Hawaii Goes Ahead with Tourism Reopening Amid Concerns

(AP) - Despite increasing coronavirus cases across the U.S., Hawaii officials hope to reboot tourism next week by loosening months of economically crippling pandemic restrictions, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arriving travelers.

The plan, which was postponed after the virus surged in the summer, will allow Hawaii-bound travelers who test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of their trip to sidestep two weeks of quarantine. 

But the Oct. 15 launch of the pre-travel testing program is causing concern for some who say gaps in the plan could further endanger a community still reeling from summer infection rates that spiked to 10% after local restrictions eased.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Technology, said one problem is that the tests are not mandatory for all. Travelers can still choose to not get tested and quarantine for two weeks upon arrival, which means those with a negative test could get infected on the plane.

Wakai also worries that reopening tourism before children are safely back in school could challenge parents who return to work in the tourism industry.

But others view the pre-travel testing plan as the best way to add a layer of protection while kickstarting the economy. Hawaii has had one the nation’s highest unemployment rates since the start of the pandemic, which ground to a halt nearly all vacation-related activity.

As part of the plan, Hawaii is partnering with several U.S. mainland pharmacies and airlines for testing. Travelers will load their information onto a state website and mobile app that officials will use to track incoming passengers.

Travelers will also face a list of restrictions upon arrival in Hawaii — especially on Oahu which has seen the bulk of reported cases. Still, some county officials say the plan is not ready. They want additional layers of protection for their individual islands.