What’s next in the ongoing saga of Hawaii reopening.
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112 thoughts on “Why Airlines Just Pressed Pause on Hawaii Deals and Ramp-Up”
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What’s next in the ongoing saga of Hawaii reopening.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
I booked a vacation to Kona for 6 people for August 6; a trip I booked and paid for in January. With the 3 day testing window in force, I felt it was too risky to my sizable investment, so I canceled everything. Hawaii’s restrictions may further harm their economy, as many people won’t want to gamble their money on whether or not they can fly. I get it, but I’m done with a Hawaii vacation for awhile. Maybe the Caribbean.
Almost everyone I talk to feels the same and won’t be traveling to Hawaii until all testing requirements are dropped, and airlines and travelers have 100% assurance that their plans aren’t going to be impacted by unnecessary government bureaucracy.
Aloha Guys!
You said, “PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure…” Is this a specific type of test, and how is it administered. If so, why would they limit it to one specific test type? It appears the Government has a horrible case of “Island Time”, when it comes to making decisions on this issue, as they continue to demolish the Hawaiian Economy! I know Governments are slow, but things like this are why Ige has an abysmal 20% approval rating! SMH
Mahalo Guys!
Hi Jim.
Thanks. We have the same question on test types and just published a post that includes that. Certainly hope to know more soon.
Aloha.
Hi Ya’ll, I’m back. I feel like I am posting annoyingly often. Supposed to fly to Kauai on August 15. I was on the phone this morning with quest. They said most test results are taking 7 to 9 days and they were unsure at this point if I could get tested at a drive up location for travel. I asked if there was an expedited test where we would pay more out of pocket and receive the results quicker. I was unable to get an answer on that. I then called CVS. They still have not added a travel criteria for testing as of now. I then called my local doctor and was told I could schedule a tele-visit 5 days prior to the desired testing date and discuss it with my doctor. This sounded promising until she followed this up with …”no promises”. I need to cancel two weeks ahead of travel to not lose my time share weeks.
For what it’s worth, I talked to someone at Hanalei Bay resort and they are betting that tourism does not open on August 1 due to rising cases in Oahu. I guess we need to hang loose for a few weeks and make a decision then. Thanks again for keeping us posted. I’ll keep checking in with BoH. Appreciate your work.
Hi Lisa.
Thanks for your comments.
Aloha.
We are relocating to Kona on August 6th, we have set up with a lab where we live now to have our test done on the 3rd, I understand that should we not get our test results until after we arrive we have to go into quarantine but when our results arrive as Negative we will then be released from quarantine. My question is to whom do we call and/or give our results to – to be released? There seems to be a gap at this point in the instructions.
Hi Paula,
The reality is that there are more questions than answers, at this point, but guaranteed that you will receive instructions from officials at the Airport, as you will have to fill out paperwork for where you are staying, length of visit, and to determine if you have test results or not, etc…they should have the information for sure at that point, but you will likely have answers before you leave. I wouldn’t hold my breath at the speed the Hawaii Government is moving though! Haha!
Aloha!
Can’t wait to be back in Maui from Whistler , BC. Hope to see you in November. Can’t break my ten year tradition!
We purchased a home in Lahaina in April and hope to visit soon from California. We do understand the need for protection from travel-related transmission. We are scheduled to fly in early August. Our community provides free testing to asymptomatic persons on an appointment-only basis as they seem interested in understanding virus pervasiveness in the community. We will set an appointment prior to travel and hope the results arrive in time for departure! We have a rental car scheduled while we attempt to purchase a car but we just received an email from the broker today that the company filed for bankruptcy. We will persist and try to get to our new home. But we will also be patient and do our best to understand that government (at least in Hawaii) is trying to do what is best for its citizens. Hope to see you soon! Mask up and be safe. And thank you for these informative articles!
Hi Kevin.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I am arriving on Aug 15th with my granddaughter. My test is on Aug 6th results take one week now in Las Vegas. will that work? Let me know as I will have to cancel my hotel if this does not work
Hi LOUiSE,
If your granddaughter is older, then she will likely need to be tested also. I am not sure of the minimum age of children who are required to test, but it will likely be very low. At this point you will need to be tested within 72 hours of departure, but that appears likely to be changed to possibly 5 or 7 days. If you do not have results in hand, you will be quarantined in your Hotel, until you have results and can prove you tested negative.
Also, you may want to read the “Read this first:” under the big bold words “LEAVE A REPLY”, as you are more likely to get an answer to questions, if you say “Please”, “Aloha”, “Mahalo”, or “Thank You”
Beat of Hawaii, will likely put out this information as soon as they learn about it, as they are very efficient at distributing information as it arrives!
Aloha!
Hi Jim.
Thank you!
Aloha.
With the mainland hoping to surpass the Spanish influenza (sarcasm)…over 80,000 confirmed cases in one day, we may be on track. Right now NH is going to have a political rally with no social distancing or masks. As a resident of a bordering state, the people who attend that rally should not be allowed into the bordering states. New England is going down now.We don’t need a new infection rate due to careless people. My conference has been rescheduled to next year, approximately 17 months. Looking forward to it and hope this will be a distant memory by then.
Stay Safe.
Why are the states not suing the Administration for losses from tourism decline ?
ALL of this could have been avoided.
The airlines, airports, and TSA should be paying for the testing.
I’m not paying a $160 surcharge to travel.
M
Aloha Michael!
How can the states sue the Federal Government for the decisions the states made??? Each state made its own (individual) decision to shut down. Although the Feds did give recommendations (based on faulty data sources, at that), the only decisions the Feds made were to shut down international borders, as well as fund a few trillion dollars to support virtually all industries related to tourism (and others), AND Give most Americans $1200…to boot, they started shutting down international travel early on, when the first cases started showing up in this country.
Frankly, I don’t think Federal Tax Dollars should go to pay for anyone’s vacation to Hawaii, nor should any Airline have to fund the cost. Do you really think that, if Airlines had to pay even part of the cost, it wouldn’t get tossed right back to you in Ticket prices? It’s naive to think you aren’t going to end up paying in one way or another.I don’t want to pay $160 for the test, but I sure the heck don’t want to pay your’s or anyone else’s either! I would rather pay mine, before adding more Tax Dollars to pay for your visit, lol!
If Hawaii wants to test people, then the State should have to fund it, and again I am sure many Taxpayers there would have a fit about it… It’s bad enough it’s already borderline discriminatory against the rest of Americans to be forced to take a test to Enter a US State. In June the Feds (DoJ) already challenged that aspect in court claiming it was discrimination…
Exactly how do you suggest all of this could have been avoided??? I’d love to hear your 20/20 hindsight/armchair quarterback analysis, based on what you think, on facts you now know, which hadn’t been exposed until after this whole fiasco got going…please enlighten me.
Mahalo!
Aloha
Mahalo for the information. It seems that the decision on testing is not complete. My family is afraid that once they land here,their COVID 19 test will not be accepted. Weird times!
Hi Kay.
Thanks.
Aloha.
All points above are valid my family is scheduled to arrive Aug 4 . This is after 3 reschedules now. Need answers to all these questions. Thanks for this article.
Hi Karen.
Thanks.
Aloha.
How far in advance should I be tested if I’m going to Hawaii aug. 23rd on southwest airlines also my granson 12yrs. Old
Hi Marilyn.
We should have clarification from the state shortly on that.
Aloha.
So I’m planning a trip to Big island Hawaii to visit my Son. July 15 2020. I know about the 14 day quar antined Do I get temperature test upon arrival? Also should I get a covid-19 test there upon arrival or bring results with me.i appreciate and yes I do THANKYOU for helping me understand what to be expected.
Hi Margaret.
New rules start August 1. For July 15, you will get a temperature scan, and you will be in 14-day mandatory isolation.
Aloha.
I got my results today – 7 days after testing.
My DIL was told they wouldn’t test children under 5 even those they had been exposed.
I called everywhere in my county (in California) to look for faster test. The paid tests were at least 5 days, the free ones said 8. They are moving to electronic results (instead of a nurse calling me – seems archaic) so hopefully things speed up. I am negative (related to a first responder who is asymptomatic positive) but wish I had been positive so I could relax a little! 🙂
Another question – if you test positive for antibodies, will that be equal to a negative test for travel?
Hi Lisa,
I searched for this answer, to no avail, before I took the antibody test. At this point I have seen no answer to this question, and apparently you will still have to be tested to fly into Hawaii. How many days ahead, is the real question now. That may change in next few weeks to come, however. Bottom line, at this point, people should just plan on testing for the time being, if they want to go anytime in the next few months.
Aloha!
The state of Alaska has been able to do it for months! They still have one of the least amounts of cases in United States. They have three options for visitors traveling from out of state: 1. Produce a negative test result 72 hours prior to arriving. 2. Take a test at the airport and quarantine until test results are received. 3. Quar antine for 14 days. After getting off the plane you have to line up in an area to produce the proper documents and depending on which option you provide them, you’re free to enjoy your vacation.
Alaska also has native communities and villages to protect and they’re getting it done!
Alaska has not much more than half the population of the Hawaiian Islands; Hawaii receives nearly 10 times the tourism Alaska does; Alaska is roughly 60 times larger than the state of Hawaii, and it is about 20% of the size of the entire contiguous 48 states; It’s kind of like comparing “sardines in a can” to fish in a lake lol. Although Alaska has a successful program, the dynamics and logistics involved for Hawaii are drastically different, when it comes to tourism, but there may be similarities in the process?! lol