As the coronavirus ravaged other parts of the U.S., residents of this rural Pacific island watched safely from afar. Kauai, one of the world’s most sought-after vacation destinations, has been nearly impossible to visit for most of the past year, with officials bucking pressure to ease quarantine rules as the state’s economy tanked.

On Friday, Hawaii Gov. David Ige approved Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to rejoin the state’s “Safe Travels” program, effective April 5.