University of Hawaii President David Lassner announced Thursday the 10 campuses connected to the school will now be open to full capacity. This includes cafeterias, gyms, theatres, museums, and other public gathering spaces on campuses.

These spaces used to require physical distancing but will no longer be required to do so.

What You Need To Know

  • All 10 campuses connected to the school will now be open to full capacity, including cafeterias, gyms, theatres, museums, and other public gathering spaces on campuses

  • Some locations will transition back to full capacity over the month of December as they increase staff; check with individual campus websites for the most current information on specific facilities

  • Athletic events have already opened to full capacity but will now include concessions

  • Next year, the university will also require all employees to be fully vaccinated and students who plan to attend in-person classes to be fully vaccinated

Lassner’s letter to faculty and staff said that some locations would transition back to full capacity over the month of December as they increase staff and to check with individual campus websites for the most current information on specific facilities. On the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s campus, Paradise Palms, a dining hall, and the Bookstore will continue limited operations through the end of the year, according to the University of Hawaii News.

Athletic events had already opened to full capacity but will now include concessions. At indoor and outdoor games, all fans age two and older will be required to wear face masks unless they are eating or drinking. Fans ages five and older who are not fully vaccinated will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of the event. Children under the age of five will not be required to get tested.

The university’s announcement comes after Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday that counties will be allowed to make their own emergency orders and that limits on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, social establishments and gyms would end Dec. 1, allowing for indoor establishments to operate at full capacity.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said he would drop all capacity restrictions and would allow large events to have food and drinks while being subjected to the Safe Access Oahu program, which requires proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 48 hours.

On Oct. 11, the university administration announced that the school would open to full capacity in classrooms, labs, offices and meeting rooms starting in 2022 for the spring semester.

Next year, the university will also require all employees to be fully vaccinated and students who plan to attend in-person classes to be fully vaccinated. Currently, students who are not vaccinated are required to get negative COVID-19 tests weekly, and this will continue next year for any students who get approved religious or medical exemptions.

The university will still require people to wear face masks indoors, which complies with the rules in the governor’s latest emergency proclamation signed on Monday. Masks are not required on-campus outdoors but are encouraged if you are in close proximity to other people.

The university will also continue to use the LumiSight UH app for on-campus gatherings, which shows proof of vaccination or current COVID-19 tests as well as requiring people to say if they have any COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19 exposure.

Lassner’s letter also acknowledged Omicron, the newest variant of COVID-19, and said the university is closely monitoring “this evolving situation,” but that “there are no specific changes in response to Omicron at this time.”