As Hawaii marks one year since the inception of its Safe Travels Hawaii program - arguably the most restrictive COVID-19 protocols in the country - the question now becomes when the islands will issue a call for tourists to return.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige said two months ago that "now is not a good time to visit" the state and asked tourists to stay away as it battles a surge in coronavirus cases.
The Safe Travels Hawaii program requires visitors to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to avoid quarantine, but Ige's proclamation took it a step further.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, the Hawaii COVID-19 Healthcare Liaison, said the program will likely be around for the foreseeable future.
"I think, at least, through the end of this holiday season," Green said, according to KHON2 in Honolulu. "The reason for that is that there's a higher COVID rate on the mainland, and we're still adjusting to the prospect of bringing international travel here. So, we wouldn't want to kind of make too many large changes all at once."
But while the program might continue to exist, COVID-19 cases are dropping in Hawaii - the state just reported a seven-day average of 167 new daily cases on Oct. 9, compared to 337 two weeks ago, according to the San Francisco Chronicle - and the state is 90 percent vaccinated, the highest ratio in the U.S.
But according to multiple reports out of Hawaii, Ige could make an announcement encouraging tourists to return in as soon as two weeks.
"We are working on the timing and the message right now," Ige said. "It's not an instant on-and-off kind of situation, it does take (the visitor industry) time to rehire people back, and we do want to make sure that when we invite people back that we have space and we have restaurants and other activities for them to do."
Ige said he is working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and other industry organizations to determine the best way to re-extend invitations for travelers.
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