Hawaii considers proposals to facilitate travel for Japanese visitors

The goal of the pre-clearance program, which will allow Japanese visitors to expedite their time at the Honolulu airport by completing immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections prior to departure, is to facilitate travel from Japan to Hawaii. The concept was put out by Gov. Josh Green and other state representatives while they were recently in Tokyo. Hawaii News Now reported on Tuesday that Green hopes the program will help increase tourism to the islands.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Hawaii’s main foreign visitor market—Japan—has seen a decline in tourism. Because Japanese tourists “know how to carry themselves in Hawaii and how to care for our aina and so on,” Hawaii is eager to welcome more Japanese visitors back, according to Green, who used the Hawaiian name for land.

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According to Green, a pre-clearance program—which has been considered for a long time—may open up direct flights to other islands, including Maui. Humanitarian help of $2 million was sent by the Japanese government shortly after a fatal wildfire destroyed a large portion of Lahaina, a town in west Maui.

Accompanying Green on the trip was State House Speaker Scott Saiki, who expressed worry to Japanese authorities about the program’s implementation and enforcement strategies as well as its cost.

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Green stated that he will approach Hawaii’s congressional delegation to request support for the initiative.