146 thoughts on “Testing for Hawaii Travel: Many Questions Await Answers”

  1. I assume that you can get a test anyplace, not just CVS. There are a lot of places in our area (suburban Phila) that offer testing from doctors’ offices to the local hospital to urgent care centers as well as all the national pharmacies. As far as I know you don’t need to have symptoms as the city and also state of DE were encouraging anyone who attended some mass gatherings (protests, senior week at the beach) to get tested and you didn’t have to say why.

  2. All I’m hearing is self-centered, selfish Mainlanders complaining!!! Sorry that your VACATION is being inconvenienced, but this is our life! In Hawaiian/Asian culture we, more than most, put a high level of regard on taking care of your kupunas (elderly) and there are many households that have multi-generational family members sharing the same house. Hawaii has one of the lowest number of nursing homes in the nation (46 in the entire state). If the caregiver of the household gets C0VID or has to quar antine, where do they go?! We only have a limited number of hospital beds and even less respirators with some islands having less than 10! Maybe something to think about before your useless, self-entitled rant about how your vacation is being impacted! This is the tone from Mainlanders that have no clue what it’s like living on the most isolated archipelago in the WORLD. As a side, I understand for those that live in the state and have incomes that rely on tourism to pay the bills and put food on the table and want tourism to start back up and that’s why the state is implementing these conditions. There are going to be mistakes as this is an unprecedented time and conditions we’re facing. It’s easy to sit behind your computer screen and be a keyboard warrior and bitch and moan. I especially get annoyed at those that spout statistics on the low number of fatalities related to C0VID and compare it to the flu… Well here’s another way to look at it. Let’s say for simplicity that the death rate is less than 1% and you have 12 people in your close family and friends circle. Now I want you to pick one and tell them that they are dead and that it’s no big deal because the mortality rate is less than the annual flu! Put’s a little different spin on things when you actually have to think about someone else besides yourself now doesn’t it? Anyways, Aloha!

    1. With all due respect, with a death rate of less than 1%, you could have 100 people on your close family and friends before you may be impacted. Our county in California had 59 positive cases over the weekend. Not one person was over 50 years of age. I think that the wise kupunas are doing a really good job of staving off exposure.

      As far as being selfish, I don’t think that is the case with “mainlanders”. Even during good times, Hawaii travel planning can be expensive and very time-consuming. Adding a couple of new layers can get frustrating. I think the mainlanders have a little “cabin fever” and are looking to make their vacations as stress-free as possible.

      Again, Beat of Hawaii comes up big on new info.

      1. The rate of death is NOT the issue. The issue is the number of cases and the rate of spread. We have VERY limited medical resources. With increases in cases it will hit a point of no or limited beds at that point people start dying because they can not be treated & then it is not just C0VID people that are dying but others that are dying because they can not get the care they need. So mainlanders having cabin fever IS SELFISH. It is a risk to fly on a plane. It is a risk to have a test and think that 5 or 7 days later you are still ‘negative’. And, it is a risk to plan a vacation here when it is very likely we will go into another shelter in place. Yes, you may get here and show up for your vacation, but there is no guarantee that you will get to go anywhere other than your hotel room test or not.
        We want tourism back. We want people to come and enjoy our islands. However, we want it done safely and responsibly. We want people to enjoy our way of life and respect our communities. Now is just NOT the time to visit unless you want to Risk not only your health but everyone here and risk that you will spend the vacation indoors.

    2. Hi Paka,
      One percent is one in a hundred not one in twelve. For your analogy to apply all one hundred of your relatives would need to be infected then on average one would die. If the infection rate is five percent it would require 2,000 relatives to expect one hundred infections and result in one death. We all take risks every day when we drive, drink alcohol, swim in the ocean, etc. Please consider that it is possible for good people to disagree.

    1. Because a rapid test in the airport makes too much sense. Even a rapid test takes about an hour at my hospital. Do what I did cancel your trip and go somewhere else where they are being ridiculous.

    2. and if its a positive test then what? You have to get right back on the plane and head home. NO having one before you fly makes much more sense. NO sense to take a chance of it getting to the islands

  3. Aloha – In PA I was able to get a test from my doctor upon request and had the test processed by Quest and the results emailed to me in under 36 hours. Insurance covered over $100 of the $150 combined charges. Note – this wasn’t for travel or medical necessity. We’re hoping that Hawaii figures out how to accept travelers by February so we can make plans for our annual Valentines Day trip!

  4. Aloha! I recently took a private C0VID test in Los Angeles, they made a housecall for me and I did mine on my porch so no one had to enter my home. It was so quick and easy! The results came back in three business days (took mine on a Monday, had results on Thursday). The company’s name is called Concierge MD LA. I hope this helps travelers going back and forth from Hawai’i.

  5. I have looked into rapid testing in Wisconsin through CVS and I can’t even get it in my state. We don’t mind paying for it, but come on how can you implement something you can’t do??
    Tourists that go to Alaska where are they getting their 3 day tests?
    I’m sure the Beat of Hawaii has not let us down before and will let us know immediately when they know. I appreciate you being here for us!
    Aloha

  6. I hope this is clarified and personally if Hawaii requires the test Hawaii not the consumer should pay for it. I am more than happy and willing to get one before we come in September but the tests are not readily available to just anyone in Oregon. Will there be agreements between Oregon and Hawaii?

    1. Depending on where you are in Oregon, testing that meets Hawaii requirements can be obtained without symptoms or doctor referrals at Zoomcare locations. If you google CLIA certified labs in Oregon, you will find a list of locations, and Zoomcare is on the list. Whether or not they will get your result in 72 hours–that’s another question.

      I hope Hawaii will also clarify whether the 72 hours refers to departure time or arrival time. If makes a difference if you are flying early in the week, and test on Saturday.

  7. What is the policy on antibody testing? If you have documented evidence of positive antibodies to C0VID you are presumably immune, and not infectious

  8. I am a senior and have a upcoming trip planed for aug. 5 for 14 days I checked on getting a test from cvs and my doctor in arizona and if I have no symtoms they will not give me a test and also the results are 5 days I will be canceling my trip now so I can get my hotel and car depoists back hawaiian airlines will work with me on futhure travel see you in aug.2021 if possible

  9. I just went through this thrash to get a covid test required for an international flight, so have some advice to share:
    1) find a place that does a “Rapid Covid test” – they give you the results ON THE SPOT. That is the only practical way to ensure you have a document in hand for travel.
    2) CVS in some states offers the Rapid Test with no doctor referral required.
    3) In California where CVS does not currently offer it, I was able to get it by setting a Virtual Doctor Appointment with Dignity GoHealth, told the doctor exactly what I needed it for (travel on a specific date), and he scheduled the test for me. Both the doctor consultation and the test were covered by my insurance.
    Hope this helps!

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top