Word today that we will have to wait until next week to see changes to Hawaii Safe Travels. The governor, who has been widely criticized for communication issues and unilateral, rapid-fire plan changes, is averse to making any further missteps. Ige said, in apparent support of upcoming changes, that of the nearly 300,000 visitors screened to date, only 44 had a positive test result after arrival. While we anticipated changes would be announced this week, we are now hearing otherwise. The apparent reason for the unexpected delay is to allow time for Hawaii to prepare for the new rules.
Beat of Hawaii editor Jeff was on an unrelated call with Lieutenant Governor Josh Green earlier today. Sharing some good news, Josh reported that Hawaii is doing far better than any other state in the country in terms of COVID. And that Hawaii is doing better by at least 50% than the next best state. That is confirmed by the CDC.
Following are the eight key stakeholder positions the governor will be considering:
1. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who is closely allied with Governor Ige and will run to replace him as governor, said yesterday that he is still awaiting approval from the governor for the single change most critical to Hawaii travel. That change would provide for an on-arrival test option to avoid quarantine. What is proposed is that visitors who tested according to the state requirements but did not receive their results in time for arrival in Hawaii will be able to obtain a rapid test in order to avoid the state’s otherwise mandatory quarantine.
2. Hawaii’s Attorney General Clare Connors told legislators yesterday that an announcement on Safe Travels changes will occur next week. At that time, the quarantine period (when it applies) will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days. That will, of course, be of no use to Hawaii visitors.
3. The House Committee on COVID has submitted its “White Paper” which calls for eliminating quarantine under the circumstances stated above. Mega Hawaii-insurer HMSA’s Mark Mugiishi said “And if you’re negative, you simply stay in quarantine until you get your trusted partner test. And if that’s also negative then you’re released from quarantine.”
4. Hawaii Department of Health. The director supports amending the Safe Travels program to implement a second antigen or another type of test from 3 to 5 days after arrival.
5. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green. He wants to see the pre-travel test window expanded from the current 72 hours to 96 hours, with a second test 3 to 5 days after arrival.
6. State legislature. The “House” Special Committee on COVID, says the Safe Travels program is working well and wants those who do not have a negative test result on arrival to be allowed to take a subsequent test. When both negative test results are provided, travelers would be exempted from quarantine. The “Senate” Special Committee, on the other hand, last week requested the state require additional testing on arrival, plus implement a mandatory 7-day quarantine period regardless of test results.
7. Hawaii county mayors. Kauai The four Hawaii’s mayors have agreed on a proposal to require the current pre-travel test along with a new second, post-travel test three to four days after arrival. This has also been presented to Governor Ige. As we said previously, Ige has indicated he is not inclined to allow the Safe Travels program to be defined differently on an island-by-island basis, as Kauai had earlier requested.
8. Hawaii’s primary medical organizations. Hawaii’s largest insurer and its largest medical/hospital system agree. These health stakeholders suggest arrivals who test within 72-hour of departure be exempt from quarantine if they also obtain a negative rapid test result on arrival in Hawaii and a negative pre-travel testing result. “This solution, in partnership with the stakeholders who will support it, is a good plan for this current time.”
Hi BOH! Hope you can help with something I just heard.
I contacted a lab to make an appointment for testing, and they said the collection had to be 72 hours before actual departure not scheduled departure, and if you have a delayed flight the result could be deemed out of compliance. I just looked at the Safe Travels website and couldn’t find anything addressing this issue, although I believe I have read on BOH the timing is per scheduled time. Is there anyplace I can reference that if my flight is delayed my test negative result will still be accepted?
Thanks as always!
Hi Pam.
Thanks. That answer is as we said, and can be found on this page: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/faqs/.
Aloha.
Lt Governor Green said no changes are likely this year on Sunday. This must be relief to many.
I hope they change to the 96 hours instead if 72 I am leaving on the 4 Jan in am and there is New Years day which they are not working and that leaves me so close to leaving it is making me nervous . So I am hoping they change it.
The second test needs to be approved for interisland travel as I will not be doing a 2nd test and then have to get another 3rd test for the interisland approved test. We have bent over backwards to rearrange our trip from May with numerous reschedules and trying to get things lines up for travel over Christmas (testing is a huge issue). The 2nd test was initially not valid for interisland travel and I don’t think that’s changed. We’re already spending $1k in testing. We’ve quarantined here to stay negative and we’re having to rebook our flights as to not go thru LAX (because they want you to quarantine). We’re ready to eat our losses if we continue to have to again change all of our plans due to the everchanging rules. I’m totally respectful of keeping HI safe but we know how to wear a mask, social distance and wash our hands. I hate having to check every day to see what Ige has changed to see what I have to do next. My two cents, sorry for the rant. Thanks.
Hi Sharon.
Thanks for the feedback.
Aloha.
Second rapid test works for me. My family is coming in a day after Christmas and we lose a testing results day. Long story short, a test at CVS or Walgreens 72 hours ahead of time will sit in the pharmacy until the end of the day, then get shipped or mailed to a lab which may cost another day depending on how it’s done. Then next day is a holiday so no work gets done. Slim chance of getting a test result before flight time. My last covid test took 15 days before a flight to Alaska
What would work great, 96 hour test would let me know before I fly which is hugely reasonable. Also we need more health labs at major airports. Love the article!
Hi Art.
Thanks. We are hopeful to hear about the suggested move from 72 hours to 96 hours next week.
Aloha.
I had book travel to Kauai from L.A. 3 weeks ago only to learn that travel restrictions has changed from pre flight testing to a 14 day quarantine. So, I cancelled my booking and now awaiting a total refund. Today I’m reading that the travel procedures may change back to its original 3 day travel pre test. Why can’t we get a definite plan procedure? This so confusing for us that really want to travel to Kauai.
XPRESCHECK Alert: New note on Xprescheck.com site: They do not offer Rapid Results testing at every location! (Specifically, they do not offer it at the Phoenix location.) Since when you make an appointment, there is no way to tell them which test you will be getting, you will not receive notification – that note has not always been there.
No more Hawaii in January for us!
Hi Barbara.
After all that! So sorry to hear that.
Aloha.
BOH…
It was just becoming totally nerve wracking and we decided not to go. After we made that decision, we discovered that Xprescheck.com, our ONLY option for Covid testing unless we wanted to spend FOUR extra days in Phoenix (and then sweat it out), did not have Rapid Results NAAT available.
I’ll actually sleep better now!!! We’ll be spending 10 days in Phoenix instead.
But we’ll still be on Kauai for three weeks in July/August and we’ll see you then. In the meantime, I won’t be leaving the site. You’re addictive!
BTW… I looking into flight reservations for the summer, Hawaiian Air has really bumped up their points requirements – by almost 50% depending on day/date!
Hi Barbara.
Thanks for this update and over 200 comments. We look forward to seeing you next summer when we trust much of this will be behind us.
Aloha.
The reason this whole thing is so complicated is because COVID is just not a big deal for such a high percentage of the population.
Everyone is familiar with the risk of getting sick and having it ruin your vacation. That’s a typical risk that everyone takes when they plan a vacation.
But now on top of the usual concerns, people are worried that they will have their vacation ruined not because they feel sick, but because they are told by a test that they are sick and a threat to everyone around them.
And the government is trying to convince people they should still come spend money in Hawaii, while also satisfying all the demands of people who want numerous tests at various intervals, like the 3-5 days after arriving idea from Josh Green. That’s just another source of anxiety on a family who spends thousands of dollars, and doesn’t know if the trip will get cut short in a moment.
People can yell and scream about how serious COVID is, but for most people it just isn’t. And in the end, it will prove to be far less serious to the people of Hawaii than the economic devastation from Governor Ige’s leadership.
Too true
Thank you BOH for an informative update. I am dismayed to see another round of changes to come. Though it takes a while to perfect a recipe, it seems Hawaii is taking a half baked cake out of the oven, adding more ingredients, then putting it back into the oven. Why? If data so far indicates 44 post-arrival positives out of 300,000 arrivals, what is Hawaii trying to achieve? Wish they would just leave it alone for a while and let the current program “season” before tinkering with it. Just my perspective.
Hi Jon.
Thank you. Interesting baking analogy.
Aloha.
So does that mean once you arrive with a negative Covid test, you are in quarantine until you get the results of the 2nd antigen test?