A Safety Net Just Announced May Help Avert Hawaii Vacation Disasters.
173 thoughts on “Hawaii Vacations Saved? | Guaranteed Test Results Within 36-Hours”
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The problem rests with the State mandated 72 hour test. Scheduling within these limits places the onus completely on the travelers. This rule creates a nightmare for all testers and travelers. The back scheduling is unrealistic and the State should rethink their position on that very stringent requirement.
Ken C (returning resident)
It will be interesting to read updates later this week and next. Feel bad for those traveling this week, absolutely no warning of this new policy/change. This new policy really makes no sense. Hawaii is now saying “if our trusted partners can’t get you results in 48 hrs, then you must have Covid.” Not sure how/why the Gov thinks this is a solution.
Glad to see Hawaiian stepping up to make travel a little less stressful. I wonder how many people cancelled their trips though…
We cancelled ours! So stressful to have a vacation
On the mainland right now for family emergency.. To be honest, if I didn’t live in Hawai’i I’d certainly avoid going. This latest change seems like throwing pasta at the wall to see if it sticks. A lot of people will only read headlines and not the details. I’m legitimately concerned for my tourism-dependent job; will I be returning to unemployment?
After reading this article, I feel obligated to leave a comment. I’m a resident living on Maui, I flew back late October and went to worksite labs (booked from the Hawaiian web site) the morning of my flight from S.F. I paid to have a expedited test, which was a guarantee in 12 hours. With a layover on Oahu, I arrived 13 hours later to Maui. I did not recieve my negative test until the 4th day, after several emails and calls without a responce. I was refunded my $150. Worksite lab guarantee? I did get my $$ back, I would of preferred my test results as promised. Good luck!
We must have lucked out with Walgreen’s drive thru test. Appt at 1:00 results in an hour emailed and uploaded. Insurance covered. See you Wednesday Aloha!
Hi Gary.
Glad that worked out. Have a great time and thank you for all of your comments over the past few years.
Aloha.
It’s not a game changer at all for those who don’t live in or within easy driving distance of the testing cities. As far as other airlines following Hawaiian’s lead, that doesn’t work either if they only offer it in a hub city. We travel to Hawaii regularly (except this year, of course) from the middle of the country, so of course we have to go through a hub. I would think the overwhelming majority of even Hawaiian’s passengers have to take connecting flights to get there.
I used the Hawaiian Airlines test partner, Worksite Labs, for my pre-travel C19 test in early November on the basis of the 36 hour results. 24 hours after the test, I received an email saying the results would be delayed. Results finally arrived by email about 61 hours after testing, at 1:30 am on the day of my departing flight. Then I noticed the testing date, as reported on the test results, somehow got post-dated to a date in December. Worksite Labs, though, was responsive to my email pleading for urgent assistance. Received a reissued test result with the corrected date prior to boarding at the airport. Uploaded it onto the Safe Travels website. Got my exemption upon arrival and all went well.
I am a resident of the Big Isld, flying to Maui on Mokulele in Dec to see my children & grdchild that I haven’t seen since Feb. I know I must have pre-travel tests both coming & going; HOWEVER, even though I got very good fares– less than $100 RT, I now have to come up with $300 for testing!!! Considering that many HI kama’aina are still attempting to make rent, food, etc., it would be wonderful if the state/counties would step-up and either lower the testing costs for locals or waive it altogether.
Also, would you please address the dilemma for those who do NOT have a smart phone or Ipad as to how we are to navigate arpt checks as well as all the other steps required? Thank you.
Hi Susie.
Last week there were free tests available on the Big Island for residents. Others have commented however that those are not eligible for travel. You might want to contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031 to inquire.
Maybe others who don’t have a smart phone can comment.
Aloha.
Susie, I was in the Big Island for 3wks from the mainland, prior to going to Maui ( with the new rule in effect starting 11/4 for Covid-19 negative test results prior to inter island travel, we were able to go to Maui without quarantining tests in hand). The Big Island on their radio stations has several announcements daily form the Civil Defense service advising of where free testing will occur in the Island (Kona and Hilo). As BOH mentioned, call them and ask as well if their testing is good for inter island travel. We received our test thru Clinical Labs of Hawaii. We went to Aloha Kona Urgent Care in Kailua Kona for testing (try to avoid lunch time as there was a long line that fizzled after lunch!) 808-365-2297. 75-5995 Kuakini Hwy in that small shopping center. They took our insurance so we didn’t pay anything additional. Results were loaded within 24hrs. Very efficient.
Hope this helps. I’ll also add info on experience going thru the checks in Dallas and then Hawaii. Efficient, peace of mind for all involved and didn’t take too long. Just ensure you have your negative test loaded on their page and take a printed version just in case. We were there 2 days after the quarantine lifted on 10/17. We had an excellent time. We will be back 12/20. Hoping the process is as efficient this time around.
Thank you BOH for all of the information. And to all, follow all steps to the T and it will go well. Hawaii needs you :-).
Hi Julieta.
Thank you! Very helpful information.
Aloha.
We are supposed to leave sat 11-28 from upstate ny the only testing option we have is walgreens…which has no appointments available for the next four days. Looks like we will have to cancel our vacation. There needs to be more testing sites in other areas than just on the west coast.
I’m in Ohio so we chose vault health. We took the zoom call yesterday to do the live testing and dropped it off at UPS right after. I’ve heard good results with vault, but now we wait! I had already purchased the tests by the time the announcement was made, so I’ll pack like normal and hope I don’t have to cancel anything last minute
But, be sure that those free Big Island tests are from a “trusted partner” or they wont be accepted.
Hi David.
Thanks so much for that correction! Yes that is true and seriously the state may not accept their own tests.
Aloha
These free tests can not be used for interi-island travel
Aloha,
Any idea on when testing will be available in Phoenix?
Mahalo
Hi Denise.
We are not aware of any plans. But the Vault tests are available nationwide.
Aloha.
My daughter and I used Vault and they were vigilant on getting our test results fast. Our flight was on a Wednesday and UPS is closed on Sunday. We did our tests on Monday mid morning and received our results on Tuesday afternoon. The tests were a bit pricey, but worth it for the expedient service.
We are considering postponing our trip we have scheduled for dec.4. We ordered 4 covid tests from vault(through hawaiian airlines website.) The name was wrong on one test and I have been leaving messages and emails daily with vault on how to fix this problem. Also needed to change an email address. No response at all from vault! Then Hawaii changed timing on test results. Vault also changed their schedule for getting tests to ups from last air pick up to by 10a.m. As much as we love kauai, not sure if we can jump through all the necessary hoops! Thanks for keep us up on the latest news!
Hi Brenda.
Let us know how it ends up. Others have reported problems reaching Vault, but less so in terms of the actual test timing.
Aloha.
What I saw on the Vault website just today was the notation that you had to get your sample to UPS by the last of their “air pickup” time. In fact, they provide the way for you to find out what that is for every UPS location in your state. You just have to go deep enough into the Vault website.