Many New Hawaii Testing Options + Easier Vaccine Verification

On July 9, a range of new testing options was announced and a streamlined way to upload vaccine verifications. You’ve been asking about both of these repeatedly. This is now available on all US flights and airlines flying to Hawaii as a result of Hawaii’s partnership with CLEAR Health Pass. This can be used by all passengers 18 and older.

Travelers who choose this option use the no-cost CLEAR mobile phone app’s health pass to add 1) vaccine verification or 2) negative test results. After that, travelers will still proceed to the Hawaii Safe Travels website, where they link their Health Pass exemption and add their health questionnaire within 24 hours of travel.

What is the no-cost health pass by CLEAR?

This free mobile app securely connects your verified identity to either the vaccination and/or negative test results. CLEAR said that its “Health Pass is able to link to vaccination results from hundreds of vaccine providers and national pharmacies, including Walmart, Atlantic Health System, and the State of California.

As you recall, earlier this year, CLEAR first partnered in a pilot program with Hawaii on specific flights and airlines only. We said at that time, CLEAR and CommonPass Are About to Transform Hawaii Travel.

Testing options greatly expanded.

When accessing Safe Travels directly (without the Health Pass), there is a limited number of approved testing partners. However, with the CLEAR Health Pass, that number just grew tremendously and now includes a wide range of doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, Walmarts, and more, nationwide.

For those visitors who will use the 72-hour pre-travel testing exemption instead of proof of vaccination, this is a huge improvement. Your complaints have focused squarely on the limited number of “Trusted Partners” that Hawaii Safe Travels has had from the outset.

Do this if you are traveling from California to Hawaii.

More than 40% of domestic visitors come to Hawaii from California. CLEAR said, “California residents can access their COVID-19 vaccination information through California’s Immunization Registry (CAIR) and generate a QR code. They can use the CLEAR app to scan the code to link their proof of vaccination to their Health Pass. ”

How the Health Pass works.

You will no longer need to bring CDC test cards using CLEAR, or if doing a Covid test instead, its health pass has hundreds of testing and vaccine providers. Here’s what to do:

1. Upload your proof of vaccination or COVID test result on the CLEAR app and then go to the Safe Travels website and apply for quarantine exemption via the CLEAR Health Pass.

2. When boarding Hawaii flights, airline employees can scan the Safe Travels QR code that was generated by the CLEAR app to confirm all entry requirements are satisfied. “Depending on the airline, travelers may receive a wristband to help expedite arrivals procedures in Hawaii. When an airline doesn’t provide preclearance, travelers will be screened on arrival in Hawaii.

3. On arrival in Hawaii, visitors with a wristband will show it to airport personnel to expedite the arrival process by demonstrating compliance with entry and exemption requirements.

BOH tips.

Using CLEAR does not change the Hawaii Safe Travels’ rules, but expands testing options and simplifies the process for most travelers.

Before relying on the health pass, check to be sure your vaccine provider is listed in their website search results. In the event it is not, you will still need to upload a photo of your CDC card directly to Safe Travels.

Health Pass does not allow uploading of images of vaccine records. Rather it “only accepts digitally verified vaccination records through direct linkage with provider portals or Smart QR codes.”

When going through the Health Pass process, look for a gold screen to indicate you are done when using a negative Covid test, or a green screen, when using a vaccine record.

Your process is not complete, however, until you link your Health Pass with your trip on the Safe Travels website, and you have selected the “CLEAR Exception” on the “Apply for Exemption/Exception from Quarantine” page.

If you have questions, you can reach CLEAR at 855-253-2763.

Comments.

Regular Sheryl said, “I can think of no other explanation for test results from places like the Mayo Clinic being rejected other than they are not giving the state kickbacks for the privilege of being a trusted partner.”

JC said, “I’ve also done Safe Travels, and CLEAR (app), but hoping by the time we go in September things will be easier and not harder.

Lastly, CF commented: “Why choose which COVID partners to use when there’s no evidence that 100’s of other COVID testers, including nationally recognized hospitals.” There have been hundreds of similar comments.

What do you think of this latest development?

 

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51 thoughts on “Many New Hawaii Testing Options + Easier Vaccine Verification”

  1. Just downloaded the Clear Health App and spent 30 minutes entering info for vaccine verification only to find out my provider is not listed. Would be nice to know this before downloading app and registering.
    Ended up using Hawaii’s Safe Travel site. A lot easier and you just take a pic of your card. Hoping this works and no surprises at the airport. Please note you do have to have your vaccination card with you at the airport.

  2. Please, this actually sounds like initially there will be MORE hoops to jump through. Lets hope the vaccination rate enables no more restrictions at least in hawaii.

  3. I downloaded the app, took the pictures, filled in my info and when I typed in Hilo Medical Center as the place I got the vaccine, the result was “not found”. They only had two places near Hilo that they recognized. I gave them information about the medical center, so hopefully they will add it, but as of now there will be many people that can’t use this app.
    Thanks, Carol

    1. Hi Carol.

      Thanks for the feedback. We have seen quite a few issues reported by visitors. This only took effect on Friday, so hopefully things will get smoothed out soon.

      Aloha.

  4. Can people still be able to show proof of the vaccine if
    You have a picture of your cdc vaccine card on your phone gallery how can people come to Honolulu if they have a hard
    Time uploading there cdc card to the safe travels website
    Thank
    You

    1. Hi Greg.

      If you are having a problem with it, we’d suggest you contact the Hawaii Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888.

      Aloha.

  5. I have had the pleasure to follow your blog for years now. It has been invaluable to help me navigate Hawaii travel since Covid began. Thank you!

    1. Hi Sandy.

      Thank you! We appreciate hearing that and hope to see you again soon.

      Aloha.

  6. I tried to do the Clear exemption for the vaccinated, but couldn’t get it to work, even after many tries. I did upload my vaccination data to the Hawaii safe travel site and did get an exemption QR code which I’m hoping will work for my flight to Lihue tomorrow. I’m not sure why anyone even needs Clear for vaccination exemption???

    1. I agree. Had same problem. Says my vaccination is pending results and vaccine results initiated in May. Don’t understand. I also signed up with common pass that app is so much more user friendly. I think this is going to be complicated

  7. Thanks for the update , I am having problems trying to link my Salem health vaccine into clear , even tried pasting the url. They show as a listed provider but doesn’t show when I type their name . I see a plus sign by the name Salem health but get no effect when I try to add Salem health . Also the url doesn’t get me in either . I did scan my vaccine card and entered the info it asked me . Says it’s being reviewed . Not sure why it won’t link electronically.

  8. I uploaded my Hawaii vaccination records to Safe Travels, with easy verification of the record by the State of Hawaii Dept of Health. Then I tried to link to CLEAR. It didn’t work by doing it in that order. It seems that once you start the registration process with Safe Travels, you aren’t able to take advantage of the CLEAR HealthPass program. But I am still grateful to CLEAR for getting me through LAX TSA security efficiently today amid the most crowded airport scene I think I have ever seen!

    1. I’m having trouble linking them as well, but I noticed the Health Pass is only good for 30 days and my trip is in September so I thought that might be it. But I also already uploaded my vaccination card, so it might be that.

  9. It doesn’t appear that the Clear Health pass is free…tried to download the clear app and it kept trying to enroll me in clear first

  10. We will continue to postpone Hawaii until all testing requirements, uploading vaccine records, car rental issues, mandatory tourist fees, and homie issues are resolved. Caribbean islands are better anyway.

  11. Just tried Clear Health Pass. My experience was as I expected – time consuming and unsuccessful. I live in Utah and the vast majority of vaccinations were for the first
    3-4 months administered by counties. It was no surprise that Clear app provided no connections to these counties or any other public entity. Uploading a copy of you CDC card is a piece of cake. BTW – when doing so use your cursor to sign the “Agreement”.

  12. I tried but no worky. Doesnt say whats wrong, its connected with my provider alright. In progress for hours “this may take a minute”

  13. What about visitors from other countries like Canada? Will they have a way for us to upload our vaccination into the Clear app?

  14. Where is a List of the Partners that are authorized to give the Test? As with Sheryl, I find it hard to believe that Walgreen’s, CVS (Longs in Hawaii), Honor Health, Mayo, Top Internist tied to Hospital Labs are not allowed, when a 72 Hour window is tight, and understandably so, given the Price, there has to be a Vig going back to Hawaii.

  15. We are Canadian and hope to go to Hawaii in 2022. We all received both vaccinations but we are not sure how to verify that with Hawaii Safe Travels digitally as we only received a vaccination card or a printed out piece of paper confirming we received both shots. Any tips for Canadians would be appreciated.

    1. Hi Stacy.

      Nothing has been announced for international travel from Canada yet. We expect it will be soon, however.

      Aloha.

  16. Aloha-What about this is simpler exactly? I was under the impression that you only had to bring a hard copy of your cdc card. I’m sure it’s obvious but…

    Thanks

    1. Hi Jon.

      Yes, that is true. With CLEAR even that isn’t necessary because it is handle in advance with the appl. It’s just another way to manage it. We will try it for an upcoming trip this month.

      Aloha.

  17. Aloha Guys
    Mahalo for the timely info. We plan on travel to Maui later this year. We plan on just uploading are vaccine cards to Hawaii safe travels later this year’

  18. It seems that California is not the only State to have an Immunization Registry. New York does also. So all states that have them should be able to use them to upload the information into the Safe Travels App. While Hawaii seems to be trying to make it easier for people to come from the other States, they still seem to complicate it more than it should be for those that are vaccinated.

    The United States wants to get people to vaccinate. Anything that anyone or any institution can do to provide benefits and simplicity for those that are vaccinated and advertising those benefits certainly is helping everyone.

    1. Uploading CDC direct to Hawaii safe travels as of day before yesterday is the only way to go if you’ve been vaccinated. Otherwise try to get test appointment 71+ hours before last departure to Hawaii – and keep your fingers crossed that test results come back at least four hours before your first departure. Another route if available in your airport is booking an appointment there two hours before your flight – $200 each (as a back up, and can be cancelled easily).

  19. so, i am confused. I thought that we would just need to download the vaccine card to the safe travels app and show the hard copy upon arrival. Now i see there is the CLEAR app involved too? urgh…hoping back to the old way this November.

    1. As o understand it the Clear app is optional, not in addition. I was afraid of that two and double-checked.

  20. We have up loaded our vaccination records. Do we still need to fill out a health questionnaire and if so where do we go to find it? We are so confused…but we appreciate your help.
    Thank you

    1. Hi J.Y.

      Yes, that is still required and is done within 24-hours of travel on the Safe Travels website.

      Aloha.

  21. Last comment – I believe they only listed 3-5 “Other Providers” none of whom I’ve heard of in New Mexico!

  22. In practice, most people won’t be able to use this. Cities and Counties across the United States are not linked into the electronic verification system, the exception being the State of California. So if you were vaccinated by a City/County Health Department or perhaps your local grocery store, you’re out of luck. If you went to Walgreens or CVS for your vaccination, then you’re good to go.

  23. BOH – so much for CLEAR!!! It is probably the least user-friendly app I’ve ever encountered and after 15 minutes of trying to use it and following the instructions to the letter, it doesn’t recognize my “provider”, OPTUM, which is a huge provider in my part of the country!!! Glad I’ve already uploaded my Covid Vaccine care and, in spite of CLEAR, I will be carrying with me!

    1. For instance, it shows “Step 1” (SCAN) and “Step 2” (PHOTO) and implies you should do something on that screen. NOT! A few screens later, after it instructs you to take a photo of your ID, THEN it takes your photo and scans your face! And there is a link for “Other Providers” but nothing happens when you click on it. When you back to beginning and scroll way down, you’ll find a search for “Other Providers”! One suggestion – don’t go the page that tells you what to do – just keep going from page to page!

  24. I tried to input my vaccination information on CLEAR and it took me to a separate thing that said I had to link my medical information. No thank you. Anyway, I went to a mass vaccination site and my doctor doesn’t have a record of it anyway. I think CLEAR is for residents of California who must have a better way to link their vaccinations. I have already uploaded my vaccination record in the Hawaii Safe Travels site so that will have to be good enough along with the actual card when I check in at the airport.

  25. We have a family member who will never become vaccinated but will be coming to Hawaii for a family wedding. Will he be able to get tested and if the test is negative, not have to quarantine? This is happening in the next two weeks and we are concerned about what they need to do.

    1. Taking a Covid Test (from a Hawaii approved partner) no earlier than 72hrs prior to your final flight departure time is still an option for those who intend to visit the island and avoid any quarantine.

    2. Dear Candace, yes for people who choose not to get vaccinated will have the option of doing the test and when it comes out negative then they will be able to not have to quarantine. Hope this helps! Have a fun & safe trip! God bless you….psalms 91:11

    3. The UN-vaccinated needs to get Tested locally (by a Hawaii approved source) and test Negative with-in 72 Hours of Arrival in Hawaii and have that Paperwork record, or they go to Quarantine, with a “Scarlet Letter” ‘Q’ affixed for 10 days! The Article tries to simplify, but from everyone I’ve heard the people doing the clearing in Hawaii, matters not the Island make it complicated. Expand the List of Testing Facilities from Costco, CVS (Longs in Hawaii) they should be able to get digital, Hospitals, Honor Health here in greater Phoenix, Mayo, respected Dr.’s affiliated with
      Hospitals. NY, California, Illinois are like Hawaii, they only see it the Lock-down way, HIPPA Laws be damned!

  26. Can you please provide a picture of what the CLEAR app looks like. I have looked on my iphone and a whole variety if apps come up.

    1. Hi Karen.

      We suggest you go to their website (linked in the post). Go to the bottom of the page and you’ll see the links to their app on the two phone stores.

      Aloha.

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