Ige Plans to Extend 14-Day Travel Quarantine for Out-of-State Arrivals to Hawai‘i Beyond June 30

This particular incoming flight to Kahului Airport on Friday, March 27, 2020 had six passengers and four crew members.

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige today said that the 14-day travel quarantine will be extended for domestic and international travelers past June 30, but an official announcement will be made at a later date.

Gov. Ige also mentioned that he and all four mayors have been working for the last three weeks to coordinate reopening of interisland travel and said they would make a decision within the next few days regarding plans on when to lift the interisland quarantine.

The news was shared during a Community Connection session with Gov. Ige and the four county mayors to discuss the reopening of businesses and activities across the state.

Maui Mayor Mike Victorino said they’re still working out details and that there needs to be a “strong-checked” system whenever travelers leave their destination.

“Gov. Ige has been in discussion with all of us mayors as far as extensions are concerned.  He believes we should have an opening for our residents first, and I kind of concur with that,” said Mayor Victorino during an afternoon press conference.  “Let’s make use of that opening to understand some of the challenges and some of the shortfalls that may occur–because now we’re doing it within our own state.  Our numbers have been extremely low–one of the best in the United States overall.  And so he wants to be cautious not to just let the travelers from international as well as trans-Pacific come in until we really are comfortable in the systems that are going to be put in place–the testing and all of that.”

“With that being said, I believe right now I have to tend to agree with him.  I concur that maybe July 31st may be a good opening for the rest of the state for trans-Pacific as well as international.  And looking at hot spots and not allowing hot spots to have passengers come in.  But you and I both know that’s really difficult, because they can drive somewhere else or fly to another city and come in in that manner.  So, testing and all of the protocols has to be in place.  So I think we need the time,” said Mayor Victorino.

Also today, Gov. Ige approved requests from Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim and Kauaʻi Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami to safely re-open more businesses and operations under guidelines that will ensure the health, safety and welfare of the people in the respective counties.  Maui’s approval for a “broad reopening” on June 1, was granted yesterday.

Hawaiʻi County

Gov. Ige signed Mayor Kim’s Emergency Rule #6 which allows the following businesses, operations or activities, which must follow applicable CDC, industry and regulatory guidelines related to COVID-19 prior to opening:

• May 30, 2020
  • Places of worship
• June 1, 2020
  • Other indoor gathering places (including bowling alleys, billiards halls, but NOT arcades or gaming places)
  • Indoor exercise facilities (includes fitness centers and indoor pools and facilities that offer group exercises with no physical contact)
  • Museums and theaters
  • Outdoor spaces (includes ocean tours, outside pools and summer camps)
  • Other personal services (includes tattoo operators and acupuncturists)
  • Other real estate services (including open houses, property viewing, inspections, surveys, appraisals with restrictions)
  • Other retail and repair (including rental of recreational and sports equipment)
  • Certain county park sites and recreational facilities will re-open with some exceptions. County swimming pools, gymnasiums and community centers will remain closed at this time.

Kauaʻi County:

Gov. Ige has also approved Mayor Kawakami’s Emergency Rule #11 to re-open with modifications, businesses, operations or activities starting Monday, June 1. They include:

• Indoor exercise and recreation facilities (including gyms, fitness centers, recreation facilities)
• Outdoor spaces (including playgrounds, skateparks, pavilions, parks, organized outdoor team sports)
• Personal services (including spas)
• Restaurants (including dine-in)