Governor Ige has announced two vaccination passports for Hawaii travel in the past three days. These can both be used on all flights and all airlines, effective immediately. The bigger question is, what do they do for you, and do you even want them? Read on because the choice isn’t all that simple.
The first Hawaii vaccination passport was from CLEAR, which was announced last Friday. Then today, the governor said that SMART Health Cards from CommonPass have also been approved. Both of these vaccination verification systems allow visitors to manage vaccination and testing records digitally. That provides an alternative for visitors to uploading documents on Safe Travels and then presenting those records physically on arrival.
BOH note 1: Registering and using the state’s Safe Travels portal remains a requirement for all Hawaii-bound travelers. It is needed to create your trip, link and obtain approval of these vaccination passport exemptions, and complete the required health questionnaire within 24 hours of travel.
CommonPass Hawaii was destined to be a Hawaii vaccination passport.
When we last wrote about this about 45 days ago, it was already in a pilot rollout for Hawaii-bound visitors. There is no cost for the app or its usage.
CommonPass said that “U.S. visitors with a ‘SMART Health Card’ digital vaccine record can use CommonPass to verify that they’ve been vaccinated and waive the testing requirements… When travelers use the CommonPass exception to confirm their vaccination status in Safe Travels, they will be instantly verified, rather than needing to wait for verification as they would when uploading a paper CDC card.”
How SMART Health Card from CommonPass works.
First, you download the CommonPass App, available for both iOS and Android. Finding it in the phone stores can be confusing, so we found it easiest to start here.
Next, either 1) scan your vaccination record directly into the app. “Note: CommonPass does not accept CDC vaccination card uploads.” Or, 2) for test results, “select the lab where you were tested and log into the lab portal through the CommonPass app or scan or import your SMART Health Card QR. Note: you must get tested at a CommonPass compatible lab.” Then, use the CommonPass and the pass ID number as the exception method in the Safe Travels Portal.
BOH note 2: It appears that the CommonPass compatible lab choices for Covid testing remain extremely limited, according to their website. The only ones listed are Quest, Vault, Worksite Labs, and XpresCheck.
CLEAR Health Pass.
On Friday, Hawaii’s first vaccination passport partnership with CLEAR Health Pass was announced. This can be used by all passengers 18 and older. CLEAR’s no-cost mobile phone app’s health pass allows 1) vaccine verification or 2) negative test results to be uploaded.
To use CLEAR upload your proof of vaccination or COVID test result on the CLEAR app and then go to the Safe Travels website and apply for quarantine exemption via the CLEAR Health Pass. Also, complete the health questionnaire on the Safe Travel site within 24-hours of travel.
BOH note 3: CLEAR has far more options when it comes to Covid test providers.
Difference between vaccine passports and using Hawaii Safe Travels directly.
When using only Safe Travels (without either passport), there is a limited number of approved testing partners. However, with the CLEAR Health Pass at least, that number just grew tremendously and now includes a wide range of doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, Walmarts, and more, nationwide. For visitors using the 72-hour pre-travel testing exemption instead of proof of vaccination, this is a big improvement.
Not available for kids.
At this time, CLEAR (for sure) and Smart Health Cards (we believe) are only available for those 18 years of age and old. Those tested under age 18 will need to use Safe Travels for vaccine verification, while those not tested will need to comply with the Safe Travels testing protocol
BOH tips and final thoughts.
Using either of the new Hawaii vaccination passports does not change the Hawaii Safe Travels’ rules but may expand testing options and can simplify the proof of vaccination process for Hawaii travelers.
Before relying on these, however, be sure your vaccine provider is listed as accessible through their apps. If it is not, you will still need to upload a photo of your CDC card directly to Safe Travels.
Remember that vaccination exemption is just one option for Hawaii travel. Testing remains the other option to avoid Hawaii’s rigid 10-day quarantine.
Hawaii officials have repeatedly stated that vaccinations will only be an option, not a requirement.
We do not know what Hawaii plans in terms of maintaining the current Safe Travels method of vaccine and testing verification or whether at some point they could move to using vaccination passports exclusively.
Previous CommonPass Hawaii trial program.
In the trial program, this was exclusively for COVID test results, and only today has it become available for vaccine verification. Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines were the two carriers who took part in that trial.
Revised on July 12, 2021.
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Rich says
Very informative. Please can someone answer a question. Those vaccinated overseas in another country (albeit with a vaccine recognized by the CD) are excluded from this and foreign visitors trying to change planes on the mainland have some of the biggest difficulties.
On my last visit to Hawaii and the Mainland (May-July 21) I heard a lot about certain states offering vaccinations without proof of residence or legal permanent residence. Whilst I was given Pfizer I am told the Johnson vaccine is single shot.
Which states can a foreign visitor visit, obtain the vaccine and the cdc card and then after the requisite waiting period use that for Hawaii and other states who may apply restrictions as the Indian variant takes hold?
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Rich.
Great question. We don’t know the answer but hopefully, someone will give us hand.
Aloha.
Tim m says
Hi thanks for all information on your blog. Has anyone had difficulty downloading their vaccine card to safe Hawaii . First I took a photo on my card , used my phone to create a pdf . Couldn’t download it. Then got a pdf from the health company that I got my vaccines from and it wouldn’t load . Fortunately clear which a week ago couldn’t link to my provider although They showed as partner to clear did allow a day ago to access and link my provider vaccine acount to clear , then I linked safe Hawaii to clear and am now approved in safe Hawaii .
Nanjo says
I am from Florida and we ate no longer requiring tesdemcy. You can get Johson and Johnson at Publix online with appoitment. Georgia requires residency.
Mike T says
I need some clarity on what I need to have when I land in Honolulu. I have my info in SafeTravel and will complete the last step 24 hrs. before the flight. Is that correct? I don’t have to do Clear, CommonPass or anything else?
Lee S says
You will need a hard copy of the CDC card you have uploaded to Safe Travels.
Victor r says
still very confusing. We have registered with safe travel and sownloaded our vacination cards. But how do we know if the clinic we go to is approved. Allina Health is who we go with they are very large in Minnesota.
Nanjo says
If you have a cdc vaccination card snd uploaded that us all that is needed until 24 hours or less before flight when you do the safe travels health questionaire. The place you got the vaccine does not matter if you have the catd
Ha'enaBob says
Great article 👏. I think you answered every question I had. Thanks
Michael says
This may have been mentioned already but the Clear Health Pass is valid for 30 days and you can see the hours counting down in the pass itself. If your trip in Safe Travels is past the expiration of the existing Health Pass, you get a rejection when Safe Travels tries to validate your Clear exemption. So you just wait for the Health Pass to expire and then create again within the 30 day window of your trip. Common Pass appears to be the same.
JC says
THANK YOU! I noticed an expiration date and that seemed confusing because it’s before my trip. So thank you for the clarification and the need to repeat the process once it expires! Our family appreciates this information!!! Best wishes!
David B says
I there any advantage to using the CommonPass or CLEAR apps versus just using the Safe Travels HI state site?
From reading all these comments, I’m not understanding how these two apps are useful? Just
lot of what they cannot/do not do. Maybe if you live in California?
Marcus C says
Every vaccination exemption is confirmed, either manually at the arrival airport or electronically through CLEAR or Commonpass.
The benefit of going the extra steps to attain electronic confirmation ahead of time is about 2 hours of waiting at the arrival airport for someone to manually confirm your vaccination card.
Nanjo says
Correct
Shelly G says
Hi, Can you please direct me to the list of CLEAR testing sites for Covid 19? I cannot find it. Thank you
PS My son is flying to Hawaii on Friday morning at 8:00 am 🙂 YIKES
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Shelly.
It is on this page: https://www.clearme.com/hawaii. Just scroll down and you’ll see a map of the US. Clicking there will bring you to the list.
Aloha.
BARBARA M says
SHELLY G — You can’t find it because CLEAR is not a COVID testing site!
Paul M says
True, the clearme.com/hawaii web site is not a testing site, but the helpful map at the bottom of the web page the BOH refer to contains a list of test providers across the nation that provide test results, broken down by region and state.
The section says, “Need help locating an approved lab to get a test near you? Tap the map below to find an accepted COVID-19 testing site. Make sure to get a PCR test within 72 hours of your [final flight segment] to Hawaii.”
I added the “[final flight segment]” in the above sentence.
Shelly G. says
Thank you soooo much!!!
ted b. says
What will Canadians need to get into the state in the months to come
Jan M says
Hello, could you please give the direct link for the correct Safe Travels and Clear app like you did for the Verify app? The first Safe Travels app I saw said it was not for Hawaii. I’d sure appreciate it.
Mahalo!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jan.
1. There is no Safe Travels app. It is just a website. https://travel.hawaii.gov/#/.
2. For CLEAR, go to their website and scroll down to the download app button. https://www.clearme.com/hawaii.
Aloha.
Becky says
Hello all,
My Husband and I plan to honeymoon in Waikiki. Are we required to use these services? Or will applying for exemption on the safe travels website suffice? I am curious as to how we are supposed to prove we were vaccinated if they do not accept CDC cards.
Thank you!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Becky.
Yes, you can use the Safe Travels website exclusively for your vaccination exemption. The others (CommonPass and CLEAR) are merely options, they are not required.
Aloha
Andrea says
Dear Becky, have a fun & safe honeymoon in Waikiki!! I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I can’t wait & I’m getting very excited!! 🍍🥥🥳🌈✈🌊🏖🌍🌈 God bless you….Psalms 91:11♡♡
Nancy S says
Could please tell me if we will still get wristbands from either Hawaiian or Alaska Airlines if we are fully vaccinated and can show proof of our CDC Vaccination plus and have uploaded the card in Safe Travels or Clear? Once we arrive in either Kona or Maui (we have 2 separate trips booked for December and April 2022), will we be checked again? Thank you for helping me to understand the new process.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nancy.
Yes, that is still the case.
Aloha.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nancy.
Yes that is still the case.
Aloha.
Margaret P says
The wristbands were not available for all eligible passengers last Saturday on United LAX-LIH. During the flight, United apologized and explained it was due to a really heavy travel day – and there was indeed a crush of passengers that day. Going through the screening at LIH w/o the wristbands was OK if you had been sitting relatively near the front of the plane and got a place at the beginning of the line.
Nanjo says
Hopefully by Dec safe travels will be no more! If it is still in place you will get the time saving wristband from Hawaiian Airlines. On arrival straight to baggage claim. No checking at that end for us anyways.
Kristie D says
I was able to upload my vaccine card to safe travels for vacation in September. I am a little confused do I still need to go through another site? Or does safe travel verifies my vaccine?
Nanjo says
Christi
Once you have uploaded your trip and vaccine arcs to Safe Travels you are fine until 24 hours before you fly. Once you fill out the online health questionnaire at that time, Safe Travels sends you an email with your QR code. Worked well for us.
MICHAEL S says
So Clear doesn’t seem to have a lot of the county sites in there and neither does commonpass. Apparently the Hawaii government didn’t think this out very well. Lovely.
David B says
This is normal for Hawaii government. The ugly rail thingies in Honolulu is costing something like $500,000 per every man, woman and child who resides on Oahu. Pretty sure the residents would have preferred getting the $500,000 each over the rail, but anyway ….
At some point, they’ll stop the whole safe travels BS. Until then, the circus 🎪 continues.
sean says
yup… new forecast is maybe by October Barnum and Bailey will exit stage left.
I wouldn’t hold my breathe though. I forget all the Greek Lwtters, but Hawaii still has the Omega and Rho variants lined up for early Fall.
Susie Y. says
Thank you so much for all you do to provide accurate information…as Hawaii changes its rules & regulations. We are visiting your precious island, and your updates have made our travel seamless! We happen to fly out on the date that proof of vaccination went into effect as one of the quarantine exemption. Mahalo for all you do! 🤙🏼💚🌈
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Susie.
Thanks very much! Have a great time on your vacation and please let us know how it goes.
Aloha.
sean says
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
Hahaha… remain obedient, fill out your “paperwork”. Enjoy your “stressfree” vacation….
PS: Don’t forget your masks. We are the last State, and it’s for your safety. Except when one of our Mayors goes to D.C. then it’s safe to be maskless…🤡🤡🤡
Michael T says
I’m completely lost on what I need to do before I come to Maui in August. Here is what I THINK I do. Fill out the Safe travel app upload my vaccination card and than fill out Clear app. Anything else I need to do?
Nanjo says
Michael T
You do not need to do Safe Travels AND Clear. On safe travels all you need now is to fill out safe travels health questionnaire within 24 hours or less of flight. They will email you your QR code.
MaryLou W says
Has anything been mentioned about travellers from other countries, such as Canada, yet?