Critical Questions/Answers Include CVS Test Details | Hawaii Travel Reopening

It is now getting so close to October 15 that we can feel it viscerally. Reopening is good news for many here in Hawaii and on the mainland. People in Hawaii are excited to return to making a living, and visitors are excited too and many want to be among the first to visit Hawaii again. Hawaii’s economic survival and its reputation are at stake among other things. So the question remains, after so many problems the state had arriving at plans and communicating them, will Hawaii be ready? Can visitors be made to feel safe making travel plans? What about residents? Will the travel industry feel confident in reopening and putting plans and staffing in place?

Communication is still sorely missing. We have not heard from the governor in almost two weeks when he announced reopening on October 15, with very few details.

Last week was the first time since the beginning of the crisis that he didn’t hold a press event at all.

The Hawaii House speaker Scott Saiki noted that this is the most critical time for communications. “It is really important that the governor maintain communication with the public…” The governor has indicated that there will be multiple announcements forthcoming this week.

There are set to be multiple press events with state officials this week, at which we expect to learn much more. We expect at least two updates from the state later this week, and we will let you know as soon as we that happens. Lieutenant Governor and physician Josh Green, the head of Hawaii’s travel testing program, will also address questions on reopening.

Questions we’re seeking answers to include the following.

1. $139 CVS tests for Hawaii travelers ages 12 and over.

CVS said, “We are proud to be able to support the state of Hawaii as they reopen for recreational travel in October… Once the program begins, people requiring a COVID-19 test to enable them to travel to Hawaii will need to register online to schedule an appointment at a COVID-19 test site at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. Tests will cost $139 per test and we currently expect the majority of test results to be available within two to three days.”

The Hawaii testing details are not available when checking the CVS website today, although the company said that this will be ready in time for October 15 deployment. CVS said that “It will be live in time to allow travelers to schedule a test in advance of their planned travel to the islands and within the time frame required by the state.”

2. Will visitors be able to travel through Honolulu and Maui or simply fly interisland without quarantine?

We are still awaiting word on interisland travel and a testing option to remove the mandatory quarantine. That plan needs to be in place by October 15. For the month of October, and perhaps longer depending on demand, most Hawaii flights will continue to be through Honolulu primarily, and Maui secondarily.

Mayors to decide on interisland quarantine removal? There is apparently no statewide decision on the horizon about interisland travel without quarantine, either in conjunction with mainland travel or not. Lieutenant Governor Green said, “We’ll let the mayors decide….” Hopefully, there will be a cohesive and easy to understand plan.

We need to have uniformity when traveling between all of the islands. Green recently said he has not yet seen any plan for testing for interisland travel in order to obtain a waiver from quarantine.

3. What is the minimum age requiring testing?

Lt. Gov. Green announced that children under age 5 will not require testing or quarantine. Previously the state indicated that all persons entering the state would require testing to avoid quarantine.

4. Which tests have been approved and which are pending. 

So far, and subject to change this week, “A negative COVID-19 test result must be provided upon arrival. Hawaii requires travelers take an FDA-authorized nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) from a CLIA licensed or certified lab within 72 hours of departure.” The tests via United Airlines at SFO and Hawaiian Airlines at LAX and SFO have been approved by the state. We await word on the availability of those too in relation to October 15.

Rapid testing may or may not be included initially as an alternative to the NAAT PCR test taken within 72 hours of your Hawaii arrival time. These are cheaper, more readily available, and have about the same degree of accuracy. Those have been approved for emergency use during COVID, but have not had formal FDA approval.

5. Testing within 72 hours from final leg of mainland departure – confirmed.

We had officials contradict each other with regard to whether the 72 hours are from departure or prior to arrival. Now that appears to be clarified. The latest statement is that “Travelers who, upon entry into the state, provide written confirmation from a state-approved COVID-19 testing facility of a negative test result from a test administered to the traveler within 72 hours from the final leg of departure, will be exempt from the mandatory quarantine. Furthermore, “If you have a multi-city itinerary, it’s the departure time at the last city before arriving at a Hawaii airport.”

6. One test or two tests?

This aspect continues to be discussed. The lieutenant governor said regarding the one pre-travel test plan, “I don’t want people to be afraid. If it becomes dangerous in any way, we’ll reassess.” Does that instill confidence in you? It did not us.

On the other hand, former Kauai mayor JoAnn Yukimura said of the single test plan, “The way they’re reopening is not safe and it kind of gives me nightmares sometimes.”

Previously the Lt. Gov. indicated he wants two alternative test tracks. The first is a single 72 hour PCR test. The second is a set of two antigen tests, taken both (72 hours) pre and (72 hours) post-travel. That was prior to his latest and apparently contradictory statement, which was that Hawaii doesn’t have adequate testing capability to perform the post-arrival tests.

 7. Testing availability, timeliness, partnerships, locations, and more. We are continuing to await any news on the other testing partnerships including Walgreens, Kaiser, and others that Hawaii plans to have in place. What are the details, how soon will these be available, at what cost and where?

8. What if I get the wrong type of test? Many comments have expressed concern about getting the wrong test. And then what? It is travelers’ responsibility to confirm they have taken the correct test. What happens if you take a non-approved test? With no plan for testing on arrival in Hawaii, the result could be returning to the mainland or entering a 14-day quarantine. Is this possible?

Please let us know your ongoing questions, thoughts, and concerns. Mahalo!