Tips, essential Rules, latest changes. Save Time and avoid Worry. What to know before traveling to Hawaii.
595 thoughts on “Revised November 2021 Guide to Hawaii Travel During COVID”
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Tips, essential Rules, latest changes. Save Time and avoid Worry. What to know before traveling to Hawaii.
Comments are closed.
Beat Hawaii’s post absolutely hits the nail on the head. Do not try to come to Hawaii without a valid covid test in hand. There are basically two kinds of test PCR and NAAT. You will have to do your homework, to get a test,in a timely way and it can be stressful. For instance, Walgreen’s has two kinds of test, PCR and NAAT, those test are found at two different locations. The PCR takes a minimum of 72 hours to perform while, the NAAT test results come back very quickly, that test works very nicely, while the PCR is a no go. Now the difficult part using Walgreen, most states have a few locations for the NAAT test, Calif unfortunately has no locations, Oregon two, Wash two, with Texas having the most at eleven. As I said, your going to have to do your homework.
Aloha Guys
Roy. I know you are trying to help but your information is incorrect. The PCR test is a molecular test and is considered a NAAT test.
From Walgreen’s web site “The Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW) and Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR) provided by Walgreens are nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). Both types are approved by the state of Hawaii, however the turnaround results time may vary. The Rapid Antigen Test (BinaxNOW) is not an approved test for travel to Hawaii.”
Also from WHO website – “Types of nucleic acid amplification tests
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – including nested (n), quantitative (q) or real-time reverse transcription (RT-PCR), loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (QT-NASBA)”
I just wanted to let you know that PCR is considered a NAAT test.
Will the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW) at Walgreens meet Hawaii’s guidelines?
Yes, the ID NOW rapid test at Walgreens is accepted by the state of Hawaii. We used it in February to go to Maui. Got results back in 3 hoyrs.
If my flight is at 6pm on a Tuesday from Las Vegas to big island can I take the COVID test at 4pm on Saturday? Most testing sites have the latest appointment for 4 pm and if I take it Sunday it’s not guaranteed I’ll get the results back by Tuesday. If someone could please answer this question I’d appreciate it so much. Thank you in advance.
Hi Kristen.
No, the rule is 72 hours and it isn’t worth taking a chance. Suggest you check into other testing options.
Aloha.
There are 10 Walgreens in the Las Vegas area that offer the ID NOW rapid test that is accepted by the state of Hawaii. Try to schedule one of those late Sunday or Monday morning. You should have the results in 3 hours or less. You can’t schedule more than 3 days ahead, so start looking on Friday for appointments on Sunday or Monday. Very easy to do on the Walgreens website.
Hi there! I am planning to spend eight days on Oahu over the Thanksgiving holiday. As I am unvaccinated, I’ll need to get a Covid test every 48 hours in order to be able to go to restaurants and other tourist attractions. Are there at home antigen test kits that are widely accepted by the businesses on Oahu? Would it be better to go to CVS or Walgreens for a rapid Covid test? Would I receive the results on those tests quickly? Any advice would be very appreciated!
Hi Missy.
Suggest you check out the rules on Oahu (https://www.oneoahu.org/). You’ll find the specific test requirements which are more liberal than the state’s Safe Travels requirements. We believe the same is true on Maui.
Aloha.
Yes. It was fine and very fast for my entire family in February.
So much bs in HI. There are so many other options and warm destinations where you can travel freely on the mainland usa/lower 48. Paradise lost (but not paved over and no new parking lots).
Hawaii will have its place on the wall of shame and disgrace for many years to come. It will be known as disorganized, uncivilized, unamerican/pro sovereign with a monarchy nation. Most of all it will be known as unwelcoming to tourists and continue to be the homeless capital of the usa.
BOH,
You may want to remove Bartell Drugs from your list of test providers. They discontinued their testing several weeks ago.
Thanks for the information.
Hi Deb.
Thanks. We noted that next to Bartell, which indicates it is suspended temporarily. The state website does not indicate that however.
Aloha.
Aloha.
This Virus crisis is not getting any easier for anyone. But I do hope you are all keeping safe and well.
As a stranded international traveller aching to get back to the Islands, my dream does not seem to be coming to fruition anytime soon. The lifting of non-travel to the U.S. does not seem to be coming in the near furure. As a timeshare owner (6 weeks), I’m curious as to what others are doing. The Maintenance charges are paid and yet it is impossible to travel. There seems to be no allowance made for this situation. I’m sure there are others like me willing to take the Covid tests, but it wouldn’t matter as we can’t travel to the States. Just curious if there is anything I’m missing and as always, look forward to any advice.
Mahalo for all the updates…and i really am trying to keep positive with a possible trip booked for Maui in May. (That trip has been rescehuled up to 4 times!!!)
Hi Michael.
Thanks. Yes, whenever we hear anything about international travel we think of you. Hopefully soon.
Aloha.
@MICHAELM
Maybe you can try your timeshare question over at:
TUGBBS.COM
good luck
Thank you for the information!
My 83 year old dad will be traveling with us to Maui and he still uses a flip phone. Do you know if he will be allowed if his technology cannot add the tracing app?
Hi Wendy.
So long as someone else in the party has the app, that should be okay. See this post or contact the county if you have any questions. https://beatofhawaii.com/mandatory-contact-tracing-approved-by-governor/
Aloha.
yes anyone can download the app for HIM and put HIS info in for HIM and get HIS barcode thing to be scanned for HIM. It does not have to be on his phone.
Forgive me, maybe it’s my language challenges, but what does the following mean?
“Maui (includes Lanai and Molokai) regulations.
Besides the quarantine option, Maui has been providing an optional free test three days after arrival on the island.”
Are you saying if someone arriving on Maui is sent to 10-Day Quarantine, he has an option to reduce the Quarantine if he takes a free Maui-provided test three days after scrubbing on Maui (and tests negative)?
If I am correct in my understanding, where are these free Maui tests offered and are these the type of tests that take less than one hour for results? And if you get a positive result, can you request an immediate retest (because false positives DO happen)
Hi JWI.
From the Maui County website: “Travelers are strongly encouraged to take a free, post-arrival test 72 hours after arriving to Maui County. Pre-register at http://www.minitmed.com/travelers-voluntary.” The vendor’s website states: “The BD-Veritor Antigen COVID-19 test will be administered at the Travelers Voluntary 2nd Site. You will receive your results within an hour. (All positive antigen tests will need a confirmation PCR at no cost to the patient). Please click here to learn more about the test.”
Thanks for the 411.
But it is still to risky to take a chance to go there. My brother and his wife cancelled their trip schedule for 1/13 because of issues with the testing time frame. Until there is a more consistent policy, visitors will find other equally beautiful places which are much more accommodating for tourists and Hawaii will continue to go downhill economically. Such a shame. This make take years to recover from the negative feelings people have developed regarding Hawaii.
As always, BOH has provided great, concise info. Thank you! Under the 10-day Quarantine Rules, it states:
“You are required to stay at your hotel (no vacation rentals allowed), except to leave for the airport or obtain emergency medical treatment.”
We own our condo on the island. Are we able to quarantine there? Are there different variations of the quarantine rules for those who own their place on Kauai?
Hi Gary.
Thank you. Yes, residents are entitled to quarantine for 10 days in their own place.
Aloha.
hi gary – just to clarify … if you own a vacation rental (you are NOT a resident of Hawaii), you cannot stay in your property during quarantine (because you cannot be monitored there). the response below was meant for a resident; assuming you are not but you own a condo there). the purpose of quarantining at a hotel is so you can be issued a one-time entry card key (vs. regular “house” type key).
Aloha
OK. I have CA Connect. Does that count as an alternative tracing program?
Hi Ken.
We don’t know, but it looks like it is not a contact tracing app from what we see online.
Aloha.
Get our first Vaccine shot this Wednesday, next 4 weeks later, when fully vaccinated will we be able to bypass all this red tape? Our trip is rescheduled for July the third change.
Hi Bob.
Thanks for your many comments. We’ll update this as soon as the state announces vaccine based travel.
Aloha.