The data is in regarding Hawaii travel, and it is nothing short of dismal. Only 23% of Hawaii hotel rooms were filled last month, according to the state’s Hawaii Tourism Authority. That number has remained virtually unchanged over the past 90 days. Visitor occupancy at that level is clearly unsustainable. And all of this continues in spite of relatively easy quarantine waivers for all but one island.
Read on to see how hope may on the horizon in various forms.
All islands except Kauai allow visitors to bypass quarantine based on pre-travel COVID testing.
Apparently, however, that doesn’t appear to be moving the needle at all. To avoid quarantine, visitors need to comply only with pre-travel testing procedures from a “trusted partner” within 72 hours of their mainland to Hawaii departure.
Kauai went in a separate direction and left the Safe Travels program in early December. Visitors are required to either quarantine for 10 days, say at an approved resort bubble for a minimum of 3-4 nights or travel from another island after a minimum of three nights followed by another pre-travel (to Kauai) test. The quarantine waiver options can take significantly longer than 3 days, based on testing and results availability.
How easy is it to manage Hawaii’s COVID rules?
Many of you say it isn’t that easy, while others report that it can be done without too much grief if you stay focused on complying with the rules. Please share your experiences in navigating the rules.
Canadian visitors largely missing.
This is the time of year we typically see more Canadians escape to Hawaii’s year-round warm climate. But that just isn’t the case now. For the last month for which we have data (December), Canada arrivals were 3,833 vs. 64,182 the prior year. And Japan visitors are missing too, with total December arrivals at 1,889 compared with 136,635 in the prior year.
Complicating factors for Hawaii travel resumption include the following:
1. Difficulty in obtaining test results within 72 hours. Last week the state temporarily moved that to be 96 hours instead, but that ends this week and was only due to bad weather on the mainland. The Lt. Gov. had suggested months ago that it be moved permanently to 96 hours, but the governor never approved that.
2. Too limited number of “trusted partners.” Many of you have complained that the Hawaii list of approved partners leaves much to be desired. It would of course be easier if the determinant were the test type performed rather than who the test vendor is, but it doesn’t appear that Hawaii can accommodate that in the way that most other places do.
Getting a test from someone other than a trusted partner is as good as no test at all and will immediately land those visitors in quarantine hell. As one of our readers, Roy, pointed out, even being tested at the Mayo Clinic doesn’t work as they have not applied to be a testing partner. And Nancy concurred, asking “Tell me why Hawaii is not allowing covid tests from places in CA that are very famous, ie: Stanford, UCLA, UCSF, etc., and how about Mayo Clinic or John Hopkins? CVS and Walgreens are a joke.”
In that regard, Gov. Ige said yesterday that a pilot program is set to greatly expand the testing sources beyond the current limitations. We are awaiting details on that.
3. Difficulty understanding procedures and obtaining help. We hear from you that you cannot get answers to questions you have about travel requirements. Yesterday, we were busy researching a one-day trip from Kauai to Maui for a visitor. As it turns out, the current rules do not allow for that. Finding that answer, however, could not have been more difficult. The Kauai County website is poorly written and difficult to understand, even for those of us who deal with these issues daily. Furthermore, regarding Maui travel, we have gotten many questions about use of their contact tracing app. Lastly, others have complained that they cannot easily get a hold of the state’s COVID travel helpdesk either by phone or email.
4. Awaiting details and commencement of vaccination passport travel. You keep asking when this will start, and while we don’t have any answers from the governor yet, it is likely to be within the next month or two. One question that all of us also have in mind is how long vaccination will be valid for Hawaii travel. The governor said he continues to await guidance from the CDC before any changes are announced. Lt. Gov. Green had hoped for interisland travel for those vaccinated to begin as soon as next week. Ultimately, the governor has the reigns on that call, however, and he just hasn’t said.
Stay with us for more updates and please add your experiences to this post.
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Ok, I’m here in Maui, updating you as promised. I scheduled by COVID test on-line with Walgreens (not all locations do the required PCR test, so you have to specify, and be sure to schedule within 72 hrs of your last departure leg going to Hawaii), test was a breeze and N/C. Though they don’t promise, labs used show avg time to results well within the 72 hrs and actual results came back in 24 or so hrs via email. Followed all directions, reviewing over and over again to make sure t’s were crossed and i’s dotted, it was really no problem at all. Here now, enjoying my beautiful home away from home. Thank you BOH for keeping us updated and providing this forum!
Hi Rod.
Thanks for letting us know. Happy to hear that the testing and travels went without a hitch.
Aloha.
“All islands except Kauai allow visitors to bypass quarantine based on pre-travel COVID testing.” (quote from todays Beat)
Is this true for the big island?
what happens if you get a positive or false positive on the arrivals test?
Also, if all 5 of the family have negative pre-travel results, what happens if one show a positive on the antigen arrivals test?
thanks
Hi George.
Big Island does random testing on arrival. If you were to test positive then obviously there would be a quarantine.
As we said the last time when you asked, for more specific information, we suggest you contact the state or county.
Aloha.
Hmmm, CVS has the contract for State of Hawaii’s employees as their main drug provider. The largest employer in the State of Hawaii IS the State of Hawaii. Does it shock anyone that CVS is one of the “Trusted partners” for Covid-19 testing for the State of Hawaii, yet many people seem to be having problems with getting their results in a timely manner?
San Francisco just removed the 10-day quarantine on return requirement so maybe some more Californians will fly over for a visit now!
The 10 day quarantine after travel was “strongly recommended” but was never mandatory.
Canada now has additional challenges in place for retuning residents requiring both prof of a negative Covid test before boarding a plane on top of an expensive quarantine period in a government approved hotel $$$.
Still waiting to rebook my visit that was cancelled back in Feb 2020 and a bit concerned that our window to rebook will pass based on current travel credit stipulations. It’s a lot of $$$$ to go “poof.” 🙁
We are traveling from Hilo to Maui. There are very few trusted covid test providers in the area and the few there are charge $139 to $150 and CVS doesn’t guarantee that results will be timely. If we were going to Honolulu no tests are required.
Two observations –
#1 As Hawaii is one state, the protocols should apply to all islands to avoid confusion.
#2. Inter island travel should accept the covid tests the locals are receiving not just those from trusted partners. If not, they have no confidence in the tests being given to the Hawaii residents.
Thanks for the info, looking forward to a 21 day semi economical trip towards end of may.. have stayed at both outrigger east and west gave us a great deal and had such island hospitality towards our families.
Ohana
My partner and I have traveled to California in January 2020 and he was able to use his Kaiser plan to cover the cost of the Covid test, however I use Blue Cross PPO and had to pay $170.00 out of pocket for the 72 hour test at the facility available to me. Than the airlines all have different rules… he flew on United and had to stand in a long line to enter the state. I flew on Alaska, got a arm band and walked right through.
Lack of uniformed policies across the board leads to no confidence fir most people. Theirs an old saying that’s true today… “make it simple stupid…”
Thank you
My husband and I recently traveled to Kona (we have a home there) from Palm Springs, CA. Getting a Covid-19 test from a “trusted partner” was an absolute nightmare. CVS and Walgreen’s (we made appointments at BOTH) told us when we showed up on Sunday, Feb. 21 for our appointments that results were taking 5-7 DAYS to be returned. We were leaving on Feb. 23rd. So we cancelled and frantically called the Hawaii Covid Help Desk and were told the closest trusted partner was in San Diego! Made appointments there then had to drive over, get a hotel room, get tested and once cleared, drive back to Palm Springs to pack and head to the airport. We had to pay $250 cash per person for the rapid test. It was ridiculous. Then my husband’s test uploaded properly but mine did not. More phone calls with NO HELP. Kept getting the standard computer voice messages, finally a person who then promptly transferred us back to the computer voice messages. Brought the papers with us just to prove we were tested as the software didn’t work. Cleared The Big Island Covid-19 labyrinth upon arrival. I uploaded Pegasus software as directed but only one person there working it. Then more Covid-19 testing on arrival. Why? We all just took tests within 72 hours! Last comment – my husband has been traveling and working internationally during the pandemic. He has been tested in CA using CovidClinic. It is accepted around the world by Australia, New Zealand, etc. but NOT Hawaii? Seriously? This trusted partner thing is just a joke. ALL administered Covid-19 tests should be accepted.
The ore travel test is a joke. One can be exposed to Covid after getting tested during the 7 hour window. Then be allowed to run freely about spreading it after arrival and during flight.
The testing should be mandatory AFTER arrival with mandatory 3 day quarantine for all until test comes back negative. If positive or inconclusive then 10 day quarantine required.
If the tourist accommodations, especially condos, etc would automatically include a great travel insurance plan that covers most circumstances, I do believe that would give many wanna be travelers the confidence to come to your state. Also, most definitely offer transferrable reservations and/or free cancellations. These things would wipe out the anticipated travel fears of being stuck in quarantine and/or losing a lot of money.
I gave up due to the testing. I found it impossible to get a test result in 72 hours. Late last year twice, my family of four get tested at CVS – twice. Both times it took anywhere from 6-7 days to get results. Spent nearly $1,000 at CVS for nothing. CVS is a complete rip-off! CVS took my money knowing they could not meet the 72 hours time frame. Avoid CVS! They are a rip-off!
Aloha-
At the risk of showing some computer illiteracy I have a question. Do you know if you can upload your test to the Safe Travels site from you phone or does that need to be done from a computer? Once it is uploaded do you then get the QR code on the site that you can access on your phone to show to gate agents?
thanks
Hi Jon.
We’ll let others comment, but it should be possible to upload and access those from either a phone or a computer.
You can scan and upload from your phone but it has to be a .pdf file and NOT a photo (.jpg). If you use the NOTES function on an IPhone it will create a .pdf that you can upload easily. Or Hp Phone Scan (what I use).
The absence of Canadians is due to not only the entry requirements but also the return requirements which are two weeks quarantine upon return to Canada. So two weeks in Hawaii basically means a month long commitment and this is why we aren’t going for the first time in 15 years. Not only that but many Canadians remain incensed at Canadian airlines refusing to return funds for flights cancelled due to the pandemic and instead offering date-stamped future travel vouchers which eliminates the possibility of shopping around for flights in the future assuming you are even able to go when the time arrives. So it’s not only Hawaii requirements but the fate that awaits when you return and a lingering bitter taste toward Canadian airlines. So glad we had booked for Palm Springs with Alaska as they returned our funds without issue.
Thanks
Hi Scott.
We hope you can return to Hawaii again soon.
Aloha.
It’s the uncertainty that’s the main culprit. The uncertainty of getting test results on time, the uncertainty that rules can change at any moment, the uncertainty that if one tests positive, especially if it’s a family trip (small chance, but VERY expensive chance), you lose thousands of dollars you already spent and will need to spend (if diagnosed in Hawaii). All of that makes people pause.
Attempted to go to Oahu 2 weeks ago but was denied entry due to failing to follow all the COVID procedures (uploading to your state website). At great effort and hassle, my wife and I were able to obtain the negative COVID results but were given the wrong instructions by the airline on how to upload them (they told us we could show our mychart results on our phone and didn’t need to upload). Traveled half way around the world just to be sent home due to something as small as not uploading the results. And quite frankly did not receive a very warm reception. The whole experience made Hawaii lose a lot of its charm. Your state makes things too complicated and unnecessarily burdensome. We will probably stick to Florida for future travel.
Thank you for this article. My husband and I are planning to visit Hawaii for the second time and are finding it hard to understand the inter-island travel between Hawaii island and Maui. Also, a lot of the official information online says a NAAT test is required, but when I looked it up this is the same as a PCR test. Why wouldn’t they just say PCR test since that is the terminology that travelers are familiar with when traveling abroad during covid? It gives the impression that there’s a small difference between the two tests and that we may be subject to the 10-day quarantine if our documents say PCR instead of NAAT.
Hi Chanel.
When testing with a trusted partner, it is likely that either NAAT or PCR nomenclature will work. But to be safe, we’d suggest checking first with the state’s help desk at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Aloha.
Thank you for this article, Please allow more testing sites within 96 hours or proof of vaccine. I will be visiting Maui in may, hoping things will be simpler to visit the beautiful islands.
Dear Jean, I’m sorry you had to cancel your trip & I know how you feel!! In 2020 two of my vacation trips were cancelled:( I’m planning a trip to Oahu next year because I want some issues to calm down & I’ve dreamed all my life of going to Hawaii for my vacation! I’m using the rest of this year to save $$. So, for now I will keep on dreaming about the day when I’m finally sitting on the airplane traveling to Hawaii! Hang in there & when your time is right you will be in Hawaii:)