Gov. David Ige announced this morning on Spotlight Hawaii that state health officials have detected the South African variant of the coronavirus in the islands.

He discussed contact tracing measures, and reemphasized the need for everyone in Hawaii to continue to wear masks and socially distance.

Ige also discussed the vaccine rollout, potential changes to the Safe Travels program and interisland travel restrictions, and expressed his confidence in DOE Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto, who has been criticized by the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Thursday marks one year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, and the governor also reflected on the moment last March, when he realized everything would change in Hawaii.

Watch via the video above or on our Facebook page.

Spotlight Hawaii, which shines a light on issues affecting Hawaii, airs live 10:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Facebook page. Join Ryan Kalei Tsuji and Yunji de Nies this month for a conversation with guests. Click here to watch previous conversations and to view the rest of this month’s schedule.