Officials in Hawaii announced that the state’s Safe Travels requirements would be maintained, and cruise ship passengers would be added to the list of travelers covered by the COVID-19 emergency proclamation.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaiian Governor David Ige revealed that cruise ships serving the state have been adhering to the Safe Travels program requirements through partnerships with port authorities, but the latest proclamation formalizes the agreements.
Before leaving the ships, all cruise passengers must show a negative coronavirus test or proof of vaccination. The emergency proclamation will remain in effect until March 25 “unless terminated or superseded by a separate proclamation,” according to Governor Ige.
“Just a few weeks ago, Hawaii saw record high COVID-19 cases in our communities. While we believe we may have hit the peak, we must continue to remain vigilant. Mask wearing and asking travelers to get vaccinated or tested before they fly to Hawaii are among some of the measures that have helped keep COVID-19 case numbers manageable for our limited resources here.I thank everyone for their diligence and patience.”
Governor Ige
Hawaii officials announced earlier this month that visitors arriving in the state would soon be required to show proof of a coronavirus booster shot in order to be considered fully vaccinated.
In addition, the state announced this week that its hotels reported significantly higher revenue per available room (RevPAR), average daily rate (ADR), and occupancy in December 2021 compared to the same month the previous year.