Hawaii has decided to reopen its border for leisure travel once again. The state recently announced that all travellers including tourists and residents who have been vaccinated and want to travel domestically and interisland for leisure or business purpose are welcomed to Hawaii once again.

Governor Ige said in statement that everyone is encouraged by what everything they have witneed over the last several weeks with the continuing trend of lower case counts. He said that the hospitals are doing better and there are fewer COVID patients in them. He also shared that the health care system has responded and now authorities have the ability to move forward with economic recovery.

He mentioned that it is now safe for fully vaccinated residents and visitors to resume non-essential travel to and within the State of Hawaii. The latest decision comes just three weeks after Governor Ige had made a plea to tourists to wait until later to visit the destination. At that time he stated that emergency orders to regulate travel would remain in place for at least another two months.

A coalition of representatives from the travel, tourism, hospitality sectors as well as retail operators, air and ground transport, and more have been pushing for a November 1 reopening along with the President and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Mr. Mufi Hanneman.The Chief added that while authorities recognize that there are still details that need to be sorted out, paying special mind to input from the county mayors and information provided by the healthcare community and the business sector, the announcement is an important first step toward getting the economy moving again safely and judiciously.

He said that the association is looking forward to working with Gov. Ige and his administration to shape a clear message to prospective travellers that Hawaii is open for business and travel can once again be booked with confidence. Meanwhile, Hawaii Island Mayor Mitch Roth said that the Aloha State wants “healthy, vaccinated travellers to return to Hawaii as soon as possible.”