A visitor summed it up, stating, “Yes….This is a Hot Mess.” The deeper we all dig, the more problems that surface.
276 thoughts on “Latest Testing Rules Fail: Hawaii Vacations Upended”
Comments are closed.
A visitor summed it up, stating, “Yes….This is a Hot Mess.” The deeper we all dig, the more problems that surface.
Comments are closed.
Aloha guys,
People need to understand the difference between the rapid POC/PCR NAAT test and the PCR NAAT test. If you’re going to travel do not use the regular test. You will need to use the rapid test. The rapid test allows you to get the test quickly. The rapid test can be found at CVS, Walgreens and the airlines. I think Vault has it also. CVS and Walgreens offer both kinds of test so be aware. Do not try to use anything other that the rapid test when travelling. In order to stay in Hawaii you will need to download a copy of your negative test to Hawaii Safe Travels. Also all vacation lodgings will want a copy in their files too. It is Hawaii state law. When we wanted to play a round of golf the golf course wanted it too. Do not try to come to Hawaii without a test in your hand prior to arrival in Hawaii. It doesn’t work any other way.
I hope this is helpful.
Mahalo Guys
Hi Roy.
Thanks for your help.
Aloha.
We are hopeful that our trip will be a gon in December, but are concerned about this new rule of having results before departure or winding up in quarantine even if you get negative results. CVS which is on the list of trusted partners has a notice on their site that says they can’t guarantee results in time so if you need the rest for Hawaii then go elsewhere. This is the problem with most testing places. Unless this changes no one will want to risk their vacation time and money. Tourism is all that Hawaii has and once people can’t pay their mortgages, taxes or HOA they will be be forced to fire sale their homes for pennies on the dollar. Of course there are investors just waiting to pick up properties from people who are left with nothing. I really don’t think the governed thought this through at the very least he should eliminates their property taxes and pay for those crazy high HOA’s that people won’t be able to pay due to vacancies.
If they are going to make such a strict rule then hawaii should offer rapid testing kiosks at major airports in the us.
I just went to Oahu and getting a test done and uploading it to the government system was very easy and straightforward. This article makes it sound like something difficult to do! There is a rapid Covid testing location in the International Terminal at SFO, San Francisco. It took a total of 1 hr to go there, sign up (best to make a reservation in advance), get a test and the neg results within 15 mins. You make a PDF of your neg results and upload it to the Travel Safe website. Very simple. Just do it! Hawaii is smart to have the system in place, it is working and simple. They will keep the virus off the island with this system and you can enjoy a nice Covid free holiday and flight. Also the government of Hawaii contacted me 5 days after landing and offered a free follow-up Covid test. So I took that and was then sure I didn’t catch anything along the way and I could give lots of hugs to my family. This good testing and the requirement to have a neg test result in hand will help increase Tourism and keep the Hawaiian islands safe. We all want to be on vacation and in an airplane where you feel safe these days. Getting a test is a small inconvenience for a greater public good. Just please wear a mask in Hawaii too once you are there! Aloha and Mahalo!
We just cancelled our upcoming trip to Hawaii because the rules keep changing without giving enough notice. With Covid cases rising and a smaller time frame to obtain the test results, it’s just too risky. Especially since I expect test results to take even longer during the holidays. You don’t really have a lot of options to get test results fast, if you don’t live at the west coast or are planning to fly with Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines.
I tested with Walgreens using my personal insurance to not pay the $150 fee and I received my results in 1 day even though they told me 3-5 days. The key is scheduling your test in advance so you time it right before the the 72 hrs of boarding a flight. You literally give your self 3 days to get results. Some wait till the day before or day of to test then wonder why they have to quarantine upon arrival. I just went to Maui 1 week ago and I had absolutely zero issues. It seems like a hassle, but it really isn’t. Some people are just lazy and spoiled to have to take extra steps to book a vacation. Stay your butt home if that’s the case lol
For those of you canceling because you don want to get stuck with hotel bill if your test results are not received in time, consider going ahead without any advance lodging reservations. Lots of places, including vacation rentals, will be happy to get a last minute same day booking. If you do get your results and take the flight, first thing you do after you land is get a place to stay.
Blog guys – maybe you can do a post on strategies for getting same day accommodations on the various islands. The woman who manages our vacation rental when we are off island told us she is getting lots of same day bookings by people wanting to extend their stays. Same logic applies for people who weren’t sure they could get on the plane.
I seriously doubt everything will be sold out or overpriced right now. Just the opposite. Aren’t some of the big tourist hotels just about to open? (they must love this rule change … not)
Hi David B,
A critical flaw to your logic is that the safe travels program requires you to enter lodging information as part of your profile.
Glad your vacation rental is getting business but Jeff and Rob, let’s not encourage his suggested practice because it’s not smart travel practice during any times let alone a pandemic.
Sarah, I forgot about that, but you could always enter a location that you plan to stay without paying any $ in advance. You may end up staying there, you may end up staying someplace else. If you want to be boy scout, you could always update your location on their web site after you are on island. The web site also wants people to enter a return flight, but obviously people can’t be held to that. Frankly, its not the business of Hawaii or Kauai county when we leave.
It’s not our vacation rental getting business – we are staying here ourselves. It was a statement made by the broker who rents several dozen of them. Her point was that many people are spontaneously extending their stay on island, and its easy for them to find lodging to do this. The government of Hawaii cannot force people to leave the island. Of course, it can be strong-arm recommended like what happened with the cult people.
We are moving to Waikiki. We have a condo lease. Can we fly in and drive our van, friend bringing it to airport, to the condo and be quarantined there?
Yes. Strongly recommend you bring evidence with you. Copy of the deed, prop tax bill, something like that. If you bought in name of trust, then also a document showing you are the Trustee(s).
We were supposed to travel to Oahu on 12/7 as a Christmas present for our children.
Both are in the Air Force and it has been their dream to go to Pearl Harbor. With the new rule change and hotel requiring 72 hrs to cancel, there was no guarantee all 4 of us would get our results prior to departure so we canceled our trip. Will miss getting out of the cold. Considering going elsewhere.
Hotels will need to adjust their policies to free or minimal charge cancelations for people that don’t get results in time. Airlines have bitten this bullet. Rental cars do not require advance payments.
Smart players in the lodging industry will pivot to no penalty last minute cancelations as a way of attracting business. Especially larger hotels – no way they are close to capacity anyway, so why not … ?
My wife and I have a 25 day trip planned to the Big Island commencing 12/5. We don’t live in one of the gateway cities from which Alaska Airlines flies to Kona so our testing options are very limited. Vault is a joke in my opinion. They promise 24-48 hours After they receive the test. Same with the new Costco test. With the new restriction that you must have a negative test in hand before you get on the airplane and still fit into a 72 hour window is ludicrous. We plan to take a shot at getting the test results. If they don’t make it in time we will get our money back from Alaska and the condo owner. I’m computer literate and I’ve found a myriad of problems with the safe travel program. At this point, I’m glad I’m not a business owner in Hawaii.
Anyone coming from Washington State. Use Bartell Drugs. Easy and 48 hours exactly.
Thanks Mitch for sharing your experience but I caution people to understand that each situation is different and you may not get your results back within 72 hours prior to departure!
Glad it worked for you but please remember you are guest in the island and do your part to be a good temporary community member! Wear your mask and take part in one of the post travel testing programs!
You will if you go to Bartell Drug store. It’s all the other facilities that have nightmare results. Been coming here for over 35 years. We have always respected the Islands and it’s residents. We also take covid seriously. I will remind you to wear a mask and social distance. Too many residents don’t.