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49 thoughts on “Hawaii Visitors are Back and Mostly It’s Good”

  1. Diana J

    Aloha! I just want to say Mahalo to Beat of Hawaii for always igniting my longing for the Aloha-Spirit and re-connecting me with the Islands.

  2. michael s

    I thank you so much for the info you provide us, the public. My wife and I had a trip scheduled for the first week of May in anticipation of a vaccination passport being available. Obviously we canceled when it was determined that was not going to happen until July. We were going to stay at the Wyndham Kona Coast Resort. I would be grateful if you could tell us which building is the newer. They offer both at the same price. We chose the villa Naia but the villa Honu is also available. Do you have any knowledge of the difference between the two. Hopefully we will be visiting sometime after the passports are accepted without requiring the covid test. Mahalo.

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Michael.

      We don’t know anything about the buildings at that resort. Perhaps someone else who does will lend a hand, or you might just contact the resort staff itself with your question.

      Aloha.

  4. Judy M.

    So… when can we travel without quarantine and we have been fully vaccinated??? Already cancelled 3 trips to Hawaii since this all started. Just want one more trip before we aren’t able to do it.

    1. Megan M

      Judy,
      As long as you test negative through a trusted partner within 72 hours of departure you don’t need to quarantine. There are lots of online things to upload and do but it’s worth it!

    2. S. H.

      Me too. I have already cancelled twice and now booked for October. I would love to come with mask and social distance only. Testing for us is a long two hour drive one way, so not looking forward to that. I have reviewed my vaccines and just praying everything is pretty much normal by October. I’m getting to old to keep putting it off!

    3. Andrea B

      Dear Judy, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year!!♡♡♡ I’m getting very excited 🙂

    1. Eric A.

      Aloha Judy, don’t count on it anytime soon. I would plan on getting your COVID test within 72 hours of your departure from the mainland to Hawaii and not worry about a vaccine passport as who the heck knows when that will happen. I’ve been to Kauai 3 times (October 2020, Jan 2021, and April 2021) since COVID hit and did the 72 hour test thing without any issues. When we went in January we spent five nights on the Big Island first and had to do a rapid test upon arrival, in addition to the 72 hours prior test, and that was quick and easy. As long as you follow the rules and complete all the info on the Hawaii Safe Travels website, you’ll be fine. We did see people who didn’t do it correctly get turned around and sent back on planes to the mainland, but that’s on them for not taking the time to understand the rules. Jumping through a few hoops to be able to go to paradise is worth it until this all gets sorted out. Aloha

  6. Donna S

    I am assuming the big tourist boom is with US Citizens? There is still no way for international travelers (Canada for eg) to go without quarantining?

  7. Lanell

    Hi Rob and Jeff,

    Thanks for the informative articles! Do you have any idea how all these tourists are going to get cars? I chose random dates in April and then May on Costco’s rental car site, nothing was available on Maui! I’m not planning to travel, just trying to figure if people will be renting our condo, I don’t think so.

    Thank you!

    Lanell

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Lanell.

      Good to hear from you. We do find that there are car rentals on Maui, but that they are very expensive at from $100 to $200/day or more, depending on dates. It is going to take some time apparently for the agencies to relocate cars to Hawaii. We haven’t seen anything on when that might happen.

      Aloha.

    1. Andrea B

      Dear Kimberly, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year& I’m getting very excited! !♡♡

  10. Michael S.

    I am trying to fly to Honolulu on United and just don’t know how to get a accepted test 3 days in advance?

    1. Lonnie

      my wife and I got our covid test at Walgreens for free, it only took 24 hours to get the results of the aegis pcr..

    3. Megan M

      Michal,
      Where are you flying from? If California, check City Health for Covid testing with results in 72 hours.
      Megan M

    4. Paul M

      The answers to many, if not all, of your testing questions can be found at:

      https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/

      … at the section “ Travel to Hawaii still starts with COVID testing”

      Follow the links for “Trusted Travel Partners” and select the partner that best meets your needs. I have used Vault Health twice at $119 per test, but the results take two to three days after sampling. I used Walgreens “Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW)” once (careful – not all of the Walgreens tests are acceptable to the State of Hawaii), got results within an hour and the test was free.

      Good luck!

      1. Don B

        Good Morning. Please comment about the supposed very high car rental prices. Apparently, vehicle fleets were sold off during the Chinese Virus outbreak, so supply-&-demand has resulted in the increased prices. Any idea when balance will return to the islands. Thanks.

        2. BARBARA M

          Don… The rate we booked two weeks ago is now $500 more than when we booked and that was $w00 more than when we first looked a month ago and stupidly didn’t book. (This was for a three weeks rental.)

    5. TL

      Look on Walgreens website for an ID NOW location. I have heard that this is one of the fastest ones. Plus they bill your insurance apparently.

    6. Kavika C

      Good luck with that!! It’s very stressful and if someone in your party fails the test, you’re out serious $$ not counting the disappointment !! It’s a racket!

    7. KL

      Go to Walgreens.com. Look for a red dot location near you. Test and results guaranteed in 24 hours. Usually come back with 2 hours!

      1. Paul M

        @KL – Your comment “Look for a [Walgreens] red location near you” is correct ONLY for this Walgreens COVID-19 test location website:

        walgreens.com/findcarecovidui/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing

        By using the “Available Tests” filter menu near the upper left corner of the map and clicking on the check box next to the red dot next to “Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW),” the map will filter the stores and show locations providing that State of Hawaii approved test.

        The regular Walgreens “Find Location” website page will show the closest Walgreens to your location with a dark blue dot and other locations with red dots, but this tells us NOTHING about the COVID-19 tests offered at the location, so I do NOT recommend anyone use this “Store Locator” link for Walgreens COVID-19 test information:

        walgreens.com/storelocator/find.jsp

        p.s. For anyone living in California, I have yet to find a Walgreens in the entire state that offers “ID NOW” testing. If you find one, please share it here!

        1. BARBARA M

          PAUL M… You are correct except that on the “main” Walgreens site (as well as the store locator site, all you have to do is search for “Covid Testing” and it takes you right to the site you mentioned – so no need to remember a separate site. But thanks for posting it.

    8. Laurie S.

      Aloha,
      Michael S.
      I am traveling in May and plan to use Vault testing service. Its a DIY via zoom verification and UPS delivery. I’ve heard they have a good reputation.
      Anyone have experience with it?
      Good Luck and happy travels.

      1. Paul M

        @Laurie S. – I used Vault Health twice. For both Oahu trips I chose to move my travel dates from Tuesday to Thursday because there is no UPS Next-Day air service on Sundays. Vault Health’s website even recommends you use another service if you depart your final flight segment on a Monday or Tuesday.

        So I successfully tested on a Monday, and had results by Tuesday afternoon (first trip) and Wednesday night (second more stressful trip; delivery of my sample to the Vault Health lab in New Jersey was delayed due to the middle U.S. mainland freeze a few weeks ago). I will use Walgreens ID NOW from now on – it’s no cost to me, it saves me the $119 Vault Health fee, and the stress of waiting a day or days for results.

        1. BARBARA M

          Laurie S and Paul M… Once again – agree 1000% BUT only if there’s a Walgreens in your area that does Rapid Testing. There is not a single one in our entire state! AND, Laurie – check with your state as ours offers testing thru Vault at $0 under a state-funded program.

    10. Alfred H

      Check the united.com/2021-01-27-united-makes-hawaii-travel-easier-with-expanded-covid-testing-and-pre-clearance-program-2650152842.html United Airlines website.

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