The governor says Hawaii’s digital “vaccine pass” could be ready on Labor Day

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gov. David Ige said Wednesday he hopes to have a “pass vaccine” system in place to access restaurants, bars, gyms and other places before Labor Day.

But he added that he has no immediate plans to force vaccines into companies.

“That would be voluntary right now,” he said, in an interview with Hawaii News Now.

Several cities, including New York and San Francisco, have instituted vaccination warrants for restaurants and other indoor spaces to try to curb the spread of COVID-19.

And last week. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green indicated that Hawaii was watching a similar program. The governor said Wednesday that a warrant could still be imposed, but stressed there are no immediate plans to do so.

Ige plans to modify the state’s safe travel app to allow people to hang up their vaccination cards and get a unique QR code they can show companies.

It is unclear how many establishments in Hawaii would take the step of requiring vaccines without a government mandate. Several have reported that they have had a strong reaction.

The governor’s statements come amid a steady rise in new COVID infections on the islands that are straining the healthcare system, prompting concern from ERs and ICUs soon.

Earlier this week, Ige discouraged tourists from arriving on the islands – noting that restaurants have 50% capacity – but stopped introducing new measures to keep them away.

Also this week, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi canceled all major meetings in Oahu for at least the next 28 days. Meetings may not exceed 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors.

Ige said Wednesday that he believes his message to visitors is coming out and that his office has been inundated with calls from tourists to clarify them.

“We’re telling them to delay the trip,” he said. “We are certainly in a health crisis. COVID-19 and the delta variant is spreading to our community at very high levels. “

Does Ige’s request to tourists have teeth?

“It simply came to our notice then. I know we have received calls here at the office of people asking for clarification and we ask them to delay the trip, ”Ige said.

“I know we averaged 30,000 a day last week or two weeks ago. Yesterday it was around 10pm. So I think it had some impact. The last time I asked visitors not to come to the islands voluntarily, we saw a 50% reduction in travel, ”he added.

Hawaii News Now asked if Ige warned travelers if they could catch COVID-19 in Hawaii.

“Certainly visitors or people who tend to travel all over the country get this message and it doesn’t come to me,” Ige said.

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