Kokua Line: Will Hawaii’s vaccine exception include Guam and other U.S. territories?

Question: Starting Thursday, the vaccination exception will include people who got their shots outside Hawaii as long as it was in the U.S. Will this include Guam since it’s a territory?

Answer: Yes. The state Department of Health says the expanded COVID-19 vaccine exception for domestic air travelers arriving in Hawaii will cover passengers fully vaccinated in U.S. states and territories, which includes the “50 U.S. states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

To be clear, a passenger must be arriving from one of those locations as well — the vaccine exception still doesn’t apply to international arrivals, regardless of where a passenger was vaccinated, according to Hawaii’s COVID-19 portal, hawaiicovid19.com.

“Travelers are considered fully vaccinated on the 15th day after the completion of their COVID-19 vaccine (2 shots of Pfizer or Moderna or one shot of Johnson & Johnson),” it says.

Q: My daughter got her first dose in Hawaii but her second dose back at college. Now that she’s graduated and coming home, what does she put on the Safe Travels form? Does it matter?

A: Passengers who received one of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Hawaii should select “HI — Hawaii” when they upload their vaccination documentation to their Safe Travels account, according to Hawaii’s COVID-19 portal.

On a related question, if a traveler received their first dose in one state and the second in another (neither being Hawaii), they should select the U.S. state or U.S. territory where they received the second dose, the portal says.

Q: Regarding the disability parking permit, we are part-time Hawaii residents who’ve never had any trouble using our standard disability placard issued in Oregon to park here in Kona. Will that change?

A: No, it shouldn’t deter your access, but you will have to pay applicable parking fees.

“Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes §291.51-7, disability parking permits that have been issued by authorities of other states and countries may be used for the purpose of parking in reserved accessible parking spaces. All parking fees will apply,” according to the state Disability and Communication Access Board.

As of July 1 temporary placards (red), long-term placards (blue) and disability license plates no longer provide a parking fee exemption at street meters and unattended pay stations. Only drivers with a Disabled Paid Parking Exemption Permit (green) will be eligible to skip payment. Read more at 808ne.ws/618kline.

Q: When does PUA end?

A: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for the self-employed and others not eligible for standard Unemployment Insurance is scheduled to expire Sept. 6, as is other federal jobless aid including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, popularly known as the “plus-up,” which stands in Hawaii at $300 a week.

Q: For the state ID, are photocopies fine?

A: No. The documents you submit to obtain a Hawaii state ID must be originals or certified copies, according to the Honolulu County Department of Customer Services. The same is true for applicants seeking a Hawaii driver’s license. See a list of suitable documents at 808ne.ws/docs.

As we’ve reported before, an applicant cannot obtain both of these gold-star credentials at the same time — it’s an either/or proposition in the REAL ID era.

Mahalo

On Saturday night, hubby and I had dinner at Palazzo, in Aiea Town Center. At the next table were a young lady and probably her mom. They generously picked up our tab. I was so touched by this gesture, a first for us. Thank you so much. I will pay this forward. Much mahalo. — Lu. S.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.