WITH SUMMER RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS EASING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO TRAVEL AGAIN.

BUT HOW SAFE IS IT?

WE'LL TALK WITH HEALTH AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY EXPERTS ABOUT WHAT PASSENGERS SHOULD BE DOING, AND WHAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AIRLINES ARE TAKING.

WE'LL ALSO GET AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S SAFE TRAVELS GUIDELINES FOR VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PASSENGERS.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

¶ ¶ ¶ >>Daryl: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M DARYL HUFF.

HAVE VACCINE, WILL TRAVEL.

THAT'S WHAT MANY PEOPLE ARE THINKING, BUT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

DEPENDING ON YOUR DESTINATION, THERE MAY BE RULES IN PLACE FOR ENTRY LIKE HAWAI'I'S PRE-TESTING REQUIREMENT…AND OF COURSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THE RULES ARE FOR COMING HOME.

AND DESPITE THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYING IT'S SAFE FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE TO TRAVEL, SOME FOLKS MAY STILL BE WARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MOST OF THE WORLD IS NOT VACCINATED.

OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL DISCUSS STAYING SAFE FROM THE VIRUS AND SAFE FROM REGULATIONS THAT COULD RUIN YOUR PLANS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN IS THE STATE'S COVID-19 LIAISON.

THE FATHER OF TWO ALSO WORKS AS AN EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN AND SURVIVED COVID LAST YEAR.

MIKE VICTORINO IS IN HIS FIRST TERM AS MAYOR OF MAUI COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES MAUI, MOLOKA'I, LANA'I AND KAHO'OLAWE.

BEFORE THAT HE SERVED ON THE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL FOR TEN YEARS.

MITCH ROTH IS WAS ELECTED AS HAWAI'I COUNTY MAYOR LAST NOVEMBER.

PRIOR TO THAT HE SERVED AS THE COUNTY'S PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SINCE 2012.

PETER INGRAM IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.

HE FIRST JOINED THE COMPANY IN 2005 AND WAS NAMED TO HIS CURRENT POSITION IN 2018.

AND JOHN DEFREITAS IS THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR PANDA TRAVEL.

THE LOCALLY OWNED TRAVEL AGENCY SPECIALIZES IN TOUR GROUPS AND IS ABOUT TO MARK ITS 40TH YEAR IN BUSINESS.

>> I'LL START WITH YOU, MR. DeFREITAS.

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN WONDERING IF YOU WOULD GET TO 41 YEARS.

YOUR CUSTOMERS, IN TERMS OF GETTING READY TO TRAVEL AGAIN, TO BE HONEST, THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS THAT WE SPEAK TO, WE'RE FINDING THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT ARE TELLING US THEY'RE VAXED AND READY.

ESPECIALLY INTERNATIONALLY.

ASIA IS A BIG AIR TO TRAVEL TO.

FOR NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO OPEN.

DOMESTICALLY, PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO GO OFF ON THEIR OWN.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT NOW WITH TOUR GROUPS.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU'RE DOING INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL.

INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO THE MAINLAND ON THEIR OWN AND ARE FINE.

PUTTING TOGETHER GROUP HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER DIRECTIVE WITH THE FUTURE.

YOU HAVE A VEGAS BUSINESS?

>> WE DO SOME.

WE DO SOME.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE LOCAL COMPANY LIKE VACATIONS HAWAI'I, THEY'VE GOTTEN BACK INTO IT WITH HAWAIIAN.

AND SOON THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR CHARTER TOO.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INVOLVED WITH ONE OF THE U.H.

FOOTBALL GAMES IN NOVEMBER, WHICH ACTUALLY IS DOING QUITE WELL.

>>Daryl: PETER INGRAM FROM HAWAIIAN AIRLINES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM CUSTOMERS OF THE AIRLINES?

DO YOU GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHETHER PLANES ARE SAFE, AIRPORTS SAFE, AND ARE PEOPLE AT RISK GETTING ON AN AIRPLANE?

I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE MAINLAND AIRPORTS RECENTLY, AND IT'S BUSY LIKE UNUSUAL.

>> THINGS HAVE PICKED UP AN AWFUL LOT DOMESTICALLY.

GOOD NEWS FOR US IS AIR TRAVEL HAS BEEN SAFE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF CASES ASSOCIATED WITH AIR TRAVEL, EVEN BEFORE VACCINATIONS EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THINGS THAT WERE IN PLACE BEFORE.

LIKE THE CIRCULATION ON OUR AIRCRAFT WHERE FRESH AIR IS INTRODUCED ALL THE TIME, AND ANYTHING THAT RECIRCULATES GOES THROUGH HEPA FILTERS.

ON TOP OF THAT, WE'VE HAD OUR MASK MANDATE IN PLACE SINCE EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

THAT IS EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT'S BECOME A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.

WE'VE ENHANCED OUR CLEANING PROCEDURES.

WE'VE CHANGED PROTOCOLS THROUGH THE AIRPORT TO INSTALL PLEXIGLAS.

WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM PASSENGERS NOW IS THEY ARE READY TO TRAVEL WHEN PLACES ARE OPEN.

DOMESTIC BUSINESS BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND HAWAI'I HAS RECOVERED.

AT THAT POINT IN TERMS OF PASSENGER ALMOST FULLY.

BY JUNE AND JULY, IT WILL BE FULLY RECOVERED.

WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR IS THE INTERNATIONAL PIECE TO COME ALONG.

WE'RE STILL SEEING SOME SLUGGISHNESS IN TRAVEL BETWEEN THE ISLANDS.

>>Daryl: JOSH GREEN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE'S CONCERNS ABOUT TRAVEL?

DO YOU FEEL THAT IT'S SAFE TO TRAVEL?

>> I DO.

I FEEL IT'S TOTALLY SAFE TO TRAVEL.

A LARGE PART OF THE COUNTRY IS VACCINATED, AND THE SAFE TRAVELS PROGRAM ADDED THAT EXTRA LAYER BY HAVING THAT PRE-TEST.

I CAN'T WAIT TO, LIKE, EVERYONE, NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SUCH THINGS.

WE WANT TO KEEP THE COUNT DOWN.

HAWAI'I WAS ABLE TO KEEP OUR RATES LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.

I GET CALLS FROM SWEETHEART.

THEY GOT THE WRONG TEST, OR THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THE VACCINE CARD THAT WE'RE USING FOR TRAVEL INTERISLAND DOESN'T GET APPLIED TO THE MAINLAND.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME CONFUSION, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE BECAUSE IN A PANDEMIC, WE HAVE TO BE AS SAFE AS WE COULD, AND ALSO TRY TO SALVAGE THE ECONOMY.

THAT BALANCE HAS BEEN STRUCK, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING WIDE OPEN TRAVEL.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK THE TWO MAYORS, BOTH OF YOU AT ONE POINTS IN ANOTHER HAD AN ADDITIONAL TEST.

RIGHT NOW MAUI COUNTY IS DOING THE ADDITIONAL TEST.

HAWAI'I COUNTY WAS DOING IT.

MAYOR ROTH, WHY DID YOU DROP THE POST-TEST PROGRAM?

>> WE'RE ENDING THAT PROGRAM ON THE 31ST.

WE HAVEN'T QUITE DROPPED IT YET.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IN OUR RECENT COUNTS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN CATCHING AT THE AIRPORT WITH COVID HAS COME WAY DOWN.

THAT BEING SAID, OVER THE WHOLE PANDEMIC, WE'VE CUT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

OVER 100, I THINK ABOUT 170 PEOPLE ALL TOGETHER.

THAT 170 COULD HAVE TURNED INTO THOUSANDS AND COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A LOT OF LIVES LOST.

WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY.

PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THE SAFE TRAVELS PROGRAM.

PART IS THE SECONDARY TESTING.

THE BIGGEST PART IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE AND TAKING SERIOUSLY THIS COVID OUTBREAK.

SO OUR ISLAND HAS BEEN PRETTY SAFE, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET BUSINESSES BACK AND MOVING, SO.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO, HOW'S IT GOING WITH YOUR PROGRAM, AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FOR IT?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, DARYL.

FIRST OF ALL, TO DATE, AS OF YESTERDAY, SCREENED OVER 95,000 PASSENGERS.

MAUI, AND THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS WHEN MAUI'S VISITOR COUNT IS HIGHER THAN OAHU.

WE HAVE RECOVERED A LOT QUICKER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

OUR OCCUPANCY NOW IS BETWEEN 65 AND 70%, AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS WE FOUND AND WE'VE DONE 71,000 TESTS, ANTIGEN TESTS.

OF THAT, WE FOUND 25,000 CASES.

CONFIRMATORY, A PERCENTAGE OF .0003%.

WHAT THE TEST WAS SET UP ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, BIGGEST THINGS OVER THE MONTHS JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, IT'S THE VISITOR BRINGING IT IN.

WE KNEW AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS CONFIRMING IT WAS REALLY THE RESIDENTS.

IT WAS COMMUNITY SPREAD.

AND IN APRIL WE SET UP THE PROGRAM.

STARTED IN MAY, AND NOW CONFIRMED IT REALLY ISN'T THE VISITOR.

IT REALLY IS OUR COMMUNITY.

AT TIMES, LIKE THE LAST CLUSTER AT MOLOKA'I, ONE PERSON KNOWINGLY SICK BUT THOUGHT NO BIG DEAL, THEN SPREAD IT TO 35 OTHERS.

>>Daryl: MAYOR, LET ME ASK, THOUGH, YOU MAKE THAT POINT, IS THAT I WONDER SOMETIMES, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN, YOU CAN WEIGH IN AS WELL.

HAVE THERE BEEN TIMES WHEN TESTING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SET UP TO ALLAY THE IRRATIONAL FEARS FOR PEOPLE ABOUT A CERTAIN RISK?

HAS THAT BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS THROUGHOUT THIS THING?

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYOR VICTORINO, IS YOU ESSENTIALLY PROVED IT'S NOT THE VISITOR.

MAYBE THE COMMUNITY CAN STRAIGHTEN OUT ITSELF.

>> THAT'S PART OF IT.

IT WAS A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.

IF, NUMBER ONE, THE VISITOR AND RETURNING RESIDENTS WAS BRINGING IT IN.

ONE WAS THE RESIDENT AND ONE VISITOR.

THAT LAYS THAT TO REST.

WE WANTED TO -- BECAUSE OF ALL THE VARIANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, IF YOU READ TODAY'S "MAUI NEWS," IT SAID, WE ARE AT THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THE BRAZILIAN VARIANT COMING IN.

WE WANT TO CATCH OR WE CAN FIGURE IF IT'S COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OR WITHIN THE STATE OR RETURNING RESIDENTS WHO ARE BEING EXEMPT BECAUSE OF THE -- THEY'RE WORKING EXEMPTIONS, SO THAT'S SOME OF THE AREAS WE WANTED IT.

THIRD THING, IS THE VACCINATION PROCESS WORKING?

IS THE PROGRAM WORKING?

I CAN HONESTLY SAY JOSH, YOU AND I AGREE, IT'S WORKING.

>>Daryl: MAYOR, YOU WERE -- >> REALLY, NOT JUST TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS ARE LOW BECAUSE WE WANTED TO PROVE IT WAS THE COMMUNITY, WE WANTED THE COMMUNITY TO SEE.

>> THAT HOPEFULLY NOW THEY'LL BE IN TUNE.

WE HAVE GOTTEN DOWN AND WE'RE MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE.

WE HAVEN'T TAXED OUR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL FACILITIES.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE COVID CASE IN THE HOSPITAL NOW AND ONE ON VENTILATOR.

>>Daryl: OKAY, MAYOR.

COMPATRIOTS ARE WAVING AT ME.

>> I APOLOGIZE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE ON THE BIG ISLAND IS WE WENT TO THAT SECONDARY TESTING OF ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

WE'VE HAD ENTIRE FLIGHTS COMING FROM CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE EVERYONE WAS VACCINATED.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE INTERISLAND, THOSE NUMBERS ARE MUCH LOWER, BUT YOU THINK BETWEEN 60 AND 80% OF THE PEOPLE COMING IN ARE ALREADY VACCINATED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING TO FIND OUT.

>>Daryl: QUICKLY -- >> INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT, MITCH.

IN MAUI, WITH THE LARGE NUMBERS, I KNOW YOUR NUMBERS EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHICH IN AN AVERAGE MONTH WE DO IN AN AVERAGE WEEK.

WE'RE ONLY AT 28%.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

VERY DIFFERENT HERE.

WE CANNOT COMPARE APPLES WITH APPLES BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS DIFFERENT.

CONTINUE.

>>Daryl: JOSH, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE'VE LEARNED FROM TESTING OF TRAVELERS?

>> IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT WE DO THAT.

WE DID THE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM.

WE HAD TO DO THAT, AND WE HAD TO HAVE SOME DATA.

THERE WAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

WE HADN'T HAD ANYONE IN HAWAI'I FOR SOME TIME, FOR OVER SIX MONTHS WHEN WE CHECKED IN MARCH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP OUR CASES VERY WELL SETTLED.

HAD WE HAD AN EXPLOSION OF CASES AFTER TRAVELERS CAME, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO KEEP PEACE.

WE COULDN'T AFFORD SHORT TERM, BUT LONG TERM EITHER.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO DEVELOP AN ANTAGONISM.

WE DEPEND ON THEM FOR OUR ECONOMY.

I ALWAYS FELT IT'S GOOD THAT MAYORS, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, DID TESTING.

BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC EVOLVED, IT'S GONE THROUGH SEVERAL CYCLES.

IT WAS GOOD TO GET SAMPLES.

ALL OF THIS WAS PART OF A LARGER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE.

IT DID REASSURE PEOPLE.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO HAVE SEEN THESE RESULTS.

>>Daryl: JOHN DeFREITAS, DO YOU GET PEOPLE COMPLAINING TO YOU ABOUT PRE-TRAVEL TESTS OR DO PEOPLE FEEL IT'S WORTH IT TO GET TO HAWAI'I?

>> YES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING OVER, THEY'RE GOING TO THE MAINLAND, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

AND WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND GET TESTED.

IF YOU'RE A LOCAL PERSON, I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND LIVING ON AN ISLAND, WHY WE'RE DOING IT.

SOMETIMES FOLKS FROM THE MAINLAND, BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THAT ABILITY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN STATES WITHOUT THAT REQUIREMENT, THEY SOMETIMES LOOK AT IT LIKE, WHY HAS HAWAI'I GOT TO BE SO DIFFERENT?

>> PETER INGRAM FROM HAWAIIAN AIRLINES, YOU'RE GETTING THE FIRST QUESTIONS DIRECTLY AT YOU.

SO THE QUESTION IS FROM HILO.

MR. INGRAM, HOW WILL YOU IMPROVE CUSTOMER CORRESPONDENCE?

THIS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR HAWAIIAN AIRLINES, BUT WHY IS THE STATE MAKING IT SO DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL INTERISLAND?

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER OR SMART PHONE ACCESS, IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

ALAN FROM PEARL CITY.

PETER INGRAM, HAS IT BEEN DIFFICULT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN THEY'RE FLYING?

I HAD THE EXPERIENCE FROM FLYING TO SEATTLE RECENTLY, AND THERE'S THIS LONG LINE.

EVERYBODY'S LIKE, WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

AND THEY EXPLAINED WHAT THE LINE WAS.

EVEN ONCE THEY WERE IN LINE, THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THE LINE AND GET BOUNCED AT THE END BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOME PIECE OF PAPER OR TRIED TO USE THEIR SMART PHONE.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR AN AIRLINE LIKE YOURS WITH SO MUCH ACTIVITY GOING TO HAWAI'I TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON?

HOW MUCH OF A STRESS HAS THAT BEEN ON YOUR FOLKS?

>> IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE RECOGNIZE WE NEEDED TO DO OUR BEST TO DO UPFRONT.

TRY AND GET INFORMATION TO OUR GUESTS.

PART OF THE REASON IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING IS THE RULES HAVE CHANGED AT DIFFERENT POINTS.

THE TESTING PROVIDERS INITIALLY WERE A LIMITED LIST.

WE WORKED TO SET UP TESTING AT ALL OUR ORIGIN.

THAT TOOK A WHILE TO GET IN PLACE.

EACH ONE OF THOSE TESTING PROVIDERS NEEDS TO BE ON AN APPROVED LIST FROM THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.

JOSH REFERRED EARLIER TO THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENDEAVORED TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT BUT GOT A TEST FROM THE WRONG PLACE.

HAVING THEM LAND IN HAWAI'I AND BE TOLD THEY EITHER HAVE TO GO INTO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS OR NOW 10 DAYS OR THEY HAVE TO GO BACK HOME, IT'S A PRETTY DIFFICULT MESSAGE TO DELIVER WHEN THEY'VE JUST GONE AND GOT A TEST APPROVED THAT THEY ARE FREE FROM COVID.

SO THAT'S BEEN CHALLENGING.

HAVING DIFFERENT RULES ON DIFFERENT ISLANDS HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.

IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE EASIER AS THINGS HAVE STABILIZED A LITTLE BIT.

AND PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY WANTING TO TRAVEL RIGHT NOW, HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY TOLERANT, I THINK, OF SOME OF OUR RULES CHANGING AND MOVING AROUND.

I DO THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP A FOCUS ON DELIVERING GREAT HOSPITALITY TO OUR VISITORS AND REMEMBERING THAT AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE COMPETITION FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO TRAVEL TO OTHER DESTINATIONS, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE SHOULDN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE HAWAIIAN HOSPITALITY, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE TRAVEL TO HAWAI'I IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>>Daryl: JOSH GREEN, INTERCOUNTY IS THE PROPER TERM AND LACK OF SMART PHONE ACCESS, FROM WHAT PETER INGRAM JUST SAID, ONCE YOU CHANGE RULES, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO SETTLE IN, UNDERSTANDING IT.

WE'RE HEADING INTO A REALLY BIG CHANGE ONCE WE START USING THESE VACCINE CARDS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S AHEAD IN TERMS OF THE VACCINE CARDS INTERISLAND, INTERCOUNTY?

WE HEARD ABOUT LONG LINES AND WAITS.

I IMAGINE THAT'S A CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU OPEN IT UP TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WANTING TO COME HOME.

>> YES.

SO LOTS TO SHARE HERE.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST IT HAS WORKED SEAMLESSLY.

NOW IF YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED FULLY AND HAD TWO WEEKS, 14 DAYS, YOU CAN USE YOUR VACCINE CARD TO TRAVEL INTERCOUNTY PREVIOUSLY.

OVER 25,000 PEOPLE IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS DID THAT AND SAVED $2.5 MILLION IN TESTS.

TIME WILL COME TO DUMP THAT ALTOGETHER.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOING TO USE THE VACCINATION CARDS TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR ALL THAT PRE-TESTING, FIRST, WE SAW WHAT WE DID FOR INTERCOUNTY.

NEXT, LOOKS LIKE JUNE 15 IS LIKELY THE DATE.

GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO FINALIZE THIS APPROVAL.

IF ANY OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED FULLY IN HAWAI'I AND GO TO THE MAINLAND FOR A TRIP, WHEN THEY COME HOME, IF THEY'VE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED PLUS TWO WEEKS, THEY CAN USE THEIR CARD THE SAME WAY.

SAVES YOU THAT MONEY.

FINALLY, THIRD PHASE WILL BE FOR ANYONE ON THE MAINLAND TO, IF THEY'VE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED PLUS TWO WEEKS, WE'RE TARGETING JULY, AROUND JULY 7.

I DO THINK THAT'S THE TIME.

THE REASON THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO GO SLOWLY, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL WE HAVEN'T HAD A SURGE OF COVID AND VARIANTS ARE ON OUR MINDS.

TWO, WE CAN VERIFY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THROUGH ALL OUR GREAT PARTNERS LIKE QUEENS, KAISER, U.H.

IT'S A PROCESS, AND VERY END, ONCE WE'VE GOT HERD IMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE, WE WON'T HAVE TO DO SAFE TRAVELS.

IT WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.

LAST THING, AND FORGIVE ME FOR GOING SO LONG.

TODAY WE PASSED A MAJOR MILESTONE.

PASSED 50% MARK OF ALL OUR CITIZENS IN HAWAI'I HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FULL VACCINATION.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

IMMUNITY WILL BEGIN TO SKYROCKET AND CASES WILL DROP.

>>Daryl: LET ME GO BACK TO THE NEIGHBOR ISLAND MAYORS ABOUT THE QUESTION ABOUT DIFFICULTY TRAVELING INTERISLAND.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE.

THEN THERE WAS THE QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS AND SO ON, AND THEY VERIFIED FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND.

NOW THERE'S SOME TESTING AND STUFF REQUIRED, BUT, YOU KNOW, DO YOU GUYS HAVE CONCERN ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN TO TRAVEL NEIGHBOR ISLANDS?

HOW DO YOU -- HOW ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS FEELING ABOUT TRAVEL?

I'LL START WITH MAYOR ROTH FROM THE BIG ISLAND.

>> WE'VE HAD KIND OF A MIXED BAG.

WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE LONG LINES AT THE AIRPORT.

BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE SECONDARY TESTING.

OUR ISLAND HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.

REMAIN PRETTY SAFE ON OUR ISLAND, AND SO WE HAVE KIND OF A MIXED BAG.

WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT DROPPING THE SECONDARY TESTING EARLY IN THE MONTH, I HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE APPLAUDING ME AND CRITICIZING ME AT THE SAME TIME.

WE COME UP ON THE 31ST, I EXPECT THE SAME.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY WORRIED, AND THEY APPRECIATE THE SECONDARY TESTING, AND THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LONG LINES.

ESPECIALLY WHENEVER WE DO SOMETHING NEW, AND PETER ALLUDED TO THIS.

WHENEVER WE DO SOMETHING NEW, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE, AND IT TAKES TIME TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

THAT DELAYS THINGS AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE DELAYS.

OTHER THING THAT'S DIFFICULT, TRAVELING TO OTHER ISLANDS TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IT'S NOT $150.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE TAKING TWO TESTS.

THEY'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

MORE WE GET PEOPLE VACCINATED, WHERE THEY'RE VACCINATED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET ANOTHER TEST, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET TESTED AT ALL, I THINK PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE THAT.

AGAIN, JOSH KIND OF SAID IT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID IT.

WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

AS WE VACCINATE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, EASIER IT'S GOING TO GET.

I DON'T THINK IT GETS HARDER FROM HERE.

IT GETS EASIER.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO, CURRENT STATE OF MIND OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT NEIGHBOR ISLAND TRAVEL.

YOU THINK BEING ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLAND AND KNOWING IF YOU GOT VACCINATED, YOU CAN TRAVEL MORE EASILY.

THAT MUST BE A HUGE INCENTIVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

>> YOU WOULD THINK SO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, VACCINATION ON MANY OF THE OTHER ISLANDS AND INCLUDING THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN SORT OF SLOWED DOWN.

PEOPLE ARE MORE RESISTANT, AND JOSH, YOU CAN ATTEST TO THIS.

A LOT OF MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RESISTANCE.

I WAS WITH A LADY TODAY COSTCO, DOESN'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED.

TOTALLY AFRAID OF VACCINATIONS AND GAVE ME EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD, NOT ANYTHING LOGICAL.

YOU SEE THAT RESISTANCE.

INCENTIVES OF TRAVEL, THAT WE CAN HAVE BIG GATHERING, MAYBE ENTER A THEATER, MAYBE GO TO A CONCERT, YOU NEED TO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THESE ARE AREAS THAT THOSE INCENTIVES, ALONG WITH THE LOGIC, WE'RE SEEING LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, YOU'RE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE OF GETTING A BAD CASE OF COVID.

IF YOU ARE, YOU RECOVER QUICKER.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE GOT TO KEEP PRESSING ALONG.

FOR MAUI COUNTY, WE'VE HAD INTRACOUNTY TRAVEL BETWEEN THE THREE ISLANDS.

WHEN THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK ON LANA'I, THERE ARE THOSE SAYING DON'T LET ANYBODY IN.

BIGGEST PROBLEM IS YOU COME HERE TO MAUI TO DO SHOPPING, TO DO A LOT OF YOUR COMMERCE AND BUSINESS, AND DOCTOR VISITS ARE HERE.

IF I SHUT IT DOWN, THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T COME AND WE CAN'T SEND SOMEBODY TO YOU.

THOSE ARE CHALLENGES WHEN YOU'RE A THREE-ISLAND COUNTY.

NONE OF THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THAT CHALLENGE.

IF YOU LIVE IN WAIANAE AND GO TO KANEOHE, NO BIG DEAL.

YOU'RE SICK, YOU'RE SICK.

HERE, WE HAVE TRAVEL CHALLENGES.

INTRACOUNTY IS SOMETHING THAT I PUSH BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS A DIFFERENT SCENARIO FOR OUR COUNTY.

>>Daryl: PETER INGRAM AND JOHN DeFREITAS MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THIS TOO.

LIZ IN KANEOHE ASKS, WILL PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL TO THE MAINLAND HAVE A HARDER TIME?

WHAT ARE WE SEEING ON THE MAINLAND?

ARE THERE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN SOME PLACES?

I AM NOT FAMILIAR WHETHER YOU CAN BE BARRED FROM A PLACE ON THE MAINLAND FOR ANY REASON.

WHAT'S OUT THERE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE GOING TO THE MAINLAND AND OTHER PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME SCREENING OR SHOW A VACCINATION CARD OR GET TESTED?

>> THERE WERE SOME TESTING REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE EARLIER THIS YEAR, LATE LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE SPIKE IN CASES ON THE MAINLAND IN DECEMBER, JANUARY PERIOD.

BY AND LARGE, THOSE HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN TO THE MAINLAND THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS, AND THERE'S NO RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL IN ANY OF THE PLACES IN TERMS OF LANDING THERE.

WE ARE INCREASINGLY, AS CASES COME DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BECOMING THE OUTLIAR IN TERMS OF HAVING RESTRICTIONS.

>>Daryl: DO YOU NOT AGREE THOSE ARE GOOD IDEAS?

>> I THINK THERE WAS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A LOT OF THE RESTRICTIONS.

I THINK WE'VE TALKED -- WE HEAR SO MUCH TALK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC ABOUT BEING SCIENCE BASED.

PUTTING RESTRICTIONS AND TESTING PROTOCOLS AS CASES WERE RISING.

WE SHOULD BE SCIENCE BASED ABOUT REMOVING THEM WHEN RISKS ARE LOWER AND NOT PUTTING IMPEDIMENTS INTO PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

MAYORS AND GOVERNOR ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

LIFTING RESTRICTIONS ON WEARING FACE MASKS OUTSIDE OR HAVING PEOPLE ABLE TO WATCH KIDS PLAY SPORTS.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE SAME VIEW TOWARDS TRAVEL AS WE HAVE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>>Daryl: JOHN DeFREITAS FROM PANDA, PEOPLE THAT YOU SEND TO THE MAINLAND, DO THEY SOMETIMES WONDER, WHAT AM I GOING TO RUN INTO THERE?

>> OUTSIDE OF HAWAI'I, THE MAINLAND, PEOPLE MOVE AROUND PRETTY FREELY WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

I THINK THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN LIFTED THROUGHOUT THE MAINLAND.

>>Daryl: FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN AND GREG IN KAKAAKO ASKS, WHY ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT FUTURE OUTBREAK WON'T HAPPEN DUE TO TRAVEL THAT WILL CAUSE ANOTHER LOCKDOWN?

ANOTHER PERSON, REBUTTAL TO MAYOR VICTORINO, ANONYMOUS.

IF THE VIRUS DIDN'T COME FROM TOURISTS, WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN, CAN YOU TAKE BOTH THOSE?

>> SURE.

TRAVEL'S VIBRANT NOW.

26,031 INDIVIDUALS TRAVELED FROM THE MAINLAND YESTERDAY.

NORMALLY GOT TO 30,000 ON A GIVEN DAY, SO IT'S REALLY GOING WELL.

COUPLE THINGS.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT CHALLENGED THE ASSERTION MAYOR VICTORINO MADE, WHEN WE WERE HAVING SMALL AMOUNT OF TRAVEL, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS WORKING AND HAD TO COME BACK, BRINGING GOOD.

IT'S INFECTIOUS.

LONG BEFORE THERE WERE VACCINATIONS.

NO IMMUNITY TO CORONAVIRUS.

SO THAT WAS ONE THING.

THE OTHER QUESTION, HOW DO WE KNOW THERE WON'T BE AN OUTBREAK?

THERE WILL BE, BUT IT WILL BE LESS AND LESS.

THEY'RE THIRD IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS QUITE GOOD, IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL ADULTS VACCINATED AT LEAST ONCE.

WE'RE AT 80% OF ALL PEOPLE OVER 18.

THAT PROVIDES INCREDIBLE IMMUNITY.

EVEN ONE SHOT, THOUGH YOU SHOULD GET BOTH, GIVES YOU 80% OF THE VIRUS.

SO WE WON'T HAVE THAT WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK IF THERE'S SOME VIRUS AROUND.

THERE WILL BE CASES, CLUSTERS, ESPECIALLY RURAL PARTS OF OUR STATE.

ON THE BIG ISLAND, IN KAU, PEOPLE ARE WONDERFUL THERE, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE LESS WILLING TO GET VACCINATED EN MASSE.

MAYBE 60, 65% WILL GET VACCINATED.

MOST OF OUR KUPUNA HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THERE WILL BE FAR FEWER SERIOUS CASES.

IT WILL NOT BE PERFECT.

WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH THAT A VARIANT DOESN'T BREAK THROUGH.

SAY ONE THAT CAUSES SEVERE DISEASE.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE.

YOU CAN'T BE LOCKED UP FOREVER.

TIME IS COMING QUITE QUICKLY.

>>Daryl: MAYOR ROTH, GO AHEAD.

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE BIG ISLAND IS SIMILAR.

NOT SO MUCH THE TOURISTS.

PEOPLE COMING BACK ARE BRINGING COVID BACK.

HOTEL INDUSTRY, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB SCREENING.

WE SORT OF STOLE THE IDEA FROM MAYOR VICTORINO AND MAUI ON HOW TO DO THAT.

HAVE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

WE'RE NOT SEEING CLUSTERS AND CASES COME OUT OF THERE.

WE FIGURED OUT IT'S ABOUT 90% OF OUR LOCAL PEOPLE VERSUS 10% OF OUR VISITORS WHO ARE BRINGING IN THE COVID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL, UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T WISH TO GET VACCINATED.

NOT EVERYBODY, THE MAJORITY DO GET VACCINATED, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE BIG ISLAND.

I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT MAYOR VICTORINO HAS SEEN ON MAUI AS WELL.

>>Daryl: MAYOR?

>>> THAT IS TRUE, DARYL.

I COINED THIS PHRASE LONG AHEAD WHEN WE STARTED.

PANDEMIC KNUCKLEHEADS.

WE LIKE TO BE ANONYMOUS, AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT FACTS WERE THERE.

EVEN OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACROSS THE BOARD, WE'RE SEEING CLUSTERS FROM LOCAL EVENTS, LOCAL CHURCHES, THESE WERE COMING OUT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

RETURNING PEOPLE FROM OTHER VISITATIONS TO THE MAINLAND WERE BRINGING IT IN, AND WE SAW IT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVE IT WITH OUR SECONDARY TEST.

INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINATION PROGRAM.

JOSH WILL AGREE.

WE'VE DONE IT OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF WEEKS.

IT'S CURRENT.

WE KNOW WE ARE VACCINATED 50%, THANK YOU.

AND SO NOW THIS IS REALLY PROVING THE POINT THAT VACCINATION WILL HELP PROTECT YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

>>Daryl: PETER INGRAM, A QUESTION.

CAN'T FIND IT BUT IT WAS A QUESTION ALONG THE LINES OF -- I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

BASICALLY, WITH THE AIRLINES, THE VACCINES, ARE YOU DOING IT MUCH TO -- I KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION WAS.

SORRY, FOLKS, I GET LOST SOMETIMES.

I'M COMPLETELY -- SO TRAVEL ISSUES.

I HAD TO BOOK SOME TRAVEL, AND IT SAID PROTECT YOUR FLIGHT WITH TRAVEL INSURANCE.

AND OLD DAYS, I WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY HAPPENED AND I HAD TO CHANGE, I HAD TO PAY A MINT.

FOR A LONG TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, IF THEY CAN'T GET THEIR TEST RESULTS, CHANGE SOMETHING OR SITUATION OR DESTINATION, THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME RISKY, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR FLIGHTS.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE AT A POINT WHERE THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY ARE NO LONGER FLEXIBILITY?

ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO BUYING A NONREFUNDABLE TICKET AND EATING IT IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR PLANS?

>> WELL, SOME OF THE TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENTS PUT IN PLACE HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

WE MADE NEW PROGRAMS PERMANENT THAT ADD MORE FLEXIBILITY TO OUR GUESTS.

ONE FOR ALL OF OUR TICKETS EXCEPT FOR MAIN CABIN BASE, WE NO LONGER HAVE CHANGE FEES.

AND THE OTHER CHANGES ARE HAWAIIAN MILES.

WE'VE CHANGED OUR PROGRAM SO THAT THOSE DON'T EXPIRE.

AND I THINK SOME OF THIS WAS INSPIRED BY REALLY WANTING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THING THAT HAVE FRUSTRATED PEOPLE ABOUT TRAVEL IN THE PAST, AS WE'RE COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL.

AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE EXPERIENCE BETTER ON A PERMANENT BASIS GOING FORWARD.

>>Daryl: YOU KNOW, JOHN DeFREITAS FROM PANDA TRAVEL, THE QUESTION I COULDN'T FIND WAS ORIGINALLY FOR YOU.

THEY WERE ASKING, DO WE NEED TO HAVE TOUR OPERATORS PROTECTING US?

DO YOU SEE THAT CHANGING?

DO YOU SEE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE NEED TO PLAN BETTER SO YOU DON'T END UP RUN NOTHING FEES AS OPPOSED TO THIS FREE-FOR-ALL THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> DOMESTICALLY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE OKAY.

ONCE WE OPEN INTERNATIONALLY, UNTIL WE HAVE A FIRM FEEL FOR THE VIRUS AND WHERE IT GOES, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY ONCE ASIA OR EUROPE OPENS, YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE INSURANCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THE TRAVEL INSURANCE EVEN BEFORE COVID JUST IN CASE YOU GOT ILL OR SOMETHING HAPPENED AND YOU'RE STUCK THERE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

DEFINITELY THE INSURANCE DOES COME INTO PLAY.

>>Daryl: THANKS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

AND MAYBE FOR THE REST OF YOU, THIS CONCEPT OF HERD IMMUNITY WHICH I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING.

I KEEP CALLING IT HERB IMMUNITY.

DAVID FROM KAPOLEI, IS HERD IMMUNITY REALISTICALLY ACHIEVABLE?

AND ANOTHER QUESTION -- DAVE, OR MAYBE THE SAME DAVE.

IS THERE REALLY HERD IMMUNITY?

SEEMS LIKE A CARROT KEEP ON CHANGING.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT IF WE REACH IT ON TRAVEL?

>> IT DOES EXIST WITHOUT A DOUBT.

IT EXISTS.

WE WILL ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY IN HAWAI'I.

MANY STATES WILL NOT.

WHEN WE GET TO 75% IN OUR STATE, THERE WILL BE SO LITTLE VIRUS THAT WE WILL GET PROTECTION FOR THE REST OF US THE PEOPLE WHO HAD EXPOSURE ANTIBODIES.

WE'RE CLOSE.

OVER 50% IS FULLY VACCINATED.

CONFIRM ANOTHER 3 OR 4% HAVE COVID AND HAVE NATURAL IMMUNITY.

A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES SAY WE'VE HAD ANOTHER, AT LEAST 35,000 CASES THAT NEVER GOT TESTED.

WE WILL, IN THE BEGINNING OF JULY, SEE FULL IMMUNITY BEGIN TO REAR ITS HEAD.

55% IN ISRAEL, EXAMPLE, A RELATIVELY ISOLATED COUNTRY.

THEIR CASE COUNTS PLUMMETED.

OUR CASE COUNT WAS IN THE 80s NOT LONG AGO.

OUR POSITIVITY RATE IS UNDER 1% FOR THE FIRST IN MONTHS.

ALL THIS IS TOTALLY REAL, BUT THE BEST PART ABOUT IS IT IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, YOU GUYS ARE IMMUNE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH.

I SPOKE WITH GENERAL HARA.

HE ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE IT'S STILL THE GOOD OF ALL.

PEOPLE ASK, WHY CAN'T WE GET UP THERE FASTER?

310,000 PEOPLE ARE 0 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

216,000 OF OUR KEIKI 0 TO 11 YEARS OLD AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

MOST OF OUR ADULTS HAVE TO GET VACCINATED OR UNFORTUNATELY GET COVID.

[TECHNICAL PROBLEMS] >>Daryl: STILL RELEVANT TO THIS IT TO GET TO HERD IMMUNITY.

YOU REQUESTED THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER TONIGHT, A PROPOSAL WHERE YOU WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES IF THEY WANT A LARGE GROUP EVENT.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT IDEA?

HOW DO YOU THINK IT WOULD WORK, AND WHAT INFLUENCE WOULD IT HAVE ON PEOPLE'S VACCINATION RATES?

>> WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT IT, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN TALKED ABOUT THAT.

HAWAI'I ISLAND, WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE DO GET VACCINATED.

ONE OF THE CARROTS IS FOR INDOOR GATHERINGS.

WE LOOKED AT RAISING OUR GATHERINGS TO 25 PEOPLE.

SAYING, AS LONG AS MORE THAN 75% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE GATHERING ARE VACCINATED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THINGS LIKE VAX CONCERT.

GIVING THEM TICKETS ONLY HAVE THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET VACCINATED, QUICKER WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO NORMALCY.

QUICKER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DROP SAFE TRAVELS.

QUICKER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN OUR DOORS MORE FULLY.

THAT'S THE IDEA, IS NOT TO PUNISH PEOPLE WHO AREN'T, BUT TO REWARD PEOPLE WHO DO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE -- AND LIEUTENANT GREEN SAID IT.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE NOT JUST FOR THEM, BUT IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

IT'S FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ALL OF OUR KULEANA TO GET VACCINATED.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO, I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THE SAME THING.

IS THERE CONCERN THAT DIFFERENT COUNTIES WILL DO DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO INCENTIVE AND VACCINE TRIGGERS FOR TIERS?

KAUA'I HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR REDUCING RESTRICTIONS WHEN THE WHOLE STATE GETS TO 70% VACCINATED.

HONOLULU COUNTY IS PUSHING TO HAVE LOWER RESTRICTIONS WHEN THEY GET TO 50% VACCINATED.

MAYOR VICTORINO, YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN PROGRAM.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE KIND OF KEEP OUR ACT TOGETHER AND NOT EVERYBODY GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION?

>> I SEE MITCH HAS HIS HAND UP.

GIVE MITCH AN OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> LET ME SAY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR AT THAT SENIOR LEVEL, WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS, ESPECIALLY IN TRAVEL THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT RULES IN OUR COUNTIES AS FAR AS HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN GATHER, BUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT JOSH IS TALKING ABOUT, GENERAL HARA, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, JUNE 15, HOPEFULLY THAT DATE.

THE IDEA IS TO BE ON A MORE UNIFORM PATH SO OUR TOURISTS COMING DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING TESTED IF THEY'RE VACCINATED.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS SO WE'RE MORE UNIFORM FOR THE TRAVEL PURPOSES.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO?

>> EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO ANSWER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TRAVEL ASPECT TO HAVE UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

AS FAR AS TIER SYSTEM, KAUA'I HAS TIER 5 AND 6.

I'M NOT SEEING THAT AS NECESSARY.

MAYBE TIER 5 IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

BEYOND THAT, I THINK NORMALCY CAN BE ACHIEVED.

EACH COUNTY, BASED UPON THEIR NUMBERS, SITUATION, VARIANTS OUT THERE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISION BASED UPON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEM.

THAT WOULDN'T BE TRAVEL SO MUCH AS INTERIOR GATHERING AND PARTIES AND WEDDINGS AND CONCERTS, WHATEVER.

WORKING ON THE PROGRAM NOW IS THAT FOLLOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING.

BEING VACCINATED.

ALL OF US ARE WORKING IN THE SAME REALM.

PERCENTAGE FOR OUR ISLANDS MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT FOR TRAVEL WE NEED TO HAVE A UNIFORM NUMBER SO NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS BUT VISITORS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE UNDERSTAYING.

>>Daryl: PETER INGRAM, THAT MUST BE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS.

GIVEN THE BENEFITS TO TRAVEL, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY OF GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE, I UNDERSTAND YOU FOLKS ARE BEING INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THESE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS.

COMING TO COMMON GROUND.

I THINK WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE CAN OPEN SAFELY, AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE UNIFORMITY GOING FORWARD.

IN TERMS OF INCENTIVES, OUR FOCUS IS ON OUR OHANA, OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO GET VACCINATIONS.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR ALL OUR HAWAI'I-BASED EMPLOYEES TO GET ACCESS TO VACCINES.

FIRST OF ALL, BY FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES AND WORKING THROUGH THOSE BY AGE GROUP.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS WANTING TO ENSURE THAT AS HIGH A PROPORTION OF OUR TEAM IS VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IS AN INVENTIVE PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE WILL, BY SHOWING US PROOF OF THEIR VACCINATION, WE'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE ANY SICK TIME.

THEY WILL GET EITHER PAID DAYS OR EXTRA VACATION DAYS, AND WE'LL HAVE INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

WE WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT PERCENTAGE ABSOLUTELY AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE.

I SUSPECT WE WON'T GET TO 100%, BUT FOR US, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE PILOTS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS THAT FLY TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, WHICH HAVE TAKEN A VERY STRICT APPROACH TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE SUSPECT THAT ANYONE GOING DOWN THERE MAY NEED TO BE VACCINATED, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED BEFORE WE ASSIGN THEM FOR TRIPS WHERE IT MAY BE A REQUIREMENT.

>>Daryl: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN, THIS QUESTION CAME UP IN OUR NEWSROOM.

CAN EMPLOYERS ASK ABOUT VACCINATION?

WE KNOW THEY CAN GIVE INCENTIVES, BUT IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYER TO KNOW WHICH EMPLOYEE IS VACCINATED?

PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CDC SAYS SOMEONE VACCINATED CAN DO THIS?

>> IT IS IN THEIR INTEREST.

THERE ARE OBVIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SOMEONE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN BEING VACCINATED, AND THAT OKAY.

WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEM AND THEIR WISHES.

HOWEVER, I WORK IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

WHEN I'M NOT WORKING AS YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND IT COMES AS A SHOCK TO ME WHEN I HEAR THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DOESN'T WANT TO BE VACCINATED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE CARING FOR PATIENTS.

SEEING PEOPLE FACE TO FACE.

THAT CAN APPLY TO PEOPLE IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND HOSPITALITY WHERE YOU WOULD PUT SOMEONE AT RISK.

WE HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE TO ONE ANOTHER.

SPREADING CASES TO OUR CO-WORKERS AND PEOPLE IN OUR BUSINESS HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACTED.

I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE.

SOON WE WILL HAVE HERD IMMUNITY.

SOON WILL BE AT 80%.

THAT'S A FEW WEEKS AWAY.

THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO BE UTTERLY SAFE.

WILL THERE BE A FEW CASES, YES.

WILL THERE BE OUTBREAKS?

NO.

THAT'S WHEN THE QUESTION BECOMES MUTE.

I KNOW WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT WHO WAS CAUSING CASES TO SPREAD AND THIS AND THAT.

ALL THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I HAVE DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

WE'VE KEPT OUR CASES LOWEST AMONG ALL THE STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

IN SPITE OF THE FACTS THAT EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, WE COULD HAVE CEDED OUR ENTIRE STATE WITH COVID.

WE HAD TRAVELERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.

NOW I'M ASKING AT THE END WHEN WE HAVE TRAVEL, WHEN WE'RE OPENING UP, BE CONSIDERATE OF ONE ANOTHER WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAST MINUTE CRISIS.

>>Daryl: IN THE MEANTIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT ONE THING OR ANOTHER.

I HAVE A PILE OF GRIPE CARDS I'LL GO THROUGH.

THEY DESERVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

MIKE AND CINDY FROM SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE A COMMENT.

WE SPENT $750 ON COVID TESTS DESPITE US BEING VACCINATED.

WE WILL NEVER COME HERE NEVER AGAIN.

MAUI VIEWER FRUSTRATED WITH LACK OF CONSISTENCY OF PROCEDURE BETWEEN HONOLULU AND MAUI WHEN TRAVELING BACK FROM VEGAS.

MAYOR, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN, WHEN WILL YOU CHANGE THE SITE TO AN APP?

>> IT IS AN APP.

KEEP IN MIND, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

BRAND OF HAWAI'I IS STRONGER THAN EVER.

ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE IN LARGE NUMBERS IS THEY'RE SAFER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I FEEL POSITIVE THAT THE 10% OR SO WHO COULDN'T NAVIGATE THE SAFE TRAVELS IS HEARTSICK.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP COVID UNDERSTAND CONTROL DESPITE WE'RE SO ISOLATED.

>>Daryl: I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN BITE ON THIS.

THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CARDS.

I DIDN'T GET A VACCINE CARD.

>> JUST A TYPED PIECE OF PAPER.

ANOTHER, WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH KAISER.

WHY CAN'T THE STATE MAKE A MORE STANDARDIZED CARD?

ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO USE A VACCINE CARD, DO YOU ALSO NEED INFO FROM A SMART PHONE?

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BRIEFLY, THE CARD THING.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO EVOLVE, DO YOU THINK?

>> THE CARD IS THE GOLD STANDARD.

KEEP YOUR CARDS.

IF YOU LOSE IT, THE PERSON OR PROVIDER THAT GIVE YOU YOUR SHOTS CAN GIVE YOU A REPEAT OR REPLACEMENT CARD.

WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT SHEET IF IT'S A VAN SYSTEM.

YOU'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT CLEAR AND COMMON PASS, IBM AND OTHERS.

IF THEY HAVE AN APP SYSTEM, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE THAT TOO.

THIS WILL NOT BE A BIG ISSUE IF WE'VE GOTTEN TO HERD IMMUNITY.

I HOPE PEOPLE WILL REALIZE THIS IS A TEMPORARY THING.

THERE HAVE BEEN VACCINE CARDS AROUND FOR A LIFETIME.

CARDS WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO EUROPE.

CARDS WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR VACCINE TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

>>Daryl: WHO AND WHAT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE APPROVING ALL THESE FLIGHTS TO HAWAI'I?

WE ALREADY HAVE OVERCROWDED BEACHES, TRAFFIC.

IS THERE A PLAN FOR HOW MANY FLIGHTS TO HAWAI'I AND FROM HERE?

PETER THAT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOUR JOB IS TO GET PEOPLE THERE AND THERE.

MAYORS, MAYOR ROTH, HOW MUCH FRUSTRATION ARE YOU SEEING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT TOURISTS COMING?

A HUNDRED TIMES MORE TOURISTS THIS MONTH THAN A MONTH AGO LAST YEAR.

>> WE'VE SEEN ONLY A LITTLE BIT.

PETER MENTIONED WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT HAWAIIAN.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, HAWAIIAN AND OUR HOTELS, THEY'VE BEEN DOING A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB OF KEEPING COVID OUT OF OUR ISLANDS.

THEY SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR GREAT WORK THAT THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR HAS DONE TO KEEP OUR ISLANDS SAFE AND HEALTHY.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO, QUICKLY, I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 SECONDS.

HOW ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS RESPONDING ABOUT NUMBER OF TOURISTS COMING?

>> MANY HAVE TAKEN OFFGUARD.

IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE BALANCING IT.

WE'LL HAVE SOME ANSWERS THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAVE.

>>Daryl: I HAVE A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER.

JEAN FROM HONOLULU.

ARE PEOPLE ABLE TO TRAVEL FROM HERE TO CANADA?

ARE THERE RESTRICTION?

TONS OF RESTRICTIONS.

IF YOU'RE NOT A RESIDENT, EVEN IF YOU'RE A CITIZEN, YOU HAVE TO STAY IN A HOTEL THREE DAYS.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GOING TO CANADA FOR A WHILE.

THEIR VACCINATION RATE IS LOW.

>>Daryl: MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS - LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN MAUI COUNTY MAYOR MIKE VICTORINO HAWAI'I COUNTY MAYOR MITCH ROTH PETER INGRAM, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HAWAIIAN AIRLINES AND JOHN DEFREITAS, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR PANDA TRAVEL.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, WE MIGHT STILL BE IN A PANDEMIC, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE IMMUNE TO OTHER CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

SO IS THE STATE READY FOR THE NEXT HURRICANE, FLOODING DISASTER OR VOLCANIC ERUPTION?

WE'LL FIND OUT.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, ALOHA!