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The one thing you can count on is that we have not heard the last of this.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Travelers will not be able to obtain a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) upon arrival at any Hawaii airport. Currently, a post-arrival testing program in Hawaii does not exist, except for interisland travelers to Hawaii County.
above from Hawaii.gov
Is the second sentence correct?
The arrivals antigen test is inconsistent with those of us who have had the vaccine.
Since our bodies are generating antibodies. the antigen test will show a false positive that we have had the disease.
Please let us know how not to cancel our KOA trip next month–quarantine waver?
george c
Hi George.
Suggest checking with the state’s Safe Travels help desk at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Aloha.
Will do, Thanks
Called them about 4 hrs ago their time. Message said if no response within 24 hrs call again and leave your number…. It is friday.
Time Hawaii straightens things out. I give up. Have the vaccine, immune to virus, cannot shed and will have another Covid test before trip.
It is a shame as we have gone to hawaii about 20 times. Now looking at alternate destinations.
There is a difference between an antigen test and and antibody test. I don’t think that being vaccinated will affect your results with the antigen test. Additionally, I understand Hawaii is working on a solution for vaccinated travelers, so that may change your testing requirements.
A Big Thank you. I did my own research on antibody/antigen and their test.
The vaccine creates a specific antibody developed to lock up with the antigen(the viral).
So the arrivals antigen test should show negative for those of us with the vaccine.
How do I get a Hawaii.gov official to confirm the above?
Please, can you make a decision so if we need to cancel, we don’t lose any more money for a vacation we don’t get to take? Can you keep the rules in place for 1 month so we can be assured if you’re closing (quarantining) or not closing?
I wish the the hours eoulf go up yo 96 before 15th so could relax. I’m arrived in in Honolulu the afternoon of the 23nd, I’m having to do the covid test you require on Friday the 18th so I can get it back by Monday sometime. Its being done at an approved site. I depart about 6 a.m. Tuesday. I pray you’ll except it, I can do a retest Wednesday if needed. I’m coming to care for my mother and that means doctors and Safeway. This is a nerve wrecking procedure that I’m trying very hard to comply with.
KATHLEEN S…
Oh, my dear, I hope everything works out for you.
A couple of things – this is not a State of Hawaii site. This is a couple of knowledgable guys who work very hard at keeping us all up to date. But the testing requirements are not theirs!
Also, if you are flying out on a Tuesday morning, you have to be tested no earlier than the Saturday previous. Testing on Friday would be outside of the 72 hour window unless (hopefully) they change the window to 96 hours.
That is very much a possibility to keep checking on Beat of Hawaii for updates which are expected this week.
Good luck.
Hi Barbara.
Thank you. It looks like the next update from the governor won’t be until next week, as we mentioned yesterday.
Aloha.
Kathleen, Testing on Friday and leaving on Tuesday is more than 72 hours. You will have to test on Saturday.
Just an observation. Since the islands have pretty much been shut down to tourists, why are the positive covid numbers going up.
Asking for a friend 🙂
First, stop bashing hawaii and saying we don’t want tourists. Hawaii is not defined by tourism. We’d love to have you here but not right now during a pandemic. Look beyond your selfish self and realize we in Hawaii, don’t need the virus brought in anymore than it needs to be. Wait to travel, you’re not special – since hawaii has no legal authority to stop flights, the only thing to do is quarantine. If this doesn’t work for you, go elsewhere. Why do you even need to take a vacation during a pandemic when the CDC says don’t travel? We have the luxury of controlling the spread because we are islands unlike the mainland will not be recovering for a very long time due to certain folks out and about, not wearing masks, and then you have the ones who believe it doesn’t exist. We have limited icu beds and that’s a big deal to us. We have kids that need to go back to in person learning and are struggling. Minimum should be 7 days quarantine upon arrival, test – if negative go have a great time. If not, you’re positive, then you’re in lockdown. no spreading anywhere.
Seems to me extending to 96 hrs and require it to board a flight would help preflight and on island.
Also get rid of the option to 14 day quarantine instead of obtaining a negative test. What’s the point of being test proven negative and then flying 5 hrs with someone who chooses not to test?
Kauai has 18 cases, 14 quarantined at home sounds like locals not tourists? 4 quarantined in facilities sounds like tourists with a positive or negative test received after landing in Hawaii!
One death (elderly) tells us what due to privacy rights?
Problem is in the end this paranoid “Progressive” policy takes everyone’s rights away to protect or allow privacy rights of a few!
Another waste of energy, time, and money is allowed debating what to name the virus.
Remember it’s a 99% recovery rate, people!!!
My husband had a very mild case of Covid in October. We have tickets for 12/20. I cannot find on the Safe Travels website what we need to do in order for him to travel (in the event he tests positive in the 72 hours prior to our flight). I saw a post here where someone found on Safe Travels the procedure to follow with a physician. He does have antibodies (per lab result). Any idea where I can find what we need to do in addition to him testing (via PCR 72 hours prior to departure)? Thank you! Your information has been exceptional!
Hi Elaine.
Thanks. Here is what is listed on the state’s Q&A page:
“If I have recovered from COVID-19 but still test positive for the virus do I still have to quarantine?
In order to qualify for a COVID-19 exemption to the 14-day quarantine, you must submit the following two pieces of information and receive approval prior to arrival:
A copy of a positive molecular COVID-19 test (NAAT or PCR) from a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory taken no more than 90 days and no less than 11 days prior to your departure date.
A signed letter from a medical provider stating that you have not exhibited symptoms and are fully recovered – this letter must be signed at least 10 days after your positive test and no more than 14 days from your departure date.
To request an exemption, go to ag.hawaii.gov/travelexemption. Please allow a week for processing.”
Aloha.
Everything that was just discussed is a joke. Let me say that again, a joke. I am in the middle of my 3rd day of a 9 day vacation. Tourists arent the ones the gov’t officials should be concerned about, it’s their own citizens. I am in shock how many “locals” have a total disregard for the rules; i.e., masks,distance and hand sanitizing. The police don’t even enforce violations. I even had an officer tell me that a person doesn’t have to wear a mask if they are 6 feet from another person. But then when the unmasked local came in close proximity to another person, no mask was put on and the officer turned a blind eye.
Water your own yard Hawaii. Over 100 people watching the surfing competition on the North Shore…..totally mask less. The hypocrisy is shocking. Just my 2cents
Aloha. I tested at Walgreens Friday. No results yet when I left PDX Monday. Arrived KOA 11:30 am, still no results (over 72 hours) showed my QR Code and was given three options: get on a plane, Quarantine 14 with random police visits, wait at KOA until 10 pm closing for the golden email. If I left the airport, civil defense would call the cops and hunt me down like a dog. I waited and got the golden email at 9;30 so I live free.
If you are old, sick or scared – stay home! Stay away from everyone else and change how you live so the rest of us can move on!
We’ve travelled to Kauai twice from Seattle in the past 2 months. No issues. There are a lot of stupid people who can’t follow some simple directions and cause the problems.
DAVID B and CURTIS C…
Stop for a second and think about what you are saying… “Ebola, Hong Kong, Zika” are places. China is a place. If you want to call it the “China Flu”, fine. But you aren’t calling it the “China Flu”. You are calling it the “Chinese Flu”. “Chinese” is an ethnicity! How would you feel if there was a flu that originated in the US, the “USA Flu”, but people chose to call it “The White American Flu”? (As for “German Measles” – that was many many years ago when it was acceptable to be against a given nationality or ethnicity. I had hoped the world had changed but the two of you tell me it hasn’t!
Yes, Barbara, “Chinese Flu” instead of “China Flu” is just like “White American Flu”.
And, if some flu originates in White Americans, I’m not offended calling it the White American Flu.
German Measles is called German Measles because … (wait for it) … the earliest recorded cases were diagnosed in Germany. Perhaps you would be more outraged if it had been called “Germanic Tribes Flu”?
But wait, there’s more! The Hantavirus (remember that one?) is named for the “Hantan River” area in South Korea, where an early outbreak was observed. Sounds mighty placist to me.
And don’t even get me going on the Specist, “Bird Flu” …
You make no sense!
Barb
What about Chinese food can I still call it Chinese food. I always hate it when they forget the fortune cookies.
Last week it was trendy Aloha Spirit this week it’s woke ethnicity defending is next week gender bias training?
RICHARD C.
You seem to have a major problem with me. I’d appreciate it if you just ignored my posts and absolutely refrained from commenting on them. You don’t know me or anything about me. You have done nothing but attack me since I started posting on this site and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
And BTW, you choose to call me “Barb”. That is not my name so perhaps you are responding to someone other than myself.
Barbara,
You’ve made a great point and this is just so you know you are not alone. Your perspective is the majority one in Hawaii and while we are not perfect, we are light years ahead of many mainland places when it comes to not categorizing people by race and defining some as good and some as bad based on skin color or ethnicity. One of the truly great things about Hawaii is its multiculturalism.
We all know what people trying use the term “China Flu” are trying to say, it’s a way to take a swipe at a perceived enemy and it leaves an out to say “that’s not what I meant” when in fact they do.
I’m sure some someone will take offense by my comment and that’s fine, I live by the creed that peoples opinions define them much more then they define the people they are judging.
Difficult times for all, but the Aloha spirit is still out there….
Ha. I was thinking same.
Does “Chinese food” mean “food from China” or “food FOR persons of Chinese ethnicity” or “food MADE BY persons of Chinese ethnicity” or “Food ingredients/recipes/styles that have origins in China” .. or something else entirely??
English can be confusing and imprecise.
Maybe Barbara would allow you “China food”, but only if the food actually from China. See also, e.g., Mexico food, Spain rice. France fries.
This is making me hungry for Hamura tempura saimin bowl with strawberry cream had ice dessert. Especially now, since not crowded with tourists!
Open up Kauai for people who test negative and allow locals to feed their phone Mike H
I currently am stuck here at my granddaughter’s house in San Jose. I live in Kapa’a and have ticket to return on April 5, 2021. According to her, someone that gets tested for the Chinese Flu could still get the flu a few minutes after getting tested either from the tester or anyone else. Is that true?
Thank you
Eddie
Hi Eddie.
Certainly, you could get infected subsequent to being tested.
Aloha.
EDDIE L…
Please don’t refer to Covid-19 as the “Chinese Flu”. That is derogatory, offensive and racist nomenclature. But yes, it is true – you can test, walk out the door and encounter someone or somehow what will infect you. That is why masks are way!!!
China is a place that the virus is from. Ebola is a place (a river valley region in Africa) where Ebola virus is from. The Zika virus (remember that one!) is named after a forest in Uganda where it was first discovered. To call this the “Chinese Flu” (or “Wuhan Flu” or “Wu Flu”) is certainly “placist” but has nothing to do with race.
Masks wont stop you from getting infected (see, e.g., healthcare workers that get infected while wearing quality masks). They may reduce the chance that you will infect somebody else, depending on the circumstances. Most people don’t wear high quality filtering masks, which are expensive. They just put piece of sweaty cloth over their face.
What are your thoughts on the “German Measles”? Unfortunately I was deathly ill from the “Hong Kong Flu” in 1970. I don’t remember thinking of it as “racist”, I just knew that I was sicker than a dog.
My thoughts are to not get them!
I read that Spanish flu likely not from Spain, possibly from England or France, maybe even China!
Spanish Flu actually started in the US ( most likely Kansas) went to Europe with the soldiers ( WWI). Came back with the soldiers after the war for the second wave. It is called the Spanish Flu because during WWI warring countries would not publicize their deaths from the flu. Spain, not participating in WWI was reporting their losses and the name Spanish Flu.
To JohnW-
I love your response to Barbara,I agree with you entirely!! Your words give me hope-thank you!!- and Barbara thank you for your posts and comments—
Hi Jeanne
Thanks for your many comments. We concur with both you and John and greatly appreciate Barbara’s participation in Beat of Hawaii.
Aloha.
As someone that has spent a lot of time in the Hilo area, the aloha spirit is not prevalent in a substantial percent of the population. I am white and negative vibes abound. If I wasn’t visiting family, I would steer clear of the Big Island.
As we comment on how Hawaii changes may affect visitors, I think we should look at the bigger picture that Governor Ige the airlines, hotels and Hawaii residents face.
The Regional Stay at Home order in Southern California and Central Valley linked to the same rules in San Francisco , require residents to stay home, not make any nonessential travels and to cancel any vacations specifically flights. Further they say they require out of state arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. Additionally Hotels and accommodation are not allowed to accept out of state reservations other than for quarantine and other essential reasons.
This means over the next few days many locals may bring forward holiday plans and swamp testing, the airlines are cutting flights and hotels and tourist businesses will not get the usual California business which is a substantial percentage.
This could be bad for the jobs market without any more restrictions in Hawaii. On the plus side, the drop in numbers should cause a drop in cases once the rush of college students and people with jobs on the mainland make it home.
Not so much a comment on the story, as I saw Governor Ige make some very sensible remarks on the folly of testing folks as a safety if that meant depriving suck residents who need diagnose for possible hospitalization. It was more of a scene setter or background. Stay Safe Hawai’i and keep up the good work guys.
Hi Rich.
Thanks for your 90 comments to date!
Aloha.
Followed all pretravel testing guidelines and to no fault of my own didnt get results until morning after I landed. So I am subject to seeing the four walls of a room rather than the smiling faces of my family. Test results negative but that is no matter to the state of hawaii or the govenor.
Would live for my family to move back to the mainland and never have to experience this cruel treatment. This pandemic has been enough this year with flights cancelled several times this year and not seeing my family. And I ow to be here and not able to enjoy our short time together.
I am not rich to make trips and push back flight plans I tried to do everything right but with hawaii dictating who they trust with results but then dont accept them once they are received is unacceptable.
Have told my friends traveling to another island this week to cancel. It’s just not worth the disappointment and expense.
My daughter and her family are planning to visit me on Oahu the end of this month. They all had covid 2 weeks ago. Since they will most likely test positive within 90 days of infection, safe travels Hawaii states they must email +test results and physical exam stating they are free from covid symptoms prior to travel. If they implement a mandatory covid test after arriving how is it going to impact them? I agree with extending the time frame to 96 hours as their results were not given to them until after 72 hours…and they had symptoms!
And it looks like fear mongering will win in Hawaii. Too bad you won’t stand up to your politicians to demand tourists be welcomed rather than treated like prisoners. I don’t even bother checking news from Hawaii anymore, it only makes me want to visit less and less. I will however, be sure to talk to my states senators and congressman to ensure we don’t get stuck bailing out your corrupt politicians and businesses that won’t stand up for tourists and put pressure on your politicians.
The state could give self- test kits to each arriving passenger and have them deposit in designated drop boxes on day 4. It would be easy and the state could pick up the cost. It would give an extra level of protection.
Hawaii is one of the few places that is taking covid seriously. I wouldn’t risk going anywhere else.
Trip report: 6 adult travelers to Kauai 11/22-29 planned in 2019. Three pre-tests from Kaiser all received results in 48 hours. Two pre-tests from City Health SF (ran out of rapid tests) results in 76 hours (had to cancel). One pre-test Vault results in 70 hours (shipping delay with UPS), had to scramble and change flight to another airport 2 hours away. We are very COVID conscious and took all precautions so we could be together. Quarantined for 14 days prior to arrival and took our pre-test inprescribed time frame and remained isolated until flight time. Rented two condos so we would be under the same roof with only those we live with. We had a lovely trip with the exception of our son and his fiancé unable to join us due to delayed test results. We were treated with the warm Aloha of Hawaii everywhere we went.
Comments: Some people will do the right thing, some will not. I applaud the efforts of Hawaii for trying to find a way to sustain their state which is largely reliant on tourism. We are fortunate in that we have the means to stay longer and quarantine for a post-travel test 3-4 days after arrival and will happily do so to return. Most will not. I would support 96 hour pre-test (during surge times) and post-arrival in airport rapid post-test, both at the traveler’s expense. Airfare is very low right now and the additional expense would not be a hinderance for most travelers. I do feel that education could be improved. The State of Hawaii Safe Travels site should require travelers to sign a waiver understanding that they agree to self-quarantine pre-travel at least from the time of their pre-travel test to their flight as well as; agree to safe and effective mask wearing (covering nose and mouth) and areas a mask is required as well as social distancing based on each island’s current guidelines.
Final Comment: My husband and I return (Maui this time) on 12/10. Quarantine since our return 11/29 and tested 12/7. Happily will re-test.
It seems to me that the simplest solution would be to do a rapid test just before boarding the airplane to Hawaii, the test has results in 15 minutes and you get a printout of the results to carry with you.
The test could be done at arrival at the gate and then people could go into a secure area (after getting a negative result) so they would not be subject to exposure post testing, so no need for further testing.
Problem solved.
Thank you, BOH, for helping us navigate our way through the ever-changing rules and regulations. I’d like to share my experience with the Hawaii trusted testing and travel partners in the hope that it helps some others. My husband and I purchased the Vault test and also tested at Walgreens 72 hours before our flight, hoping that we would get at least one result back in time. By checking for several days, I was able to figure out when Walgreens opened up their online appointments and had no issue scheduling two appointments. Walgreens was a self-administered nasal swab that was then placed in a drop box on the side of the building. Our appointments were the last of the day as our flight out was at 4:45 pm. We were dismayed to see the dropbox was full…every single test that was taken that day was sitting in the box. There was no time stamp on anything and all tests were collected at the end of the day. We then sat in our car and did our saliva tests over Zoom with the Vault representative and I drove them straight to UPS. Per recommendations I read on here, we put “Stat Hawaii” on the inside/outside boxes. We got our results in 36 hours. Walgreens, on the other hand, didn’t get our results to us in time (3 1/2 days later). Unfortunately, the Vault test indicated my husband was positive for COVID. The Walgreens test was negative and a third test he has taken since we canceled our trip also came back negative. So it is very clear based on his fine health and two negative tests that he got a False Positive from Vault. Very disappointing as this resulted in the cancellation of our trip. So, Vault is timely but not 100% accurate all the time. Good luck to everyone!
Hi Suzanne.
Thank you. We appreciate you sharing your experience. Sorry to hear that the trip was cancelled, apparently due to an incorrect positive resort from Vault. We’ve reached out to them, so let’s see what, if anything, they can add.
Aloha.
The real problem is all of this is the government officials can’t make a decision and stick with it, regardless of what that decision is. The rules are in constant flux and I don’t expect that to change. The fact Ige still needs more time to make a decision is just a sign of him being an incompetent leader and the people of Hawaii deserve better.
I had plans in September that were canceled and I’ve already canceled my backup plan for the end January. I don’t trust the political powers that be not to mess things up. I feel bad the people that are loosing their livelihood while Governor is a paralyzed by fear and indecision.
Thank you for the updates! If they implement a post arrival test, then that may persuade me to cancel my February trip as I would not want to get there and find out I was positive and need to quarantine.
Hi Shelley.
Thanks for sharing that.
Aloha.
96 hours instead of 72 hours. Here on the mainland the weekend travels cannot meet the 72 hour requirement.
I would be subject to a 2nd test in a few day, if you have enough places to take the test. Lowes, Home Depot, Large stores Costco. Should be no cost to the traveler.
The traveler should pick up the cost of test; note the state.
You the traveler should accept the cost associated with choosing to travel regardless of when but especially during a pandemic. Maybe the state can work with tourism industry stakeholders to provide discounts or vouchers for usage for excursions and returning residents can get coupons or something to use at local establishments
The state can’t afford to pay for the tests, and personally I’d rather what available money the state has go to funding unemployment insurance, education, etc.
What about getting the vaccine out there right away so we can move on from all these pre and post testing requirements!
Visitors aren’t going to come to Hawaii is they have to quarantine for 3 to 5 days after arrival, especially if they received a negative Covid test prior to boarding a plane for a 6-18 hour trip (depending on where your originating airport is located) and only have a week of vacation. Ige and the island mayors, now along with the state’s legislature, is effectively destroying Hawaii’s tourism industry, in addition to destroying many resident’s livelihood. The stupidity and ineptness of the Hawaii government is mind-boggling.
While they all talk and plan, nobody goes to the islands. Morons.
The reality is that it is next to impossible to get a wuhan bioweapon test. I got tested last but hi wants a certain type of test from a limited number of vendors. So a test mandated by one of those vendors for heart operation was not ok for hi as nearly a week later no reply from hi on the uploaded negative test result nearly a week later. Calling the safe travel line is a joke I was told I was 127 position on line. Sending them an email or sms will not be replied. Carbon health, cvs will not do tests for travel. Walgreens will but take 4 days to schedule a test and just about as long to get results back so can’t meet hi stds. Kp will only test for it’s members. Discover health by the airport is only approved vendor that can meet hi stds and at a $250 cost which exceeds the airfare to hi. Also the safe travel site is a bit of a joke in that it asks for more info then I had to give Russia to travel to the Soviet Union. Tahiti asks for 2 tests and is way more organized. In short rental rates that are almost the same as when I went to Vegas in April and was like the only person in the airport tell that this program needs more customer focus and organization or tourists will just go to fl, carribean, Tahiti and Fiji. So yeah 96 hrs make sense. Take the $ you got from congress and invest in healthcare starting by increasing testing capacity. Lose the anal pols like derek and the Karens and bring back Aloha as there’s lots of places with warm weather and a beach.
Wow! We already had to cancel our trip due to our test not being ready in time. This is so confusing now I’m wondering will we ever be able to go back to our favorite place? I guess time will tell. Aloha
Hi Cindy.
We can’t disagree with you on this being confusing. We’re on this daily and are still at times flummoxed by the issues. Being forever optimistic, we hope for more clarity ahead, and soon.
Aloha.
Thanks BOH for tracking this issue. I hope the Governing authorities are following all the comments. I think they must be if they are considering some positive changes that benefit tourists but will still keep everyone safe! My wife & I would be willing to do a second test & pay if we have to, but there will be some larger family groups that may not want to pay. I feel that we are already spending thousands to vacation in Hawaii, another hundred or two won’t kill the deal for us. I also do like the idea of a 96 hr pretest & all islands following the same policy. If there is a quarantine…the shorter the better (e.g. current CDC guideline of 7 days). Thanks…looking forward to seeing some positive, common sense, changes for travelers. I spent a month in Maui (Oct-Nov) & now looking forward to 3 weeks in Kauai stating mid Jan.
Hi Eric.
Thanks. Glad your trip to Maui went well and we hope that the same will be true of our upcoming experience on Kauai.
Aloha.
Seriously?? I cannot see anything that anyone on any of our Islands agrees upon.
The damages done to Hawaii may be irreversible.
The Government needs to help our people immediately and provide the assistance that was handed down from the Federal level.
Anything less is dispicable.
Make a decision to open or close.
But at least make a decision.
Mahalo Beat of Hawai’i. You’re the best 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thank you. Yes, while the agreement on a second test is clear, the question on an interim quarantine is certainly not.
Aloha.
Please, what would happen if the post arrival test is positive? Isolation somewhere on the island or instant deportation?
We have tickets for February.
Thank you.
Hi Janet.
Very good question. The airlines will not transport you if you are sick. But do they all have health questionnaires and where does a positive test vs. actually illness fit in? Thus it would appear you would be isolated here in Hawaii. If anyone else has any information on this, please let us know.
Aloha.
Thank you as always for all your timely updates. Sadly, it’s really unnerving to see the Hawaiian gov’t change the rules weekly, especially thinking about implementing a mandatory 7day quarantine. I think that is a deal breaker so many of us only coming 5-10 days & spending $$$$ on a hotel. Not everyone owns condo or timeshare. Why is there not outcry or input from the travel industry. So many people out of work. We are supposed to leave for Maui 12/30 to celebrate our daughter’s 25th birthday. She is a Special Ed.teacher & has been working so hard! Everyday our trip looks less likely.
Hi Suzanna.
The reason there is not more public outcry from travel stakeholders is related to the way in which Hawaii works. It is complicated. If you publicly disagree with the government here, you will be hard-pressed to succeed in your future endeavors.
Aloha.
Wow, to be honest, I felt bad to read this because I have an upcoming honeymoon trip to Hawaii at the end of this month. I spent so much on airplanes and hotels and the refundable time already expired. I have to go for 7 days only and now if I will have to quarantine for 7 days that will be a shame. I get tested every week because I’m a full-time nurse working in a nursing home. My future husband and I are willing to take the 72hrs or 96hrs test before our trip and we’ll also go to self-quarantine for 3 days before our trip. It will be hard on us since we already pay for food and everything else.
Aloha BOH I’m sorry, but I can’t help commenting here.
I love travel to Hawaii as much as the next guy, after 12 months of covid and watching the slow motion train wreak that is Hawaii’s reopen I still do not understand the obsession with travel to the islands.
Enough with the complaining obviously if your posting here you’ve been keeping up with this reopen mess. To this point if you’re still trying to get to Hawaii anything that goes wrong is on you.
It’s your fault if the test doesn’t show up on time and you still board the plane, it’s your fault for having a timeshare and it’s your fault if you booked travel that can’t be refunded.
This has been going on for 12 months, so quit blaming the government for your bad travel decision.
That is all.
Hi Richard.
Thanks. We appreciate your nearly 100 comments.
Aloha.
We have a trip planned for the end of December. Based on initial Safe Travels Program rules we thought a trip was doable. Then we realized how limited the Trusted Testing Partners were in our location. Still, we were willing to travel 300 miles (round trip) to obtain a Walgreens rapid NAAT. Mind you, there are several highly regarded testing providers in our home city that could provide same test, but we cannot use them for Hawaii. Now we hear of the possible second test requirement combined with a possible 3-7 day quarantine upon arrival. Our planned trip is only 7 days! I held out hope as long as possible, but the uncertainty of how Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program will change between now and the end of December will likely be the final straw in our decision to cancel and save our money for another adventure. We are very disappointed 😞.
Everyone is willing to take the pre-travel test, 96 hours would be best due to all the challenges of getting results in time. Then take another rapid test upon landing – rapid test kits are not expensive when purchased in bulk. Have each passenger pre-order their rapid test so it’s ready upon arrival. Set up a waiting area so passengers get their results quickly. Get rid of the painful “download/upload QR code” procedure. Two negative tests should be enough to keep island residents safe from visitors. (There’s a lot less cooperation from locals as far as masks go so keep trying to improve on that too.)
I appreciate all of your updates. We have plans to travel to Hawaii in the next few weeks and have set up a pre-travel test as previously requested per the safe travels program. If any quarantine is required regardless of the negative pre-test we will not be travelling to or spending any money in Hawaii. Please continue to keep us informed.
Hi Alexandra.
We understand your concerns and look forward to more updates soon.
Aloha.
Mahalo! You provide very useful information. It is much appreciated
Hi Alexandra.
Thanks. Glad to be of help!
Aloha.
Re: Pam W:
She is optimistically dreaming, any travelling Canadians won’t be vaccinated until sometime in the new year ’cause our government hasn’t got their plan rolled out yet.
We have population of about 38 million and Canada will only be getting close to 250,000 doses this month which won’t go very far, and more won’t be available till 2021.The government expects it will take till Sept 2021 to get everyone vaccinated. PS BOH is doing a great job keeping everyone informed.
Hi Russ.
We caught those nice words. Thanks for that and your other comments too.
Aloha.
I am Canadian and just spent almost 5 weeks in Lahaina. As I posted before, the best way for Canadians right now is to fly to SFO and do the test at the Airport before departing to Hawaii.