Poll: Hawaii residents critical of state’s COVID-19 response

The University of Hawai’i Public Policy Center (PCC) released results from a statewide survey on Monday, highlighting Hawaii residents’ outlooks on the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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The survey found that Hawaii residents are critical of the state’s response to the pandemic, particularly as it relates to transparency. Nearly half of respondents (49%) rated the state’s overall response as 1-4 on a ten-point scale. Broken down, 44% gave low marks for the state’s response in informing residents about issues facing the community, and 52% gave low marks for the state’s effort at being open and transparent to the public.

 

 

The poll found encouraging results related to individual and community actions to slow the spread of the virus.  Nearly all (99%) of the respondents reported wearing a mask all or most of the time while visiting stores or businesses, and 84% say they wear a mask most of the time when they are outside in a public space. However, the frequency of mask wearing drops off when individuals visit family and friends.

Eighty-seven percent of residents report that they agree that it is important to avoid large gatherings of 5 or more people. But, results were split when respondents were asked about their satisfaction level with community adherence to state and local COVID-19 guidelines, with 52% reporting they are satisfied and 48% unsatisfied.

Poll results also indicate that Hawaii residents expect COVID-19 to have long lasting impacts on their lives. The majority of respondents (85%) believe that COVID-19 will have either very serious (59%) or serious (26%) long term health impacts.

Despite most respondents believing that COVID will have long-term health impacts, just 51% report they plan to receive a vaccine when one becomes available. Thirty-two percent report they are unsure and 15% report they will not get the vaccine.

“Men are more likely to say that they would definitely get the vaccine (61%) than are women (40%). Japanese respondents are the most likely to say they will get the vaccine (71%), while far fewer Caucasians (45%), Filipinos (40%), and Hawaiians (38%) plan to do so. Income is also a strong predictor of residents’ feelings about a vaccine. Only 32% of Hawai‘i’s poorest households plan to receive a vaccine, while 72% of households with incomes over $150,000 think they will get one,” reads the survey.

Thirty-seven percent of residents also say they do not anticipate their lives returning to normal over the next year. And 54% rated their personal finance concerns due to COVID-19 between 7-10 on a 10-point scale.

 

 

Similar to a June survey from PCC, 8 in 10 people report they do not want tourists visiting their communities right now.