Mayor Michael Victorino watches with Maui Health Chief Medical Director Michael Shea on Dec. 23, 2020, as Will Ambat, a Maui Health respiratory therapist, received the first COVID-19 vaccination in Maui County from Graduate Nurse Sean Merrell at Maui Memorial Medical Center. PHOTO BY THE COUNTY OF MAUI/SHANE TEGARDEN.

WAILUKU — Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino thanked Gov. David Ige, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, his fellow mayors and other state partners for a collaborative effort that led to last week’s announcement that individuals who have been fully vaccinated in the State of Hawaii will be allowed to bypass pre-travel testing and/or quarantine when traveling interisland.

The Vaccination Travel Protocol Program begins May 11 for individuals fully vaccinated in Hawaii, starting the 15th day after completion of their vaccination.

“This will allow our residents to travel interisland to visit family and friends without the inconvenience of a costly preflight COVID-19 test or ten days of quarantine,” Victorino said.

“Vaccinated Maui County residents might want to fly to Neighbor Islands for staycations, to Oahu for shopping or bring home a box manapua. That’s something many of us haven’t done for a year or longer.”

Hawaii travelers can begin uploading vaccination data to the Safe Travels App beginning May 7. Keiki who are five to 16 years old and not authorized to get vaccinations must still be tested for COVID-19 in accordance with Safe Travels rules.

“The elimination of interisland travel restrictions for full vaccinated residents will provide a great incentive for many sitting on the fence to get vaccinated to protect themselves, family, friends and co-workers,” Mayor Victorino said. “The sooner our community gets herd immunity, the sooner our lives can return to something resembling ‘normal.’ Getting a vaccine is a personal choice and immunization is not mandatory, but, for those who choose to get vaccinated, it’s appropriate for them to get an exemption from mandatory testing or quarantine requirements for travel within Hawaii.”

“The interisland vaccination exemption will also give us data and logistics to pave the way for a trans-pacific vaccination exemption, perhaps as early as this summer,” Victorino said.

“Mahalo to Governor Ige, Lieutenant Governor Green, Dr. Elizabeth Char, Major General Kenneth Hara and Mayors Rick Blangiardi, Mitch Roth and Derek Kawakami for all their cooperation in making this happen for the people of Hawaii.”

Maui County residents who’ve been vaccinated are urged to:

1) Save their CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with their name, birthdate, type of vaccine, date(s) vaccine was administered and lot numbers for each vaccine dose.

2) Create an online account and register with the State of Hawaii Safe Travels Hawaii web program.

3) Affirm they are fully vaccinated and that the uploaded CDC Vaccination Record Card is accurate and authentic.

4) Upload a PDF file or digital image of a properly filled CDC Vaccination Record Card to the Safe Travels Hawaii web program.

5) Bring a digital image as well as the original CDC vaccination card in case you are asked to produce it.

Other information from the Office of the Governor:

Travelers age five and under may bypass quarantine requirements, provided they are traveling on the same itinerary as a parent/guardian who has met vaccination verification requirements.

Travelers over age five who are not yet eligible for vaccinations may participate in the pre-travel testing program and meet county testing requirements if seeking an exception to mandatory quarantine requirements.

Travelers ages 16 and 17 who are fully vaccinated should follow the vaccination verification requirements for adults.

Travelers must continue to monitor for symptoms and must follow local county regulations — wearing a mask, physical distancing and hygiene practices.