Beat of Hawaii's Special Picks for You

121 thoughts on “Updated: Hawaii Plans to Eliminate COVID Tests | Phase 1 Starts June 15”

  1. Lisa E.

    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!!!!!

  2. Mickey

    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?

      1. Mickey

        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.

  3. Ed. C

    70% seems to be a pretty high target with the slowing vaccination rates. Doubt it will happen any time soon.

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Scott.

      Probably just the vaccination cards uploaded to safe travels to start, then vaccine passports will get added later.

      Aloha.

  5. Andrea

    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!

  6. Teri G

    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?

  7. CHARLES J

    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

    1. Andrea

      Dear Charles, Hopefully you will be treated just fine 🙂!! Blessings & Aloha♡♡♡

    1. Susie Y

      I believe you do unless the state of Hawaii reaches 60% vaccinated… according to the article.

  9. kwin

    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.

      1. Beat of Hawaii

        Hi Kwin.

        We left it in. It was funny and we’re always looking for a chance to find levity.

        Aloha.

        1. Matt V.

          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.

          1. Beat of Hawaii

            Hi Matt.

            Thanks. LoL. We hope to see that full reopening very soon now. Vaccination incentives are now in process.

            Aloha.

  10. 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.

    1. Andrea

      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♡♡♡

    3. Kalani F

      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!

      1. Mickey

        Exactly! They can’t segregate people based on whether they’re an islander or not. It’s discrimination.

      2. Andy M

        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.

      3. Lisa C

        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.

    4. M M

      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.

      1. Louise T.

        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.

      2. Judi H.

        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.

        1. Andrea

          Dear Judi, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited!!can’t wait ♡♡♡ 🐢🐠🌺🍍🏖🏝🌏✈🌞🕰⛄🌊

Comments are closed.

Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » Updated: Hawaii Plans to Eliminate COVID Tests | Phase 1 Starts June 15
Scroll to Top