A date certain is set, while legal and other issues remain on Hawaii travel reopening.
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210 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Reopens on August 1”
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A date certain is set, while legal and other issues remain on Hawaii travel reopening.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
It sounds like i was correct with hawaii trying to be its own nation as far as idge and many others are concerned . Idge came to realization that hawaii is in fact part if the us. But how much is it to avoid all the lawsuits? He is just being prodded by the federal govt with a hot poker to follow federal laws?
We have now cancelled our October trip to Hawaii. We are not willing to be tested or jump through all these hoops in order to go to Hawaii this year. The plan is complicated and is sure to be a disaster for travelers. We are tapping out. Our $$$ will be spent elsewhere on the mainland. Thank you for keeping us up to date on the news coming out of Hawaii. Very much appreciated!
Hi Doug.
Thanks.
Aloha.
So this leaves absolutely no guarantee that I will be able to skip the 14 day quar antine with my kids…. sounds very messy… I would love to go and have no fear in traveling and vacationing, but this does not sound promising I hope you guys will get a better word for us eager Hawaii loving people 🙂
Finally! Well, too late for our Summer vacation. Our son goes back to school Aug.10. But maybe later in the year or next Summer for sure. Thankfully the Gov. woke up in time to stop the DOJ from getting too involved. Yes, Hawaii is part of the USA.
I’m confused. The article notes “ Visitors planning Hawaii vacations can, after more than three months, move forward”. We’re supposed to have a trip to Kauai planned August 10th. Does this mean we cannot go? The governor has truly made Hawaii’s response a disastrous one unfortunately.
I think they mean that it has been more than three months of uncertainty, but now people have something more that “mandatory 14 day quar antine” on which to rely for their travel plans. You will likely be able to make your trip with the proper testing and results in advance.
Hawai’i has had roughly the same policy as many other US states (over two dozen states). Right now, several states are getting even more restrictive. And Hawai’i has by far the lowest death rate in the nation. So please do explain exactly what has been “disastrous” about Hawaii’s response to this crisis. “Disastrous” for your personal plans, maybe. But this is most definitely not about you. It’s about saving lives.
A lot of improvement will need to take place with the testing capability for the 72 hour requirement to work. My wife just had a C0vid test last week in Los Angeles County and it took 6 days to get the results. Health care providers will not conduct a test unless the member is showing symptoms. As a vacation rental owner on Kauai, I’m wondering how I’m going to make sure my guests understand and complete the required test, what my refund policy will be if guests fail the c0vid or temperature test, etc.?
You raise a good point. Truly a Catch 22.
“what my refund policy will be if guests fail the c0vid or temperature test, etc.?”
Simple. Write your refund policy – whatever YOU decide – into the rental agreement. You might follow the same policy as travel insurance companies: if there’s cancellation due to a previously existing risk (like C0VID) then there’s no coverage or refund.
You’re the owner, no one can make your decisions for you.
Maybe Hawaii knew this? No one in Oregon and Washington state can even GET a COVID test without symptoms… Supposedly they’re working on this?
FYI..Tonite I learned that New York, New Jersey & Connecticut are also implementing 14 day quar antine.. for those coming from specific places In US where C0vid is still raging.
Thank you for the update. My family has a vacation planned for August 6th, what does it mean “visitors planning an Hawaii vacation can, after 3 months move forward?
Hi Nancy.
It means you can get tested and come enjoy your vacation.
Aloha.
Yay ! I hope this means my family can fly from Chicago to Lihue Aug 8. I hope we can swim and enjoy some attractions in a safe way . We look forward to hearing more information about testing. There has to be a guarantee that CVS will get us results before we fly .
Mary, This is my 3rd attempt to fly out of Chicago to Lihue…a few days before your planned day. Hopefully the testing will be streamlined since its being required within 72 hours of travel.
Mary, I cannot wait on “Hoping” that everything will be ok on arrival. I think that the Hawaiians will be unwelcoming when we get there. Places will be closed. They will require masks everywhere. Will close beaches to sitting on the beach. And many other restrictions. I’m done. I just cancelled my September Hawaii trip a couple days before the announcement of august 1st opening. A Hawaii trip costs to much to rely on “hope”.
We are also flying from Chicago to Lihue on August 8th. My biggest concern is also the testing. I am worried that the test results will not be available within the 72 hours window. I hope that they will work out the specifics so it will be doable.
are we supposed to pay for tests
The lack of testing availability makes this a bad solution. If you dont get tested, you would be subject to quarantine, which the DOJ just implied is unconstitutional. How is that going to work? Not to mention the hurdle of having a right to privacy regarding your personal health information. Pretty sure a state cant require my health history for me to travel there..i see all kinds of problems here.
Another option mentioned was to be tested upon arrival and quarantine until results. Mobile testing locations are available. The way I read the requirement only requires proof of your negative Covid result, not your complete medical history.
If you can’t accept the rules they lay down, then don’t go. That’s your right.
You bet yah!!! Your cost. I cancelled my trip.
Yes! That’s your responsibility if you want to travel. But insurance are covering c0vid tests.
Hawaii is requiring that the test results must be within 3 days of arrival. There is no guarantee that they will give us our results in that small window…especially if ones flight is on a Monday and you test on Friday…not sure if they process tests on weekends.
In the late 1970’s, I took my film to Long’s for processing on Friday, about 5 PM. Sign promised overnight service. Was told to come back Tuesday. (Just missed Friday pickup, none on weekend, next pickup Monday with overnight service back on Tuesday.) So I understand your question.
This will NOT work! We own a second home in Honolulu and have been trying to get back since April.
Upon checking on getting tested for C0VID in our area of
Southern California every site says we are NOT qualified! Just because you want to travel to Hawaii means you will be able to get a test! This is a disaster in the making, rethink this now before it gets totally out of control.
If they are working with CVS then maybe you can do it there as long as you show travel docs. ??
So glad to hear that there has been a date set to allow visitors on island without a quar antine. It’s long past due. At this point my question would be how and where can a traveler get a test and be guaranteed results in writing within 72 hours of departing to Hawaii? Currently, I don’t know of anyplace that provides that. In fact, in the state I live in we will not be given a C0vid test unless we have symptoms. Even then, the results take anyhere from 5 to 10 days. This is certainly a step in the right direction, but how is it going to be feasible to obtain the results in time?
Mahalo!
Hi TJ.
One would hope that the announcement came with a lot of advance thinking through this most primary question. And that might explain why it took so long to announce. It is interesting that the proposed CVS partnership in the testing hasn’t been detailed, or if it is even going to happen. There will be a ton more news forthcoming and we look forward to sharing details.
Aloha.
This is great news!
I just contacted the c0vid testing sites, both city (Los Angeles) and private sites (CVS). Right now CVS website says they have an “official” test response time of two to four days. However, the pharmacist says the reality is they never come back in two or three days, almost always four days and factor in non-working weekend days that could extend the result’s return schedule. Because of this, CVS has put up a handy “track your test” on their website.
What’s the reality of getting a test back 72 hours prior to departure? Seventy-two hours is three days.
Aloha
Does anyone know if the Arizona Memorial is still closed for repairs , or just because of C0vid?
Mahalo
Bill S
Hi Bill.
The repairs are completed and we expect the memorial to reopen soon.
Aloha.
The testing portion at this moment living in northern CA i can’t be tested unless I 1. Have symptoms after a questionnaire and 2.the test needs to be authorized by my doctor.
I do not have a problem with testing but unless I’m easily able to be tested – this seems like a huge problem. I realize this was just announced. Hoping we are able to visit in early September as planned.
Where in NorCal? We have a hospital in our area that will test anybody that wants it.
Sacramento
As a Hawaii resident I am very happy we are moving forward with a plan to safely open to more visitors . At the same time, as a member of a community I see taking C0vid seriously, I am very hopeful all visitors will pressure their own local communities to be equally as diligent in practicing recommendations from the CDC. Additionally putting pressure on local government to secure adequate testing to allow for everyone’s needs. Travel, diagnostic, surveillance and contact tracing are all needs we should be demanding of our communities. Don’t be a passive complainer about how hard it is, be a part of the solution and everything will return to normal much sooner.
What about the states like the one I live in which is Oregon but do not have testing available?
5 weeks!I am guessing none of Governor Ige’s family are on the verge of losing their businesses, homes, or cars due to little or no revenue or income over the last 3 months! Give me ONE good reason this cant start Monday, or even tomorrow for that matter! Its easy to wait when you work for the government with full pay! This timeline is selfish, cowardly, and short sighted. This isn’t rude, just true.
Aloha
I am a small business owner in Virginia. C0VID 19 has made my business very unstable. I also love Hawai’i (Kona side). In the last 10 years I have visited more than 30 times. I love and respect Hawai’i for all its traditions. My last visit was for 11 days starting this past Memorial Day weekend. I followed every quarantine and safety procedure. I loved every sunset and sunrise. (Hawaii) is more than just a vacation place. It is a way of life. We all want instant gratification. I don’t think that the Govenor is being a coward for trying to protect the Islands for the long term. That is very brave. Other states like Arizona and Texas have proven to us that opening up too soon will cause long-term problems for the health, safety and welfare of those states. I was so proud while I was there when it was announced that the Big Island had zero active C0VID-19 cases.
You’re totally correct Dan, [deleted] Ige has completely failed Hawaii as a leader. No wonder his approval is around 20%, the lowest in the country according to news sources. Testing is unlawful, unconstitutional and mostly unavailable unless you’re showing symptoms. If people do agree to testing, it needs to be a fast, inexpensive and most importantly widely available test. August 1st means we lose all the summer families whose kids go back to school early August. I bet [deleted] Ige isn’t at risk of losing his house, car, savings, or having to wait in a food distribution line to eat. We have to look at the big picture..positive cases don’t matter, hospitalizations and deaths matter. Thankfully those numbers are very small worldwide. The 2 ways we develop herd immunity is by people getting c0vid and recovering, and a vac cine, which isn’t an option yet. The worst thing is to keep all people isolated, the most vulnerable people should, but not everyone. [Note: Warning on inappropriate content].
CDC just announced today that the U.S. is far from “herd immunity”. The CDC estimates that no more than 5% of the U.S. population has been infected yet, and that the number required for immunity is closer to 70%. Testing, more of it, does two things. It catches potential outbreaks (the recent discovery and quarantine of 60 Austin TX college students testing positive). It allows for early contact tracing to prevent the exponential growth. We are in a Pand emic. Thought doesn’t matter to the virus.
Aloha,
This is a tough one to swallow. I love Hawaii but this makes booking a trip nearly impossible. 72 hours before, the waiting for results 4-48 hours. So won’t know if we can go right up to the last minute. Would have to cancel and lose out on too much $$$. I just got back from 4 days in Vegas. 90%+ wearing masks indoors, and no crowds anywhere. Pools with palm trees and drink service for 20% of the cost. I am sorry to say I won’t be back to Hawaii until all restrictions are lifted. Hope the wonderful people of Hawaii stay safe and I can’t wait to return.
Hi Jared.
We look forward to these issues being resolved. Today is just the first day of a big news cycle on this, so stay tuned.
Aloha.
Wow, we’re coming April 2021, hope this is all sorted out soon, because I’m not even sure where our large group will get tested and get the results all within the 72 hours. Can’t wait for the vaccine, maybe that will change things if you show you’ve been vaccinated, provided that’s an option even.
Judy, a vac cine won’t help. That won’t provide 100% effectiveness! The flu shot doesn’t. You legally can require people to get a flu shot to go to a US state,!! DOJ would tell you that. That vac cine will be experimental. I won’t get it.
Don’t worry we will have a vaccine by then.
Does anyone know how this will affect your guests from Canada?
Awesome news. I just booked flights for 10/23 to 10/29 to Maui (with flexible change arranges from HA). Sure hope that a quick C0vid test can be available in the SF Bay Area before then.
Well, this is interesting. “US Department of Justice indicating earlier today that they do not believe that Hawaii’s 14-day period will be deemed constitutional.”
Yet at the same time, NY, NJ and CT have announced new 14-day quar antines for incoming travelers from “hot spots” in the US. And right now the number of hot spots is increasing rapidly.
Looks like the DoJ is going to be playing whack-a-mole. Also this is Barr’s politicized DoJ. Even the conservative-dominated Supreme Court doesn’t agree with Mr. Barr on certain things. One suspects that (1) the DoJ comment is politically motivated and (2) HI (along with NY, NJ, CT and other states) is going to win this one if they choose to take that route.
Finally, there’s the question of how many people want to get on a plane filled with possible disease carriers and fly at least 6-7 hours each way (much longer if not from the West Coast), and wear a mask. Or sit next to someone who has decided not to wear a mask. This “opening” is just the beginning. Here in CA we’ve seen people ignoring all the rules and as a result the number of cases (and, more importantly, hospitalizations) is soaring. Also in AZ, TX, and other states. HI had better prepare for a real deluge of cases.
If you’re a resident of Hawaii and you visit the mainland do you need to get a C0vid test prior to returning to Hawaii?
Great News!!!
I have a question, I am arriving in Hawaii mid July am I able to present a test to avoid Quarantine?
Gina
Hi Gina.
This is set to go into effect on August 1, not before. Of course, that could change.
Aloha.
Hope to join you mid September 🙂
Now to just find out where to be tested. Thank you for keeping us updated.
Mahalo
Hi Joanne.
Thanks. Yes, that is definitely the question of the day – how to coordinate this testing.
Aloha.
Well this is good although the testing is still concerning to me. I mean results aren’t instant. And testing is sporadic.
If we want to vacation on the islands. We have to be tested at our state 72 hours prior to travel? Is there any rules about mask wearing at the resort pools and beaches. I was hoping to vacation sometime in late September with my family.
Thanks in advance for your response.
Hi Vu.
Yes to avoid the 14-day period you will need that testing. There are no rules we are aware of regarding masks at resort pools or beaches. More information will be forthcoming, so stay tuned with us for that.
Aloha.
Thank you BoH! We’re hopeful our Aug.17 trip will happen!
Hi Amy.
We hope so too. Thank you.
Aloha.
I’m glad to see that the Governor has come around a bit on this, but the fact that testing is required but not available on the island (or many other places) will still amount to a travel restriction for some of us.
I’m from rural Ohio and we can’t get tested anywhere near here, but have had our September 1 trip paid for since January. Traveling with three children also makes this interesting, as the threat of being quar antined if any one of them were to test positive is a real issue for us. I’m curious to hear about the cost of these tests, since I’ll have to multiply that by 5. If they are going to require the tests, those tests should be available everywhere, or at least on island. I’d also think that we would want these tests to be more reliable before we… rely on them.
The Feds are right, most of what has happened with the quar antine and most of what is being proposed is an unconstitutional restriction on travel between the states, interstate commerce, and this kind of regulation by the state has been preempted by congress. Cold comfort to those of us with scheduled trips and who are not symptomatic.
Allow me to share this with you:
To all Freedom-Loving Americans who can’t stand to lose any of their precious Liberty because of C0VID-19 quarantines and restrictions:
IF…You agree in writing that:
–You will accept denial of treatment for C0VID-19,
–If you do receive treatment you will be last in line,
–You will pay from your own pocket for any treatment received, and post a substantial bond, in advance, to ensure payment,
–You are liable for civil and criminal penalties for any people you infect,
–You hold harmless anyone who defends their right to health and safety,
THEN: By all means act out your libertarian desires.
BUT: Don’t get within six feet of me or anyone I hold dear. Your freedom to be selfish ends at my perimeter.
Note: Anyone who has any kind of infectious, communicable, or contagious disease in California commits a crime if that person exposes him or herself to others. This crime is punishable as a misdemeanor offense. Check your state for similar laws
Thanks for posting this so quickly! I watched the news conference live, and it all seems to be pretty straightforward…which is nice, after so much back and forth for so long. While I’m MORE than ready to re-book my next trip to my home away from home and I’m totally on board with the need for testing prior to travel, I’ll be curious to see how the locals feel about this, and if they feel they are ready to accept tourists once again. Thanks again for always keeping us updated!
Hi Brian.
Thank you. It will indeed be fascinating to watch this unfold.
Aloha.
As for the DOJ and the Constitutional question, 22 states now have some form of quar antine requirements for visitors and for residents who travel to other countries or states and return. Looks as if the individual state filings will keep the Barr boys busy for a while.
As a part-time resident and Hawaii property owner, I am happy to FINALLY a common sense approach with testing/tracing – why it took so long is a mystery. Disappointed we have to wait another 5 weeks… As a property owner, I have accommodations to privately separate from others but the 14-day quar antine was too much. Any thoughts on how the authorities would treat someone who has private accommodations and arrives a few days earlier than August 1? Would that person still be subject to a 14-day even if they follow all the pre-testing protocols and provide proper documents? Would that person have to return to the airport on August 1 to be released from quar antine?
Thank you
Yes! Wonder how we can find out if that’s 72 hours before we take off or before we land. I ask because we are traveling just after Thanksgiving so I worry about test availability. on Black Friday. Hopefully that won’t be a problem. I am super excited to see this announcement!
well this is welcome news as we are all booked for August 15 until September 4 on Kauai. I hope it happens. I hope we can get tested. I am not sure if they will test us for vacation purposes.
Finally, at least we have a date. I hope to return home in mid-August and will gladly get another test before flying.
Please, do you know if a pcr test will be required or will some of the rapid tests be adequate? Thought I read that a “molecular” test would be needed.
And do you expect airlines to start adding flights in August and possibly having sales? Right now the pickings are slim flying to Kona and prices are not great.
Thanks for the update!
Hi Mike.
Yes there will be sales coming soon. We’ll have to await more details regarding which tests will comply and other details.
Aloha.
Aloha! Thank you for this update. Nice to see the governor finally deciding something! However, it looks like from the news today that NJ, NY, and CT are going to try to quarantine visitors for 14 days (https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/24/us/new-york-coronavirus-travel-restriction/index.html) from “hotspot” states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, N and S Carolina, Texas and Utah – https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/24/here-are-the-8-states-that-trigger-coronavirus-quarantines-for-travelers-going-to-new-york.html). Do you think Hawaii’s governor will try the same?
Also, have you heard anything about more safety precautions that airlines might be taking? I’m still terrified of being on a flight from California for 5 hours.
Mahalo!
In good health,
Debbie C.
Hi Debbie.
The airlines have each announced their own health initiatives so do check their websites for those. The legal things will be interesting as they run their course. Our sense is you will be good to go so long as you have the test within 72 hours. We’ll update soon with everything we learn.
Aloha.
When will they open international borders From Australia to Hawaii
And so you are negative within 3 days BEFORE traveling but get infected between then and getting to Hawaii. So what then Guv’nur!? Yeah, another not so well thought out plan!
So that means Hawaiian airlines flight 7 las to hnl will operate August 1