Updating HB1286 with Hawaii legislature to the forefront. If passed, all islands would follow a single COVID travel policy.
248 thoughts on “Breaking: Plan to Eliminate Island-by-Island Travel Rules Gets Heard”
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Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » Breaking: Plan to Eliminate Island-by-Island Travel Rules Gets Heard
Is this not one of the same problems that has occurred at a national level, letting states manage their own responses in relation to the pandemic? And is it not the biggest disorder ever? I seriously doubt the death rate would be nearly as high had the situation been controlled at the top from the beginning! And we are doing the same with the State of Hawaii? I happen to live on the Big Island but if I were planning a visit, I would certainly think twice before entering this miasma of confusion! I love Hawaii and am so grateful that I can just go out on my lanai, watch the ocean, breathe the wonderful scents in the air (by myself), and not worry about traveling until all is good again!
Allowing readers to officially submit comments is great and tells me one thing is for sure: it will be many months before any of this is truly finalized. What about other issues such as adding a day to the pre-travel testing? Or, allowing Quarantine lift as soon as results come in (if not in by departure time). I have a trip planned in late May and I’m guessing there won’t be any changes made by then.
Thanks for the updates, BOH!
Separate rules make sense.
One rule for the whole State.
I Love Hawaii and I can’t wait to go visit. We have a scheduled trip for April and I am so looking forward to it. The problem being that from Island to Island we don’t know what is required each is different. I keep watching the Beat of Hawaii and things keep changing, you need to get it so all is the same, taking first time visitors and I keep worrying that things are going to change again. Still waiting to see about what you say in regards to the vaccine, most of us will have had ours. Wanting to know what you have to say. Have paid everything for trip hoping I don’t have to cancel. As well as the mainland everyone has to come to one rule, Hawaii is different and a lot could happen so I hope all of you can come to an agreement.
With the islands having varying Covid-19 restrictions, and to clarify what this act proposes, is it correct to say that a trans-pacific traveler from the mainland needs:
1) A negative test within 72 hrs. of the last leg departure of their flight from the “Trusted Partner” and “Trusted Lab” list of the Safe Travels list.
1a) This would eliminate Kauai’s less restrictive testing requirements requiring only Emergency Use Authorization.
2) If a traveler has a negative test and the result is obtained in time, uploaded to the Safe Travels site and has a copy in hand, that traveler will not have to do any quarantine on any island.
3) That traveler will immediately be able to rent a vehicle upon arrival, grocery shop and go directly to their living quarters.
4) If the traveler has not obtained the negative results upon arrival they will have to quarantine until the test is received.
5) This legislation will eliminate the Kauai “Bubble Resorts”.
6) This will eliminate the Kauai restriction of no vehicle rental for the minimum of a 3 day quarantine.
Thanks for listening.
Hi Jim.
We can’t say yet what rules would be in effect should this bill pass. Wether some rules could go from being island rules to state rules is still to be determined.
Aloha.
First can all Mainlanders ( and I am one) please stop comparing Hawaii to the mainland. Yes one country, yes 50th state, but that’s where the “comparison” ends. Everyone should recognize that. Next, nothing has changed since March. These decisions will always be the impossible choice of “Dollars vs Deaths”. (And I’m not being dramatic. As I’ve said before my wife is a nurse. I know what “ squirrel eyes” look like.) And in reply to one reader, yes in some states (PA) the rules in some counties and cities were different from others. I think the citizens of Hawaii should decide this. Not “ the tourists”. Aloha
Agreed!
signed, a fellow full time Kauai resident, not someone looking for a short term vacation solution
Just a follow up thought. If they have laws to arrest and put those who broke the rules butts on the next outbound flight could they not input a rule that if anyone is not wearing a mask or social distancing that they are arrested and shipped home and allow those of us that respect their laws and know how to protect ourselves and others to visit?
Hi. I tried to leave testimony but it said they were not taking any outside testimony for this bill. I really hope this passes and quickly.
For me I would prefer each island to make its own determination for Covid safety parameters. If I can fly direct to Kona, not pass through another island with no wish to visit another island, why should I be denied a vacation on the Big Island if they can safely allow visitors? Same with Maui. Otherwise, if direct flights are not available, would travel through Oahu be allowed if that island is shut down? There are still many questions about how this could occur.