With more visitors arriving following Omicron, last week the state updated its exemption for Hawaii travel after Covid recovery.
284 thoughts on “New Rules For Hawaii Travel After Covid Recovery”
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With more visitors arriving following Omicron, last week the state updated its exemption for Hawaii travel after Covid recovery.
Comments are closed.
Just wanted to update that Kauai is accepting the Covid recovery exemption as well! Just passed through security at Lihue and had to verify my exemption from the Attorney General application that we submitted using the link above! They are aware of and accepting this exemption. Thank you for all your info, it was very helpful planning for this trip!
Hi Jordan.
Thanks. We appreciate you sharing your experience with that exemption.
Aloha.
That’s amazing news, thank you! I leave in 10 days and my mind is consumed with worry that I will have to spend my whole time in quarantine. I noticed on the exemption email it says I’m cleared to rent a car. Did you run into any issues getting a rental vehicle?
Thank you. I can share my experience in regard to this requesting of a travel restriction. I tested positive in Dec and fortunately was not sick at all. I would not have even known except that I had to be tested prior to a minor medical procedure. So when I saw this as a possible option I gathered the info they request for the waiver and submitted a week ago. I did receive a confirmation # that they received the request. My trip is tomorrow and I have not heard back. They requested a reason for the request which I gave as difficult logistics for me to get a pretravel test. .I did go to the trouble of getting a test which came back negative because I wanted to cover all the bases. So I will be traveling tomorrow. If I did not have family in Hawaii and being a former resident I would go elsewhere. I am from Minnesota and like to visit annually. I hope this helps.
A add to my previous post. I did call the Hawaii safe travel hotline in hopes they may free up my waiver request. They do not have access. The request goes through the attny generals office.
Hi James.
Thanks for the feedback on the exemption process. Please let us know how it all works out.
Aloha.
I am so thankful to BOH for this information! I received my exemption email due to ‘recovered from Covid’ but now I am unsure what to do with it. Of course, I will keep and present it for travel, but is it supposed to be uploaded to the safe travels account? How do I get a QR code for travel this way? Any info you have is appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Shelley.
Perhaps someone else can give us a hand. As far as we know, this exemption is not a part of Safe Travels. You can also call the state at 1-800-GOHAWAII.
Aloha.
Yes…upload into safe travels. Bring hard copies of both your positive test from initial infection and Dr note…my daughter did not get a clear from safe travels site even though she talked to several different people. She showed her hard copies to the airport check point. If you get a worker that doesn’t know what to do ask for a supervisor. She came to visit December 28th and there were a lot of workers that didn’t know what to do about history of + covid-19 travelers. My son-in-law had no issues with his exemption.
Had Covid test at Walgreens on December 27 for family of 4 had a wait for one person
but made it to Hawaii had a wonderful 16 day vacation. Sad to see many businesses
closed but wonderful weather and all in all a great trip. Hope to be able to
go again in the next few years. Thank you for being there with advice pre-trip.
Jean
Hi Jean.
Thanks for letting us know. Glad you had a good time and that everything went well.
Aloha.
sirs an idea i have that would help get people in calif to come to hawaii. a small discount or some kind of carrot to be given to people who got the vaccine.that would make people want to get the vaccine and protect people who live in the islands..the more who want the vaccine the safer we all will be many thanks robert from calif thank you again
Hi Robert.
Interesting idea and the first time we’ve heard that.
Aloha.
I live in Hawaii and don’t understand this exemption…someone could get the germs and carry it here, so how does having had Covid clear them? Do they mean they would have to get a negative test within 90 days? Please explain!
Hi Sharon.
Those are the rules in effect. Not a negative test, but a positive test, base on the state believing that the immunity is at least of 90 days duration once recovered.
Aloha.
Because, that’s not how viruses work. You can’t “get the germs and carry it here”. If you have Covid-19 or any coronavirus (which there are many), you are only infectious while you have it. Once you recover because your body has produced antibodies to fight it off, you can’t pass it on any more. One does not “get the germs and “carry them”.
Mahalo.
Good question, thanks for posting it! I had the same question back when I recovered from COVID-19. The doctor explained that you can only carry the virus if you’re infected with it. If you have immunity from having recovered you can’t contract the virus (for at least 90 days – new research is showing 6+ months) and therefore can’t pass it along to others.
Hi Beth.
Thanks so much for your first comment, and a most helpful one. That was an error and we have corrected it. The booking window is until May.
Aloha.
Following
Question. I own a condo in Kauai. If I get a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to arrival can I quarantine for 72 hours at my condos instead of a resort bubble?
I live on Kauai and just sent an email to the Mayo’s office to find that out…the way it is written, we either have to quarantine at our house/condo for 10 days or stay in a resort bubble for 72 hours-or stay on another island for 72 hours! Either way, that may end up costing more than the original plane fare to and from the Mainland! Why penalize residents or condo owners?
The answer is NO. Only for the full ten days.
The only way to avoid the ten days, including residents and non-resident property owners, is resort bubble or three days ++ on another island.
The mayor is quoted in the Garden Isle, acknowledges the resort bubble is not “suitable” for most returning residents, and that’s why they added the three days on another island. I think he was more focused on inter-island travel.
Thank you Sharon. If you find the answer I would appreciate knowing
We are going to Maui first for two weeks and then on to Kona for five days. Will the exemption work for the whole trip?
My daughter and son-in-law came to visit me after having COVID the beginning of December. They received their exemption but my daughter could not get cleared on the safe travels app. She even emailed and called for assistance. She brought her paperwork with her and was cleared without too much problem. Just be aware there are not a lot of workers that have had to deal with +COVID histories so they may have to speak to another worker….and carry hard copies!