Summer Guide to 2021 Hawaii Travel During COVID

Revised November 2021 Guide to Hawaii Travel During COVID

Tips, essential Rules, latest changes. Save Time and avoid Worry. What to know before traveling to Hawaii.

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595 thoughts on “Revised November 2021 Guide to Hawaii Travel During COVID”

  1. Real world experience in pre-travel testing (Alaska to Hawaii):
    Our plan A: Test at Walgreen’s. Failure because appointment was never processed.
    Our plan B: Wait in line and test at Capstone on Dimond. Failure because line too long, everyone sent away one hour before closing.
    Our plan C: Drive 50 miles to Capstone-Wasilla. Finally–success!
    Lesson learned: For that 3rd day before your travel date, research and make multiple backup plans, so that you can get tested by a “trusted partner” and get results back.

    1. @Chris K
      Thank you very much for posting this. It helps with my planning for an upcoming summer trip with many moving pieces.

  2. I just need to confirm my understanding for covid testing with a same day connecting flight thru HNL to KOA

    If our HNL flight leaves SFO at 9:30am, that is the start of the 72 hour window for our final (same day) flight into KOA. So the Big Island will accept the HNL covid testing window.

    Thanks

    1. Hi Chris.

      It is within 72 hours of your flight from the mainland to the first place you land in Hawaii (HNL).

      Aloha.

  3. Thank you for trying to help, but I don’t think Hawaii’s travel rules could be more confusing if they tried. I have listed some examples

    -A portion of the “trusted travel partners” have opted out of the program and none will guarantee a turn around time to meet the travel window. The selection of trusted partners is somewhat restrictive and arbitrary – for example Walgreen’s uses Labcorp to run their tests (most of the partners actually use an outside lab) but will not guarantee a turn around time. My doctor’s office also uses Labcorp to process their Covid tests and they will guarantee a turn around time of 24 to 48 hours. But Hawaii will not accept results obtained from my Doctors office even though the results are actually from the same lab.

    – Test nomenclature is not consistent with what the labs are using which causes further confusion. Hawaii specifies a NAAT test but the testing partners use PCR, Rapid Diagnostic test, etc. To illustrate some of the confusion, you have a commenter on this site who has incorrectly stated the PCR test is not a NAAT test. According to the CDC and the WHO the rt-PCR test is a NAAT test (fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics). And from the Walgreens 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.”
    You should correct his comments.

    – Continually changing rules. It seems now if you do not have a negative result in hand before you board the final leg of your trip, you have to go through a 10 day quarantine even if you receive a negative results after landing in Hawaii (correct me if this is wrong).

    My wife and I have both been Vaccinated but are trying to figure out if we can still go to Maui in March.

    1. Chas
      You are correct about Walgreen using Labcorp for the PCR test. However, Walgreen also offers an NAAT rapid test too. You don’t want to use the PCR for travel to Hawaii, as it takes to long to turn around. NAAT rapid test is on the Walgreen site too., the turn around time for that test is very fast. Now the difficult part, You need to go to Walgreen’s covid test site and list/start with the state you live in, that will give you the locations for the various kinds of test in your state. you will see the different colored buttons. Some states have no locations for the NAAT test, (Calif.) Texas has eleven, most states have one or two. Hopefully you will find a location close to you. You will have to have an understanding of the timing for your test, that includes your departure time and receiving your test. Walgreen has an 800 number. I think most people will want to use an airline/airport NAAT rapid test, it’s much easier and timely.
      Aloha

  4. Are there any different rules for someone who has tested positive and did their quarantine? I imagine they still have to test negative but anything else? Thank you.

  5. Hoping for vaccination info for Kauai- planning trip in December- I know far off but the wheels of government move slowly – do not mind a 3 day quarantine- I’ll just arrive 3 days early prior to my timeshare reservations if it is still in effect

  6. Heading to Kauai mid-February. In order to avoid both the resort bubble and 10 day quarantine, my wife and I changed our plans so that we stay on Maui for a few days prior to jumping over to Kauai. I thought if we tested right after we landed in Maui, then we would get results within 3 days and therefore be good for Kauai.
    I now understand we need to wait 72 hours and then test. Where can we get tested that will produce a rapid result? We are staying in Kanaapali.

  7. Dear BOH, thanks for your summary.
    Hawaiian Airlines is also running a quarantine pre-clear program on a trial basis, but I haven’t seen it advertised yet. Received an email from Hawaiian a couple days before my departure about it. On my Jan 17 SFO to HNL flight, I stopped at the ticket counter for quarantine screening. If not for the email, I would have bypassed the ticket counter as well as the departure gate counter having checked in online for my flight and downloaded the boarding pass on my cell phone. Quarantine screening was conducted by regular Hawaiian Air counter employees who scanned my QR code on their tablet, checked my C19 test results, and affixed my pre-cleared wristband. My trip details page on the Safe Travels website instantly updated to show I was exempt from quarantine. Upon arrival in HNL, I was ushered to the direct exit aisle. Hope Hawaiian Air continues their pre-clear program.

    1. Margaret H.
      I have a vacation planned for March. This sounds like a hassle, something, not so fun to deal with for vacation. I’ve had my 2 vaccines. If this doesn’t change, sorry but I won’t come.

      1. Can BOH provide listing of reliable testes on the Islands? This would be an awesome resource for readers, especially at a time when the State government has dropped the ball

    1. That will depend on if they determine that the vaccine will also prevent the vaccinated person from spreading covid with out having symptoms themselves. I hate to say it but if someone were coming to my place at this time I would require both a vaccine and the test. We don’t even know yet how long immunity will last once both doses of the vaccine have been received. We are really in the dark about all of this.

    2. as long as your test is not more than 72 hours before your flight to Hawaii, and it IS before you land in Hawaii it will be fine.

  8. Aloha,
    I’m going to Maui to see my daughter in Kihei on February 3. I depart from Chicago to Seattle and then to Maui at 2:25 pm. I would need to schedule my covid test at 12:25 pm Monday to be in the 72hr frame? Also what if your flight is early or late leaving Seattle? Will that cause a problem? I also would like to hear from other people if CVS has a better result turnaround then Walgreens? This whole thing is so stressful. If I have to quarantine at my daughters am I able to test 3 days later on Maui to avoid the whole 10 days? So many questions. Please give me advice… Walgreens or CVS?
    Thank you!

    1. Hi Tammy.

      First, the test needs to be within 72 hours of the trans-Pacific flight. So that sounds like after 225pm three days in advance. If that flight is late that is okay. CVS has warned that they may not be able to meet the 72-hour time frame, so we definitely suggest another source. Walgreens is one and there are others found here. https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/travel-partners/.

      Aloha.

      1. Thank you for your response. Do I have this correct. If my results don’t come in time will I be able to board in Seattle and go to quarantine at my daughters house and then test 3 days later? If it’s negative then I’m done with quarantine? It sure is confused changes daily. I do realize the intention is good in theory to protect everyone. But it sure is missing clarity. Thank you again and I look forward to your response!

    2. The time frame is set by the departure on your ticket coming out of Seattle, it doesn’t matter if your flight is early or late. CVS I believe only uses the PCR test, most likely your timing will not work for that test also,I remember something about CVS taking it self off the Hawaii safe travels. With Walgreen you need to go to there covid test site and start with the state you live in, that page will show you what kinds of test are available in your state and the location. The only kind of test that will work for you using Walgreen is the NAAT, results come back fast. Don’t use the PCR. You will need to schedule your test ahead at 72hrs ,you will see it on the site, it’s a timing thing. Also, use Walgreens 1-800 number. Lastly, on this BOH page there’s a lot good info about testing.

      1. Thank you! I do appreciate all the advice. BOH I want to Thank you for keeping your finger on the pulse of information to help people traveling to the Hawaiian islands. It definitely is a challenge to go but if you take all the rules and do what your supposed to all will fall into place. There is a Walgreens in the area that I will go to. I feel Walgreens will be the best option over CVS to get my results in time. Thank you!

      2. Thank you Roy! Much appreciated! I feel like BOH is a great community of helpful people. Truly grateful 😊

    3. yes CVS actually says on their site “if traveling to Hawaii, we suggest you use another resource”.

  9. Where does one get their PhD in Hawaii travel protocols? As others have said…too difficult, too financially risky, too uncertain and better travel options are out there…wish it were different. Aloha

    1. ok, I agree with you on that. So here is a suggestion…if it is not mandated to have the test to fly, (it should be) then have rapid covid test available at the airport for $50 a pop, wait 15 min for results and end this nightmare and hassle. BTW if your flying over on a Tuesday, like me, Vault won’t work and many others won’t either.

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