This is about to shake out. What’s ahead and how much notice will there be.
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121 thoughts on “Officials Can’t Agree On Hawaii Travel Tests And Other New Rules”
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This is about to shake out. What’s ahead and how much notice will there be.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Sorry, Thanksgiving in Maui has been canceled, please forgive, as Nature has been having its way of pruning out the weak, and accidentally chopped off the whole tree. Auwe!
Aloha & Mahalo!
The venue I work for in South Carolina is requiring pre-event testing for both unvaccinated and vaccinated. There is nothing wrong with that since it has been proven that vaccinated people can spread the virus.
I think cases will drop dramatically if everyone entering Hawaii is required to be tested.
I wholeheartedly agree and Mahalo for stating.
The CDC flip flops on their take on how to treat this pandemic,I have read ALOT of anecdotal cases of people who got 2 vaccines and still end up in the hospital.. Please reinstate pre travel testing for ALL passengers whether they are vaccinated or not…It worked before.Please! The CDC should not trump the State of Hawaii
Hope safe travels still continues as we have a trip to the Big Island planned for our 43d anniversary on the 17th of March, 2022.
Dear Donna, March is a great month because my b-day is in March!! 🥳❤
Greatly appreciate the updates as I will be traveling to HI next month.
Unfortunately plans were made months ago before we knew of this current situation.
We would lose too much money to cancel now with all due respect to the governors potential request.
I called safe travel Hawaii office and was told they’re thinking about requiring post-travel covid testing, after arriving in Hawaii. Even if vaccination has been confirmed. Has anyone heard about that?
I think that would be a deal breaker for some. You are fully vaccinated, tested positive within 72 hours of flight, arrive and test positive and then find out it was a false positive through subsequent testing. think of all the $ you would be out.
This situation was created to save tourism. Now, we have higher numbers, vaccinated people think they can not get COVID or pass it.
Ignorance abounds. Need PSA to explain science of it all.
Please don’t make hard to come to Hawaii . Vaccination cards should be enough..
I have a trip planned for Sept 6 thru Sept 16.we are both vaccinated, if travel is canceled by state , when would we be notified, also not your field but would canceled trips be
Aloha,
This is sad for the Hawaiian populace that out Government and its leaders (all) are skewing the data. Of course the Covid numbers of our local population will be higher. If a tourist infects one resident the virus can spread amongst 10 people within a minimal period of time as we have Ohana and close friends we see on a daily or weekly basis. The tourist return homes within usually a ten day period and Hawaii has nothing in place to verify the validity of any vaccination cards from anywhere! Truly sad!!! Stay safe and Aloha
Mahalo Nui Loa
Exactly! The Delta variant showed up in Hawaii around the same time Gov Ige dropped the pre-test requirement on July 8th. 50% capacity at a Luau full of tourists still means 150 people with no masks being served by locals. Who then go home to their families. Tour boats at 50% are still too many people seated right next to each other, and again no masks with locals being exposed.
Delta wasn’t in our communities until the untested (but vaxxed) people from the mainland brought it here.
Thank you for updating the public.
cases started spiking literally the day after vaccine exemptions for travel were implemented.
The data clearly shows vaccinated and covid tested visitors are not bringing the virus to Hawaii, so Hawaii needs to take a hard look at itself. If visitors must be vaccinated and tested before we set foot on the islands, so should returning residents – no more quarantining at home.
We are vaccinated and just accept the fact we will have to put out $600 for the tests indefinitely when traveling. It’s the “price of doing business”. Residents of Hawaii who travel to the mainland will have to suck it up like every other person getting on a plane – get vaccinated and tested or stay home.
So simple. Totally agree
Man, you’d think with all those mandates Hawaii would be doing better.. intriguing….
Thank you for the informative article. My question is, if vaccinated can still catch and spread Covid. Why are vaccinated not requirement to test 72 hours prior to departure/entery into the Islands? I understand only a low amount of cases have been from visitors.However,it only takes one person to spread this virus to many.
I’m visiting the Hawaiian Islands in 25 days. I want to feel safe,not only while in Hawaii,but also on the 10hour flight to get there. I’m so confused on what to do. Cancel for the second year in a row, or just go and do my due diligence.
Darlene,
Exactly! A vaccinated friend of mine decided to do the 72-hour pretest for traveling to Hawaii. Her results are positive and yet she still plans on flying there in a couple of days. She says, “oh well, I already put my vax card info into Safe Travels website. I’m good to go.”
Can you believe that? Wow!!
The answer is the tests are not accurate and the vaccines are causing the spike. It so clear and yet people don’t see it!
I am confused if visitors must be tested or vaccinated before they leave were they are coming from. That means every visitor to Hawaii is Covid free, how are you still getting cases? And why are the visitors the ones to blame?
JOE B… the glitch is that you don’t have to be vaccinated or test negative! Hi ever, if you’re not, you have to quarantine for days. For locals returning home, quarantining in their own homes is no big deal. So they aren’t tested and.or aren’t vaccinated because they just go back to living life at home! However, since visitors are the enigma, visitors are being blamed.
Unfortunately vaccination cards can be purchased on line and have been available to unscrupulous individuals for a while now. These are individuals who have no regard for others and do not give consideration to the fact our home is just a playground for their selfish endeavors. I believe in choices and if you choose to not vaccinate no problem, however those are individual choices and should be confined to your personal space. My home State is not your personal space, nor is my family’s abilities to work and live in safety. Many during this crisis are having little respect for others. If you vaccinated for measles, chickenpox, polio and other diseases, why not Covid? Disease evolves as everything! Just doesn’t make sense that we care so little for our fellow human beings that we we purposely neglect their safety. Children are innocent to parent choices, but they are dying too. Just a sad state of affairs.
Aloha
My wife and I have no issue with pre-testing for COVID-19, Even though we’ve been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer with the 2 dose vaccine since April of this year. My issue is with the state of Hawaii not excepting my Ventura county California health departments COVID-19 testing results, which are FREE and easily obtained. How arrogant of the state of Hawaii. The state of Hawaii will except Walgreens if we can get an appointment which is almost impossible these days and some other commercial testing facilities of which we have to pay like CVS-pay. What kind of kickback is Hawaii getting with this ? Probably a lot of money with these “referrals” For us that will be $270 we won’t be spending in Hawaii.
As my neighbor who is a MD said. “It’s natures way of pruning out the weak” he is speaking of the nonvaxers. Don’t kill the messenger. Hoping things get better in 87 days as we will be in Maui for Thanksgiving week. All have masks and vaccinated.
Aloha
Your MD neighbor is missing one piece. The antivaxxers are maybe at higher risk of transmitting to others who are vaccinated, who in turn can get sick.
It could be worse. Think of New Zealand and another complete lock down. They had a high vac’s rate and 1 case brought this back.
Very clear that the vaccinations are causing it
I work at Maui Memorial. Last week 98% of patients admitted with Covid were unvaccinated. People who are against vaccinations should agree to refuse medical intervention to save their(the antivaxxers)lives when they contract the disease. Also health insurance will soon have much higher premiums for the non vaccinated. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you or some of your fellow antivax sheep in the emergency room soon.
your website keeps giving me error when I want to subscribe to the free updates. I consent to receive communications and agree to beat of Hawaii’s privacy policy. Please sign me up for your free updates. I would appreciate your assistance on this matter. Thank you
Hi Laverne.
We checked and you did in fact subscribe successfully to our email updates.
Aloha.
It’s pretty simple anyone look at the chart on when delta took off in Hawaii? It’s July 12. Know what happened July 8? They stopped testing for the virus if you are vaccinated. Ige says he’s following cdc guidelines. Well he wasn’t following them before when he required testing. So what’s different now. Green was on today saying 83 percent of Hawaii is vaccinated. So that leaves 17 percent or 215k unvaccinated. Out of that maybe a third half have natural immunity. So 10 percent is causing all these problems?
lol I just posted something similar. we can’t infer causality but common sense would say that many vaccinated are/were spreading the virus around. Deaths still remain lower than previous spikes though.
Yeah exactly. Remember when they said the bench mark for herd immunity was 70%? Guess that didn’t pan out, probably why you don’t hear about it anymore. These fools have no clue what they’re doing.
If they re-implement pre-testing for all… it needs to be longer than 72 hours…if you fly on Tuesday ….impossible to meet that deadline because of the weekend..
Unsure what the weekend has to do with this because in our location testing (and results) is conducted seven days a week
Testing may take place 7 days a week but the labs processing do not ….one preferred partner said to not use them if the flight out was on Tuesday😕. The rapid NAAT testing is always booked which is another problem…just wish it could be extended longer than 72 hours.
I did not see in today’s post that gov. Ige was asking for people to NOT come to Hawaii for the time being. He cited the hospitals being at capacity and restaurants still having trouble with staffing making it difficult to serve the masses.
I am hoping you did not dismiss that fact on purpose. The traveling public needs to know that the governor has asked for people to postpone vacations for now.
Thank you, but the public needs to know this.
You reported earlier that the rise in infection rates was not with the tourist. The problem is the residents travel and the local spread. Why punish the tourist because the local authorities cannot get the residents to adhere to the proper policies to reduce the spread. I love Hawaii but I am tired of the tourists being blamed for the problems that the Hawaiian need to solve themselves.
At first, I was against the idea of a vaccine passport. But things have changed with the current cases in the hospitals. According to all the sources I hear, 90% of the covid patients are unvaccinated. That to me is preventable, so now I’m in favor of whatever makes life more difficult for the unvaccinated and easier for the vaccinated. If there’s a valid medical reason why one shouldn’t get the vaccine then exemptions should be made…but if the excuse is: I just don’t want to put that in my body then be prepared for more difficulty in life.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Where’s the evidence that mainland travelers are the cause of current surge and how many tourists are taking up beds at Hawaii’s hospitals?
I’m guessing little if any tourists contributed to the surge and very few if any are occupying hospital beds.
Anyone with common sense who has been following covid cases on Hawaii knows who brought back Delta from their trips to the mainland.
Young unvaccinated residents of Hawaii are to blame for this.
Delta has a firm grip on the islands at this point any additional travel restrictions would just be window dressing. It’s game over for stopping the spread.
BOH recently published data that said visitors represented 2% of the cases. If testing is reinstated or visitors it wioll clearly be for optics only and not have any effect.
They should never have dropped the testing. Isreal released in June that there was significant drop off of vaccine efficacy as months rolled on. No tourist with half a brain would get tested on island as they would be locked down and quarantined for 10 plus days. They’d get on a plane and leave assuming it was allergies etc The Vaccine does not keep people from spreading the virus. People heard what they wanted.
Jerry L commented above that the unvaccinated should (in his opinion) be “prepared for more difficulty in life”. Yet in Israel, where 60% of the population is fully vaccinated, there has apparently evolved a new COVID variant(not Delta, newer). Vaccinated passing it around. So, yeah, Liam G, Israel is now seeing that dropoff of vaccine protection looks like 😥
I have had tickets for Hawaii 3 times now since March of 2020. We are again scheduled to come in September. So I have a couple of questions. What about people that cannot take the vaccines? Are we not able to eat at restaurants? Are we not able to see the sights? Isn’t that just like being quarantined? Also if only vaccines are implemented will the airlines refund? What about my hotel reservations? So tired of this game Hawaii is playing. Set your rules so we as prospective visitors can either continue our vacation plans or cancel them.
I recently went on a cruise. Everyone over 12 had to be vaccinated. No exceptions. And we all had to take a covid test within 72 hours of our cruise. Under 12, had to produce a covid test 72 hours before AND at the departing port before getting on the ship. It was nice feeling safe. There is no reason Hawaii can’t restart the pre-travel covid test to all, whether vaccinated or not. Just another layer to keep all safe. I realize they cannot limit entry to Hawaii to only the vaccinated, but surely can start up the pre-testing again.
Well said Vicki it’s not that hard we did it before.
So…if the State mandates Covid Passports to enter a restaurants…will they also apply this to supermarkets, Target, and COSTCO?
Good Afternoon:
It is always great to receive your up-to-date and timely information regarding travel to my second home, Hawaii.
Thank you for your diligence in reporting the facts!
Hi Dale.
Thanks so much. We appreciate all of your comments.
Aloha.
Im traveling to Kauai in late october and have two children under 10…will they need anything other than a covid test 72 hours prior?
Will they be allowed to eat in restaurants since they are too young to be vaccinated?
Aloha,
I don’t understand why people can’t understand that vaccinated people can transmit the disease-It’s proven science. Look at the numbers. Wake up people! This is endemic. This disease is never going away!
Thank you, David.
Less time wishing and praying to crystals and more time spent around facts, data and science. You can’t continue to drive around smoking with us in the car and your windows rolled up. Get the vaccine, NOW APPROVED and do the rest of us a solid.
This ridiculous fantasy amendment stance holds no water – we all had to get vaccinated to start school. Maybe you want the measles or chickenpox, too?
Get with it folks!
Very much agree with you AMi,
People will build resistance to covid in one of two ways. First, people will get vaccinated and cost in sickness and death will be very little. Second, people will not get vaccinated and cost in sickness and death well be much higher. This is not rocket science and this problem has been with the human race for a very long time.
Anecdotal evidence – travel to hawaii does seem to be entering a “self-limiting” stage, as you suggest. A 3-day car rental at KOA (for Aug 28-31) was $450 two weeks ago, is less than $150 today. My flight tomorrow (Aug 24) SFO-HNL looks to be 2/3 empty. Major airfare sales, airlines desperately trying to fill seats. Schools have started, so families have stopped travelling to Hawaii.
Aloha David,
Interesting numbers. Thanks for that. It was getting out of control on the costs of rental cars and not being available. Nice to know they are leveling out. Sensitive time here in Hawaii. I am going to California next week and following their rules etc. Glad they are giving us a 2 week notice knowing my vaccine card will be sufficient now to come back home. Enjoy your vacation.
The article states: “ The state is closely watching the current surge in Covid and is preparing to take action as indicated. That came as yesterday’s caseload went to a new all-time high of nearly 900 cases in one day.” How many more days and how many more cases before Hawaii takes any real preventative measures? Define “closely watching” please. To reinstate pre-travel testing is NOT reinventing the wheel; the program already existed! The HI Government learned nothing from the events of last year. Sad, just sad.
Delta is probably peaking on its own now. If they enact it will start to go down anyway naturally they should require the pre travel testing again it’s pretty simple.
Thank you Liam G. Nature still dictates that things run their course….vaccine is not eliminating this virus. Anedoctal stories of people dying and then begging for the vaccine….vaccine isn’t a cure.
Aloha guys. thanks for the information. This is kinda like closing the barn door after the cow is out?? Right??
I have been reading that the infection rate among vaccinated people in LA is 30%. Delta is not stopped by the vaccine tho it may mitigate serious disease and death, no guarantee you wont get sick. Let’s see what happens in NYC in a few weeks after their huge outdoor concert a few days ago. That will be telling about the efficiency of the vaccines. and not to mention after the kids have been in school for a bit.
So sit on a plane with someone who is not tested but vaccinated and……..you just dont know.
Dont get me started how Hawaiian Airlines did not enforce mask restrictions on our big island flight. A downright scary flight.
arguhhhhh!!!
Hi Ane.
We understood that HA was very strict about mask enforcement. Can you say more please?
Aloha.
We also flew on a Hawaiian flight where they did not enforce the mask requirements. The flight staff announced the mask requirements but never confronted the number of passengers who pulled their masks down under their nose for the entire flight. Very disappointed. Will not fly Hawaiian again.
Hi Lisa.
If you would like to share your flight details with us here https://beatofhawaii.com/contact-us/, we will get them to Hawaiian Airlines to investigate the matter.
Aloha.
Hi Ane.
Hi Lisa.
If you would like to share your flight details with us here https://beatofhawaii.com/contact-us/, we will get them to Hawaiian Airlines to investigate the matter.
Aloha.
Here is study from recent Chicago event, very promising
nbcchicago.com/news/local/203-confirmed-covid-cases-tied-to-lollapalooza-chicagos-top-doctor-says/2588834/
If the state indeed requires vaccinations to eat in a restaurant or engage in an excursion, then that pretty much eliminates children from coming to the island. Nice way to treat the keikis.
Hi, Nice way to protect the Keiki is right. They cannot get vaccinated, yet!
Thanks so much for this latest update!
So if they decide to reinstate it on say weds what happens if you are flying out on Tuesday? You won’t have time to test….
PAUL G… Any time they’ve changed the regulations, they’ve given weeks of notice.
It says that any changes will have at least 2 weeks of notice.
Yeah, but too late to cancel/get credit on most AirBNB reservations. I’m not opposed to vaccination requirements to get to Hawai’i but quick (think two-night) inter-island trips would be killed with testing requirments and therefore our whole trip would have to be cancelled…
Read the article, not just the headlines
Community spread is unfortunately the consequence of not getting vaccinated. Too much misinformation. I have family members living in Hawaii who refuse to get vaccinated, no matter how much proof I’ve shown and after spending time talking to them about it. Super frustrating as it’s their health that they are willing to sacrifice. We have elderly parents and it puts them at greater risk as well. It’s a real challenge.
Here we go again!!!
NUMBERS DON’T LIE! I totally question the numbers. 900 cases in one day is 375 positive tests in one hour or 6.25 positive tests every minute. I didn’t think they had the resources to complete so many tests. And this would be if everyone of the tests were positive.
My husband just did a drive by test and they weren’t that efficient in the time to perform the test.
There are more testing sites than just one