The State of Hawaii wants to make it easier to visit and here are two things you can do as well. One thing that is clear, is that Hawaii’s Safe Travels quarantine exemption program isn’t going away anytime soon. You will need to comply with the very specific testing or vaccination rules, and below you’ll find tips to accomplish that.
First, the State of Hawaii has produced a new video that better details the rules of the Safe Travels program. See it below.
Second, we have mentioned taking advantage of the Pre-Clear wristband program many times before. Somehow, however, we may not have been quite “clear enough.”
As commentor Mila said, “Just got back from Hawaii! Wish I read your write-up before we left, especially about the wristband. We stood in line for over an hour for Safe Travels.”
But then Linda wrote, “We flew Alaska & pre-cleared to get to Maui. We were given a wristband when we boarded & when we landed, we walked straight out of the airport.”
What is the Pre-Clear Safe Travels wristband program?
It started back in 2020 and has since been adopted by almost all airlines that fly to Hawaii. When you are provided with a Pre-Clear wristband before the flight, it signifies to authorities in Hawaii that you have successfully completed the Safe Travels protocols. You will not be required to adhere to other procedures and are free to walk off the plane largely as you would have pre-Covid.
Those passengers who are not Pre-Clear certified and do not have the wristband so indicating will be required to have their completion of Safe Travels requirements manually verified after landing in Hawaii. Depending on the circumstances, that can take from minutes to hours.
The wristbands do not change the requirements of Safe Travels; it just moves the process to before travelers get on the plane. Travelers can skip the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine by obtaining Hawaii-approved PCR testing from a Trusted Partner within 72 hours of departing on a flight from the mainland to Hawaii. The other option is to have proof of completed vaccination in the US.
Here are some of the participating airlines.
Alaska Airlines.
All Nippon Airways
American Airlines
Delta Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines.
Japan Airlines
Southwest Airlines.
United Airlines.
Guests of those participating airlines will be pre-cleared before departure and thus bypass very long wait times upon arrival in Hawaii.
How to qualify for Pre-Clear and obtain your wristband.
1. Create a Safe Travels account for every adult traveling.
2. Add all flight and accommodation information to the account.
3. Complete the mandatory health questionnaire within the account within 24 hours of travel.
4. Upload either 1) negative test results (PDF format) from a Hawaii-approved testing partner. It is also suggested that you bring a copy of your negative result or 2) proof of complete vaccination within the U.S. at least 14 days before travel.
The pre-clear program should be available at all mainland gateways to Hawaii of the participating airlines. If you are starting at a connecting city, you will, in all likelihood, need to wait until you arrive at your Hawaii gateway city to obtain your wristband.
Note, as others have pointed out, be sure to ask where the wristbands are being provided when you check in or when you arrive at your mainland Hawaii gateway. It could be at the departure gate or it could be located elsewhere in the departure terminal.
Updated 12/10/21.
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Thank you for this very informative post. Here’s a question for which I cannot find an answer:
When applying for exemption from quarantine for a trip to HI, how do we upload the California Digital Vaccination SMART card info? There aren’t any explicit instructions for this scenario. We do not have the little cards that came with each vaccination course, so we rely on using the SMART California Vaccination digital record from ca.gov (with QR Code).
Thanks!
Hi Ellit.
We don’t know the answer but perhaps someone else from California in the same circumstances will lend a hand.
Aloha.
Yes its not to difficult to fill out the Hawaii Safe Travels info that is mandatory for travel to Hawaii. Just follow the instructions on the website. Make sure all your info is correct. It’s best to get your wristband at your airport of departure rather than waiting to get to Hawaii.
Aloha Guys, we had a wonderful trip to Maui.
Thanks for keeping us all up to speed with travel requirements in these ever changing times. To clarify, Hawaii is accepting vaccinations from all WHO approved vaccines. Foreign vaccination is allowed. The CDC website lists all of the WHO accepted vaccines.
Aloha, BOH,
It’s been 2 months since we’ve returned from Kauai and I can’t thank (mahalo) BOH enough for the incredibly valuable pre-trip information regarding Safe Travels and the requirements for Hawaii travel. As your reader Linda commented, we also flew Alaska Air although to Kauai. We did all the preprep, although had a couple of very small glitches, with the help of AK airline staff at SJC, we were able to secure the valuable wristband which also saved us time when landing in Lihue.
Hi Jim.
Thank you! We’re so glad everything worked well for you and appreciate you letting us know.
Aloha.
Have an upcoming trip to HNL (first time since Covid). My kids will not be fully vaccinated by our trip so I’ll have to apply for a testing exemption for them. I’m worried our results won’t arrive in time for our flight, any tips to avoid that?
It’s to much drama to go to hawaii anymore, not worth the trouble.
I definitely recommend doing the steps for the wristband. Give yourself a week before your flight so that you can fully understand the steps to get your Safe Travels questionnaire completed. Took me a few tries.once you get the green check mark you are good to go. Also take a picture of your QR barcode on your phone and a picture of your boarding pass barcode before you board. It saves time. Also make yourself a sandwich or bring snacks as the sandwich on Hawaiian Airlines is not very good. Chee
If you travel at a busy time (like between now and mid-Jan), allow at least 30 minutes extra time at your departure airport for the airline pre-screening where you get the wristband. When you check in, ask an airline rep where the Hawaii pre-clearance center is and go there right after getting thru security. Also have your vaccination certificate or copy of your negative Covid test with you – you may be asked by the pre-clear staff for this documentation. (Advice based on Dec 6 experience).
I recently heard that Denver has done away with the pre-clear because they don’t have enough employees to do it at the Denver airport.
We just went to Oahu a month ago from Portland and that’s what they told us. They said they didn’t have enough staff to go through all the names to provide the wristbands. Fortunately there was almost no line when we got there so it was maybe a 5min delay. Will find out again in March if it’s the same story as we’re heading back.
Aloha,
What if I choose self quarantine instead of the PCR test as an unvaccinated person? Do I get a different wristband or do I wait in line for my next step. I live on the Big Island and I’m planning a trip to the mainland.
Mahalo
Hi Fran.
The best bet for you might be to contact the Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888.
Aloha.
Please do us all, and yourself, a favor, and just get the vaccine. Thanks in advance.
Flew into LAX with Delta, plenty of time for connecting flight to Honolulu. Delta terminal under construction, and standing room only. Line at the gate for wristbands was so long that I didn’t get to the front before it was closed down. Airline personnel were not helpful. Many passengers were confused and worried. When we arrived in Honolulu there were at least 20 Safe Travels employees (?) who just stood watching arriving passengers. If asked a question they pointed to posted signs. Thank you.
I do understand that Hawaii is doing its very best to keep its residents safe as well as its resources. I sent my child there to visit her aunt and went thru the safe travels site as well as used Azova to verify. I have to say it was a very simple process and I am beyond happy we did it her flight to SF was 30 minutes late and if I hadn’t done the safe travels and Azova she would not have made her flight at all. So thank you for making this a very simple thing to save time!
What is the location of wristband pickup at DFW?
American Airlines is typically D28
We got ours at the boarding gate for the flight on Hawaiian Airlines
Could I get a little help/clarification. If we are traveling on a Tuesday October 5th and my minor child (9 yrs) would need to get COVID tested on Saturday October 2nd so she could get clear on Tuesday at the airport? Thanks for your help and I really love your site so much useful information.
Hi Sam.
Thank you. Yes, that is correct, so if for example, flight is Tuesday at 12 noon, you can test on Saturday after 12 noon. Be sure your Hawaii-approved test provider can deal with approved tests taken on weekends, as will be required.
Aloha.
Thank you for emphasizing this program! I call it the “Magic Bracelet” because it lets you fly by the horribly long Safe Travels line and just head out to pick up your luggage! I’ve flown back home to Hawaii four times since the pandemic started – twice before this was available, and twice afterwards. Oh, it’s a world of difference! Everyone traveling here definitely needs to BE SURE to get the “Magic Bracelet” before boarding their flight on the mainland! Standing in a LOOOOOONG line right after you get off your trans-Pacific flight is not what you want to be doing as soon as you land here.
Hi Wendy.
Thanks for your help on this!
Aloha.
I have to say that We arrived in Kona, and had to wait 50 minutes to go through the checkin process while people with wrist bands walked by. We completed all vaccination requirements, entered info into Hawaii site and even linked clear site, but never once did United airlines mention the wrist bands! Frustrating as we had a 90 minute wait in LA. I presumed that the wrist bands were for people who received covid tests and were not vaccinated. I would have expected that the airlines would do a better job of communicating.
WHY do locals want to shut down the Islands to visitors, when the vast majority of new cases are UNvaccincated RESIDENTS???
How do I utilize for my 2 grandchildren, 8 and 5 who are traveling with us?
We are traveling next month and have uploaded our vaccine cards to Safe Travels, and the first leg of our trip into Maui, and the last leg leaving Maui for the mainland. We’re connecting in Maui to travel to Kauai, but it looked like that flight info was unnecessary–will we need that to travel interisland to Kauai and to get our pre-clear wristbands? We are not staying in Maui at all, just connecting flights there. Mahalo!
Hi Carol.
There are no Covid restrictions flying interisland. The wristband will presumably just be useful on arrival in Maui.
Aloha.
Mahalo! Also mahalo for all the great information you provide us with in real time–it is a life saver and much appreciated!
Hi Caro.
Thanks. Hope you see you here again soon.
Aloha
We flew inter island from Kona to Oahu and there are no pre clear requirements . Only upon arrival from the main land. They do however request your safe Hawaii Q code when renting a car and checking into our hotel. Also tracing info is required by some restaurants.
We used it when we went to Ohau and it was a breeze both from Seattle and landing in Ohau.
Could you please list the Hawaii approved testing sites?
Hi Pam.
https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/
Aloha.
I am a 100 per cent Disabled Veteran. I did not spend the better part of my productive life in unsafe locations around the world working against regimes that advocated this type of restraint on freedom to endure this at the hands of the very Americans I served.
Hawaii (the home of Pearl Harbor) should be very deeply ashamed.
Hawaii is an island with limited resources. Thank you kindly for your service, Heyward, but Hawaii has a responsibility to keep its residents safe first and foremost.
Hawaii’s COVID cases have exploded from just over 600 to nearly 4,400 COVID cases, primarily due to delta variant in 4 weeks. Around 90% of all hospitalized COVID cases are among the unvaccinated.
For perspective, Honolulu’s Queen’s Hospital (Hawaii’s largest) announced today that it has no further ICU capacity. What that means is that trauma victims may be at risk of not having care available to them. Officials are warning that non-COVID patients may soon have problems obtaining appropriate care for critical issues, such as stroke, heart attacks, or serious accidents.
This isn’t about loss of freedom or inconvenience. This is about how we keep each other safe. No one should find shame in saving lives, and minimizing disability. The ultimate loss of freedom comes from a preventable death.
Aloha.
Agree completely, thank you
You’re 100% correct sir. As a resident (but not local) I’m very disappointed with how our government has handled this situation.
All Americans deserve better than the gong show that runs this state. I’m biting my tongue and trying not to say too much on this forum because I do also respect and appreciate the gentlemen who run it.
Thank you for your service and god bless
Hi Chris.
Thank you. We appreciate your many comments.
Aloha.
Mahalo for the good info Guys. Your info is one of the few information sources that can be trusted.
Hi Roy.
Thanks so much! We appreciate you being on board and all of your participation.
Aloha.
I don’t really get the hype over this. You either wait in line before or after the flight. Most of the times the line is shorter in Hawaii anyhow.
It is seriously so irresponsible of you guys to continue to suggest travel to Hawaii. It’s time to put it on hold. I’m sure your readers are responsible, but with the increase of covid cases, return to tighter restrictions, and some of the other less than optimal conditions for tourists right now, no one should be traveling here.
With a planned departure from Phoenix to Lihue on September 7th and having completed the 4 steps to qualify for Pre-Clear and obtain your wristband, where should I expect to get the wristband? I am flying on America Airlines.
Thank you BOH, for all your valuable info
Hi Bill.
Please check with the airline. Others have commented that American is now offering this service.
Aloha.
Aloha gents & friends of Hawaii,
An American Airlines agent shared tonight (8/20/21) they are indeed doing the “Pre-Clearance Program” at Gate 41 at LAX & all gates at Chicago Ohare. They also participate at Dallas FW, and the Phoenix airport, and though I don’t know precisely where it is done at these last two airports, it is likely at the gate. So be on your best behavior, arrive early, and ask where to go. I also read somewhere if you belong to the “Club” they would help you there.
This seems to be so much more organized than prior to Jan of this year when, I understand, things were crazy and planeloads of folks of all types of nationalities were standing in looong lines doing this upon arrival to the island.
I am thankful for the improvements and this will help ensure the start of a more pleasant trip in the spirit of Aloha.
Thank you too for this site and your dedication to providing information. I like that it reflects all viewpoints for we are each unique people with different concerns and experiences. It is only in hearing what everyone has to say within reason and looking at the systems and requirements that I am able to make my own decision on what it is I must do.
Wish all y’all good health and blessings.
Love the please and thank you expectation!
Hi Hank.
Thanks so much. That’s very helpful information about AA.
Aloha.
If it was not for diligent monitoring of your site I would not have known of this important time saver.
Thanks again BOH dudes.
Hi Hank.
We’re happy to be of help! Happy travels.
Aloha.
To Hank B: Thank you for the information. However I don’t see a Gate 41 at LAX near American terminal. Can anyone clarify this at LAX?
Ahhh wrist bands… I hope they start pre-clearing people for all the other bad stuff – for our safety… I’m gonna need you to take these tests – herpes, turburculosis (look up how many people die each year), diarrhea, skin rashes, fungal infections, a cold or flu, can’t be too safe these days…
Tuberculosis deaths in the US: 542 in 2018
Covid deaths in the US: 623,000
Are we able to get pre clear wrist band before arrival to airport?
How?
Thanks for the updates.
We visited Hawaii (big island) in mid July. Received our wristbands at SFO and walked off the plane to start our vacation.
We did see extremely long lines (which we were able to bypass with our wristbands) for verification in Oahu during our flight transfers.
Hi Chris.
Thanks for letting us know that it worked well for you on your trip to the Big Island.
Aloha.
What does someone have to do if they aren’t guests of these airlines? One member of our group will be flying in on Delta.
I just have to say… I traveled to Honolulu at the end of July. We went through all the hoops for the Hawaii Safe Travels (negative COVID test, 24-hr self screening, etc), but our flight was a connecting flight through Maui. When we landed in Maui, our Honolulu flight was at the gate next door. So we just walked over there (no restrictions on entrance to the islands. I heard they were checking documents closer to baggage claim). Well when we landed in Honolulu, we were considered an inter-island flight and were handed document entrance check exemption passes. So we didn’t get checked at all when we landed. Seems like a flaw in the system. I’m glad we got to go before the next lockdown but it is still not a great time to visit the islands.
Does American Airlines offer pre clear wristbands? I can’t find it on their website