The University of Hawai‘i has informed UHPA that Governor David Igeʻs Emergency Proclamation of August 5, 2021 mandating COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated UH employees will begin on Monday, August 23, 2021.

COVID-19 Testing Sites on every Campus

The University of Hawai‘i is currently trying to secure private vendors to provide free COVID-19 testing on each campus for all UH students, faculty and staff.

No Religious or Medical Exemptions

Typically, religious or medical exemptions allow a person to forgo mandated vaccinations. Since this is not a vaccination mandate but rather a testing mandate, religious or medical exemptions would not be applicable. This means unvaccinated UH employees would be required to be tested. The only exceptions to the testing mandates will be for those UH employees who are authorized to telework or other UH employees who are not required and/or plan to be on campus.  If an unvaccinated UH employee is either called back to campus and/or plans to be on campus, they should plan and obtain a negative COVID-19 test before entering the campus.   

The University of Hawaii is currently trying to secure private vendors to provide free COVID-19 testing sites on every campus for all UH students, faculty and staff to be tested.

Proposed Vaccination Mandate

The University of Hawai‘i intends to implement a vaccination mandate for all UH students, faculty and staff by the Spring 2022 semester.  A draft proposal has been sent to UHPA by the UH Administration. The UHPA Negotiations Team is currently reviewing and analyzing the UHʻs mandatory vaccination proposal.  As more information and clarification are obtained, UHPAʻs leadership will promptly notify the membership.  Please keep up with UHPAʻs Monday Report for the most up-to-date information on these important issues impacting UH faculty systemwide.