Summer Guide to 2021 Hawaii Travel During COVID

Revised November 2021 Guide to Hawaii Travel During COVID

Hawaii Travel Tips / / 595 Comments

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. Pilar L

    Thank you very much for all the information provided on your page.
    My friends and I (60s, 65, 70, 80 years old) purchased tickets and reserved an apartment to spend a week in your beautiful Maui island. Because Hawaii is part of the USA we did not know that we needed to have a PCR test with negative result and provided by one of your approved laboratories. We have all received our COVID vaccinations (for being teachers and some because of age) and we thought that this was going to be enough. We are going to be tested 72 hours prior arriving to Maui by our Idaho most trusted hospital St. Luke’s. Is that enough? We can also go to Walgreens but we need to travel as we live in a very isolated place (Hailey) with no other provider but our hospital. We would have to travel 2 hrs both ways to be testes by Walgreens in Twin Falls. We ask you, please, to advise us in this matter as we are stressed about our trip (we have paid for fights and apartment). We would really appreciate your help. Thank you very much!

      1. Paul M

        Additional thoughts that came to mind after reading Pilar’s post …

        Be certain the Twin Falls, Idaho, Walgreens is performing the Hawaii state approved test; my local Walgreens n rural Oregon does not. If they test, get appointments- don’t drive two hours and walk-in.

        Be certain EACH person opens a Safe Travel account at the Hawaii travel web site (individual usernames and passwords). Read, learn and follow the procedures.

        And good luck!

          1. Paul M

            Pilar and companions may also not be aware of this Maui travel restriction I ran across on the Southwest Airlines web site while planning my travel to Oahu:

            “Additional Requirements for Travel to Maui from the Mainland

            “All travelers must download the AlohaSafe Alert App on their mobile phone before departing for Maui. If a traveler attempts to do so on arrival, it will be too late and quarantine will be required.”

          3. Mary T

            Aloha BOH! Thank you for being so informative, I read your blogs daily. Our trip is next week:
            We leave Saturday March 13th for HNL for two nights, then fly to the Big Island on Monday, March 15th. I understand we need to take 3 Covid tests, 72 hours prior to last departure leg to Hawaii, then again 72 hours prior to our departure to Kona and once again when we land in Kona…which brings me to the testing provider… 72 hours before Kona I will still be on the mainland. So do I use an approved mainland provider OR since it is inter-island, do I have to use an approved inter-island provider?? With a 4 hr 42 min layover at LAX I figured we could take our second test there, but after reading the rules, it sounds like we may have to test in Honolulu to get to Kona… appreciate your thoughts. Mahalo!

          4. Beat of Hawaii

            Hi Mary.

            Thank you. You need to test with an approved mainland provider within 72 of your mainland to Hawaii flight. Then you’ll test in Honolulu again for your departure to Big Island. The test on arrival in Kona will be provided so you needed plan for that. For any clarification, the state’s Safe Travels help desk is at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

            Aloha.

  2. Cori C

    Aloha again!
    Wow, what a great place to come to get information. Thank you for this site.
    Can anyone tell us if there is any bar service to catch a drink on a long layover at Honolulu airport?

    Thanks much

    2. Justin S

      Cori….we flew through HNL Presidents’ Day weekend and the only olace open for food was Burger King and Starbucks. Everything else, with regards to food and drink, was not open. It may have changed but that is how it was mid February. Recommend you call ahead.

  3. Cori C.

    Aloha! Please assist: We have a flight that leaves from Oakland to Hilo, with a layover in Honolulu.
    Oakland flight leaves at 9:30 am PST, arrives in Honolulu and then leaves Honolulu at 3:30pm Hawaii time.
    My Covid test was taken at 12:30 PST, which covers me for Oakland flight. Will it still count for arrival in Hilo or do I need a test that coincides with the flight that leaves Honolulu??

    Ug, this is so freaking confusing. Any help is appreciated.

    Mahalo

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Cori.

      You need only comply with the within 72 hour of mainland departure requirement. Having a connecting flight is not an issue. Feel free to discuss with the state if you’d prefer. The Safe Travels Hawaii Program Service Desk toll-free can be contacted at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

      Aloha.

    2. JWI

      Sorry if answered already…we plan to take an approved test in Calif then travel to Maui for two weeks; then travel to Oahu for a week. Do we need any special testing for our Oahu leg?

    3. Andrea B

      Exactly confusing! I woud be worried & stressed about the test result coning back in time.That is why I’m waiting until the vaccine passport to be official. Plus, I’m still saving $$ for my trip next year to Oahu:)♡♡ God Bless you! Stay safe & healthy!

  4. Joy B

    I have had great replies from you all. I am a bit confused though. Traveling to Kauai Feb 24,2021. I have looked at websites etc. I have called the number given for testing info…they did not know the answer either…..For Kauai they all say any PCR or antigen test will work. I am wondering if they include “rapid” tests? No one has been able to give me a definitive answer…..it would be nice to have that info as there would be no worry about turn around time!
    Thank you!

    1. Andrea B

      Dear Joy, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu for next year. I’m waiting for the vaccine passport to be approved because I’m a teacher & already vaccinated.I don’t want to travel now because I would be worried & stressed about the test result being back in time. Plus, I’m still saving $$ right now.Stay safe & healthy! God bless, Andrea:)

  5. Soap. R

    Aloha,
    Have any of you done testing through Kaiser? If so, how was the return rate of your testing results?
    And for example, if your flight is from oakland, CA on Monday 2/22 at 9am, would you schedule your test on 2/19? So that it gives you the max time of 72 hours turn around?
    Lastly, does arriving at a certain time at Oahu airport affects the testing time? As oahu is 3 hours ahead.
    Or does it just matter on your department time?
    Would like some clarifications. Mahalo.

    2. Ed. C

      Hawaii time is irrelevant. Arrival time in Hawaii is irrelevant. The test has to be done within 72 hours before the DEPARTURE time for your flight to Hawaii. So, you don’t want to do it BEFORE 9:00am on 02/19. If you have a connecting flight before your Hawaii flight, that departure time is also irrelevant.

    3. Mark w

      I am in Maui now. Travelled from ca and used Kaiser. Took test within 72 hours of departure flight to Maui and got results from Kaiser in 30 hours. Created profile on safe travels site, then entered travel info. When I got results from Kaiser, clicked the print button and printed to pdf. Uploaded the pdf to safe travels website. Complete health questionnaire within 24 hours, download tracking program and you are good to go. Show QR code at airport with ID and you are free to move about the island!

      1. JWI

        Hi Mark. KP members here also. We have had about four different tests taken from them late lat year. First three came back within two days, last one around Thanksgiving took 5 days if I recall correctly. Was there a special progress in the test scheduling where you informed them you needed a far turnaround for Hawaii travel?

        Thanks

  6. Job B

    Oklahoma City to Phoenix 2/24/21. Phoenix to Honolulu 2/24/21 and 3 hour layover then Honolulu to Lihue 2/24/21 is our route to Kauai! Mahal I!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi again Joy.

      What are your plans for arrival on Kauai? The three current choices are 10-day quarantine, or a minimum 3-4 night stay on either another island or in a bubble resort. For quarantine, no testing is required. For the other choices, it is.

      Aloha.

  7. Cori C

    Aloha! Has anyone had any issues with using Walgreens Rapid Test (ID Now)? The site says it is accepted but I don’t want to make any mistakes! Can’t use any of the ones that have to be mailed back because our travel is on Wednesday.
    Mahalo.

    1. Ed, C

      The ID Now Rapid Test given by Walgreens is a Hawaii approved NAAT test. DON’T do the PCR test which is a NAAT test but Walgreens does not guarantee results within the 72 hour period.

  8. Ed. C

    I’m trying to find the answer to a question I haven’t specifically seen anywhere. We are going to be in Maui in a couple of weeks. My cousin and her husband will be traveling with us and would very much like to hop over to the Big Island for a day trip to see Volcano National Park. I know we would need pre-travel tests within 72 hours of going over to the Big Island and have found a testing provider close to where we will be staying in Lahaina. My question is, since we would be going over and coming back the same day (IF flights are available) do we need a separate test to come back to Maui or can we use the same test to come back since it would be within the 72 hour time frame? Or, are inter-island day trips even possible right now?

    Thanks BOH!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Ed.

      We have wondered the same thing and believe that the one test will qualify since the travel will remain within 72 hours. Perhaps the best thing is to check with either the county (Maui). You could also ask the Safe Travels Hawai‘i Program Service Desk toll-free at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. Not sure the state will know, however. Please let us know how it works out. Thank you.

      Aloha.

  9. Suzanna G

    Aloha! Question about registering on the Safetravels form. Last time was easy because we had a direct flight to Maui. This time we have a stopover in Honolulu before connecting flight to Kona. Do we I enter our flight number only to HNL or only the one to KOA? It won’t let me put both. We’re fingers crossed to depart this Tues, 2/2. Thank you!! Suzanna

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Suzanna.

      Hopefully someone who has used the form recently can give us a hand. Alternatively, you can contact the state via the Safe Travels Hawai‘i Program Service Desk toll-free at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

      Aloha.

      1. Suzanna G.

        Thank you as always for being so prompt. I investigated a little further & both the State safe travels FAQ page and Southwest’s Hawaii travel notice page gave me the answer. The safe travels form requires each leg of the ticket to be a separate trip…so one trip SMF-HNL with a QRcode given, and a second trip entry HNL-KOA with a 2nd QR Code. We’re good to go, Mahalo!! Hopefully our info will help someone else with the same question. Aloha!

  10. Charles

    We are scheduled to come April 10th to Maui and then Kauai second week. But I am a little confused about the 72 hour test. Say if your flight leaves the mainland at 6 pm ca time, we have test done est. time zone, and results 72 hours falls at 3 pm pst, can we still fly since that would make it 75 hours? Please try to clarify this for us.

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