restaurants.

Beginning on July 8, the maximum number of people allowed at social gatherings will increase from 10 to 25 indoors and from 25 to 75 outdoors. Restaurants will be able to operate at 75% capacity and will also now be permitted to host private parties of up to 25 guests indoors and 75 outdoors.

People still must wear masks for indoor gatherings, Ige said, a rule that will likely be in place until the state exceeds the 70% vaccinated plateau.

County mayors, who joined Ige at the press conference held to announce the rollback of regulations, backed the governor’s decision to do so prior to hitting the 60% benchmark, to allow for advance planning.

“One of the things we’ve heard from the business community is how challenging it is to recruit workers,” Kauai mayor Derek Kawakami said.

Ige also confirmed Hawaii will lift all Covid-19 restrictions when Hawaii’s vaccination rate reaches 70% but added it could take months to hit that mark. That includes the mandate to wear masks indoors, a requirement that will continue for now, he pointed out.

“We’re glad to have worked with the governor and other mayors to define a specific date for the transitioning of statewide Covid restrictions,” Hawaii County mayor Mitch Roth said in a statement released after the announcement. “By setting clear dates, we will be able to allow our overseas ohana to better plan their trips while allowing our businesses, families, and sports leagues to better prepare for the road to recovery that lies ahead.”

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