First Hawaii Vaccination Exemptions Just Announced + It's a Bummer For Visitors

Hawaii Travel Rules | Conflict Among Officials on Next Changes

What might happen when the Hawaii legislature returns on January 20 that could change current travel policies.

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104 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Rules | Conflict Among Officials on Next Changes”

  1. Mahalo for the updates!
    We are planning our 2nd part of our late April 2021 trip to Maui. We booked our timeshare (which we own) back in July 2019, before anyone ever heard of COVID, and airline flights can be canceled easily with a click of the mouse. We were planning on flying into and out of the Bay Area in California (Southwest Airlines gives us no choice) and visit old friends upon our return from Maui. Now, Hawaiians don’t want tourists even to come — screw their economy I guess! I am sad. I wanted to visit Hawaii one last time while I’m alive but their screwed up governor is the same reason why I refuse to vacation again in Florida right now. I hope things change as I have 4 months to decide what to do. Be safe everyone, even if my Ohana in Maui party without social distancing or wearing masks!

  2. Hello- which hotels are in the “resort bubble” in Kauai? Are you able to stay at a family home for the 3 days? Thank you for update information! You are right, it is all very confusing. We would love to rebook our trip but the travel restrictions are confusing for someone coming from the mainland. Thank you again.

    1. Hi Ashley.

      The ones that we are aware of are The Cliffs Princeville, Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort Poipū, The Club at Kukuiula,Timbers Kauai Ocean Club Hokuala and Kauai Marriott.

      Aloha.

  3. I feel very selfish wanting to return to Oahu for my deceased Son and his Father’s Memorial Date of passing. I missed 2020 due to COVID.
    I am elderly and each year I visit I hope I can return the following year which is always in April. This year I shopped diligently and secured a round trip ticket, great flights (in and out of the sky/airports
    from Memphis within 12 hrs) for $402.00 per individual. The many places I visit are shutdown. One good thing is Makaha Beach where Firefighters were instrumental in the ceremony distributing ashes for my Firefighter husband welcomes visitors at this time. Cannot wait to Land at the Honolulu Airport. I have under the MS state order to wear a back since 3/13/2020 not a problem got me!

  4. I have noticed that many of the latest COVID cases, particularly on Kaua’i, are residents returning from the mainland. They need to treat these folks no different than visitors, What is the difference between a visitor flying to Kaua’i from Minnesota and resident flying in from California. Returning residents can certainly quarantine at their residence, but they need to have four day post arrival test or a full ten day quarantine including a tracking bracelet just like a tourist.

    This might have the effect of curtailing some of the residents from going to the mainland which may be a good thing.

    We are still planning to head to Kaua’i in March, but I have three “contingency” plans to get us there, but depending on what happens in January I made need a fourth!

    1. Curtail residents’ travel to the mainland? Why are we the red-headed stepchild? We have business and/or family on the mainland that we like to see every few months! That’s why I went to N. Nevada in November; I had not seen my grandchildren there in a year. Please think about our situations.

  5. Aloha! I am very upset about the charges of $129-200 for inter island travel for Covid-19 lab tests for residents!! SWA charges round trip fees $39-49/ leg. Then add the lab tests. The total cost for interisland costs go from less than $100 to $300-600 additional expense for the lab tests. This is outrageous!! Does anyone else agree with me?
    We would love to travel to outer island reasonable prices for lab tests.
    MaryMargaret B

  6. Aloha! As a resident of Ohio, the 6th largest COVID cases state, who traveled to Maui for Christmas, I encourage folks not to get bogged down or stressed out by the travel requirements. We used Vault and Walgreens to be sure we would have results in time. Walgreens took two hours to email results (Rapid ID) and Vault took two days. Mind you, this was during the holiday season, after the East coast where Vault is located got buried in snow, and in a state that has near out of control virus numbers.

    If I knew then what I know now, I would have scheduled Walgreens only. We had to drive some distance for it, but it was worth the relief to know we had results in time. We had the QR codes almost immediately when we uploaded the document to the Safe Travel site. The Maui airport process added about 15 minutes to the usual routine. Everyone along the way was courteous and helpful. I stressed far too much about it. I encourage anyone else who will be traveling any time soon to relax and trust the process. It was so worth it!

  7. The sticking point for me and my family is the travel resort bubble and the need to first stay on another island for 3 days prior to arrival on Kauai. We will gladly get a COVID test before we arrive in Hawaii. However, we will not first go to another island for 3 days. Neither will we EVER submit to staying in a resort travel bubble. In fact, we have a trip planned to Kauai at the end of June 2021. We are waiting to see how this all pans out. At that time we will cancel if either the 3 day stay on another island or the resort bubble rule remains in effect. If we need to “once again” cancel, as we had to do July 2020, I doubt we will attempt a return to Hawaii for several years. We absolutely love Hawaii and its people. But, its really going to leave a bad taste in our mouth if cancellation is once again necessary. We lost quite a bit of money last July and we stand to lose again this June. Yes, we realize that health and life is far more important than money could ever be. But, Covid is here an we all need to learn how to manage living with it . The virus is much more manageable now than it was last year. We take chances each and every time we get in a car, or swim in the ocean, etc… Its time to get back to life The consequences of financial/employment loss, suicide, domestic violence and drug overdose, just to name a few, are also consequences of COVID.

    BOH, thanks for your diligent effort to keep your readers abreast of the ever changing rules of the “Safe Travels program”. There is absolutely no other news publication that is as informative as BOH, regarding Safe Travels. I would venture to say that Hawaii probably would not even have the few visitors that they currently have without the knowledge you provide.

    Mahalo,
    TJ

    1. Hi TJ.

      Thanks so much for the nice words. We appreciate it and hope that your trip planned for June works out. Please let us know.

      Aloha.

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