Using the Hawaii Coivd website for Safe Travels to the islands? Many issues remain to be clarified.
204 thoughts on “Total Confusion Reigns on Hawaii Rules and Testing Partners”
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I appreciate BOH’s efforts to relay the reopening information in an understandable way (no small task!). But let’s take a roll call of what’s about to be accomplished by the state’s reopening “plan:”
1) By utilizing complicated and convoluted testing protocols, it will irritate and turn off the same visitors Hawaii hopes to attract.
2) It will sow confusion among all parties in a deadly serious situation, as government officials (the governor, Lt. governor, and county mayors) are never on the same page about reopening and often advocate for different approaches.
3) It will irritate locals on all the outer islands, who feel like they are being put in danger because the state won’t require two tests. In turn, they aren’t going to be welcoming to visitors – expect some “incidents” between locals and visitors to make the rounds on social media and/or the news.
4) Put all that together and it means reopening won’t attract visitors in large enough numbers to mean much in terms of helping local businesses or island economies already decimated by Covid19.
Good job state of Hawaii!
Hi John.
You make good points. Thanks.
Aloha
For all the reasons you list John, we have canceled our trip that was supposed to be Oct 17 for relaxation on the Big Island, all things you list are added stress to travel as nothing is solid as to what the right-hand does vs the left-hand wants to do.
And this mass confusion is why we have no interest in even trying to make it back anytime soon. Already booked elsewhere (with no testing required!) for 2021. Maybe y’all will figure your stuff out by 2022.
and all of this is why i am waiting to go to Maui until May 2021..they better have this figured out by then if there is to be a Hawaii to go back to…until then, i wish everyone who goes to the islands good luck..:-)
Wondering, too what test works from Walgreens…???
As of now, the PCR test is accepte
I called a local (Salt Lake City) Walgreens today and asked what specific test they used for the POC tests – the pharmacist told me it is an antigen test, so that would seem to indicate that that test variety is not acceptable to avoid quarantine. We’re doing the RT-PCR variety instead.
I am not sure if anyone has replied about the costs of the tests. I have health insurance but will still have to fork over additional funds to get the test as well as pay for my plane ticket. But I have a family of 10 flying and that will be over $1000 just for testing. Our trip has been rescheduled 4 times to now December but May have to reschedule when testing is cheaper/free or no longer subject to testing.
The issue with qwest and cvs is that for this you are not allowed to use your insurance!!! You have to pay out of pocket. Meanwhile many of us ~could~ get this pcr test from our doctor and have it covered by insurance. Smh
Im confused if I can do my flight to Maui on Nov 6th for a week. I planned on doing the covid testing at Kaiser 72 hrs before. Then was going to fly to Oahu to spend a week there. I knw they are taling about additional testing and some of the islands are opting out. At this point I dont now if I am allowed on either island.
I just returned from a trip on Pau Gauguin cruises. I had to take a special 72 hour test before flying and needed to have written results. Once e landed we were given a self test kit they we needed to do on the 4th day of arrival and give it to the purser, hotel desk or drop off at a hospital. We also had to do a rapid test 5 hours before we boarded to make sure we were still clear. The ship administered it and charged $59.00. They have had very few cases in Tahiti and the cruiseline is also doing well. they have only had a handful. tHe crew is also tested. just a suggestion about how Hawaii can handle.
Aloha,
Assuming you are a Kaiser member, try reaching out to your PCP and Kaiser member services about your trip itinerary: 1 week in Maui and 1 week in Oahu. There are Kaiser hospitals and clinics in Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Maybe you can arrange to have a 2nd testing in KP Maui, as a back-up plan. Better to be safe and ready. If it’s not necessary, you don’t have to get it done.
Good luck and Mahalo.
Can everyone just calm down. Pilots pay your taxes.
I have been reading the Beat of Hawaii updates with great interest, and thank you for taking the time to keep us all informed. I live in Australia, so for now we are unable to fly to Hawaii since our international borders remain firmly closed, however I have booked a flight for August 2021 by which time I hope the situation here has resolved itself.
I can understand the feelings of frustration and confusion though, since it seems to be that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. And I don’t think this is restricted to one country, since this is a world-wide pandemic and nations are all treating the situation differently.
One can only hope that the whole irksome ‘business’ comes to a successful and safe end, and soon.
Hi Vicki.
Thanks. We sure hope your trip to Hawaii next August goes without a hitch. BTW, we are big fans of Aus and both of us have been there many times, as recently as last year.
Aloha
All of this chaos is ridiculous! I am so disappointed in how this Governor and Mayors have responded thus far. I can’t even think of considering a visit to my beloved Hawaii this year. I have been visiting the Islands for over 25 years and when I go I normally stay for 3 weeks and my visits always include 2-3 Islands. I pray all these issues get worked out quickly (For the sake of Hawaii’s residents and businesses). In the meantime, I will do what I can to support local Hawaiian merchants by ordering products online and save my travel plans for 2021.
PCR is a NAAT test.