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72 thoughts on “Free Airport COVID Tests Announced + Will Airlines Step Forward?”

  1. Kathleen S.

    Please change timeline. 72 hours is very hard to do. More time needed maybe 84-96 hours. I’m going nuts trying to comply. But I want to see my Mother. The test that you want is 2-3days some places 4 days. I change flights once…in Phoenix and they say the test had to be with 72 hours too at check in. Help!!!!!!

    1. Sarah R

      Hi Kathleen,

      As you well know this site isn’t the state of Hawai’i safe travel program. There isn’t much for them to be able to help you.

      I understand you want to see your mother. The best advice that can be given is find a safe travels partner lab that is doing same day testing with guaranteed results or to travel to Hawaii and complete a 10-day post travel quarantine.

      The Governor isn’t interested in expanding the testing window.

  2. Lisa C

    Aloha! I appreciate all the updates!!
    FYI, for travelers from Reno Nevada, it is very frustrating to find a place for testing. Both Cvs and Walgreens have no available appointments. I check daily. The Oakland airport has the first available testing appointment on January 24! Vault says it’ll take 48-72 hours after they receive it in the mail. To risky. I just may have to cancel my planned trip this month. I’ll check with the new Sacramento option and fly out of Sacramento instead of Oakland.
    Mahalo for all the tips though!!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Lisa.

      If it is after the holidays, and you follow Vault’s website guidelines for days of the week, we have heard very good results in many comments.

      Aloha.

    1. Sarah R

      Hi Kristi,

      The incoming travel quarantine is now 10 days for Kauai.

      You aren’t required in that case to take a pre- travel test if you are quarantine but it is encouraged by both Kauai’s local health officials and the CDC.

  4. Mike Z.

    Have you heard of any program that would be started in the future that would offer a way for travelers to confirm they have received both doses of the Covid vaccine and be allowed to travel to Hawaii without testing or requiring 14 day quarantine?

  5. Al G

    With 110 days (Apr 6) until our thrice rescheduled extended stay in Hawaii begins, we can only wonder what the testing landscape will look like at that time? Currently there are two ‘trusted partners’ offering rapid tests here in MemTN, as well as numerous CVS & Walgreens if one wants to gamble on the 72 hour rule. Our flights are routed through DFW where AA offers rapid tests at the airport thru CareNow at $249 per person 😲 . Yeah, no. We will continue to follow what ongoing changes occur by following BoH, and take the necessary steps to prepare for six weeks uninterrupted 808 time. Mahalo for keeping us informed!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Al.

      Thanks. That is like an eternity in the current situation. A lot will change. So please stand by for more information.

      Aloha.

  6. Deborah L.

    The United ID Now test is a rapid NON-NAAT test. How do they get to be different and why is it valid? Makes no sense.

  7. Nancy R

    Aloha Kauai Guys,

    Mahalo nui for always being on top of travel news. Good news about Sacramento Airport covid testing, since that is where I go in and out of when I visit the Mainland. God only knows how the travel industry in Hawai’i will fare in 2021, but here’s hoping everybody will step up to do their part in tourism’s recovery. Although now that I’ve been stuck at home on Maui for approaching a year, I think I’d just rather visit Kauai once I get vaccinated. But then I think of In-n-Out cheeseburgers and it’s kinda a tie.

  9. Scott C

    Thanks for the article.

    Too little, too late. The governor’s continued mishandling of this pandemic has taken Hawaii off the table for us for 2021. We’re spending our tourism money in Florida next year.

    Good job, Gov. Ige, in destroying the one remaining industry that was the lifeblood of the state.

  10. Jennifer B

    Any discussion regarding vaccine recipients? I will be receiving my 1st dose tomorrow with the 2nd scheduled for January, and have a trip planned for Maui in February for a conference.

    Thanks!

    Jennifer

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