121 thoughts on “Updated: Hawaii Plans to Eliminate COVID Tests | Phase 1 Starts June 15”
DIANA B
I have been a big fan and close follower of your newsletter. It still did not prevent me from having significant problems on arrival to Kauai last month. I did not understand, and neither did my husband when he looked at the website, that those of us who have had covid needed to upload to the attorney general exemption site. Instead we uploaded to the Safe Travels website instead. It was a nearly $700 mistake as I had to spend 2 nights in a quarantine hotel before I got it sorted out. I do hope that these changes will all get sorted out over the next few months as we are planning a January 2022 trip to Kona and Oahu. 3 of the 6 of us have had covid and we want to be sure that all is well.
I appreciate that Hawaii is making steps to accept the vaccine in place of tests, but I think it’s still too restrictive – my family has been vaccinated and I think for Hawaii to still require Covid tests to enter (we are coming to Maui on July 15) is both inconvenient and an uncecessary expense (we’ll have 6 people).
I think that is time to change to vaccine acceptance as long as there are no appreciable spikes in infection rates – this is an added burden on your potential guests to your islands!!
My Mother’s Day was ruined on arrival in Honolulu, on May 9,2021. My family showed proof of vaccination and a legitimate negative test results. We were told out test were not done at certain acceptable places. We were forced to spend one night in our hotel room under quarantine. We left the next day to return home in New Orleans,LA. Very disappointed and hurt and no compensation or consideration. Thanks for reading my comment Lillie X
So sorry to hear about your experience traveling to Hawaii during COVID! Just one question which might help others. You obviously learned that you needed to have proof of testing to not be quarantined in hawaii. The other critical parts were that it needed to be a certain test type and be from one of the Hawaii trusted partners. Where did you learn about the testing requirement, such that you weren’t informed about the trusted partner aspect?
Thanks for the continuing updates and for the wonderful news! I have been following your clear updates daily for several weeks as my wife and I are traveling from the Mainland to Oahu for 2 days and then to Maui the week of June 21 for our 25th anniversary. This is our first trip to Hawaii, and we are so excited! We are also grateful for the lifting restrictions!
If I may ask a couple clarifying questions:
1) Will the AlohaSafe Alert App be required for travelers to Maui after June 4/June 15?
2) The Maui County website/presentation from June 4 is still stating that “Unvaccinated, those vaccinated out-of-state, and minors aged 5 through 15, are subject to Safe Travels requirements”–we will upload test results and photos of vaccination cards for the flight to Oahu, but does Maui County’s statement mean we just need to answer the questionnaire and upload photos of vaccination cards to SafeTravels before traveling from Oahu to Maui?
Thanks in advance and much appreciation for your updates!
Thanks. The Maui County website still mentioned the AlohaSafe alert app as being required. In comments we’ve heard quite a few people say it was never mentioned on arrival there. We don’t know what you will experience in that regard. For interisland travel, all requirements are dropped starting June 15, without regard to what it says on the county website. You can read the governors press release, which is very clear in that regard.
Dear Ken, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!♡♡♡ my itinerary has been completed for awhile now. I’ve always wanted to pay my respects @Pearl Harbor & my Grandfather was in the Navy. He was in PH & survived. PH is #1 on my itinerary!! This is my 1st trip to Hawaii & most likely be my only opportunity to go. Blessings & Aloha ♡♡♡
Thank you, Andrea. We will definitely be paying our respects at Pearl Harbor. What a wonderful legacy from your Grandfather, and we are all in debt to him for his service, as well as so many others who either died or survived that day. I hope you enjoy your dream trip as well. God Bless.
Coming to Hawaii in July but still looks like we will need to be tested (even though our group is vaccinated) If you have a way of telling how someone was vaccinated in Hawaii it seems you should be able to tell if they were vaccinated somewhere else). We will do what is required but was hoping for better progress than this by now.
It appears there is no consideration for those who have already had COVID and have not been vaccinated. Recent reports from John’s Hopkins and George Washington University Medical Centers, arguably the two preeminent medical centers in the country, indicated that those who have had mild cases of COVID have antibodies that could last for the rest of their lives. So far, there is not enough historical data to indicate that is also the case for those who have had the vaccine. The next phases of their research will be to compare the bone marrow of those who have been vaccinated with that of those with natural immunity from having had COVID to see if they also have cells producing lifelong immunity antibodies. Also, there is empirical data, although the numbers are low, of people acquiring COVID weeks after having been vaccinated. Therefore, I believe a far more trustworthy indicator of safety against COVID would be an antibody test. At the very least, Hawaii, and of course other states, airlines, cruise lines, etc., should also accept a positive antibody test as verification of immunity, indicating the person has antibodies against the COVID virus, rather than only a proof of vaccination card. Thanks for the great reporting, BOH.
Thanks. We have seen the same same reports. There is the Hawaii exemption for those who have recovered, but for whatever reason that still it only extends for three months from recovery. Hopefully that will change.
I hope so, as we will not be getting vaccinated upon the advice of our doctors and pharmacists. Senator Rand Paul is spearheading, sort of, the effort to address what he estimates are the millions who have had COVID and thus have natural immunity, and have not been tested. He’s been on the news shows, mostly Fox and Newsmax, discussing this issue.
My problem with these so called “trusted partners” never did make much sense. If a Lab is nationally certified, and on national registry, the results from that Lab should be completely accepted. For example, our COVID negative tests which were done through the University of Utah, Medical Center, would not have been accepted in Hawaii for entrance into the State for travel. Such absurdity. We went to Puerto Rico instead. Had just as much fun, though we sorely missed our trips normally taken to Hawaii. Consider the cost too for these trusted COVID tests also, 300 dollars at Walgreens vs 30 dollars at the Medical Center. Anyway, we are happy for those able to return to the Islands. Manny thanks BOH, for your excellent coverage, and keeping us updated.
It is more likely the “vaccine” could hurt you than help you!!!
I don’t blame Hawaii residents for being resistant to getting this shot only known as a vaccine in name as of yet!!! I have a new found respect for native Hawaiians!!! This is America!!!! Land of the free!!!!
For those of us who come from the mainland and frequently come to Hawaii I feel it is unfair for us to have to wait until 60% of Hawaiians are vaccinated. My husband and I have been vaccinated and our first thoughts of travel were back to Hawaii. I understand the precaution, but we did what we were asked to do to keep everyone safe. Now we just want to get back to normal and enjoy ourselves.
My wife and I are in our middle 70s and can’t wait to get back to Hawaii but…..while we have had our shots, this is still just too confusing. I do not want to worry about getting tested within so many days before coming or going. Hawaii is a paradise. I do not want to spend my time being worried about tests. We hope to see you soon in normal times.
These endless restrictions are still not really clear…
“At 70% fully vaccinated, ALL travel restrictions will be dropped.”
Does the above comment mean no vaccination passports when (if) 70% is reached? In other words, back to pre-pandemic travel with zero barriers?
Using the 60% percentage of people that are vaccinated in Hawaii as the yard stick for changing the rules on visitors coming from the mainland should not be done. If people are coming from the mainland vacinated they are protected and will not be bringing in the virus to Hawaii so that should be the crtieria that guides.
Using the 70% percentage of people that are vaccinated in Hawaii as the yard stick for removing ALL restrictions is also should not be done. If people are not vaccinated they should NOT be allowed into Hawaii. If they are not vaccinated, which is highly likely coming internationally, they could be bringing the virus into Hawaii.
Ken F
Your statement isn’t completely accurate. The E.U. and other countries allows for the Covid-19 antibodies. If you have the naturally acquired antibodies from Covid or being exposed, that is actually better than the vaccine. In addition, why would anybody get a vaccine if they are naturally immune?
Ken,
Many researchers are saying that if you’ve already had it, which my whole family already has…it may be just as or more effective than the vaccine and on National soil I don’t believe they can do that legally. International travel may be able to. One of my kids has had anaphylaxis from a vaccine before and the other has severe peanut allergy and is very sensitive when it comes to this stuff…if we are willing to get tested and are negative(plus already still carry the antibodies) that’s even better than someone who hasn’t had it, has been vaccinated but still has a 10%-30% of carrying it or possibly even getting it. At least we’d know we are negative before coming. Be vaccinated or be willing to test Is the only fair option until heard immunity is reached!
OMG, Really? It took the State of Hawaii nearly 1 1/2 years to get it right? I love the stats form Maui. I could understand 6 months but the wishy washy constant changing of the rules shows just how incompetent the state of Hawaii is. I’m so grateful that I had enough common sense to travel to and from Hawaii 5 times during the pandemic and not buy into their fear mongering and crazy restrictions. Thank you BOH for helping our visitors and residents try and understand the ever changing travel restrictions.
So if they don’t get 60% by July how long will we be required to get testing ? Is there a difference with being vaccinated in Hawaii then California? Can’t we just upload our vaccine card into safe Hawaii travels. I got my shot at rite aid so it’s in their system easy to access in any state.
Can you clear this up for me. On June 15 a Pfizer shot in Hawaii carries more weight than a Pfizer shot in any of the other 49 states? If true, how is this following the science?
Robert,
They aren’t following “Science” and never were. It was all about control, power and money. Just a massive overreach of government. I have no idea how they come up with these cockamamie rules. None of it made sense and never did!
It’s due to tracking. They can track it easier originating in the state. The wait is about buying time to get the vax passport system to be fully implement and reduce the risk of spread if people have forged there vax card due to herd immunity levels.
I am a fully vaccinated Hawaiian résident on the mainland scheduled to return to Kauai June 10. The process to return to the islands and finding a state of Hawaii approved test site has been frustrating, confusing, difficult, and almost impossible. Why isn’t my proof of vaccination enough to prove I can enter the state? The governor’s new rules will not apply to me and if I get the wrong test (there are 2 different ones), I will be subject to a 10 day quarantine . People here are not too familiar with the requirements for Hawaii. Did I mention the test costs $139? What is the point of having been vaccinated?
Ellen,
You are exactly correct. What is the point of getting vaccinated? My husband and I were vaccinated by the Kauai Department of Health. We had a negative test a couple weeks ago but not from a kickback money grab, “Trusted Partner” and were ordered to quarantine for 10 days or face a $5,000 fine and/or 1 year in prison. I never followed their “Orders” because I knew I would beat them in court. None of it makes sense.
Hey could you help me clarify? My family is traveling to Maui from the mainland on June 29th so we will test here before we go but we are flying from Maui to Kauai on July 7th so does this mean we no longer have to take a test to travel interisland (Maui to Kauai) even if we’re not vaccinated yet?
Thanks
Holly
Hello
Me and my family we be flying to Maui on June 22 from California will we need negative covid test yes or no?
Very confused with all this.
Two people traveling with me are fully vaccinated and 3 aren’t.
Well sounds like I may never get a chance to return to Hawaii. I’ve had Covid already (runny nose, no cough or fever, but lost sense of smell for many months and I’m 60+). I even took an antibody test last weekend to prove it. I’m not getting an experimental vaccine that has no long term results, nor liability, when I’ve already had the disease! One of my children already had a terrible reaction to one of the shots and her doc says she can NEVER take another one…
So I guess I wait and see how things change. Because we know, they always do…….
My wife and I have been visiting the islands for the past 15 years for approximately 6-7 weeks in Jan/Feb. We bent over and paid for testing last year.
However, we are both vaccinated and will never spend another dime travelling to Hawaii (although we have many friends and love it there) until all these crazy testing rules are eliminated and Hawaii get the rental car situation straightened out! We are just getting screwed over! Way too many other places to go. Bye, bye Hawaii – we’ll miss you but not really that much!
So I’m traveling from Utah to Maui on June 29th and then from
Maui to Kauai on July 7th. Will we still be required to take the pre travel 72 hour test if traveling to Kauai from Maui if we already tested a week or so before on the mainland? We aren’t vaccinated but have already had Covid.
Thanks so much for the quick reply. I was going crazy trying
to figure out how I was going to test on the 5th of July because every option I was finding wasn’t open on July 4th or
They were taking up to five days. So much less stress now.
We are totally fine testing before we travel from Utah to Maui!
Love BOH for providing us with daily communications. Thank you
So, great news, things are moving alone. My question is this:
As a retiree and owning a condo here in Waikiki and have spent the last 6 out of the last 8 months of retirement here, can I claim to be a resident? I still have a Ca. drivers license as I don’t plan on getting a car or driving here. I do have banking here. I received my 1st vaccination here and the 2nd in shot in Ca. So I’m wondering if I can travel after 6/15 with just vaccination card.
Now my wife is a different situation. She spends more time in Ca. and comes here for about 10-12 days every month. She was vaccinated here with Johnson 1 shot. She will be coming back on 6/25. Can she be considered resident vaccinated here and not have to have a Covid test?
I would appreciate your thoughts and thanks again for your great website
The Governor’s press release, embedded near the bottom of the post, states travelers vaccinated in Hawaii, not residents. So your wife may be fine. You on the other hand may not be. In any case, we aren’t the ones to ask, so we’d suggest you contact the Hawaii Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888. We hope it all works out.
Our entire family is fully vaccinated and would like to travel to Hawaii for a July vacation. But we don’t want to pay for tests for the entire family when we are all fully vaccinated. If the Governor would make proof of vaccination sufficient for unrestricted travel from the mainland, we would buy tickets today!
If you’re going to have COVID restrictions, it seems to me that by far the simplest and fairest solution would be to only allow fully vaccinated travelers. Period. No need for last minute testing. No quarantine provisions. No masks. No artificial goals for resident vaccinations. You accomplish everything by just requiring proof of vaccination before travel to the islands. That might also cut down on the “less responsible” kind of tourists, which the locals would surly appreciate.
Unfortunately there are already a lot of fake Vaccination cards out there. But yes, I was also wondering why we needed to do extra tests when already vaccinated. Probably as an extra precaution.
“Hawaii residents have slowed their desire for vaccination.” Duh! The side effects of these jabs(I won’t call them vaccines) have been well documented if you escape from main stream media land and do your research. Hundreds of well known physicians have warned that more serious complications from these jabs will occur in the future. They turn humans into spike protein machines. These jabs are not FDA approved. They were approved as a emergency measure for a virus that has a 99.5% cure rate for anyone under 70! That’s insane. Making more Hawaii residents take this jab will just harm more Hawaii residents and not make anyone safer.
Oh my. There’s a lot of disinformation in this post.
Our country is clearly recovering because people are trusting, and taking, the vaccinations. As of today, 2.05 billion shots have been administered around the world, reducing fatalities and hospitalizations. Yes, there is a very, very small minority of complications. However, the fatality rate for COVID far outpaces any possible complications from the vaccines.
Aloha. I wish you well. I know I’m well because my family chose to be vaccinated. It’s good to be able to return to normal!
Will-full ignorance is not an excuse… there’s plenty of information out there on what’s really happening with Vax deaths and side effects to a disease which is 99.9% recoverable as well as highly effective therapeutics taken early. I know because my friend is a CSI doctor and he was in a clinical protocol study for HCQ back in April 2019 and recovered within a couple days!!!… and obviously he did not get the placebo !
Where is your data on your comments? All the science behind this effort and 40% in the world are now waiting for some sort of “incentive” before they get vaccinated! Go ahead and wear a mask the rest of your life and talk about “big brother”.
Totally!!! Pure poison!!! I personally know FOUR dead people (One had two strokes and died, one couldn’t stop coughing and died, two got deathly sick & just died in their sleep) within hours/ days VAX fax!!! I know one teenager blind in one eye due to blood clots-I know one college senior who missed his graduation because he had a heart attack and two heart surgeries within hours of second Vax-I know one 7 month pregnant young lady Who miscarried a dead baby with an hours of second Vax- “Will-full Ignorance” Will not save humanity!!!!
What is sad though is families traveling with children under age 12. There was nothing mentioned at today’s press conference but I’m thinking it means that a family of 5 traveling out of state to the continental US has 4 individuals in the household that are fully vaccinated but one member is age 10. Does this mean that the 10 year old needs to be Covid tested before returning to Hawaii? Could you please get clarification on this? Much appreciated! Thank you!
Correct, we did not hear anything about those under the age of vaccination but over the age requiring testing. Certainly there will be more coming out about that and we will be on the lookout for it.
I am really hoping that they approve travel from teh mainland for fully vaccinated….no test required. I am departing So. CA July 3….
fingers crossed!!!!!
So if they drop testing and the state isn’t at 70% AND a tourist is NOT vaccinated how does that work? Are they still able to go or there’s no option available?
Nope! Not letting the government tell me what I can/can’t do any longer! This whole things a fear scam. I’ve had COVID. It was nothing more than a mild cold. Follow the science. Don’t let politicians tell you how to act and how to behave.
Dear BOH,I’m so happy for all the residents of Hawaii who have family members that live on separate islands so now they can travel to go visit them without having to worry/stress about getting the covid test. It is about time & now there is light @ the end of this long tunnel/road for everyone:) I’m also glad that the testing requirements will be dropped!! I’m getting very excited about my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year! 🏝 🌸 I’m going to enjoy every second of my time on your beautiful 🏝!!♡♡♡ Blessings & Aloha!
Hawaii residents who have been vaccinated in Hawaii can return to the state without any further testing. So, if we’ve been waiting to return from the mainland, and have been vaccinated on the mainland, it doesn’t count? That’s crazy! So, we still need to be tested to return home?
As a mainlander who has been fully vaccinated I’m still confused by this article in terms of how I will be treated when I arrive to any of the islands on or after June 15th
My sense is that most locals are not interested in increasing the rate of tourism or farting vaccinated. The only people who really are interested in getting the vaccination rates up are the people who want to travel from the mainland to Hawaii. Therefore, we may not reach 60% with this kind of reasoning. And based on the results/statistics from the one month of testing, it has become evident that much of
The spread was due to Hawaii residents who visited the mainland and returned to Hawaii and spread to locals in groups.
We are traveling to the islands in late June, so we’re hoping the next three weeks see some additional vaccinations. I doubt we’ll see 60% before July, but we can hope!
Thanks. LoL. We hope to see that full reopening very soon now. Vaccination incentives are now in process.
Aloha.
Chris W.
Just this afternoon, we (a fully vaccinated California couple) booked pre-travel COVID tests paying $90 each. We’ll be taking a big chunk out of our work day to drive an hour each way to get the tests. Our travel date is June 29, so the original date of July 1 for accepting vaccination cards instead of tests would not have worked for us. I wish we could just show our vaccination cards at the departure and arrival airports. Still, we are grateful to be able to come to Hawaii and looking forward to our trip.
Dear Chris, I will definitely be grateful to visit the beautiful island 🏝 of Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!!♡♡♡ I’m making one of my dreams a reality. It definitely will be a journey for me because I live in Alabama, but to me it will be worth it!! Blessings & Aloha♡♡♡
Why should tourists pay to insure that residents who are resisting vaccination efforts remain safe? It is ridiculous and should be challenged in court. Wasting all of that time and money because residents of a state (that last I checked is still part of The United States) refuse to get vaccinated is discriminatory and unfair. Maybe Las Vegas should start testing Hawaii residents before they come to gamble!
I think you are making the supposition that local residents are not getting vaccinated when you have no proof. A previous comment was that someone ‘thought’ that the reason that locals are not getting vaccinated is that they do not want to see the increase in tourism. The reality is that we here on an island 2500 miles from the mainland are fairly insulated from COVID. Unfortunately it all comes down to the All Mighty Dollar….the governor is going to drop COVID testing, etc by the date specified because the state wants the tourism revenue.
All of the cases on the island are a direct result of people traveling from the mainland. That’s why Oahu continued to be a hot spot for so long.
It’s also discriminatory to think that only vaccinated people should be the only ones who can or should travel. You do realize that many folks cannot take the vaccine due to medical conditions that far outweigh the course of treatments that are available. Stop pressuring the residents of Hawaii to do something they don’t want to do. It’s their body and their choice! If you don’t like it, go vacation elsewhere!
There are several states that are holding residents hostage with lockdowns until they reach a percentage of vaccinations,hence the lotteries and other “enticing” things.
M M. Please try Worksite Labs. I found their info via Hawaiian Air’s Facebook page. When you follow their link, you enter your zipcode to find the closest lab. Best of luck.
Walgreens is free. Had to get 3 separate tests at different time intervals to accommodate the stupid 72 hour rule. All 3 were free. Major stress factor given the 3 hour time zone difference between East & West Coast and the 2 hour delay leaving Atlanta. After all that no one at Lihue Airport even looked at the TIME of testing just that it was negative, from an approved facility (Walgreens), that it was the proper test. Piece of advice: be sure to have your QR code down loaded to your phone and hard copies of EVERYTHING. It will make your life a lot easier.
I have been a big fan and close follower of your newsletter. It still did not prevent me from having significant problems on arrival to Kauai last month. I did not understand, and neither did my husband when he looked at the website, that those of us who have had covid needed to upload to the attorney general exemption site. Instead we uploaded to the Safe Travels website instead. It was a nearly $700 mistake as I had to spend 2 nights in a quarantine hotel before I got it sorted out. I do hope that these changes will all get sorted out over the next few months as we are planning a January 2022 trip to Kona and Oahu. 3 of the 6 of us have had covid and we want to be sure that all is well.
I appreciate that Hawaii is making steps to accept the vaccine in place of tests, but I think it’s still too restrictive – my family has been vaccinated and I think for Hawaii to still require Covid tests to enter (we are coming to Maui on July 15) is both inconvenient and an uncecessary expense (we’ll have 6 people).
I think that is time to change to vaccine acceptance as long as there are no appreciable spikes in infection rates – this is an added burden on your potential guests to your islands!!
My Mother’s Day was ruined on arrival in Honolulu, on May 9,2021. My family showed proof of vaccination and a legitimate negative test results. We were told out test were not done at certain acceptable places. We were forced to spend one night in our hotel room under quarantine. We left the next day to return home in New Orleans,LA. Very disappointed and hurt and no compensation or consideration. Thanks for reading my comment Lillie X
Hi Lillie.
So sorry to hear about your experience traveling to Hawaii during COVID! Just one question which might help others. You obviously learned that you needed to have proof of testing to not be quarantined in hawaii. The other critical parts were that it needed to be a certain test type and be from one of the Hawaii trusted partners. Where did you learn about the testing requirement, such that you weren’t informed about the trusted partner aspect?
Aloha.
Thanks for the continuing updates and for the wonderful news! I have been following your clear updates daily for several weeks as my wife and I are traveling from the Mainland to Oahu for 2 days and then to Maui the week of June 21 for our 25th anniversary. This is our first trip to Hawaii, and we are so excited! We are also grateful for the lifting restrictions!
If I may ask a couple clarifying questions:
1) Will the AlohaSafe Alert App be required for travelers to Maui after June 4/June 15?
2) The Maui County website/presentation from June 4 is still stating that “Unvaccinated, those vaccinated out-of-state, and minors aged 5 through 15, are subject to Safe Travels requirements”–we will upload test results and photos of vaccination cards for the flight to Oahu, but does Maui County’s statement mean we just need to answer the questionnaire and upload photos of vaccination cards to SafeTravels before traveling from Oahu to Maui?
Thanks in advance and much appreciation for your updates!
Hi Ken.
Thanks. The Maui County website still mentioned the AlohaSafe alert app as being required. In comments we’ve heard quite a few people say it was never mentioned on arrival there. We don’t know what you will experience in that regard. For interisland travel, all requirements are dropped starting June 15, without regard to what it says on the county website. You can read the governors press release, which is very clear in that regard.
Aloha.
Dear Ken, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!♡♡♡ my itinerary has been completed for awhile now. I’ve always wanted to pay my respects @Pearl Harbor & my Grandfather was in the Navy. He was in PH & survived. PH is #1 on my itinerary!! This is my 1st trip to Hawaii & most likely be my only opportunity to go. Blessings & Aloha ♡♡♡
Thank you, Andrea. We will definitely be paying our respects at Pearl Harbor. What a wonderful legacy from your Grandfather, and we are all in debt to him for his service, as well as so many others who either died or survived that day. I hope you enjoy your dream trip as well. God Bless.
Have a safe & fun trip to Hawaii!!
Coming to Hawaii in July but still looks like we will need to be tested (even though our group is vaccinated) If you have a way of telling how someone was vaccinated in Hawaii it seems you should be able to tell if they were vaccinated somewhere else). We will do what is required but was hoping for better progress than this by now.
Hanging by our fingernails yet again!
It appears there is no consideration for those who have already had COVID and have not been vaccinated. Recent reports from John’s Hopkins and George Washington University Medical Centers, arguably the two preeminent medical centers in the country, indicated that those who have had mild cases of COVID have antibodies that could last for the rest of their lives. So far, there is not enough historical data to indicate that is also the case for those who have had the vaccine. The next phases of their research will be to compare the bone marrow of those who have been vaccinated with that of those with natural immunity from having had COVID to see if they also have cells producing lifelong immunity antibodies. Also, there is empirical data, although the numbers are low, of people acquiring COVID weeks after having been vaccinated. Therefore, I believe a far more trustworthy indicator of safety against COVID would be an antibody test. At the very least, Hawaii, and of course other states, airlines, cruise lines, etc., should also accept a positive antibody test as verification of immunity, indicating the person has antibodies against the COVID virus, rather than only a proof of vaccination card. Thanks for the great reporting, BOH.
Hi Rob.
Thanks. We have seen the same same reports. There is the Hawaii exemption for those who have recovered, but for whatever reason that still it only extends for three months from recovery. Hopefully that will change.
Aloha.
I hope so, as we will not be getting vaccinated upon the advice of our doctors and pharmacists. Senator Rand Paul is spearheading, sort of, the effort to address what he estimates are the millions who have had COVID and thus have natural immunity, and have not been tested. He’s been on the news shows, mostly Fox and Newsmax, discussing this issue.
My problem with these so called “trusted partners” never did make much sense. If a Lab is nationally certified, and on national registry, the results from that Lab should be completely accepted. For example, our COVID negative tests which were done through the University of Utah, Medical Center, would not have been accepted in Hawaii for entrance into the State for travel. Such absurdity. We went to Puerto Rico instead. Had just as much fun, though we sorely missed our trips normally taken to Hawaii. Consider the cost too for these trusted COVID tests also, 300 dollars at Walgreens vs 30 dollars at the Medical Center. Anyway, we are happy for those able to return to the Islands. Manny thanks BOH, for your excellent coverage, and keeping us updated.
Hi LB.
Thanks. Happy to hear you are traveling and hope you can return to Hawaii soon.
Aloha.
It is more likely the “vaccine” could hurt you than help you!!!
I don’t blame Hawaii residents for being resistant to getting this shot only known as a vaccine in name as of yet!!! I have a new found respect for native Hawaiians!!! This is America!!!! Land of the free!!!!
This is encouraging news!
Mahalo
For those of us who come from the mainland and frequently come to Hawaii I feel it is unfair for us to have to wait until 60% of Hawaiians are vaccinated. My husband and I have been vaccinated and our first thoughts of travel were back to Hawaii. I understand the precaution, but we did what we were asked to do to keep everyone safe. Now we just want to get back to normal and enjoy ourselves.
My wife and I are in our middle 70s and can’t wait to get back to Hawaii but…..while we have had our shots, this is still just too confusing. I do not want to worry about getting tested within so many days before coming or going. Hawaii is a paradise. I do not want to spend my time being worried about tests. We hope to see you soon in normal times.
These endless restrictions are still not really clear…
“At 70% fully vaccinated, ALL travel restrictions will be dropped.”
Does the above comment mean no vaccination passports when (if) 70% is reached? In other words, back to pre-pandemic travel with zero barriers?
Thank you. I have a time share on the big island but haven’t been able to use it for 2 years. I hope I can get to Hawaii by year’s end.
Using the 60% percentage of people that are vaccinated in Hawaii as the yard stick for changing the rules on visitors coming from the mainland should not be done. If people are coming from the mainland vacinated they are protected and will not be bringing in the virus to Hawaii so that should be the crtieria that guides.
Using the 70% percentage of people that are vaccinated in Hawaii as the yard stick for removing ALL restrictions is also should not be done. If people are not vaccinated they should NOT be allowed into Hawaii. If they are not vaccinated, which is highly likely coming internationally, they could be bringing the virus into Hawaii.
Ken F
Your statement isn’t completely accurate. The E.U. and other countries allows for the Covid-19 antibodies. If you have the naturally acquired antibodies from Covid or being exposed, that is actually better than the vaccine. In addition, why would anybody get a vaccine if they are naturally immune?
Ken,
Many researchers are saying that if you’ve already had it, which my whole family already has…it may be just as or more effective than the vaccine and on National soil I don’t believe they can do that legally. International travel may be able to. One of my kids has had anaphylaxis from a vaccine before and the other has severe peanut allergy and is very sensitive when it comes to this stuff…if we are willing to get tested and are negative(plus already still carry the antibodies) that’s even better than someone who hasn’t had it, has been vaccinated but still has a 10%-30% of carrying it or possibly even getting it. At least we’d know we are negative before coming. Be vaccinated or be willing to test Is the only fair option until heard immunity is reached!
OMG, Really? It took the State of Hawaii nearly 1 1/2 years to get it right? I love the stats form Maui. I could understand 6 months but the wishy washy constant changing of the rules shows just how incompetent the state of Hawaii is. I’m so grateful that I had enough common sense to travel to and from Hawaii 5 times during the pandemic and not buy into their fear mongering and crazy restrictions. Thank you BOH for helping our visitors and residents try and understand the ever changing travel restrictions.
So if they don’t get 60% by July how long will we be required to get testing ? Is there a difference with being vaccinated in Hawaii then California? Can’t we just upload our vaccine card into safe Hawaii travels. I got my shot at rite aid so it’s in their system easy to access in any state.
Can you clear this up for me. On June 15 a Pfizer shot in Hawaii carries more weight than a Pfizer shot in any of the other 49 states? If true, how is this following the science?
Robert,
They aren’t following “Science” and never were. It was all about control, power and money. Just a massive overreach of government. I have no idea how they come up with these cockamamie rules. None of it made sense and never did!
It’s due to tracking. They can track it easier originating in the state. The wait is about buying time to get the vax passport system to be fully implement and reduce the risk of spread if people have forged there vax card due to herd immunity levels.
If I am flying to Kuaui from Oahu on June 14, will I need a Covid test?
I am a fully vaccinated Hawaiian résident on the mainland scheduled to return to Kauai June 10. The process to return to the islands and finding a state of Hawaii approved test site has been frustrating, confusing, difficult, and almost impossible. Why isn’t my proof of vaccination enough to prove I can enter the state? The governor’s new rules will not apply to me and if I get the wrong test (there are 2 different ones), I will be subject to a 10 day quarantine . People here are not too familiar with the requirements for Hawaii. Did I mention the test costs $139? What is the point of having been vaccinated?
Ellen,
You are exactly correct. What is the point of getting vaccinated? My husband and I were vaccinated by the Kauai Department of Health. We had a negative test a couple weeks ago but not from a kickback money grab, “Trusted Partner” and were ordered to quarantine for 10 days or face a $5,000 fine and/or 1 year in prison. I never followed their “Orders” because I knew I would beat them in court. None of it makes sense.
Hey could you help me clarify? My family is traveling to Maui from the mainland on June 29th so we will test here before we go but we are flying from Maui to Kauai on July 7th so does this mean we no longer have to take a test to travel interisland (Maui to Kauai) even if we’re not vaccinated yet?
Thanks
Holly
Hi Holly.
Your understanding is correct as you stated. We’ve also embedded the governor’s press release if you would like to read it.
Aloha.
Hello
Me and my family we be flying to Maui on June 22 from California will we need negative covid test yes or no?
Very confused with all this.
Two people traveling with me are fully vaccinated and 3 aren’t.
Well sounds like I may never get a chance to return to Hawaii. I’ve had Covid already (runny nose, no cough or fever, but lost sense of smell for many months and I’m 60+). I even took an antibody test last weekend to prove it. I’m not getting an experimental vaccine that has no long term results, nor liability, when I’ve already had the disease! One of my children already had a terrible reaction to one of the shots and her doc says she can NEVER take another one…
So I guess I wait and see how things change. Because we know, they always do…….
Dear Carrie, for people who aren’t vaccinated the testing option will remain for an option for travelers to go to Hawaii. Blessings & Aloha♡♡
My wife and I have been visiting the islands for the past 15 years for approximately 6-7 weeks in Jan/Feb. We bent over and paid for testing last year.
However, we are both vaccinated and will never spend another dime travelling to Hawaii (although we have many friends and love it there) until all these crazy testing rules are eliminated and Hawaii get the rental car situation straightened out! We are just getting screwed over! Way too many other places to go. Bye, bye Hawaii – we’ll miss you but not really that much!
So I’m traveling from Utah to Maui on June 29th and then from
Maui to Kauai on July 7th. Will we still be required to take the pre travel 72 hour test if traveling to Kauai from Maui if we already tested a week or so before on the mainland? We aren’t vaccinated but have already had Covid.
Hi Holly.
Pre-test before flying from Utah to Maui. Nothing further will be required flying interisland after June 15.
Aloha.
Thanks so much for the quick reply. I was going crazy trying
to figure out how I was going to test on the 5th of July because every option I was finding wasn’t open on July 4th or
They were taking up to five days. So much less stress now.
We are totally fine testing before we travel from Utah to Maui!
Thank you. What is the plan for Canadians coming to Hawaii?
Hi Diana.
Nothing further has been said about international travel.
Aloha.
Love BOH for providing us with daily communications. Thank you
So, great news, things are moving alone. My question is this:
As a retiree and owning a condo here in Waikiki and have spent the last 6 out of the last 8 months of retirement here, can I claim to be a resident? I still have a Ca. drivers license as I don’t plan on getting a car or driving here. I do have banking here. I received my 1st vaccination here and the 2nd in shot in Ca. So I’m wondering if I can travel after 6/15 with just vaccination card.
Now my wife is a different situation. She spends more time in Ca. and comes here for about 10-12 days every month. She was vaccinated here with Johnson 1 shot. She will be coming back on 6/25. Can she be considered resident vaccinated here and not have to have a Covid test?
I would appreciate your thoughts and thanks again for your great website
Hi Bob.
The Governor’s press release, embedded near the bottom of the post, states travelers vaccinated in Hawaii, not residents. So your wife may be fine. You on the other hand may not be. In any case, we aren’t the ones to ask, so we’d suggest you contact the Hawaii Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888. We hope it all works out.
Aloha.
Our entire family is fully vaccinated and would like to travel to Hawaii for a July vacation. But we don’t want to pay for tests for the entire family when we are all fully vaccinated. If the Governor would make proof of vaccination sufficient for unrestricted travel from the mainland, we would buy tickets today!
Dear Richard, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year!! I’m getting very excited & can’t wait♡♡♡ Blessings & Aloha
If you’re going to have COVID restrictions, it seems to me that by far the simplest and fairest solution would be to only allow fully vaccinated travelers. Period. No need for last minute testing. No quarantine provisions. No masks. No artificial goals for resident vaccinations. You accomplish everything by just requiring proof of vaccination before travel to the islands. That might also cut down on the “less responsible” kind of tourists, which the locals would surly appreciate.
Unfortunately there are already a lot of fake Vaccination cards out there. But yes, I was also wondering why we needed to do extra tests when already vaccinated. Probably as an extra precaution.
“Hawaii residents have slowed their desire for vaccination.” Duh! The side effects of these jabs(I won’t call them vaccines) have been well documented if you escape from main stream media land and do your research. Hundreds of well known physicians have warned that more serious complications from these jabs will occur in the future. They turn humans into spike protein machines. These jabs are not FDA approved. They were approved as a emergency measure for a virus that has a 99.5% cure rate for anyone under 70! That’s insane. Making more Hawaii residents take this jab will just harm more Hawaii residents and not make anyone safer.
Oh my. There’s a lot of disinformation in this post.
Our country is clearly recovering because people are trusting, and taking, the vaccinations. As of today, 2.05 billion shots have been administered around the world, reducing fatalities and hospitalizations. Yes, there is a very, very small minority of complications. However, the fatality rate for COVID far outpaces any possible complications from the vaccines.
Aloha. I wish you well. I know I’m well because my family chose to be vaccinated. It’s good to be able to return to normal!
Will-full ignorance is not an excuse… there’s plenty of information out there on what’s really happening with Vax deaths and side effects to a disease which is 99.9% recoverable as well as highly effective therapeutics taken early. I know because my friend is a CSI doctor and he was in a clinical protocol study for HCQ back in April 2019 and recovered within a couple days!!!… and obviously he did not get the placebo !
Where is your data on your comments? All the science behind this effort and 40% in the world are now waiting for some sort of “incentive” before they get vaccinated! Go ahead and wear a mask the rest of your life and talk about “big brother”.
Totally!!! Pure poison!!! I personally know FOUR dead people (One had two strokes and died, one couldn’t stop coughing and died, two got deathly sick & just died in their sleep) within hours/ days VAX fax!!! I know one teenager blind in one eye due to blood clots-I know one college senior who missed his graduation because he had a heart attack and two heart surgeries within hours of second Vax-I know one 7 month pregnant young lady Who miscarried a dead baby with an hours of second Vax- “Will-full Ignorance” Will not save humanity!!!!
What is sad though is families traveling with children under age 12. There was nothing mentioned at today’s press conference but I’m thinking it means that a family of 5 traveling out of state to the continental US has 4 individuals in the household that are fully vaccinated but one member is age 10. Does this mean that the 10 year old needs to be Covid tested before returning to Hawaii? Could you please get clarification on this? Much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Kristy.
Correct, we did not hear anything about those under the age of vaccination but over the age requiring testing. Certainly there will be more coming out about that and we will be on the lookout for it.
Aloha.
Thanks for the update! does the no testing for interisland travel apply to those w/o the vaccine as well?
Hi Elle.
Yes, it does.
Aloha.
I am really hoping that they approve travel from teh mainland for fully vaccinated….no test required. I am departing So. CA July 3….
fingers crossed!!!!!
So if they drop testing and the state isn’t at 70% AND a tourist is NOT vaccinated how does that work? Are they still able to go or there’s no option available?
Go get vaccinated!
Nope! Not letting the government tell me what I can/can’t do any longer! This whole things a fear scam. I’ve had COVID. It was nothing more than a mild cold. Follow the science. Don’t let politicians tell you how to act and how to behave.
70% seems to be a pretty high target with the slowing vaccination rates. Doubt it will happen any time soon.
Thanks for the new info. What will be accepted as proof of vaccination? Any guesses?
Hi Scott.
Probably just the vaccination cards uploaded to safe travels to start, then vaccine passports will get added later.
Aloha.
Dear BOH,I’m so happy for all the residents of Hawaii who have family members that live on separate islands so now they can travel to go visit them without having to worry/stress about getting the covid test. It is about time & now there is light @ the end of this long tunnel/road for everyone:) I’m also glad that the testing requirements will be dropped!! I’m getting very excited about my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year! 🏝 🌸 I’m going to enjoy every second of my time on your beautiful 🏝!!♡♡♡ Blessings & Aloha!
Hawaii residents who have been vaccinated in Hawaii can return to the state without any further testing. So, if we’ve been waiting to return from the mainland, and have been vaccinated on the mainland, it doesn’t count? That’s crazy! So, we still need to be tested to return home?
As a mainlander who has been fully vaccinated I’m still confused by this article in terms of how I will be treated when I arrive to any of the islands on or after June 15th
Dear Charles, Hopefully you will be treated just fine 🙂!! Blessings & Aloha♡♡♡
I am fully vaccined from CA would I have to do a covid test do come to hawaii?
I believe you do unless the state of Hawaii reaches 60% vaccinated… according to the article.
My sense is that most locals are not interested in increasing the rate of tourism or farting vaccinated. The only people who really are interested in getting the vaccination rates up are the people who want to travel from the mainland to Hawaii. Therefore, we may not reach 60% with this kind of reasoning. And based on the results/statistics from the one month of testing, it has become evident that much of
The spread was due to Hawaii residents who visited the mainland and returned to Hawaii and spread to locals in groups.
Not “farting vaccinated”! GETTING vaccinated!
Sorry for the autocorrect!
Hi Kwin.
We left it in. It was funny and we’re always looking for a chance to find levity.
Aloha.
BEAUTIFUL typo! Thank you for leaivng it. 🙂
We are traveling to the islands in late June, so we’re hoping the next three weeks see some additional vaccinations. I doubt we’ll see 60% before July, but we can hope!
Mahalo nui for this news.
Hi Matt.
Thanks. LoL. We hope to see that full reopening very soon now. Vaccination incentives are now in process.
Aloha.
Just this afternoon, we (a fully vaccinated California couple) booked pre-travel COVID tests paying $90 each. We’ll be taking a big chunk out of our work day to drive an hour each way to get the tests. Our travel date is June 29, so the original date of July 1 for accepting vaccination cards instead of tests would not have worked for us. I wish we could just show our vaccination cards at the departure and arrival airports. Still, we are grateful to be able to come to Hawaii and looking forward to our trip.
Dear Chris, I will definitely be grateful to visit the beautiful island 🏝 of Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!!!♡♡♡ I’m making one of my dreams a reality. It definitely will be a journey for me because I live in Alabama, but to me it will be worth it!! Blessings & Aloha♡♡♡
Chris, have a safe trip to Hawaii & have a wonderful time!! ♡♡♡ God bless you!
Why should tourists pay to insure that residents who are resisting vaccination efforts remain safe? It is ridiculous and should be challenged in court. Wasting all of that time and money because residents of a state (that last I checked is still part of The United States) refuse to get vaccinated is discriminatory and unfair. Maybe Las Vegas should start testing Hawaii residents before they come to gamble!
Exactly! They can’t segregate people based on whether they’re an islander or not. It’s discrimination.
I think you are making the supposition that local residents are not getting vaccinated when you have no proof. A previous comment was that someone ‘thought’ that the reason that locals are not getting vaccinated is that they do not want to see the increase in tourism. The reality is that we here on an island 2500 miles from the mainland are fairly insulated from COVID. Unfortunately it all comes down to the All Mighty Dollar….the governor is going to drop COVID testing, etc by the date specified because the state wants the tourism revenue.
All of the cases on the island are a direct result of people traveling from the mainland. That’s why Oahu continued to be a hot spot for so long.
It’s also discriminatory to think that only vaccinated people should be the only ones who can or should travel. You do realize that many folks cannot take the vaccine due to medical conditions that far outweigh the course of treatments that are available. Stop pressuring the residents of Hawaii to do something they don’t want to do. It’s their body and their choice! If you don’t like it, go vacation elsewhere!
There are several states that are holding residents hostage with lockdowns until they reach a percentage of vaccinations,hence the lotteries and other “enticing” things.
Hi we are traveling in September, if you don’t mind where did you get tested for only $90.00? Everything I am finding is $200.00 and up.
M M. Please try Worksite Labs. I found their info via Hawaiian Air’s Facebook page. When you follow their link, you enter your zipcode to find the closest lab. Best of luck.
Walgreens is free. Had to get 3 separate tests at different time intervals to accommodate the stupid 72 hour rule. All 3 were free. Major stress factor given the 3 hour time zone difference between East & West Coast and the 2 hour delay leaving Atlanta. After all that no one at Lihue Airport even looked at the TIME of testing just that it was negative, from an approved facility (Walgreens), that it was the proper test. Piece of advice: be sure to have your QR code down loaded to your phone and hard copies of EVERYTHING. It will make your life a lot easier.
Dear Judi, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited!!can’t wait ♡♡♡ 🐢🐠🌺🍍🏖🏝🌏✈🌞🕰⛄🌊
Walgreens is FREE if you can find one near you that offers the right kind of test.
M M Walgreens ID NOW rapid test is free and we got our results in 3 hours or less.