Officials in Hawaii are looking into vaccine passports, especially for inter-island travel, which could begin as early as this month, according to a state official, who says one option would be using an app that would verify that a traveller has been vaccinated.

According to KHON-TV, Lt. Gov. Josh Green also said that while the app is being developed, people could simply show their vaccination cards to travel without current testing restrictions.

“You would have a company that would do spot checking and certainly, you can check the card itself and make sure that it looks legitimate,” said Green, who added that he is not concerned about people trying to falsify records.

“It’s gonna be very rare that someone goes to that length and put themselves kind of in jeopardy to just have a vacation,” said Green, noting that being caught doing so could mean a fine of up to $5,000, a year in jail or both.

Green said people who have been fully vaccinated might be able to travel between islands with fewer restrictions soon.

“I would love to pilot it in mid-April with the cards at least for inter-island travel. I think that makes a lot of sense. It would immediately empower probably about half of our travellers inside the islands to travel safely,” he said.

Tourism officials are supportive of the idea.

“That’s what we see, families that haven’t seen each other for a while that live in Kauai, Maui, Hawaii Island, Oahu. And this will allow that kind of travel to take place without the additional cost of being tested,” said Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.

The decision about vaccine passports will ultimately be made by Hawaii Gov. David Ige in consultation with island mayors.

Kauai

Meanwhile, visitors to Kauai can receive a discount card for local businesses if they voluntarily take a coronavirus test three days after arriving in addition to their required test before travel.

The Kokua Kauai Card program began this week as the island re-enters the Safe Travels Program, which allows people to avoid quarantining if they can show a negative pre-travel coronavirus test.

The card features a QR code that links to a site with discounts and incentives offered by local Kauai businesses. About 60 Kauai businesses, hotels and restaurants are participating in the program.

“We wanted an additional layer of security in addition to what Safe Travels provides,” said Mark Perriello, the executive director of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. “We’re getting as many businesses as possible to offer discounts and promotions to people who take the second test to give them more incentive in addition to just doing the right thing.”

The program is a joint partnership between the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, the Kauai Visitors Bureau, and the Kauai chapter of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.