146 thoughts on “Testing for Hawaii Travel: Many Questions Await Answers”
Timothy M.
I agree, ever since the announcement was made I know many of us from the mainland have since booked hotels, airplane tickets purchased, car rentals, etc… I know we are in a waiting game right now, and I am traveling to the Big Island at the end of September, renting a large house to share with 10 of my friends, and we are all hoping to see something sooner than later regarding the testing piece. With only a month away when does the state plan to roll out its plan to ensure we can get tested and results within 72 hours if we are showing no symtoms? We booked all of this within the last 72 hours.
JW
I just want my refund from Hawaiian airlines!
Barbara M
This morning in a hearing before the US Senate, the Assistant Secretary of Health, Adm Girion, said that states are mandated to offer testing for asymptomatic individuals with need for “exception” and that “exception” includes travel. He said the states just aren’t understanding that! DOn’t know how you overcome that hurdle!
Dave R
So typical of the feds these days: they order that something be done, but they’ve helped ensure that it can’t be done. No state has enough testing kits, facilities and personnel to test everyone who wants it. And of course people lie to get what they want. (The idea that vacation travel is an essential need is absurd on its face, but that another story.)
JeffW
I really hope Hawaiian airlines reads your blog! I think it’s only fair that airlines give refunds to those who choose to either forego their trip at this time, or choose to not go at all! Like me, there are many who only have this time slot available for several years! I don’t want to, nor should I be bound by rules or tests, which are not even guaranteed to work or be back on time. For the love of all that’s good, just refund us our airfare!!!!
JW
Dave R
If you can’t abide by rules or tests, you’re in for some very rough sledding. Rules and tests are part of life.
I personally wish we could return to the days when all flights could be changed or cancelled with no fees, but deregulation and corporate greed put an end to that decades ago. As it is now, HA has a very flexible policy on changes in travel plans. And anyone who made a travel reservation after C19 became a known issue was really rolling the dice, to say the least. (That may not apply to you, but it certainly applies to others who have posted anguished messages on this site.)
Kaye W
On c0vid, don’t forget the virus can show up upto two weeks after exposure. So how accurate would a test be if a person was exposed on the same day of travel or even a bit earlier? Person will already be in Hawaii with a negative test result.
Miira M
I was telling my husband that today. If a traveler comes to the islands from NY, how many airports and different airplanes are they on before actually arriving here. Potentially being exposed all along the way. I live on Kauai and was planning on an Alaska trip this month I cancelled because it just isn’t worth the risk of catching it and bringing it back to the islands and my family.
Dave R
Well said. If everyone had your attitude the C19 outbreak in the US could have been controlled long ago.
TV
I had plan and booked for whole family 12 adults and 4 children since 7/2019 a vacation would be on 5/2020. Then had been reschedule until 9/2020. Now with the new requirements for testing like that, sorry Hawaii I just canceled the trip. Luckily, I got the full refund from rental house, cars, but credit from Hawaii airlines. I don’t want to deal with that headache anymore.
Brooke G.
I found a test sight that may be a solution to the problem. Vaulthealth.com has an FDA approved Saliva test that is taken in the home with a professional from vault health walking you through the test via Zoom. You then overnight the test to them, and results are back to you within 48-72 hours. It is available to residents of all 50 states, and you do not need to have symptoms to take it. It was tested alongside the nasal swab test, and results were identical. This is not the anti-body test, but the actual test to see if you are carrying the virus. We will be coming to Kauai in September, and are hoping the Hawaii government accepts this test. I know two people who have taken it, and it was simple, and in one case results were back in 24 hours. Let’s hope this is a solution.
Paul C
how much did the test cost you?
Brooke G
$150 per test.
KB
In Austin TX we can only get testing if we already show signs of C0vid. What do we do???
Brooke G
I am also from Austin and you can do the home test from Vault Health that i commented on earlier. I also believe you can go out of the county to Williamson and they might have different rules there.
Jean S.
Are there drug stores that can do tests that can give faster results if
a person is planning travel for vacation to Hawaii? Hopefully you have better
sources for investigation. Thanks for helping people find answers.
Aloha,
Jean
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Jean.
We expect to have more answers in the next week.
Aloha.
Teri H
Some of these rapid tests have a 48% false negative. If your test is negative, it is recommended you retest. There is no perfect test. Hopefully someone is looking at the data and prepared for some new cases. Hawai’i is going to have to learn to function is the C0vid era.
Mike W
RAPID TESTS are the Antigen Test…. NOT the PCR C0VID 19 test that Hawaii is demanding.
June 30th…. Day 5…. still no answers…. BUT, my condo wants to charge me the additional $800 which covers the SUMMER SEASON costs! I rescheduled from May. The costs are getting higher and higher… How much will these C0VID tests cost, if and when a location in the mainland ever appear?
Comments are closed.
Aloha!
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Stay abreast of the latest island travel news, tips, deals, and more. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and let Hawaii come to you. Mahalo!
I agree, ever since the announcement was made I know many of us from the mainland have since booked hotels, airplane tickets purchased, car rentals, etc… I know we are in a waiting game right now, and I am traveling to the Big Island at the end of September, renting a large house to share with 10 of my friends, and we are all hoping to see something sooner than later regarding the testing piece. With only a month away when does the state plan to roll out its plan to ensure we can get tested and results within 72 hours if we are showing no symtoms? We booked all of this within the last 72 hours.
I just want my refund from Hawaiian airlines!
This morning in a hearing before the US Senate, the Assistant Secretary of Health, Adm Girion, said that states are mandated to offer testing for asymptomatic individuals with need for “exception” and that “exception” includes travel. He said the states just aren’t understanding that! DOn’t know how you overcome that hurdle!
So typical of the feds these days: they order that something be done, but they’ve helped ensure that it can’t be done. No state has enough testing kits, facilities and personnel to test everyone who wants it. And of course people lie to get what they want. (The idea that vacation travel is an essential need is absurd on its face, but that another story.)
I really hope Hawaiian airlines reads your blog! I think it’s only fair that airlines give refunds to those who choose to either forego their trip at this time, or choose to not go at all! Like me, there are many who only have this time slot available for several years! I don’t want to, nor should I be bound by rules or tests, which are not even guaranteed to work or be back on time. For the love of all that’s good, just refund us our airfare!!!!
JW
If you can’t abide by rules or tests, you’re in for some very rough sledding. Rules and tests are part of life.
I personally wish we could return to the days when all flights could be changed or cancelled with no fees, but deregulation and corporate greed put an end to that decades ago. As it is now, HA has a very flexible policy on changes in travel plans. And anyone who made a travel reservation after C19 became a known issue was really rolling the dice, to say the least. (That may not apply to you, but it certainly applies to others who have posted anguished messages on this site.)
On c0vid, don’t forget the virus can show up upto two weeks after exposure. So how accurate would a test be if a person was exposed on the same day of travel or even a bit earlier? Person will already be in Hawaii with a negative test result.
I was telling my husband that today. If a traveler comes to the islands from NY, how many airports and different airplanes are they on before actually arriving here. Potentially being exposed all along the way. I live on Kauai and was planning on an Alaska trip this month I cancelled because it just isn’t worth the risk of catching it and bringing it back to the islands and my family.
Well said. If everyone had your attitude the C19 outbreak in the US could have been controlled long ago.
I had plan and booked for whole family 12 adults and 4 children since 7/2019 a vacation would be on 5/2020. Then had been reschedule until 9/2020. Now with the new requirements for testing like that, sorry Hawaii I just canceled the trip. Luckily, I got the full refund from rental house, cars, but credit from Hawaii airlines. I don’t want to deal with that headache anymore.
I found a test sight that may be a solution to the problem. Vaulthealth.com has an FDA approved Saliva test that is taken in the home with a professional from vault health walking you through the test via Zoom. You then overnight the test to them, and results are back to you within 48-72 hours. It is available to residents of all 50 states, and you do not need to have symptoms to take it. It was tested alongside the nasal swab test, and results were identical. This is not the anti-body test, but the actual test to see if you are carrying the virus. We will be coming to Kauai in September, and are hoping the Hawaii government accepts this test. I know two people who have taken it, and it was simple, and in one case results were back in 24 hours. Let’s hope this is a solution.
how much did the test cost you?
$150 per test.
In Austin TX we can only get testing if we already show signs of C0vid. What do we do???
I am also from Austin and you can do the home test from Vault Health that i commented on earlier. I also believe you can go out of the county to Williamson and they might have different rules there.
Are there drug stores that can do tests that can give faster results if
a person is planning travel for vacation to Hawaii? Hopefully you have better
sources for investigation. Thanks for helping people find answers.
Aloha,
Jean
Hi Jean.
We expect to have more answers in the next week.
Aloha.
Some of these rapid tests have a 48% false negative. If your test is negative, it is recommended you retest. There is no perfect test. Hopefully someone is looking at the data and prepared for some new cases. Hawai’i is going to have to learn to function is the C0vid era.
RAPID TESTS are the Antigen Test…. NOT the PCR C0VID 19 test that Hawaii is demanding.
June 30th…. Day 5…. still no answers…. BUT, my condo wants to charge me the additional $800 which covers the SUMMER SEASON costs! I rescheduled from May. The costs are getting higher and higher… How much will these C0VID tests cost, if and when a location in the mainland ever appear?