Josh Green, Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor who is responsible for the visitor COVID testing program, has just held a press conference. His answers were in direct conflict, albeit respectfully couched, with the mayors of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. From today’s earlier post, you know that they are requesting a second test be required 72 hours after arrival, with visitors staying in quarantine until the time of the 2nd test’s results. We said this morning, however, that all this could be changing as soon as today. That appears be the case, although there is no formal announcement yet.
The lieutenant governor said that the State of Hawaii’s realities of testing conflict with the desires of Kauai’s mayor. Thus he said, it not practical to have 2nd tests at this time.
How many tourists does Hawaii expect will be arriving at the restart of travel? Green said he expects to see 5,000-8,000 passengers per day arrive initially in Hawaii. At this time, however, there is a maximum capacity of 4,000 COVID tests throughout Hawaii, including for priority medical reasons.
What about interisland travel? Green said that if you fly directly to a neighbor island, there should be no quarantine. If you fly into Oahu first, depending on final decisions, you would likely have to obtain another test at the neighbor island. He did not address those who are merely transiting via HNL but not staying in Honolulu.
How will visitors get testing information from the state? A new website with all information related to travel and related testing is found at https://hawaiicovid19.com/. That website is going to be updated daily. Green said that there will also be phone service available to speak with Hawaii representatives and get answers to questions.
Which companies can offer tests that will be accepted in Hawaii? COVID testing for Hawaii travel can only be from what Green called trusted partners. He restated that multiple times. There are currently 12 partners including one at Walmart and more will be coming. Partners also include CVS, Walgreens, and Kaiser (which Green said will offer free testing).
What tests will be approved? There was not a complete list of approved tests provided, although Green mentioned that the Abbott IDNow rapid test has been approved. No antibody or antigen tests will be accepted.
When must tests be taken? Within 72 hours of the flight that takes you from the mainland to Hawaii. The first tests start on October 12 for travel starting October 15.
What about flight delays. Delays that are out of passengers’ control will be accommodated.
What is the minimum age requiring testing? Persons under age 5 do not require testing. The rationale for this is if they are sick their parents will test positive according to public health officials.
What about the state’s phone app. Adults 18 and over must register on the SafeTravels app. Green did not say how those without technology would be accommodated. The Safe travels app will also serve as proof of testing for law enforcement etc.
What happens when someone does not have their test results on arrival in Hawaii? If a visitor arrives with no test results, they will quarantine until results are obtained. Visitors will be out of quarantine as soon as the negative test result is uploaded.
Next updates. We do expect to hear from the governor this week. He is in discussions with county mayors on reopening issues. Lastly, Green said there will be a comprehensive press conference on Tuesday, October 6.
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The Inter Island Quarantine rules for critical trade workers needs upgrading. We are willing to do the testing procedures, however we are concerned the tourists will gobble up the test availability while we are on another Island and leave us in a modified quarantine situation. Our employees are willing to sacrifice, but not succumb to the inability to function in their daily lives. We are at the tipping point of us going to the Unemployment Division where at least we will have a way to plan our future with our families.
Iam confirmed on United I will test in SFO to go on to Kona Iam a returning resident I need to get there on 15th my flight has been rescheduled already hope its still ago on 15thIam flying Buf/ORD/SFO /KOA
I am a resident of Hawaii. I want to return on 16 Oct. Do I have to get an abbott rapid test from a walgreens or such Can I go to an Urgent Care which accepts Kaiser For my test The stores listed have no idea of whats going on.
Here is a little update for you on our island of Kauai. First a little history, Covid is not out of control here like it is on Oahu because of our citizens and our Mayor. Mayor Kawakami did all the right things, and everyone who lives here suffered through it. Things like a 9:00 pm curfew, the entire island being closed except for essential businesses like food stores, checkpoints every few miles on the main (and only road) around the island to ensure that people were not traveling during lock down. We all worked together and have only used one of the nine ventilators on the island so far. After all our hard work we are now returning to partial normal life, we all wear masks everywhere and can finally sit down at restaurants etc. On Oahu they are now ending a second total shutdown. Our Mayor is working to make sure that the resident’s hard work in controlling this virus isn’t all for nothing when tourists from out of control covid states start pouring onto our island. That is the whole reason behind the second test and short quarantine idea for Kauai. That idea has been submitted for Governor Ige’s approval and we should hear from him this week. So it’s not that we don’t want tourists back, it’s the fact that we have worked hard to preserve our island and do not want to have to shut it down again that makes us be very careful in re opening. You would feel the same if this was your home, so all we ask is that you have patience and follow the rules once they are finalized. In addition, keep in mind before you spend all that $$$ getting here that there are many things that are not back to normal here, so this is NOT going to be the same as the previous vacation that you had here. Aloha, Doug
Here’s what I got from your post Doug…times have changed, pointing fingers is useless, Kauai is still beautiful and for those that want to deal with the new reality it has a lot to offer. If not stay home and wait……..new era for all of Hawaii, some will deal with it, some won’t….the one’s that deal with it will enjoy a very special experience.
Yes John, you are correct, there are pluses and minuses to vacationing here now. As an example, as I live in Kapa’a I would go to swim and snorkel at Lydgate on an almost daily basis, but not so much anymore. Recent storms have washed huge amounts of wood from the river onto Lydgate and Wialua Bay beaches. Between the County and our local cleanup crew (we are out there cleaning every Saturday morning now, masks required!) the wood at Lydgate is gone but the surf is still full of micro plastic and small wood pieces. In addition the rock wall around the big pond has broken down and so waves that once broke on the outer wall now break in the pond, making for poor visibility. As to the Wialua Bay beaches, they are 75% gone due to the storms, while you were able to walk from the Wialua Bay Condos all the way down the beach you now can not, the water is now only 3 feet on the other side of the small parking lot (near the bridge) rocks, the rest of the beach is gone at high tide! And Polihale Beach is closed for the time being.
On the other hand, Ke’e beach is crystal clear with more fish than I’ve ever seen there before, and at my favorite turtle watching spot we see numerous turtles in the water weekly! All that will change as we open up and more people pack the water.
The Kapa’a crawl is gone, the road cones are not is use due to the lack of rental cars on the roads.
So there are down sides and upsides on the island but it definitely is not “normal”.
Doug, thank you for your response. We have reservations to visit Kauai at the end of October, as we do every year, for our anniversary. We’ve been eagerly waiting to hear what the rules will be but also figuring into our decision is how the locals feel about tourists coming back. We want to be respectful but also want to help support the people/businesses at our favorite spot. I’m sure there’s got to be some of both: wanting to get back to work and relying on tourism to do so, and then worrying about what that will mean to the health of the people who live there. We’ve got a little more time to make our decision, and I’ll continue to keep my ears/eyes open for feedback such as yours.
Please, if anyone understands this better than I do–although I’m hoping for a vaccine and return to safe travel by May 2021, if restrictions do remain, is the testing done within 72 hours on the mainland still valid if you have a short layover? We plan to fly to Maui, have a 2 hour layover, and then connect to our Kauai flight. I assume the test would need to be within 72 hours of our departure from Maui to Kauai. Also, is the return flight (45 minute layover in Maui) an issue? This is getting confusing. Mahalo for your help and much love to the people of these beautiful islands.
Hi Carol.
Look for more clarification from the state soon.
Aloha.
I really believe that Hawaii will not open up until federal money runs out. State and local government seems to be aiming for a ‘Perfect’
solution that’ll guarantee no deaths ever. This will never happen even with a vaccine.
We have had a flu vaccine for many years and people still get the flu and die,
The plan to have a second test is just not workable. It makes as much sense as testing for STD’s, measles and any other communicable disease.
Other States are living and working without quarantine and yes they do have cases of Covid but they are dealing with it.
By all means enforce the wearing of masks and social distancing but forget the counter-productive testing and quarantine restrictions.
Mahalo for this forum.
Hi Patrick.
We appreciate your comments.
Aloha.
I just watched a video that the Kauai mayor posted on the county’s covid 19 page. He described the post travel test program as being important to keep residents from contracting covid and to provide fairness for interisland travelers. The post arrival test would be a rapid test with results within one day. He also said that the county has already procured 15000 tests and is working with local providers to expand the testing capability. No answers on who pays for the test or if non residents need to stay at a specific quarantine hotel or if they can stay at their own home or with family or friends. I get the impression that at least Kauai has a plan.
My guess is that the governor told the mayors that if they want him to sign off on the second test requirement that they need to figure it out by Tuesday. So my bet is that it will be approved.
The only other interesting thing for me in the video was that there are currently 1800 people in quarantine on Kauai right now.
Hello there! I originally booked my Nov. 2 flight with Hawaiian direct from Seattle to Maui. I was unsure, as was the Hawaiian agent I spoke with, if a 3 hour layover in Honolulu would make it an ‘interisland’ flight and require the 14-day quarantine. Lo and behold, 2 days later, I received an email from HA saying that my direct flight had been changed to one with the 3 hour layover in Honolulu. This also makes my 72 hour ‘from last departure point’ impossible (Monday flight). I don’t mind waiting a day or two in quarantine to get results….but the 14-day quarantine for ‘interisland’ travel would make my 7 day vacation a bit of a bust.:(. Thank you for the best info found anywhere! Any word on this inter island debacle?
Who cares if kauai becomes infested as long as people are making money..never learn from past mistakes…sad
We residence want to visit & leave islands! HA is our Hub,where’s
our ALOHA! We need our hotels to Open and build our economy as well.
we are essential employees,upon arriving back to Oahu,with a negative testing within 72 hours,will and is OUR 14 DAYS QURENTINE waived?
Thanks for trying to keep us up-to-date. I am trying to plan a trip to Big Island to bring my parents ashes home to their church in Hilo. They both passed away within last 18 months (not from COVID) and are to be interred in my family’s church in Hilo. I am terminally ill from cancer and my daughter has to help me make the trip, so I want to make sure we get it right. I want my Uncle, who lives in Hilo to be able to attend. It has been so hard to keep on postponing and changing plans. Out of our great respect for them, and concern for health and safety of all involved, I have to make sure I have all responsibilities taken care of before I actually depart. Mahalo again for your diligent efforts.
Hi Ann.
Thanks and best regards.
Aloha.
What other distancing restrictions will be in place? Mask wearing, restaraunt capacity, beach bar restrictions etc?
Thankyou for all the updates. Does anyone know the false positive rates? The best I could find is a British study that said it was between 0.8% and 4.0%. If it is 2%, then a couple as a 4% or about one in 21 chance of being turned away at the last minute. If there is double testing, then it is about one in 11 chance. That makes for an interesting gamble in your planned visit. If you get a positive but have no symptoms, do you get another test at some point or do you just go home and start again next year?
If you are a party of 4 or 6 travelers, then the chance of someone getting a false positive out of maybe 8 or 12 tests becomes even larger.
I look forward to anyone having insight on this. It would be sad if 100s were turned away each day that were actually covid free. So, any insight on the re-test if the false positive rate is a real number?
Again, thank you for any insights.
Emerson
Hi Emerson.
Maybe someone can help him to your question. Thanks.
Aloha.
The false positive rate may be as high as 60-80%, actually, according to this NY Times.
I don’t know why the government of Hawaii wants to commit economic suicide and sends it’s citizens into poverty for the foreseeable future by enacting such a restrictive and illogical testing plan for visitors.