Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2020 — AAEF Objects to State's Reopening Plan [ARTICLE]

AAEF Objects to State's Reopening Plan

In mid-October, in response to the state's "reopening" of Hawai'i to visitors last month, the 'Āina Aloha Eeonomie Future (AAEF) initiative cautioned against the rush to reopen. "We need to get it right the first time," said Ikaika Hussey, one of 14 organizers of the AAEF initiative. "Without safe jobs, a clear testing protocol, and worker protections, the msh to reopen Hawai'i will likely initiate a third and bigger wave of eommunity infections." However, the state is banking on reopening providing needed relief for airlines and hotels that have suffered tremendous eeonomie losses since the pandemic began, and AAEF's recommendations were disregarded. AAEF's proposal stressed the value of ho'okipa, recognizing that visitors ean only be well-hosted by the people of Hawai'i when families and communities are safe, strong, and ean exercise their ability to be the stewards of these islands. "Ho'okipa includes a reciprocal relationship where hosts and visitors have kuleana or responsibility for the wellbeing of eaeh other," said Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, another AAEF organizer. "Residents need to trust that visitors are not going to infect us, and visitors need to trust that Hawai'i is safe. AAEF proposed a two-stage reopening plan that would begin by opening interisland travel for Hawai'i residents with no quarantine while implementing rapid COVID-19 testing upon departure from all airports. Assuming no major outbreaks from reopening inter-island travel, stage two would open travel from outside of Hawai'i with comprehensive testing requirements and safety protocols. For more information about AAEF to go: www.ainaalohafutures. eom.