The clock is ticking at the Aloha Tower in Honolulu (pictured here). Just one week from today, Hawaii will reopen to visitors. This morning we have had a flurry of comments and the theme is utter confusion about Hawaii’s rules and partners for reopening on October 15. Here’s what people have been saying.
Macie L said “I’m so confused. I thought any NAAT/PCR test from a CLIA Lab was acceptable. Now it has to come from one of the named testing partners? We have reservations to come 10/15 and am extremely concerned now about my ability to get a test. I have called the (state) repeatedly and gotten nothing but voicemail with no callbacks. I already have an appointment for a NAAT test at a CLIA lab, but not with one of the partners listed above. We can’t get more information from CVS until 10/10. Vault won’t guarantee I get test results back before I board my flight unless I rebook with Hawaiian Air. I’m not a Kaiser member. So frustrating. I’m willing to comply with any rules the state of Hawaii has but this is ridiculous.”
Tamara H. added “This is all so unclear. On the official hawaiicovid19.com website, it states any NAAT test from an approved CLIA lab is acceptable. It does list the “travel partners” but does NOT state the test has to be done by one of these partners ONLY. See “What is the pre-travel test program?” Is this not the official government website?”
No, you are not imagining the confusion.
Here is information found today on the state’s official COVID 19 travel page.
1. “Currently approved is the processing by laboratories that are licensed or certified by Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of specimens for nucleic acid amplification testing approved or authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration, pursuant to an Emergency Use Authorization or other authorization for COVID-19 testing.”
Beat of Hawaii: That gives the clear impression that so long as tests comply with this statement, the source company from which you obtain the test does not matter. But in fact, everything we have been told says that is simply not the case.
2. “The state of Hawaii will accept test results from trusted testing and travel partners: AFC Urgent Care, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Color, CVS Health, Discovery Health MD, Kaiser Permanente, Quest Diagnostics, Vault Health and Walgreens (as of 10/6/20).”
Beat of Hawaii: The two statements above are in conflict. The first one says it doesn’t matter the test provider, and the second one says that it must be from one of the approved “trusted partners.” Lt. Gov. Green has said repeatedly that only tests from the trusted partners will be accepted, at least for now. It is safe to go with that answer, as he is the official in charge. Moreover, this is just one of many areas that need to be “cleaned up” on that web page.
3. What about the airlines? The chart shown yesterday during the governor’s press conference clearly showed testing through Alaska Airlines (pending approval), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Those have never appeared on the list of approved “trusted partners.”
Beat of Hawaii: For example, GoHealth is one of two providers for United Airlines tests, and that vendor doesn’t appear on the list of trusted partners. The airlines aren’t the testing companies, so even listing them seems to be mixing apples and oranges. Nonetheless, the state did list them and refer to them during yesterday’s press conference.
Where can COVID tests for kids be obtained?
Today, Amber asked, “A problem I have come across is that both CVS and Walgreens will not test children under a certain age. Was there any mention of children being tested? I am assuming they will have to get a test also?
When Hawaiian Airlines introduced their at-home testing via Vault Health, they said the $150 mail-in saliva test would be available for all ages including children. That test is sent via overnight mail to travelers who self-collect saliva with the assistance of a testing supervisor via video call. It is then mailed to the lab that processes the sample and provides travelers results within 24 hours of receipt of the sample.
That test can be purchased directly from Vault, so you do not need to be flying on Hawaiian Air. Further adding to the confusion, we found that Vault says, “Typically you will receive an email with results 48-72 hours after your sample is received at the lab.” So that brings into question the timing of test results for Hawaii travel.
But keep in mind this warning from Macie J. “I called Vault yesterday and you can purchase a mail in test. But without a reservation on Hawaiian Air, the turnaround time is up to 72 hours after they receive the sample. Which may mean you need to board the flight without having your test results back. However they do seem like a good option if you are flying with Hawaiian.”
When Alaska Airlines introduced their pop-up testing via Carbon Health, which is set to begin next week in Seattle, they indicated that all ages can be tests including children. That company also provides mail-in testing, and again it doesn’t appear to matter what airline you are flying, although Alaska flyers will receive a discounted price.
We know that kids starting at age 5 definitely need to be tested. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said tests for kids will be primarily available via mail-in testing.
Question: Have you been able to successfully source COVID tests for kids traveling to Hawaii? Please let us know.
Will test results be timely?
No one wants to go into quarantine simply because the testing company couldn’t provide result in a timely way. We need the state to confirm that their “trusted partners” will be able to service these tests in order to avoid quarantine.
In that regard, Stevi C. wonders “If a quarantine is mandatory until test results are received? If so, do we know if the testing partners are going to be able to turn the test results around within 72 hours? I may reschedule if this is the case, as I’m only going for a week and don’t want to risk having to spend half of it in quarantine. I’ve had bad luck in the past with my test taking 15 days to get results.”
What happened to American Airlines as a trusted partner?
Joan B. noted, “I have heard that American Airlines is not on the list yet because their test did not meet Hawaii’s requirement and they have to go back to the drawing board.”
And Julieta D. just added, “I just got off the phone with AA and they have a site where it now provides more details on steps to take for traveling to Hawaii… (still vague on Kona though). The site is aa.com/covid19testing. It takes you to a page with links to their partners and more information. They will keep updating this page as information Is updated.”
Beat of Hawaii: Unfortunately, American’s testing partners are not Hawaii’s trusted partners. So it would seem something still needs to happen between the state and American to get this confusion resolved. We do see that the American website says that their tests will work for Hawaii.
Some of today’s other related questions and comments:
David F. asks, “Walgreens is offering two different testing options, with one available at some locations and the second offered at the other: (1) “PT-PCR Diagnostic Panel” and (2) “Rapid Point of Care (“POC”) Test”. I cannot find on the Walgreens website whether either or both are the “NAAT test conducted at a CLIA-certified laboratory” as required by the Hawaiian authorities. Do you happen to know whether one or both of the test options offered by Walgreens meets the requirements for Hawaii’s travel program?”
We want to hear from you!
I would like to know about this please as I have a trip planned for 3/25!
“Walgreens is offering two different testing options, with one available at some locations and the second offered at the other: (1) “PT-PCR Diagnostic Panel” and (2) “Rapid Point of Care (“POC”) Test”. I cannot find on the Walgreens website whether either or both are the “NAAT test conducted at a CLIA-certified laboratory” as required by the Hawaiian authorities. Do you happen to know whether one or both of the test options offered by Walgreens meets the requirements for Hawaii’s travel program?”
Hi Cynthia.
Best advise we can offer is to check 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.
I work for a COVID testing site. We send all our samples to a CLIA approved site. I wanted to know can I use my site or does it have to be a “partner”? No one can seem to answer this. We are flighing the Hawaiian Airlines. Thank you for the help.
Hi Sierra.
Here are the rules. It needs to be a trusted partner. https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/travel-partners/
Aloha.
The 72 hr timing is confusing me. We arrive in Hawaii at 430pm on December 3rd. Our test is scheduled in Michigan at 10:30 am on Monday Nov. 30. Are we gonna be good with the 72 hours
I called Walgreens here in San Diego as it is one of the places offering free tests. They said they are not offering the rapid test but their results come back in 48-72 hours and are more accurate than the fast one.
Can someone please tell me where in southern california, i can get a rapid test. please be specific. we need to test on a saturday
we live in san diego but will drive as far as los angeles
Hi Beth.
Plenty of folks on here from So. Cal. so hopefully others will chime in. The Vault mail in tests are available anywhere in the US.
Aloha.
We flew to Lihue last Thursday (5th). Southwest nonstop from San Jose. Airfare dirt cheap ($129 one-way). Plane not even 1/3 full. We had taken/shipped Vault tests on the 2nd, and received our results emails late on the 3rd. You “print” the first page (only) of the results email as a pdf, and upload the pdf on your trip profile on the HI web site. This can be easily forged (not that we did that!). You need to wait until one day before your flight to answer the health questions on the HI web site, which is what triggers the QR code email from HI. Keep that email!
The exit process at LIH took maybe 3 minutes. No paper print outs were needed/wanted. The guy at LIH (“Kimo”) asked me to locate/open the QR code email, enter my password, and hand him my phone. He scrolled around a bit, and handed my phone back along with a little paper “admit one” ticket. Same for my wife. Then we made our way to the little security area that has AC (those of you that fly to LIH know what I mean) and a kid in a national guard outfit wanted to see the paper ticket, after which you must toss it in a waste bin. Then you are done and can exit through the baggage claim.
If you rent a car, they will also want you to click onto that same QR code email and enter your password (and just hand them your phone, it goes faster). We have a house here, so I don’t know about hotels and vacation rentals, but they probably also ask. We were told some restaurants may ask, but that hasn’t happened, yet. One place did take our temperature. Mask wearing is about the same as on mainland. Wear one in stores and for entering/exiting restaurants, but take it off when you sit down.
Flight attendant said you can get free tests with fast results at OAK that HI accepts. I was told Walgreens in CA also offered free tests with fast results. We did Vault because our home state WY paid for them, and it is less invasive to spit than have a swab shoved into your brain.
Thank you SO much for posting this! I booked on American so I could fly through Dallas and use their on site rapid testing. This morning I noticed that neither of their testing partners were on the approved list. Yet AA still tauts that these providers will work. Now I have to change my flights or cancel. I thought it was my imagination being paranoid until I saw your article. T
If you are aware of any updates or changes, please advise.
Thank you
Hi Lara.
Perhaps someone who has had experience with AA out of DFW can comment, as we don’t know. Alternatively, try contacting the state’s Safe Travels helpline at 1-855-599-0888.
Aloha.
I believe if AA is a trusted partner, the test is good. I used United airlines partner, GoHealth at SFO. Since United is a trusted partner the test is accepted, even though GoHealth is not on the list. I would call AA and confirm.
I flew American Airlines and tested at the Rapid Testing Center in Dallas. American uses CareNow which is on the list of trusted testing partners. I had no problem getting in. Good luck!!
Hi Tim and others.
We appreciate you all giving Lara a hand.
Aloha.
Also, the Rapid Testing took place between Gates D40 and B1. I believe the flights to Hawaii are leaving out of the D terminal. The entire process took me 30 minutes.
Circling back because we are about to go through the ordeal. We have Vault test kits (they are on the “trusted partners” list), which must be taken with a Zoom call proctor, then UPS’d to their lab. That is the easy part (I think).
We are scheduled to fly from San Jose CA to Lihue this Thursday at 9 am, so we will wait until 10 am Monday to take the tests. My concerns, based on prior comments on this blog, are:
[1] Does Vault “time stamp” when the test is taken and is it shown on the results? Have people had Vault test results rejected for lack of a time stamp showing is less than 72 hours? The alternative is to take the test on Tuesday, but that greatly decreases our chances of getting results back before departure.
[2] If we do not receive the results in time to post them on the safe travels web site or print them out before we have to board our flight, but we instead get them while in mid-air or after landing, are we stuck with 14 days quarantine or returning to mainland as a result? Or has the state started to “approve” test results posted on the save travels app after someone is initially stuck with quarantine? That is a “really sucks” situation and I have seen comments that this was happening – not sure if it still is??
Thank you, again, BoH guys for having this blog, and to all of you commenters out there contributing your experiences to try and help others.
Hi David.
Great questions. Also, please let us know how it turns out after the fact. Hopefully, we’ll hear from some of those who’ve already done the Vault route. Overall the feedback in comments has been very positive.
Aloha.
Aloha, so my friend arrived from the mainland with a negative test from a trusted partner and was told she still had to quarantine because afc urgent care from Colorado was not accepted and only afc urgent care of portland was. For days and many, many calls we have been contacting and talking to everyone we can to get this corrected to no avail. All we want to do is have a chance to communicate our story to whomever is making these decisions. Through all of our work, we have narrowed it down to the attorney general office and the department of health. Have you heard of anyone reversing there quarantine?? The sad thing is that they watched other people on there flight with the same issue get cleared! There is no clear direction to this and everything decision is up to the worker making it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Hi Jeff.
First, sorry to hear about what you have been going through. We did see on the state website that AFC Portland was listed but no other AFC locations. That’s confusing at best. We hope other visitors who have had some experience with similar situations can share answers,
Aloha.
Hi Jeff,
Very sorry to hear this. The frustrating thing about this is they started off with just something like “AFC Urgent Care” listed (without specifying “Portland”) and then later changed it. While it’s nice that the state has been continuously updating this website with new info, there’s also something to be said about changing info that can greatly affect someone’s ability to follow the rules. I had been keeping a constant check on the HawaiiCovid19 website prior to our arrival, and the repeated changes really makes it look like there has been no clear / stable decision-making.
Thanks.
Hi Nathan.
True that. We continue to be hopeful that as a little more time passes, this will all get easier.
Aloha.