Updated 12/2/20. We said you should expect changes to the Safe Travels Program soon, and today it seems that will be coming even sooner than we thought. There is currently a 3-day pre-travel testing plan valid to all islands except Kauai, and a 14-day quarantine without negative results on arrival. Kauai on the other hand, starting today, has shuttered once again to travel and is requiring a mandatory 14-day quarantine for everyone.
We said when we first published this, “We simply have not heard the last of this and you should expect more significant changes soon.” Here’s what’s going on as of today, that you’ll want to know and look out for if you plan to travel to Hawaii anytime soon.
CDC recommendation could change Kauai and statewide quarantine to 7 Days.
As of this morning, CDC is recommending that the quarantine period for those testing negative for COVID be reduced from 14 to 7 days. As a result, we do expect to see Hawaii’s rules reflect that, and here’s’ how that “might” look. We’re waiting for news from the state at this point.
1. Those who test negative but do not have test results on hand for arrival, would only be required to quarantine for 7 days instead of 14.
2. Kauai’s mandatory 14-day quarantine could be reduced to a mandatory 7-day quarantine with a negative test result in the final two days of that period. That will not help Kauai visitors to a large degree, who’s entire vacation is still only 7 days on average.
3. We still are awaiting an update on whether Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s plan for a 96-hour test rather than a 72-hour test will be put into effect.
4. It is not clear whether Hawaii has adequate testing resources to go to test all visitors on arrival. The question is could a significant shortage of tests for travel preclude that option.
What about the Lieutenant Governor’s proposal for pre and post-travel testing.
Josh Green, who is the official responsible for the state’s traveler testing program, and an emergency room physician, has proposed changes to the Safe Travels program. These are intended to make it even safer and help address the problem you’ve widely reported in comments about test results not being obtained in time to meet the current 72-hour rules. Here’s what he is suggesting:
1. Change pre-travel testing from within 72 hours of travel to within 96 hours of travel. That will ease a lot of concern for those who rightly fear not having results prior to travel.
2. Require a second rapid antigen test on arrival in Hawaii for all visitors. To make the Safe Travel program better, Green had previously indicated a desire for post-travel testing but said there weren’t adequate tests available at that time to fulfill that goal. We don’t know to what degree that has changed so we’ll wait to hear more on that.
Green, perhaps speaking to Kauai’s recent plan to require a mandatory 14-day quarantine, indicated there is no reason to make big changes to a system that is already working, with what he termed the lowest mortality and active cases per capita in the US.
The lieutenant governor was insulting to the Honolulu Mayor’s suggestions and called Caldwell’s proposal juvenile. Green is not in favor of allowing people to come to Hawaii without testing and still be able to test out on arrival. He believes the governor, who was silent on this particular discussion, concurs with him, which is why the state recently changed to require a 14-day quarantine with no exception for those who don’t produce negative results initially on arrival.
Kauai now closed with 14-day mandatory quarantine and no alternatives.
The new 14-day mandatory quarantine went into effect today without regard to whether arrivals previously obtained a negative test result or not. The duration of this shutdown and the criteria for reopening has not been specified. Nearly all vacation travel to the Garden Island and most flights will cease. Airlines have already canceleds flights.
We previously mentioned that Kauai resort bubbles may be back. Your comments overwhelmingly state you are not interested in those whatsoever. A resort bubble has been in place at Timbers Resort for example. That program expanding this week, and to prepare for it Timbers has purchased more guest monitoring bracelets. The large property adjacent to Lihue Airport does not have beach access. Rates start at $874 per night with a minimum 4-night stay, in the off-season.
Big Island testing on-arrival update.
The Big Island plans changes too and will now test 100% of all arrivals starting today. That will be in addition to the state’s required pre-travel test, currently set at within 72 hours of departure. That on-arrival test is to be provided near the airport, and we believe there will be no charge for that.
Honolulu Mayor Caldwell’s proposal.
Caldwell said recently he is in favor of several changes he’s putting forward in a new proposal to the governor.
1. Provide a way for those who have tested pre-travel but don’t have the correct test results in hand on arrival. They would be permitted to get a traveler-paid test at Honolulu’s new testing lab to avoid the 14-day quarantine.
2. Offer a new 4-day quarantine for those who do not test pre-travel. In this case, the mayor is proposing two post-travel tests. The first one would be on arrival, followed by 4-days of quarantine and a second test. These visitors would be required to use Honolulu’s contact testing app. Those arriving would be required to pay for all testing, although prices aren’t known yet.
Updated 12/2/20.
I am planning to fly to Big Island on 12/17. I got the Vault home kit test already. My flight departs at 7:00 am from Phoenix to LA and arrives at Kona Airport at 12:30 pm. My question is do I count 72 hours from departure from Phoenix or from LA or arrival time?
Have plans to fly into Honolulu Airport early January 2021 from Alabama Do not have any signs of the virus only have sinus allergies Do not intend to be quarantined for any length of time can do that at my own house Concerns are not about traveling just want to be able to experience Hawaii able to go around enjoy myself with enough freedom Have thought about changing my plans until later in 2021 am definitely coming to at some point it is my dream trip Would appreciate your feedback on this
Hi Melinda.
There are countless comments from people who are either here now or have just been here. Peruse those for their feedback. Our sense is you will have a great time.
Aloha.
Terry, unless you can schedule a rapid test with Embry, I would suggest you avoid them. I had scheduled a test with them for travel to the USVI which has a 5-day test window. At that time I scheduled my test, Embry was quoting a 48-hr to 72-hr turnaround. At the time of my test, they quoted 3 to 5 days. On the 4th day, I decided to go to Gateway Urgent Care in Gilbert ($75) for a rapid test. Thank God I did because Embry didn’t return my results for 5 1/2 days…after I had arrived in the USVI.
Resort bubbles are a joke. You will always have the possibility of new guests arriving this contaminateing the ones already there. It only benefits the rich. Not your average tourists. I do not agree with the mayor on kauai. He set a plan of tiers that you need to be a rocket scientist to figure out and then does not even follow his own plan but quickly goes directly to a 14 day mandatory quarantine. Makes no sense. Think before you act. Rely on the lieutenant governor. His proposed numbers were very accurate under the safe travels plan. Kauai’s numbers have been lower than the anticipated numbers. And it’s not the tourists bringing on COVID. It’s the locals. And if they are worried about ICU/ventilators staffing issues ect they have had 9 months to get that up to snuff and chose not too. Very very sad indeed. The homeless situation of camp clusters is despicable. Elderly. Families and babies. That should be a concern not shutting down the island.
Hawaii lists two partners for COVID testing in the state of Arizona. I have discovered a testing facility, Embry Women’s Health with multiple locations, tests NAAT, results 7 days a week. The lab processing is CLIA, Labcorp. It would be very helpful to research and add as an approved partner
TERRY L.
There are actually 4 Trusted Partners in Arizona (granted two are mail in) – Costco/Azova, Walgreens, Xprescheck and Vault Health. Hawaii doesn’t even have Mayo as a partner and the following may be why! Same reason CVS and Quest Diagnostics eventually bowed out – the testing facility has to agree to consistently meet Hawaii’s 72 hours pre-flight requirement which eventually, when they got overwhelmed, CVS and Quest could not do. It is not the reputation of the facility nor their CLIA certification – it is whether they can meet other requirements. But you are correct – the more the better – hopefully! (Would you want to bet on the fact there just might be financial “feedback” in negotiating a Trusted Partner?!?!?!
We are planning a trip at the end of February 2021 and are worried about getting the covid test 72 hrs before the flight. We are flying Hawaiian airlines and since we are flying with them, are we guaranteed to get our results through Valut Health in time? Any other thoughts?
I’m sure there are no guarantees, but I keep hearing that the fastest way to get results is through an airline. After all, they are motivated.
Thank you for all of the valuable information you’ve been providing during these difficult times. While we are chomping at the bit to get back to Kauai, we understand the limited hospital capacity on the island and are willing to wait so Kauai residents are protected.
Do you know if the government has plans related to vaccinated travelers? I understand vaccinated people will be provided a proof of vaccine card and I am hoping this will be used in lieu of testing results.
Hi Robert.
Thanks. There has been no information thus far on vaccines as relates to Hawaii travel. Currently, the state is still struggling to deal with testing and its Safe Travels program.
Aloha.
Rob or Jeff
I’ve spoken to my friends on Maui and they’re telling me that since the new quarantine was announced on Kauai there’s been stepped up threats made to senior condo owners.
These individuals are long time annual visitors to Kauai staying 2 to 3 months at a time. They passed all testing the original 72hr pre flight test and voluntary post test only to be threatened and harassed with property damage if they don’t leave the island.
I trust the folks on Maui with the information they’re sharing with me. They have spoken to 2 of their senior couples friends (75+) on Kauai who’ve received these threats and made the decision to cut short their visit and return to their homes on the mainland.
To reiterate these are senior couples who visit Kauai annually they help out at food banks, the humane society and are vested into preserving Hawaiian culture. They’d been on the island covid free for 6 weeks then got targeted by locals after the quarantine announcement was made.
Is this an isolated case or are you seeing a growing threat against tourist on Kauai
Thanks
Richard
Hi Richard.
We have heard absolutely nothing of the kind.
Aloha.
I’ve reached out to my friends to get a location of where this happened as soon as I hear from them I will let you know.
To make matters worse in Kauai, on top of the mandatory 14 day quarantine, visitors apparently cannot stay in condos or vacation homes during their quarantine. This, from the Kauai.gov/COVID-19 website:
“Travelers subject to the quarantine are prohibited from renting a vehicle or staying in a short-term rental or vacation rental until completion of the quarantine period, so please plan ahead.”
Sounds like visitors are required to stay in hotels or resident accommodations ONLY. BOH, is that your take as well?
And $874 per night? Good grief! I just want to visit, not buy the place.
Hi Rob.
That has been the case throughout COVID, so nothing has changed. Quarantine cannot be in a vacation rental.
Aloha.
Thank you for the update but I suggest that you just plainly shutdown all tourist travel until spring 2021! Your ever changing rules and unreasonable 72 hour testing time frame just doesn’t work as quick as you think plus you run the risk of buying air, hotel etc then you change the rules like last summer when you kept on delaying the 72 hour testing. Where can i file a claim for air and hotel? Then the now new rule of being quarantined if a traveler arrives without a test result but waiting for it in your expensive hotel watching TV??
Get real, think about the tourist that spend $millions to visit and be treated with hardly any respect. Also hate your native folks reporting on tourist to the cops and get arrested. These same native folks gladly accept the overpriced meals, shows, tourism taxes in good times. So, why don’t you shut down all tourism until at least spring to avoid paying for a trip then you change the state arrival rules?? Also don’t think about a “covid tax” when you re-open!
Plus, I wonder what’s open, things for tourists to do. Restaurants, bars, museums, parks, activities.
To all travelers willing to abide by Hawaii’s pre-travel requirements, e komo mai (welcome) and mahalo for your understanding. In a small state with limited resources, widespread testing is necessary to keep our O’hana safe during this pandemic. For those that are not willing to abide or do not like Hawaii’s pre-travel requirements, mahalo for not coming. As far as getting a refund for your airfare and hotel, take it up with the airlines and hotel they have the liberty to refund or retain your money.
Agree. Y’all can visit us in 2022. Gotta take care of our islands first. Then Y’all can come spend yah moola with us native folks!
Aloha!
First mahalo for your continuing accurate information. Even as a Kaua’i resident, I follow your emails. I have also forwarded them to Mainland friends …all of whom have now cancelled their trips to Kaua’i
I recently went to HNL on a trip I’d scheduled well before Covid. Fortuantely, I was scheduled to return yesterday…pure luck! I had ordered the Vault test thru the HA link, but after reading all the comments about not getting results in time, I chose to save it for a Mainland trip. I made an appt w/Urgent Care Hawaii which has an office in Waikiki, and had the results in 48hrs…$209.00 but worth it. They were very nice and helpful, even after when I had trouble opening the file om ,y phone. My understanding is that they are only doing tests for inter-island travel.
Keep up the good work!
Mahalo!!
Lynn
Hi Lynn.
Thanks for your nice words, and for sharing your experience.
Aloha.
Hello-since you recently did inter island travel and are a Hawaii resident, I was wondering if you had any insight on Minit Medical or Clinical Labs of Hawaii on Maui. It sounds like you are on Kaua’i but as someone with “boots on the ground” wondered if you had any thoughts. thank you and stay well!
Hi Cherie.
We have not had any recent experience interisland, but perhaps Lynn or someone else can give us a hand.
Aloha.
Thank you! I look forward to the replies. Stay well!
BOH,
I look forward to newsletter and find the information interesting and valuable. Lately, I’ve been trying not to comment, but here I go. I do think the government in Hawaii needs to get it together, but what people don’t seem to understand is how quickly the health system in Hawaii can get overrun, they’re just trying to protect people.
Furthermore, the CDC is recommending that people not travel right now, so why not stay home?
The federal government needs to get some relief for people who have been hit so hard economically, I hate to see the locals suffer but it doesn’t make sense to head to Hawaii when covid is out of control in much of the U.S. Diligence is necessary.
We had planned to be on Maui right now, but it looks like we’ll postpone until we have vaccinations.
Be safe everyone.
Lani
Hi Lani.
Good to hear from you again. Thank you.
Aloha.
Myself and my 2 young boys are visiting my husband who is deployed there currently. Not all of it is for vacation, doesn’t my family deserve to be together for the holidays?
Hawaii has known about it’s poor hospital facilities for how long? Tourists in Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island have been subsidizing the insane light rail project to nowhere on Oahu for years, and on Maui car rentals subsidize road repairs and the new rental terminal at around $5.00/day per car. Fix your medical care! I always see this excuse, but seriously, Hawaii had 8MM tourists last year and I’m guessing that not a few of them might have needed medical care. But somehow can’t deal with their COVID cases now? As far as needing to go to Oahu for treatment of serious injuries, I live in a rural area and we get life-flighted to hospitals over 60 miles away when things are serious, too.
How about asking for the hospital ship Mercy if things might get really out of hand? This hand-wringing just seems overblown. Why are HI public (government run) schools and (state run) hospitals reported as being so chronically terrible? Could it have something to do with your politicians? Hold them accountable and refuse to accept their inaction and incompetence. They obviously know how to spend tax dollars, maybe they could start addressing this concern. The virus isn’t going anywhere, time to make sure the islands have the medical care they need.
Let me make sure I understand. What you’re suggesting is that we not try to stop the massive spread of this disease. But rather that we do nothing and simply increase our hospital capacity to handle the huge wave of sick and dying people that will result? Do you realize that we topped 100,000 hospitalizations today (Thurs) alone? When the post-thanksgiving wave hits, that number is going to go up even further. Our Dr.s and nurses are already stretched to the breaking point, and you want there to be more patients for them to try and deal with? You realize this isn’t just about numbers of beds and numbers of ventilators, you have to staff those beds. Where are all the extra Dr.s and nurses in your scenario going to come from?
Normal people defer the confrontation with death. The protectors run to it as it threatens the innocent. Fools are engulfed and perish dragging family and friends with them.
An ancient story. All we are missing is the girl.
The whole idea of the Safe Travels program was to create 1 set of rules for everyone traveling to Hawaii, to keep it simple enough for travelers to follow. The biggest mistake was leaving Options for Mayors to opt out. Now they all are back to different rules, some of which make no sense at all.
It also seems the Tourists are taking the blunt of the blame when many of the Covid positive travelers has been by returning residents & those bouncing for island to island. If you’ve paid attention to some of Lt. Gov conferences Residents are horrible at wearing masks & social distancing. I get it, that for a good period of time there were no cases on Kauai, but when tourism started back their habbits didn’t change.
The other rediculousness is these leaders know tourism is their economy. Shutting it down slaps their residents into food lines, $0 income, and dispair. Within hours of Kawakami’s action Thousands more residents were put out of jobs. One of the larger hotels just said the hell with it & said they’d be closed at least for the rest of the year. Landlords of commercial & residential properties have taken it in the chin. Vacation Rental’s have been basically shutdown for 9 months now forking out thousands in HOA Dues & mortgages with only a few weeks of reprieve for some while Inter-island travel was allowed & the few weeks tourism was allowed. Hotels & the Vacation Rental’s had to hold funds to cover the cancellations that were likely because they had a gut feeling Rules would change or get shut down again. I don’t know how they expect anyone to be able to make a plan for their business, family with what money they have to survive.
These leaders keep saying we’ve got to get away from reliance on Tourism, without any plan to do it. Until they can come up with a valid plan to do that, they’ve got to get their acts together a not cut the noses off of everyone that lives, works or conducts business in their County / State!