Hawai‘i Will Not Mandate Booster Shots After All

Just two weeks after Hawai‘i Governor David Ige indicated that a COVID booster shot requirement would soon be implemented in the state’s Safe Travels program for incoming travelers, he reversed his decision on Tuesday, confirming that the existing vaccination requirement for avoiding quarantine will remain the same.

“In making this choice, we took into account the decreasing COVID-19 case numbers in Hawai‘i, the continental U.S., and Europe,” Governor Ige stated. “Currently, we will also uphold the indoor mask mandate and other measures that have aided us in managing this pandemic while gradually reopening the economy.”

In July 2021, Hawai‘i eliminated its pretravel COVID testing requirement for fully vaccinated visitors—and according to the governor’s announcement on February 8, booster shots are not necessary for individuals’ vaccination status to be regarded as “up to date.” Domestic travelers are deemed fully vaccinated starting on the 15th day after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or on the 15th day after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Travelers heading to Hawai‘i are required to complete the online health application on the state’s Safe Travels website at least 24 hours before departure, and once the form is submitted, they will receive a QR code via email. This QR code can then be scanned from their mobile device or from a printed copy at the airport upon arrival.

Travelers heading to Hawai‘i who are vaccinated must upload their vaccination certificate to the state’s Safe Travels portal. They should carry either a hard copy of their vaccination documentation to show during boarding and upon arrival in Hawai‘i, or provide digital vaccination certificates from Azova, Clear, or CommonPass. These documents will be verified against photo identification.

Children under five years old are exempt from submitting a COVID test or undergoing quarantine when traveling with an adult who is vaccinated or participating in the pretravel testing program. However, children aged five and older who are not vaccinated must engage in the pretravel testing program to avoid the otherwise mandatory five-day quarantine (previously ten days).

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated can still take part in Hawai‘i’s pretravel testing program to evade the otherwise compulsory 10-day quarantine. Unvaccinated travelers from out of state (aged five and above) arriving in Hawaii must provide proof of a negative FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test (like a PCR test) taken within 72 hours prior to boarding. Test results will only be accepted from a list of approved clinics and testing providers. The negative test result needs to be uploaded onto the Safe Travels platform or printed before departure.

Maui also eliminates booster requirement

Governor Ige's announcement follows closely after the island of Maui made a similar decision to drop its booster requirement.

After Maui Mayor Michael Victorino mandated vaccine boosters for accessing restaurants and gyms last month, he rescinded the booster requirement on February 6.

While individuals will still need to be fully vaccinated to enter dining establishments and other indoor venues, booster shots are no longer a necessity.