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121 thoughts on “Updated: Hawaii Plans to Eliminate COVID Tests | Phase 1 Starts June 15”
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Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » Updated: Hawaii Plans to Eliminate COVID Tests | Phase 1 Starts June 15
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