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524 thoughts on “Kauai Not Reopening Travel Soon + Kauai Resort Bubbles And More”
See the latest delay on reopening without Kauai Resort Bubbles.
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Would like updates for Canadian visitors to Kauai who have had two vaccinations and have a negative test 72 hours prior to departure from Canada. i.e. Edmonton (YEG) to Lihue (LIH) via Seattle.
“Until further notice, those traveling to any Hawaii destination from the mainland are required to have an approved COVID test from a “trusted partner” within 72 hours of travel.” – so check if you have a Hawaii safe travels “trusted partner” in Edmonton that you are using (with a Hawaii safe travels approved type of test). If you don’t you will need to get such a test in Seattle. I found this easiest to do with an overnight stay in Seattle.
this article is from Feb
is this still current ??
Since the above article was published in Feb 21, can you please send me the current Kauai restrictions and If possible, send updates for the next two months (May & June 2021).
Hi Ken.
That is found here: https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/
Aloha.
I just canceled my vacation there. Had we gone and i would be told i “have” to stay somewhere when i have a covid negative test in hand i would not comply. I would walk to my rental car i prepaid and get it. If id be stopped excercising my contstituitonal rights as an american citizen in america i would of resisted any arrest attempts and view any attempt to restrain me as a threat on my life which i would respond with lethal recourse. With that said im sueing the state of hawaii for fees and airfaire rates and emotional distress.
Thank you for keeping us all up-to-date with this information. Is the resort bubble program ending insight? We are hoping to come in early May. ~M
Hi Megan.
We haven’t heard anything official yet, but that would be the logical conclusion.
Aloha.
So will travelers be able to travel to Oahu for 72 hours without restrictions, and be able to explore, then catch a flight to Kauai after a negative test? We are trying to avoid the resort bubble.
Good news – I see that United has started non-stop service from LAX to Lihue, starting April 5th. The planes look pretty empty now. I hope people book flights to support Kauai’s economy and enjoy the beautiful island.
It’s a blessing that they are ending this resort bubble program. We flew into Kauai yesterday Saturday March 13th. We checked into the Marriott in Lihue. It took them over an hour to get the tracking app onto both our phones. At one point they disappeared with my phone to have a manager figure out how to get the app to work. Everybody was standing at the front counter trying to get their phones loaded with this ridiculous app so we can be tracked on the property.
It’s amazing how much people people’s behavior has changed. Everyone is avoiding everyone here at the Marriott. If you don’t have your mask on you get a dirty look. You can’t get in the elevator with anybody else. We did not realize that and got in the elevator this morning with one person and he gave us a dirty look and got out. It’s just sad.
We were able to golf this morning at Hokulua golf course. So that was worth it. We are able to eat at Duke’s restaurant next door to the Marriott. We are anxious for a 72-hour period to be over with and are praying our covid tests come back negative. We’ve both been vaccinated but that is meaningless here.
Aloha
CYNTHIA H…
Just curious what app you are talking about? Does the tracking monitor you wear have an app that must be installed? If so, you would think that after all this time, it would have been a piece of cake to install it! As for only one person on an elevator – that has been a Marriott and MVCI policy for a year now and there are usually signs at every elevator. And as for how people’s attitudes having changed – that’s simply called “covid”. I’d give anything to accidentally mess up and get a dirty look if it was on Kauai! We’ve had to cancel our last three trips since we can’t get Rapid Response testing anywhere in our state and the only tests you can get only have a 48 hour appointment availability window so not being able to get tested made traveling to our beloved Kauai for the 44th time a non-event! At least you’re there!
Shame on me for complaining! It also took us a lot of effort to get here. I hope you get to be here soon too.
The tracking app is named Aqua. It would have made sense to receive instructions to install it before we got there. The problem for the hotel is there are so many different types of phones with different operating systems that it has proved to be a huge challenge for them to get it set up.
Also worth mentioning, when you get to the airport you are greeted with the national guard and the police. Seems very different.
Cynthia H… You are a very gracious lady! Mahalo for your response to my post!
Take the stairs. It’s better for your physical health. Sounds like would be better for your mental health, too. The Marriott you are staying is low rise, so we aren’t talking about many stairs.
Yes, you being vaccinated is meaningless in Hawaii, and apparently in lots of other places on the planet. You ever watch the movie “Casino”? Remember the old mafioso with the oxygen tank towards the end: “why take a chance?” and the ensuing mayhem?
That is what you are up against.
DAVID B…. Since when is 9 floors “low rise”!!?!?!?!
Yeah, I was not remembering it properly. But, nine floors a few times a day makes for good exercise. The people who need it most wont do it, though.
DAVID B… It struck home because we always stay on the 9th floor and knowing the “one family unit per elevator ride” rule, we’re re-thinking what floor we’re going to request for our July trip!
Start climbing stairs now. By July, nine floors will be nothing to you. In fact, you may turn around, go back to the first floor, and climb them again just to show off!
We have been vaccinated. I am surprised that there is no information as to how this changes travel options to Kauai. It will be two weeks until we are to be in Kauai.
Thank you for all this great information.
Hi Heather.
It does not change options at all as vaccination is not valid for travel to Hawaii at this time. Testing remains the only option to avoid quarantine. As soon as there is a change or more information, we’ll update that.
Aloha.
Are there any restrictions on taking an Uber or Lyft from the airport to the resort bubble?…my resort is advising to take their shared ride service but it is $100! can’t wait until the 5th (I know it was finally approved by Ige), so we are sticking to the bubble resort. already scheduled our test with Poipu mobile md…fun stuff
I’m confused. Has the governor approved the request from
Kauai to rejoin the Hawaii Safe Travel program effective April
5? If not, why the delay? More politics?
Many people like my wife and I have already changed our
flights to arrive on April 5th.
Thanks for advising what’s going on. You’re a great source for
Kauai updates!
Hi Karl.
Thanks. Yes, that’s a very good question. While being a foregone conclusion that it will be approved, it has not been yet.
Aloha.
What’s the most direct/quickest way to find out Gov. Ige approves of Mayor Kawakami’s request? We’ve been watching the CountyofKauai.gov website. We’d like to change our flights by a few days to avoid the quarantine. Mahalo
Hi Pati.
You can check the county or state COVID sites. We’ll also update when that happens.
Aloha.
Re: the possible April 5th lifting of quarantine, does anyone know why April 5th and not April 1st? It must be some governmental timing? We’re scheduled to arrive 4/1 so it’s a major timing bummer for us.
Hi Pati.
We were left wondering the same thing. How was the date of 4/5 selected?
Aloha.
Hi friends,
My theory…..April 5th is a Monday, so Government offices are open and ready to process arrivals, manage logistics, answer the MANY phone calls, etc.
Also, it gives folks the weekend prior to enjoy Holy Week i.e. Holy Thursday (April 1), Good Friday, Easter, etc.
Just my thoughts… Definitely think Easter had a lot to do with it.
Cheers!
It’s the 5th …. the day after Easter. Just incase you were planning a family reunion.
Thanks for letting me post this.
–Kaua‘i submits proposed Rule 25 to Gov. Ige, requesting to rejoin state’s Safe Travels program for Trans-Pacific travelers starting April 5–
LĪHU‘E – Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami has submitted proposed Emergency Rule 25 to Governor David Ige for approval. This proposal re-establishes the state’s Safe Travels program for incoming Kaua‘i travelers, effective April 5, 2021.
“Kaua‘i remains one of the safest places in the United States throughout the pandemic, thanks to the efforts of our community-minded residents and health-focused travel restrictions,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Over the past few months our community’s efforts have allowed us this opportunity to safely rejoin the state’s Safe Travels program. At this time, more than 24,000 doses of vaccine have been administered on Kaua‘i, and by April we are confident that employees in the hospitality and food service industries will be offered vaccines. Case counts across the state and on the mainland are stabilizing. Our local hospitals are working closely together and have surge plans in place for additional ICU capacity, if needed. They have also obtained more equipment and have COVID testing and treatment options available to respond to any increase in COVID-19 cases.”
Finally canceled our Kauai trip. Was supposed to stay 3 nights at Hyatt Waikiki, take test, then go to Grand Hyatt Poipu on August 9 for 3 nights. Well….. I have no confidence in Hyatt reopening.
The kicker was Alaska changing my nonstop flight home from Lihue to San Diego to a Seattle stopover, overnight. No thanks. Got my money back, in cash. Kudos to Alaska for the full, no questions refund.
We switched to the Bahamas instead. Testing window is 120 hours out instead of 72 hours. Health Visa is only required for age 10 and up. And, best part, all major hotels offer FREE testing. You need one to fly home, so Hyatt Baha Mar, Atlantis and others are offering free rapid or PCR tests. Heck YES!
Additionally, Hyatt Baha Mar will house you, for FREE, in a suite with $150 daily food credit per person for up to 5 people, for up to 14 days should you test positive. They will also fly you to Florida in a private jet. Wow! I mean, come on Kauai! Get it together. I applaud the Bahamas and their commitment to get tourism jump started.
We’re thrilled to keep our Spring Break plans alive, but sad that Hawaii won’t play a part. Perhaps next year.
Aloha!
Well, that was terrible timing. Another FB page is reporting that Kaua’i will rejoin the Safe Travels Program April 5th.
We flew Alaska from Seattle to Maui. Tested the night before with Carbon Health, contracted for Alaska customers, in an Alaska office parking lot. Received results before 9am next day. Uploaded results (use the “Hawaii Standard” form for auto approval) to Safe Travels, received a wristband at the airport no need to get health screening on landing. I understand Maui requires the AlohaSafe app running but nobody checked.
Maui was new to us and beautiful, we enjoyed our 3 days driving around the coast to Hana and up to the summit.
Booked flights via HNL to LIH with a 5.5-hour gap between inbound/outbound to allow time for testing at National Kidney at the HNL airport. Had to call Hawaiian to get a routing with that long a layover. Was able to check bags through to LIH for a single charge.
Testing outside Baggage Claim 31 is possibly the best organized test collection center I’ve seen (and this was my 12th test). You pay in advance when registering but there are no booked days/times, just a while-you-wait queue. The queue is outdoors, socially distanced, and moves fast (it took 15 minutes to get through it for us). You get to do the nose-swirl thing yourself. They noted that we had same-day flights and reassured us that the results would be in in time. Our packets were marked with the time of our outbound flight. The results arrived 2 hours after we were tested – hours before we needed them. The results came by email (no chance to print them). We uploaded pdfs from phones into Safe Travels.
The interisland terminal has limited eating open. We had Burger King. If I did this again I’d get DoorDash to some outdoor spot before going through Security.
The plane HNL-LIH was quite busy. On landing at LIH there was a queue. Instructions said to fill out the Kauai arrival form but we couldn’t figure out what option to pick to match our interisland status. In any case they checked our QR codes, ID and test results and let us go.
We’re back in Kauai! It worked. Thanks BOH!
Hi Phillippa.
Thanks for the report on your Maui travel and the interisland testing to visit Kauai. Very helpful.
Aloha.
Phillipa,
Thanks for sharing this – it gives us a new idea about how to get an inter-island test to go to Kauai with results quickly. We’ll be coming from Maui, so we may follow your lead and get a longer layover in Honolulu. We’re not going until mid May, so maybe things will be easier then, fingers crossed. Thanks again, very helpful.
I have a Question. If I have been vaccinated for COVID now, when will Kauai accept visitors from the mainland?
The opening of an article in today’s Garden Island (2/25) states “The county doesn’t want to miss out on summer tourism because it’s not participating in the state’s Safe Travels program, County of Kaua‘i Managing Director Michael Dahilig explained”. Another quote: “We have heard the calls, and a lot of them have been very, very vibrant and loud when it comes to a desire to want to return to Safe Travels”. I thought maybe some relief for small business was finally in sight.
But then my heart sank. “Dahlig stopped short of saying the county is in a stage of recovery, but is more so in a state of planning. What we’re seeing at this point is preparation to be able to layout a plan.” In other words, this is not a “plan”. It’s a plan to come up with a plan.
“Dahilig said the work with community partners and those in the tourism and resort industry will continue to work on a date to ask Gov. David Ige for the county to be reinstated to Safe Travels.”
Sorry for so many quotes, but I can’t give a link. Anyone interested can find the article on the Garden Island website.
I have been online nonstop figuring out how to get tested to go to Kauai after spending the required 72 hours on Maui first. Two questions: I am assuming that rapid tests from various providers is only allowed for the Resort Bubble program, correct? Second, I have seen conflicting information on what happens if you travel inter-island to Kauai but your second test results (the one after 72 hours on a different island) are pending when you arrive in Kauai. Some sites say you have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of pending results, some other say you can self-quarantine until results come in. Which is it, and if you do self quarantine until test results come in, how would that work? Thanks for all the helpful information this site provides!
Hi Barbara.
The most recent information indicates that interisland you can be released with a subsequent negative test. That can be found here: https://www.kauai.gov/covid-19. How and where you quarantine under that circumstance we could not find.
Aloha.
Aloha.
I am curious how to eat at the Hilton Garden Inn given their restaurant is closed. Is there food delivery on the island? Are there restaurants that deliver?
When are you going to be staying at the hilton? I have reservations for the 4th of april. I have had NO luck actually talking to a person at the hotel and have been scouring the internet for anyones actual experiences there for the resort bubble! IF you hear anything will you please share, I’m typing this comment while listening to their hold music its been 20min and counting.
To Cat W
I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn last week. Rooms were fine. Access to pool and hot tub. No balconies. Minimal food on site. ABC market close by delivers food and booze. Also did a smart cart order for lunch supplies. Very doable. Test out was done by PoiPu medical. 15 minute results. They just refused from $200 to $99.
Hi Conni L-
Your comment is super helpful. One question I had was if you rented a car on Kauai prior to being in the resort bubble? Or if you rented after you were “released” from quarantine.
Thanks!
Use have to Uber back to the airport for car rental and show them your last negative covid test.
Does the Hilton Garden Inn allow us to stay after checkout to get our covid test? We are having the PoiPu medical come at 3:30pm, hours after checkout.
Yes they have a complimentary 1 pm check out that you can ask for. We just hung in the lobby after to wait for testing.
I stayed at the Hilton garden in on kauai in the bubble. No food. So I had to use Uber ears but only a few places deliver. Also you are not very safe. You can use the pool with everyone in the bubble and it’s the tiny pool. There is a very small area to walk around for the 3 days. People on my bubble tested positive on their follow up test so had to be moved to a true quarantine site for 10 days. Can’t fly. Can’t rent car. That was the end of their vacation. Very difficult with COVID.
What are the food delivery options for those staying in a resort bubble with no restaurant onsite?
I’ve read some reviews the Hilton Garden Inn has no food options. Is there local food delivery from restaurants? Curious what people are doing for 3 days without a restaurant onsite and no ability to go to the grocery store.
Any word as to Kauai’s allowing fully vaccinated travelers being able to skip the quarantine?
As stated numerous times on this blog and in comments, being vaccinated or not makes no difference.
I think what Pati was inquiring about was Kauai’s potential participation in a possible vaccination passport. We are also interested in this program, and although we know there has not been any decision on this from officials, there’s no harm in asking if anyone on the islands has heard anything new. We’ll be fully vaccinated by our May trip, and keeping our fingers crossed the program will be in place for all the islands at that time.
Family of 6 in Kauai now. Pre-travel tests and all info uploaded to Safe Travels, then flew Anchorage to HNL. Alaska Airlines pre-clear process was easy in Anchorage and with the wrist band no screening required upon arrival in HNL. Car rentals companies want to see Safe Travels QR/screened/exempt info, also when checking into lodging. Due to late arrival, we spent 4 nights in HNL and took 2nd test after 72 hrs on Oahu. HI kidney foundation testing at the HNL airport was smooth. Pre-pay for tests ($125) on their website and no appointment needed. They’re open until midnight and had our results back in 6 hrs. Uploaded results of these to the Lihue trip on Safe Travels (be sure to print a hard copy as well) and caught our flight. Deplaned in Lihue and National Guard screeners will need to see Safe Travels QR, ID for adults and test results for everyone. Our screener said a hard copy was preferred as there’d been issues accessing results on Safe Travels. Took about 15 minutes and we were free. Caught a cab to our condo and am listening to the waves as I write this. Even though I’m fully COVID vaccinated, many hoops to jump through but absolutely worth it being here. Super quiet, no traffic, some businesses closed, but as beautiful as ever. Hopefully Kauai will join the rest of the state with their program which seems to be working well and make it easier to travel to here.
We are currently scheduled to go to Maui in Sep. Would you tell me how much it cost total for testing each person. I assume you paid for the pre flight testing. Was it a total of 2 tests. Glad you are able to get to your destination trouble free. Enjoy.
Kathy T – No one knows what the situation will be or what will or will not be required in September.
Having said that, our pre-travel tests were cost free with our insurance. Others report paying as much as $200 per test. It all depends on where you live and what options are available to you in your area, as well as your health insurance coverage. There’s no one answer.
Jesse – thank you for your helpful comment. It comes down to:
[1] Money to pay for two rounds of tests, plus extra flights from/to HNL for a family of six;
[2] Time for the extra 4 days on Oahu – hopefully enjoyable; and
[3] Taking the risk that any one of your party of 6 gets a positive test on Oahu, however unlikely, in which case now you are stuck in a world of hurt with no way to go back home for at least ten days with all 6 of you being locked in a room or two at your expense with no food or anything else (my understanding of what happens when anyone in the family gets a positive test).
Between the above three, I can see why many (most?) returning residents will just opt for no tests and stay home for ten days.
I will be in Kapolei area five nights in August after arriving from the mainland. Can you suggest where I get a Covid test as I will be flying to Kauai for one week? Thank you.
Hi Suzie.
Two thoughts here. First, of course, is to check the list and see which partner is available to meet your schedule. https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/. Also, possiblyy others who have tested on Oahu can help. Kidney Foundation has frequently been mentioned.
Aloha.
the kidney foundation test at the airport is fast and easy used it myself last week to go to Maui.
Good people staffing it and all very helpful…
I have rescheduled twice already with the third time on the books for May. The vrbo home will not let us reschedule or cancel and the resort bubbles are a nightmare. When will they have DATES (specifics) on the date ending the 72 hr bubble. There’s no date and the resort bubble will not refund if you cancel.
Can anyone help the stress from this trip has been to much. So disappointing we love Kauai the culture, quietness, beauty but not sure if I will book another trip.
Hello,
I was scheduled to arrive direct to LIH on 2/2, but American cancelled flights. Best I could do, was fly into HNL on 2/2, and take inter-island flight the next morning. Two days before departure, my bubble resort informed me I would NOT be eligible for the 3 day quarantine, even though the county had earlier told me I would. We scrambled. Ended up staying 4 nights in Oahu, getting another Covid test at Royal Monarch Hotel after being there 72 hours ($125), and flew to LIH on Saturday 2/6. IF you can change your plans to stay on a different island for 72 hours, THEN test, THEN fly to LIH, you can bypass ALL the quarantine and bubble BS. For us, turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and cheaper than arriving in LIH, paying for transportation to a bubble resort, and then a $200 retest!
Just curious Mark – why were you not eligible for for the 3 day quarantine at the resort bubble? What was the name of the resort bubble?
Glad it work out for you in the end.
Hi Cynthia,
there is a 3 column guide on the Kauai County website, for how to avoid the 10 day quarantine. One way, is to fly directly into LIH from the mainland, get a ride to your resort bubble (I’m staying at the Point in Poipu). Our flight got changed to HNL, arriving too late for last inter-island flight of the day. I had called Kauai County, and was told to use the middle column – treat our next day arrival from HNL as if we had flown directly into LIH. The interpretation from the resort (which they confirmed with the county) was I would not be eligible for the 3 day bubble program because I did not arrive on Kauai directly from the mainland. Leaving the HNL airport for a hotel .3 miles away, and staying in that hotel until first thing the next morning to then leave for the airport to fly to LIH, evidently caused me “too much exposure”. Ultimately, the staying in Oahu for 4 nights worked out best, but all the last minute hoop jumping was stressful.
HI, Mark,
We are going to Kauai in April. We are looking at the Big Island > Kauai, but apparently we have to stay on the Big Island for 72 hours, THEN test, and we can’t find any Rapid ID tests on the Big Island (I checked with the Health Department). How did you do it? Does the Royal Monarch have Rapid ID testing? Thank you! I’ve spent hours on the phone and internet today trying to figure this out.
Heather, I don’t think there is a rapid test site on the Big Island. Mark was on Oahu NOT on the Big Island. I think DSL on the Big Island is the fastest with 24-48 hours
Hello Heather –
I stayed on Oahu, not the island of Hawaii, so am not sure what you may find there. I just did a google search of “covid testing near me” once in Oahu. My understanding though, is be sure to WAIT at least 72 hours after arriving on Hawaii(Big Island) before getting your test. Also, I didn’t need a negative test in hand when I arrived in Lihue. You can’t rent a car, and need to go right to your hotel, but (and you’ll want to verify this with Kauai County that this is still the case) as soon as your negative results come in, you should then be free of quarantine. In other words, when doing the three days on another island, Kauai allows you to travel there with results pending, AND (I think…) it may not need to be from one of their “trusted partners”. I don’t think any direct flights from KOA to LIH exist, so you would need to connect through HNL anyway. HNL has a testing site at one of the baggage claims (#31?) that costs $125, and has 3-6 hours turnaround on their website. When I called, I was told 8-12 hours, so it may vary depending on workload?
If you can get a test in Kona, plan your travel time into your test result window… I’m guessing minimum 3 to 4 hour trip. So, get a test in, say, Kona three hours before leaving to LIH, and you’ve already chewed up 6 hours of the wait for results window. Go to the Kauai County Covid website, and they provide a flowchart (although incomplete) of the most common scenarios you can fall into, and what the quarantine period for each would be.
At the beginning of February, I did find them to be helpful, but I got different answers based on you I spoke with at different times. Hopefully by now, they are working from the same script and have a few more weeks of experience under their belt! Good luck!
Thanks, do any of the resort bubble hotels allow use of the beach?
Hi Lisa.
No, they do not.
Aloha.
They should put up a big sign between the hotel and beach, with the “Soup Nazi” guy from Seinfeld saying (forcefully) “NO BEACH FOR YOU”
That would get the point across.
Hello – I made a reservation at the Grand Hyatt but they didn’t mention anything about resort bubble. Are they included in the list? What would happen if we flew from California to Kauai same day and went to Hyatt?
Here is a list of the resorts who are participating as resort bubbles. I don’t see the Grand Hyatt on the list. I am staying at Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club which is on the list.
The Club at Kukui’ula
Timbers at Hoku’ala
The Cliffs at Princeville
Koa Kea Hotel & Resort
Hilton Garden Inn Hotel
Kaua’i Marriott Resort and Beach Club
The Point at Poipu
Hanalei Bay Resort
Hanalei Colony Resort – new as of 3/1/2021
Lawai Beach Resort – new as of 3/15/2021