Starting Tuesday, November 24, be aware that a new quarantine-related policy goes into effect statewide for all passengers arriving in Hawaii. There will only be two options when this change occurs:
1. Depart for Hawaii with a confirmed negative COVID test uploaded to the state’s SafeTravels website; or
2. Expect a mandatory 14-day quarantine without exception in Hawaii.
Previously, those who had not uploaded results on arrival because they were still pending, could enter quarantine only until the negative results were uploaded. That will no longer be an option.
Beat of Hawaii: This could cause major concern for Hawaii-bound travelers, some of whom have commented that they have been unable to obtain timely test results from trusted testing partners, even when complying with all requirements. We’ve said repeatedly that a mandatory quarantine or threat thereof, will put a kibosh on interest in Hawaii vacations. This situation is especially concerning as Hawaiis trusted test partners have to contend with soaring testing needs in the middle of more COVID cases on the US mainland.
Governor Ige announced the new rules saying, “We’re taking this added safety precaution now in response to the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases on the mainland and around the world. The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, particularly with more people traveling to Hawaii over the holidays.” Ige said that to date nearly 50 arrivals who came without any test result later had a positive test result. “It’s not a large number, but it’s enough to change the policy.”
Also, we have heard repeatedly that Hawaii was unable to manage and appropriately track those test-pending arrivals. This policy change was needed to simplify the process and eliminate that category of arrivals who were still awaiting results.
The governor’s announcement says specifically, “If a traveler’s test results are not available before boarding their final flight segment, the traveler must quarantine for 14 days or the length of their stay, whichever is shorter.”
In good news, Ige said that the current average of new cases indicates the state has the lowest infection rate in the USA per capita.
Infighting among Hawaii gubernatorial aspirants.
At today’s press conference, Lieutenant Governor and physician Josh Green spoke to the pre-travel testing program for which he is responsible. He said that since October 15, there have been 273k passengers screened of which 243k had pre-travel test quarantine exemptions.
Green also described the pre-travel testing program as going well, while confirming his support for the upcoming change to require test results before travel. Green said, “Right now we are not seeing COVID-19 spread due to travelers, but we are continuing to monitor the situation, especially as we see cases rise on the mainland. This is why I am supportive of our team’s move to require test results before people depart for Hawaii. This will help mitigate any issues with travelers having pending test results and arriving positive.” Green noted that secondary (surveillance) testing indicates that about 16 out of every 10,0o0 arrivals with a negative pre-travel test result subsequenlty test positive.
In a separate press conference, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell attacked the state’s surveillance testing program, which provides a sampling of travelers to help determine how effective the pre-travel testing is. Caldwell discussed his desire to possibly implement a second test for arrivals to Honolulu. Second mandatory tests have been proposed by mayors throughout the islands. Caldwell said that he agreed to no secondary testing based on assurances from the state that there would be a vigorous surveillance program. He said that simply has not happened, which pointed the finger towards Lieutenant Governor Green.
Green responded, saying Caldwell “Hasn’t done anything. He has sat back and criticized rather than doing more testing.”
As you know, both Green and Caldwell are poised to run for Hawaii governor in 2022, when termed-out Governor Ige’s time is up.
Canadian Testing Program Launches
A new program is about to begin for those snowbirds traveling from Canada to Hawaii. Both Air Canada and Westjet plan to resume flights to Hawaii in December. Canadian visitors will have the same test requirements as those traveling from the US mainland. Ige said that “Many Canadians love to visit Hawai‘i during the winter months to escape the cold weather, so the timing for this works well. Hawaii has the most rigorous pre-testing program in the U.S., and we are grateful to Air Canada and WestJet for making it available to its passengers.”
Aloha BOH,
Thanks for always keeping us up to date with all of the HI travel info. I have a question regarding the new rule. Does anyone know what happens if you get your negative results mid flight? Would that not count and you’d have to quarantine? Or does it meet the requirements? We actually went to Kauai on Oct 15th when the program first launched. While my husband received his negative results an hour before our flight, I did not receive mine until mid flight. I was able to upload the results to my Safe Travels account during the flight and everything was in good order. Does anyone happen to know if this will still be an option with the new rule?
Thanks in advance for your input!
Hi Sandy.
We just copied this response we provided earlier on the same question:
“The state’s website says, “Trans-Pacific travelers arriving WITHOUT a confirmed negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.”
Then it says, “Beginning November 24, all travelers must have a negative test result BEFORE beginning the final leg of their trip. Anyone without a negative test result PRIOR to departure must quarantine upon arrival.
So you can interpret all that as you will. Others have reported uploading it at the airport on arrival, or even on the plane while flying. It seems highly unlikely the state will know if you uploaded it before your flight, during your flight, or upon landing.
Certainly, a bird in hand would be best by far, as you pointed out.
We’re likely to have others report in on how that worked and it will be interesting to say the least.”
Hope that helps.
Aloha.
My understanding is it has to be uploaded prior to departure. No exceptions
Why would you get on a plane without your test results upunaided? Unless you are ready to quarantine…
CareNow is American Airline’s in terminal testing partner for Covid at DFW. I don’t see this company specifically listed on the Hawaii trusted partner site, although the site does say that American has testing at DFW. I must assume that those passengers tested at DFW are being cleared by Hawaiian authorities, so the trusted partner list is incomplete or ambiguous.
So I could still be sitting next to an Asymptomatic person on a flight for several hours as long as that person quarantines for 14 days?
I’ll opt out of flying for now thankyou.
Hi Sally.
It would only be through federal government action that requiring tests for air travel could occur. Period. We have stated that many times.
Aloha.
So sad that Hawaii Liberal Democrats love to destroy the economy so they can implement Draconian Law
You are 1000% correct
We were successful in getting tested by Kaiser prior to flying to Kona from San Francisco and uploading negative test results to our Safe Travelers accounts. Not so lucky with the timing of testing in Puna on a Thursday for our flight to Maui on Saturday. Our fault since we weren’t current regarding mandates for inter-island travel. Screeners at Kahului put us into quarantine status precluding using the Hertz reservation we had. We strictly observed the quarantine as did the staff who let us into the unit we own with no key for leaving or re-entering. We failed through recommended vendors to get any groceries but thankfully got a dinner from a local restaurant which was the only food we could get in the 24 hours before our negative results came from CVS. Though we immediately uploaded these to Safe Travelers there has never been an update on our status or email with a new QPR. Instead we provided condo staff and car rental agents with the CVS test results to change our status.
Hawaiian Airlines is Now price gauging again on the Interisland flights !
This is at a travel time of 6:00 am on Monday morning flight 11/30/2020 from HNL to LIH when essential workers are the Majority of travelers at that early morning time, and trying to travel to the other islands for work. Hawaiian Airlines are allowing the algorithms to set pricing, and more than double the fare, just because there is interest at that time. The very next day, the price is back to $98 round trip.
I know this because I am one of those essential workers trying to travel
Tell Hawaiian Airlines to Stop price gouging essential workers. Stop price gouging period, anytime, for everyone. Shame on you Hawaiian Airlines. Please, Are you serious?
That’s really interest as today is November 24th?
I’ve been advised by the Safe Travels Team that ONLY facilities listed on “hawaiicovid19.com” are Trusted Partners with approved testing. My inquiry was related to the fact that Quest Diagnostics was referenced on one or two other sites as being a partner but not on hawaiicovid19.com.
Carbon which is just in Seattle and Portland has results in 36 hours or if you pay a little more 24 hours. I signed up with them.
LYNDE G…
Amusing or not, this is a real story…
You indicated how “easy” it is to change flight reservations – well, this is what happened to us when we did.
In August, we changed our January flight to late December. Two Weeks Ago (November 2) – I found out Totally By Accident, Hawaiian Air had changed our flight not to December but to September and had just noted that we hadn’t shown up for the flight! We now had No December Reservation! But we were able to get on our “usual” flight just not with our “usual” Comfort Seats!
The airlines are swamped with changes to flights and although this was perhaps one in a million, it did happen!