Since Hawaii officially reopened to visitors, the rules that apply to arrivals remain in a state of change, as recently as last week, and impacting both domestic and international arrivals. To say the least, this can be challenging when planning a Hawaii vacation. To help, we try to keep this post updated as things change, so check again for more information. This was last updated on November 14, 2021.
Travel to Hawaii from within the US.
Note: travel from within the US applies even to international arrivals unless the flight is direct to Hawaii, with a single flight number. Nonstop international flights to Hawaii originate in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Asia for example, but not from Europe. This means that if you are an international arrival that connects to a Hawaii-bound flight on the mainland, you will need to satisfy either option below:
COVID testing option.
Note: approved vaccines changed as of November 8, 2021.
1. For those not fully vaccinated, or those ineligible by age or otherwise from vaccination, the following applies. You must test within 72 hours of a scheduled transpacific flight departure to Hawaii, and tests must be from one of the Hawaii-approved testing partners. Costs for testing are borne by travelers and can vary from free to $250 per person.
2. Important Hawaii-specific testing rules. Hawaii requires NAAT/PCR testing only, and nothing else is acceptable. Equally important, the test source must be one of Hawaii’s trusted partners, not any lab, even when it is the correct test. The specific language in effect is as follows: “The state of Hawai‘i will ONLY accept Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab test results from Trusted Testing and Travel Partners. A negative COVID-19 test result is required before departure to avoid quarantine in Hawaii.”
3. The minimum age for required testing is 5 years. All travelers 5 and above who are not fully vaccinated must have a COVID-19 test and negative results through the state’s trusted testing partners per the requirements of Hawaii Safe Travels.
Vaccinated travel option.
Note: booster vaccinations are not required at this time and, there are new vaccine options.
1. Those travelers arriving from within the US (regardless of citizenship) can be exempt from quarantine using the vaccination option. Fully vaccinated at this time means does not include any requirement for booster vaccinations.
2. Effective November 8, the list of acceptable vaccines has gone into compliance with the CDC. The federal government says that now accepted include AstraZeneca, Covaxin, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, and Sinovac. The governor’s announcement said, “Also, beginning on Nov. 8, the State of Hawaiʻi, in alignment with the federal government, will accept vaccines approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and vaccines listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.”
Travel to Hawaii from outside the US.
Testing for all passengers among other rules.
Note: Starting November 8, in conjunction with federal government rule changes, “direct” international arrival requirements to Hawaii are different. Direct means a through-flight on a single flight number, where you don’t leave the flight or a nonstop flight. International arrivals that do not comply with the “direct flight” definition will be considered as domestic arrivals and must comply with those rules for travel to Hawaii.
1. For non-US citizens traveling “directly” to Hawaii from another country, both 1) proof of vaccination and 2) a negative NAAT/Antigen COVID test within three days of boarding a flight to the US will be required. Testing for direct international arrivals does not need to comply with partners and test requirements associated with Hawaii Safe Travels.
2. For US citizens flying “directly” to Hawaii from another country, 1) fully vaccinated passengers must also provide a NAAT/Antigent COVID test “taken within 72 hours” of the US-bound flight. Or, 2) those US citizens not fully vaccinated are now required to show proof of the same negative test “taken within 24 hours” of boarding the US-bound flight.
Hawaii Trusted Travel Partners’ requirement eliminated only for direct international flights.
For direct international arrivals, tests must be either NAAT or Antigen but no longer need to be from a Trusted Travel Partner. See federal rules in effect here.
Also starting November 8, all airlines flying to the US are required to collect and maintain international passenger contact tracing information.
Everyone must follow the Hawaii Safe Travels rules precisely to avoid quarantine.
Hawaii is inflexible about those who don’t get test results within the right timeframe, take the wrong test, or obtain them from the wrong source. The state does not make any exceptions. That same lack of flexibility will be the case regarding following the proof of vaccination rules too.
Should anything go awry, you could end up having to leave Hawaii or enter the mandatory quarantine of 10 days. However, don’t let that dissuade you as close to one million visitors per month are arriving successfully, and nearly all have been able to avoid problems. On the other hand, there are nightmare stories of those who took the wrong test, obtained it from the wrong source, or took it a day too early, ruining their expensive and long-planned Hawaii vacation.
Essentials prior to traveling to Hawaii.
1. All arrivals, both domestic and international, age 18 and older need to register through the Hawaii Safe Travels online program. That is a mandatory requirement for both mainland and interisland travel is true whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
2. Passengers under age 18 do not need a Safe Travels account. Adults need to add each child to their Safe Travels account and upload their 1) proof of vaccination or 2) Safe Travels compliant test results together with theirs. Upload and link each proof document to the actual adult or child traveling.
3. Negative test results and/or proof of vaccination must be in-hand as well as uploaded to the Safe Travels website before departure on your flight from the US mainland to Hawaii.
4. For those testing, if you have multiple flights to get to Hawaii, the “within 72-hour” timeframe is based on the last flight that ends with your landing in Hawaii.
5. Be prepared for screeners who will review/verify the vaccination documents, match photo IDs, name and DOB as well as confirm that the attestations are signed.
6. You can travel to Hawaii no sooner than the 15th day following the completion of full vaccination.
7. Upload proof of vaccination or testing documents to their Safe Travels Hawai‘i account, prior to traveling to Hawaii and “sign the online legal attestations on Safe Travels Hawaii, confirming the uploaded documentation is true and accurate.”
8. A mandatory health questionnaire must be added to your Safe Travels account within 24 hours before departure. That applies to both domestic and international arrivals.
Tip: obtain airline “Pre-Clear: at the airport prior to Hawaii departure.
Hawaii-bound passengers can complete their Safe Travels compliance, including vaccination/testing proof, checked before departure from the mainland rather than on arrival in Hawaii. In addition, your airline will verify your entire Safe Travels profile and provide you with a pre-clear wristband, which allows you to bypass airport arrival procedures in Hawaii. Visitors have uniformly raved about how much this has helped streamline the process and save time. This also gives you peace of mind that there will be no issues arriving in Hawaii.
Travel to Hawaii if you have recovered from COVID.
If you have tested positive and then recovered from COVID, there is an exemption available. The rules, according to the State of Hawaii are as follows:
To be considered for this exemption, you must comply with all of the rules found here.
Updated 11/14/21
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Howard C. says
Hi, we are coming to Kauai on the 30th this month. We live in Oregon and I see that Hawaii trusted testing partners for us is Walgreens, where live there is one (1) Walgreen would like to know if Walgreen is still one of your partners?
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Howard.
We refer you to the state’s website for testing partners and all the options. https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/.
Aloha.
Andrea says
Dear Howard, I hope that you will have an awesome, fun ,& safe trip to Hawaii!! 👓📅👒🩴☀️🛩🌊👙👒🌈🥥🍍🏝
abhiram pamidi says
We have our flight on monday at 6.30pm that being said we can only take test after 6.30pm on firday. If i give test on saturday in AFC or Walgreens or CVS they are not assuring that i will receive the result before monday evening.
Any help is appreciated.
Ed. C says
We did the ID NOW rapid test at Walgreens and had results in 3 hours.
Abhiram P says
Thank you
Jeffrey D says
I got my results from Walgreens in three hours.
Lanell says
I needed a test for my disabled, non-mask wearing, Covid vaccinated daughter in order to fly. Walgreens in the Seattle area didn’t have availability for testing. We were able to use the City of Seattle’s testing program. Also bought a test kit at Costco to be extra covered. Both tests came back in 24 hours.
I think it’s easier to just get vaccinated.
Mahalo, BOH, for the info.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Lanell.
Thanks for the feedback, and glad to hear it worked out.
Aloha.
Andrea says
Dear Abhiram, I hope that you had a very awesome & fun trip to Hawaii!!! 🌸👓📅🛩🩴☀️🌈 It will be my turn in 2023 & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!! It has been my lifelong dream to go to Hawaii for my vacation 😍 take care of yourself!
Paul M. says
If all goes well I will arrive home in HNL on October 12th. Just uploaded my CDC COVID-19 vaccination card to the Hawaii Safe Travels website and will get a PCR test the day before leaving Kuwait City for HNL, cannot enter through airport security here without it unless there are new changes here. Will have physical CDC card plus PCR test results in hand along with my Kuwait civil ID app that shows I am fully vaccinated per their COVID policies (which often change on a whim!). I love to travel but not like this!!!
Paul M says
Oh and thanks to all, your comments and information have been quite helpful.
Paul M says
@BOH and all … Just to clarify … please note the person who posted the above comments as “Paul M.” (with a period tacked onto the last name’s initial) and “Paul M” (with no period, replying to the Kuwait “Paul M.”’s original comment) are not me.
I am the “Paul M” who has been posting about visiting my son on Oahu and a few days ago shared my firsthand COVID-19 infection experience. I am a southern Oregon “Paul M” and I have never been to Kuwait.
Andrea says
Dear Paul, how was your trip? I’m sure you had fun! 🌈☀️🩴🛩📅👓🌸🎉🌊👒🥥🍍🏝🌍
Kelley R says
Great info, thank you so much!
Is there a trick to submitting my vaccine exemption request? I have filled in the blanks, uploaded my vax card & “signed” my name but the “submit” button remains un-clickable.
Many thanks for any advice!
Kelley R says
Update – I neglected to sign twice – thought the 2nd signature box was only if you were signing as a parent of a minor. That worked.
Jeff D. says
I used Walgreens for my trip.
Joanna says
Does the rapid test from Walgreens work for Hawaii? I leave on Wed and would have to get tested on Sunday and I dint know if my results will be ready I time. I’m finding it hard to find other labs that are accepted by Hawaii in Colorado. It’s very frustrating.
BARBARA M says
Short answer = YES
Long answer = at least you don’t live in New Mexico where we there isn’t a single Trusted Partner in the state that does Rapid Results. We have to drive to Phoenix!
Ed. C says
Yes. Walgreens’ ID NOW rapid test is accepted by the State of Hawaii. It’s the one I’ve used every time and results come back in less than 3 hours.
Be sure to schedule your appointment on the Walgreens website. Not every Walgreens offers this test.
Steph A. says
Can someone please clarify for me about the 72 hour negative covid test . I just want to be sure. My flight is on a Tuesday , if I can tested on Saturday will that be abiding by the time frame? I wasn’t sure if it would count Saturday as day 1. I’m certain im overthinking things but I would appreciate the clarification.
Thanks!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Steph.
So that means precisely no more than 72 hours of the time of your “mainland to Hawaii flight.” So if you are flying Tuesday at noon, then you would need to test Saturday at any point after noon. If you have mainland connecting flights, disregard those.
Aloha.
Steph A. says
Ok so my flight is at 7:50am on Tuesday so as long as I get tested after 8am on Saturday I should be ok??
@barbara this is my worry! I am hoping I can find a rapid test on Saturday or keep my fingers crossed the results will be in time. We are getting married Sunday before we leave Tuesday for our honeymoon so time is already at a crunch! Monday testing is on my mind as well. I plan on calling the testing sites approved to see what the best plan is.
Thank you both!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Steph.
Yes, that’s correct, so long as the test result comes back in time. Rapid is undoubtedly the less stressful albeit potentially more expensive way to go.
Aloha.
BARBARA M says
STEPH A… BE CAREFUL with Saturday testing. Numerous labs are not available to process the test over the weekend so you might want to utilize Rapid Results testing on Monday and those results are not processed over the weekend.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Barbara.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Leilanie S says
Aloha. Traveling back home from mainland, and would need to transit through Honolulu and head on to final destination – Guam. Di i need to get tested ?
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Leilanie.
If you remain in the airport we understand the answer to be no. It would be best to check with your airline.
Aloha.
cindy C says
Hello, My husband and I are visiting Maui in a few days, with all this covid spiking again my concern is canceling of flights returning back to our state. I know I am probably overthinking this but, what if??
Celest says
Any help I’m traveling goin to LA this coming august 17. Need to know what the procedure for lay over to hawaiin and what documents do I need to bring for travel . Thanks
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Celest.
The rules don’t change based on your layover. If vaccinated, then that wouldn’t impact you. If you are testing, it must be per the Hawaii Safe Travels rules and done within 72 hours of the flight from the mainland to Hawaii. https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/
Aloha.
Delaney M says
Hi,
I am traveling to Hawaii in about 2 weeks. Before reaching my final destination of Honolulu, I have a layover in Maui (OGG). How does that process work? Will my covid exemption be checked in Maui or once I land in Honolulu? I filled out the online safe travel Hawaii information, but my final flight from OGG to HNL was not coming up as it is a Hawaiian Airlines flight and not my original Delta. As of right now, I put in my flight from Salt Lake City to OGG…
Andrea says
Dear Delaney, how was your trip? 🌍🏝🍍🥥👒🌊🎉🌸👓📅🛩🩴☀️🌈❤
Mrs M says
No QR code is necessary for entry to Hawai’i. Just the proper documentation.
Janet S says
That is correct. Not everyone has a “so-called” Smart Phone.
PaulC says
no required but makes the process much quicker. You can print off your qr code and get a pre clearance wrist band. Makes the process easy and smooth. We moved right thru the airport and on to our rental car.
Astrid says
Hi,
Going to Hawaii in a few days and I’m full vaccinated. I’m trying to do the pre-clearing before departure however, I’m take JetBlue then transfer to Hawaiian airlines. Does anyone know if during my wait time for transfer if I can get a pre-clearing done?
Paulc says
Yes go to the counter of Hawaiian show them your QR code and you’ll get a ore clearance wrist band
Astrid says
Thank you
Paul M says
Astrid,
Creat a “Safe Travels” account at:
travel.hawaii.gov/#/
Follow the directions described there. Also review the Hawaii travel information at:
Hawaiicovid19.com/travel/getting-to-hawaii/
If you have a vaccination card that proves you have been fully vaccinated, you can scan it into your “Safe Travels” account.
Astrid says
Yes, thank you.
Tonya R. says
We love Hawaii…absolutely everything about it!!! We have been here several times before. We are currently here for 2 weeks. Please tell me why everyone is being so nasty to the tourist, from the hotel check-in, the sales clerks and especially all the pre staff(hostesses), while your waiting 3hrs for a meal. Once your famished and get to sit down to eat-the waitresses are welcoming and nice; however, this has been an awful experience, what is going on??? We feel like the people of Hawaii don’t want us here??? This isn’t only us, everyone at the pool and beach are saying the same thing. Please help us to understand what we need to do to help make this trip better, sadly a 25th Anniversary Trip is currently being ruined!!! Thank you
Lisa C says
I’m so sorry you are experiencing such animosity and challenges. We are currently halfway through our 2 week vacation on the beautiful island of Kauai and are having a fabulous time! We come to Hawaii every other year. What island are you on?
I truly hope your trip gets better!
PaulC says
Maybe because they are massively overworked and under paid there is an employee Shortage amd Mullins if
Demanding tourists. Lighten up a little your in freaking Hawaii
SCL says
Thank you for all the updates! I have a question that maybe you or some of your readers can answer. On the safe travels site, what happens when you submit your vaccination proof and attestation? I submitted but I don’t see any proof that I’ve submitted this information. Am I suppose to receive some sort of acknowledgement or confirmation that they have received? I don’t want to get tripped up on arrival. Thanks!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi SCL.
Perhaps someone who has traveled with vaccination proof can comment. You can also check with the Hawaii Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888.
Aloha.
BARBARA M says
It will just tell you it has successfully been submitted. Go back in and see if it’s there!
SCL says
Thanks Barbara!
D G says
I’m traveling to Hilo, Hawaii in a few weeks from the mainland with a connection flight in Honolulu. Will I go through the post-screening process in Honolulu or my final destination in Hilo?
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi D G.
That will be in Honolulu. There is no Covid screening or any related requirement for interisland travel.
Aloha.
Andrea says
How was your trip D G? Tell us about it. 🌏🏖⏰💺🐢🐋🐠🛩🌸🍍🥥👒🇺🇲🌈
Sam R says
Hello- Any help would be much apprecited/it is all so confusing! I am leaving from Boston on Monday 7/19/21 at 9:30am direct to Hawaii. For the 72-hour pre-testing window to be correct do I need to consider the time change- we are 6 hours ahead of Hawaii time? Or would I test Friday at 930am or after? Also, I want to get the Walgreens Rapid Diagnostic ID Now test (because it comes back faster than the pcr test) but want to ensure Hawaii will accept that ID NOw Test result. Traveling so far I want to ensure I get it right! Thanks for all the help.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Sam.
So for the Safe Travels testing exemption, you test within 72 hours of the departure of your mainland to Hawaii flight. If you are on the nonstop, then it quite literal. If you are stopping en route, again it is within 72 hours of that last flight that goes directly to Hawaii. Others report the ID Now test is accepted, but certainly on any of this you can check with the state directly at 855-599-0888.
Aloha.
Lae P. says
Hi all. As I am typing this, we are having a big issue. Our flight departs from Los Angeles tomorrow at 8:25am to Maui. We’ve uploaded all of our negative Covid test results from Walgreens onto the HI state website only to find out that the lab Walgreens went through (Aegis, PWNHealth) entered my husbands collection date as 6/26/21 when it should’ve been 6/29/21 making him outside the 72 hour range. I am more than upset about this whole ordeal as Walgreens is telling Us it’s out of their hands and we need to contact the lab company. They are not open until normal business hours. Anybody have something similar happen to them??? Any resolution?? Help!!
Jessica B says
Hello going to Hawaii in a few days and want to know if you can get the ID now test from Walgreens?
Peter C. says
Headed to LIH from JFK with family of 4 on July 7th. Covid test very difficult to fulfil because of the July 4th holiday. UPS not delivering results Sunday or Monday therefore no mail order options wor nor does CVS or Walgreens because they won’t have enough time retunr results being closed for the holiday. I need an exemption or something. So stressful. Can anyone help me please?
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Peter.
To our knowledge, there are no exemptions to the current rules. On searching, we do find that CVS in NYC and surrounds does appear to offer same-day rapid PCR testing. We’d suggest, alternatively, you contact the state’s Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888.
Aloha.
BARBARA M says
PETER C… Xprescheck has a facility at JFK. $200+ a pop but it’s better than not going. ALthough this doesn’t appear to be what you need, you can book way in advance. Xprescheck.com. Assume you’ll be flying out early July 7. They have tons of times available on July 6 for Rapid Results Testing. OR you can wait one day to fly and not have to have any testing done for those fully vaccinated.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Barbara.
Thanks for giving Peter a hand. There appear to be multiple testing options available to him, although an exception to the rules is likely not one of the solutions.
Aloha.
Jeffrey says
I got my results from Walgreens by email in under two hours.
Peter C says
Just learned after calling the safe travels desk that Jeffrey is right with a rapid test option that I didn’t think was available. Not all rapid tests work but Walgreens, not CVS, does have one that works and results are returned within a few hours. A huge relief. Thanks for the responses. Aloha to all.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Peter.
Glad that worked out for you. Happy travels.
Aloha.