What visitors need to know now about Hawaii travel.
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574 thoughts on “Hawaii Delays Reopening Amid Failed Pre-Travel Testing Plans”
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What visitors need to know now about Hawaii travel.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Aloha,
Guess our plans for 9/1 are scrapped after the 2and try. Discovered we can fly Hawaiian Airlines Phoenix to Tokyo via Honolulu. Looks like that’s our fall trip. Sorry 🤨
Last I checked, Japan was making US travelers quar antine for 14 days. No different than Hawaii.
I don’t wish to be pessimistic, but need to be realistic. I’ve been trying to plan to trip to either Maui or Kauai for this year, but I’m giving up. Good luck with the rest of the year to everyone in the islands who need tourism to make a living. Sorry, but I just can’t take this uncertainty anymore.
Great article! I truly believe that Hawaii’s leadership has no intention of letting non-residents in any time soon. The promised August 1 reopening date and pre-arrival testing bypass promise were likely just delay tactics. Very sad for travelers like me who have had to cancel trips to these beautiful and beloved islands.
Hi MM.
Thanks.
Aloha.
what is Ige waiting for? Why is there no announcement yet? I am getting impatient.
I am really concerned, I am due to arrive in Kona in 3 weeks and as everyone knows the whole 72 hour testing/results in not even an option where I live. I have been so excited about this trip we were celebrating my son,daughter-in-law grandson, granddaughter birthdays and my anniversary. We planned on a luau and deep sea fishing everyone has been counting down the days and this is such a disappointment. I totally understand wanting to be safe and I woek at our hospital so I can tell you I totally understand practicing safety from the c0vid however what I don’t understand is why you can’t be like so many other states Including Missouri which is where I am from and just do the mandatory masks. If it’s good enough for so many other states and airplane why wouldn’t it be good enough for Hawaii? I am waiting one more week to see if there is an outcome that is actually do-able if not I will take my family somewhere else and give them our money I feel really bad for what your economy must be going through.
this sounds bad for us folks who have August trips planned.
[Link omitted related to will governor postpone August 1 reopening date].
August 27th, Maui….. Fingers crossed…
We are coming down to the wire for August 1st opening! What is this governor waiting for??? What are the test stipulations??? Now he want to change the tests??? We need answers now. Monday I am scheduling c0vid tests for an August 8th arrival!!!
Another question I have are there going to be places open to visit?
This is too hard and stressful for vacation planning. Please let us know. I know I’m not the only one wondering.
Thank you for you support through this mess.
Aloha
Hi Pam.
Thanks. We’re about to publish an update on what’s open in Hawaii.
Aloha.
Public health officials say community spread of COVID-19 is increasing in Hawaii, and outbreaks on the mainland are worsening. On Wednesday, a major Hawaii laboratory said one of its testing suppliers had cut off some of its shipments as it moved to do business with other states.
For those reasons, Hawaii’s governor and mayors are reevaluating plans for an Aug. 1 reopen, Oahu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Thursday. The plan was to launch a new traveler screening system, allowing people to bypass Hawaii’s 14-day quar antine if they provide negative COVID-19 test results.
My wife and I have rebooked our trip twice to go to Hawaii in late September, but at this rate it’s probably better for us to go to Yellowstone and not worry about the confusion with the State of Hawaii. I am sadden for the burden (much unfair) on the businesses that rely heavily on tourism, they are the victims that will never recover and ultimately become dependent upon the State and local governments for assistance relief exacerbating the Virus to a new height that will make the virus itself small.
Currently, in my state of Oregon, they are saying we have a shortage of tests, and only those with symptoms can be tested. We have a trip planned in January and I sure hope things get more organized or we won’t be able to go!
Wouldn’t it make more sense for travellers to have a negative test before boarding the plane to fly to Hawaii? If not, you could have one traveller waiting to take a test when they arrive who has C0vid and has now infected everyone else who already has tests showing they are negative. It doesn’t really make sense.
I agree that testing take place prior to going to HI. It may be a problem for some travelers but it beats contracting Covid on the flight to HI.
you said we were supposed to get info on testing and other updates yesterday. What happened ?
The HTA website dropped the NAAT wording. It now says “The FDA-approved test from a CLIA-certified laboratory will need to be done prior to arrival.”
Thank you for the excellent updates. I am watching the news now and it sounds like they want to back out of the Aug 1 date for testing. Is this for real? And I thought the testing concession was in response to the lawsuit that it is illegal to restrict movement across state borders. How does this change?
I’m not sure why Hawaii doesn’t contract with one of those rapid testing firms from Korea and just administer at the airport. Visitors and residents. I’d guess that’s actually safer than what the the government is doing now. Then Hawaii would actually be in control of the process rather than this bureaucratic nightmare. Pick the test that they want and offer it.
Hi Carrie.
Thank you.
Aloha.
The whole “testing before you fly to Hawaii” scheme is even more pointless and misguided than the quar antine. But, hey, “Welcome to Hawaii–the land of disfunctional government!” No surprises there.
Again, the goal never should have been and should never be zero cases in Hawaii. Sure, pre-February and even pre-March, everything we were hearing out of places like Italy–and then later, out of places like New York–was apocalypic–with very high mortality rates reported early on. But that simply has not been the case in Hawaii at all–ever. In Hawaii county there have been only 97 total known cases–with only THREE even requiring any sort of hospitalization (all recently)–and ZERO deaths. That’s a 0% mortality rate–and only a 3% hospitalization rate. In Kaui county, the results are virtually the same. Only 43 known cases, only ONE person hospitalized–and ZERO deaths. Maui county has had a few deaths (6) out of 130 cases–mostly early on and mostly elderly. And, of course, Honolulu / Oahu–with the largest and most diverse population–and with by far the largest number of daily arrivals (+/- 30,000 people per day before the quarantine was imposed) has had only THIRTEEN deaths–out of 842 known cases–over a period of FOUR months… a mortality rate of +/- 1.5% for known infected persons–again, mostly elderly–and mostly BEFORE we knew what we were dealing with–or how to deal with IT.
Almost without exception, nationally and locally, the mortality rate from C0VID-19 has been in decline–as testing and treatments have improved–and as infections and deaths have moved from mainly the elderly and infirmed to a broader cross-section of the general popluation. What we now know–factually–that we absolutely did not know back in February or March–is that: (1) with common sense precautions–like social distancing and mask wearing–and to a much lesser degree, “hand washing” / sanitizing everything in site (which is mostly just a boondoggle to create jobs, decrease legal liability, and make people “feel” safer)–we can can greatly diminsh the spread of the virus and (2) the infection rates are MUCH higher than we originally imagined–meaning that hospitalization and mortality rates across the broad spectrum of the population are MUCH lower than originally thought. Sure, they’re still higher than, say, the seasonal flu… but they aren’t catastrophic, either.
The point of this being that it is not even necessary to test or even quar antine incoming travelers to Hawaii–though if the state(s) and the feds can get their .. together quickly and figure out how to do that quickly–ACCURATELY–and affordably–there’s certainly no reason not to integrate that into the re-opening model for the state of Hawaii. We all know now that this thing is real–and we’re all used to wearing masks and social distancing and sanitizing–and the health care systems are (or at least SHOULD BE) well prepared by now, to handle increases in things like testing and diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals–both locals and visitors. The reality is that if we’re all walking around with masks on and taking the correct precautions–and a few people out there ARE infected–we should have a VERY low chance of catching the virus from them–and if we do happen to catch it, we should have a VERY high probability of recovering from it quickly uneventfully. And those at higher risks can and should take great precautions until a vaccine has been developed–which is certainly many months if not years away.
Even if the state of Hawaii removed all travel restrictions and quar antines TOMORROW, it would take MANY months–probably several YEARS–for tourist / inbound travel levels to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels. The airlines aren’t even flying enough flights to Hawaii right now to bring more than a few hundred to a few thousand more people a day here. So, that gives us even MORE time to prepare. We went from 30,000 arrivals a day to 300 in very short period of time. Even with travel restrictions lifted tomorrow I doubt we’d be back to 3000 arrivals for many months. Most of the people coming back and forth would be friends, family, residents, business travelers, people with second homes / repeat visitors–who would ultimately have very limited and easily traceable contact with other locals.
Sure, the infection rate would likely pop up to slightly higher–but certainly MANAGEABLE levels in the short to medium term. And, if and when that happened, the state and the counties could continue tweaking and adjusting their policies and procedures to respond to and manage those events quickly to squash them… just as other countries–like Vietnam and S. Korea (and others) have been doing this entire time very effectively–without prolonged shut downs.
What’s the rush? You might ask? Well, for one, it’s no rush. Were 4 months into this thing already–and the financial and social costs to the state and counties–and businesses–and people of Hawaii have already been enormous. The state of Hawaii was already involvent to the tune around $5,000,000,000 dollars even BEFORE the shutdown and quarantine started–essentially choking off a huge percentage of the state’s revenue base. But guess what? Your property taxes are still due. Your school taxes are still due. Your income taxes are still due. Virtually ALL state and county employees are STILL getting paid. So, essentially, the state and the counties have just been charging all of these new, COVID-19 expenses to a giant credit card account… that is owed, due, and payable by the citizens and taxpayers of Hawaii… that alreay had an overdue balance of $5 BILLION dollars–while at the same time, state tax revenues have completely collapsed (by 50%).
The cost to taxpayers–per day–is easily in the $12,0000,000 per DAY mark–probably closer to double that. How? Because public spending has not decreased AT ALL–in fact it is likely much INCREASED–while at the same time, general fund revnues have halved. And that does not take into consideration ANY of the lost revenue to local business–which is easily in the billions of dollars.
Sure, human life is precious and all that. But HOW precious? $100,000,000 per person? $1,000,000,000? More? At some point, we have to be honest with ourselves and do that math.
Your logic has already been tested. Hopefully, you have read the results: Arizona: 25% POSITIVE test results; Florida: Highest daily positive rates for a state since the beginning of the pandemic; Texas: Strain on most larger hospitals’ ability to cope with rising case numbers.
ALL made the same arguments you made. ALL chose the wrong bet. If your goal is to stop the spread, your methodology is sorely lacking.
I was going to comment on this article, but Jared X has hit the nail on the head. I would only add, the entire premise at the beginning of this shutdown was “15 days the slow the spread” then it was “flatten the curve” to keep hospitals from being overrun. Then it was “we’ll bribe you (with your own money) to stay at home while we figure this thing out.” Now Hawaii’s government has transformed into some insane gambit to ensure that nobody even gets sick on the island.
People are getting sick at the highest rates we have seen, but death rates cannot be hidden, and they are WAY lower than we were initially told. Remember that it was proclaimed to be 5%? Now, we’re seeing that number was too high by a factor of TEN. That is insane, and puts it around the same rate as the flu. Look for a chart that overlays total cases and total deaths… if you can even find one, you will see that the two only have a loose association, and that cases have ballooned at a much higher rate over the last month and a half compared to deaths. It just isn’t the threat it has been made out to be. Isolate the old and infirm, stop throwing people on ventilators, and treat this illness with the methods that we have seen work.
How many of your personal friends and family are you willing to sacrifice Harvey? 1? 10? 100? Hawaii are ISLANDS 20 million people show up from all around the world and infect the entire islands? they have NO place to go. I sincerely hope you find an alternative and DO NOT visit Hawaii. None of us want people with entitled attitudes [edited].
Myself and 5 of my family have reservations Aug 1st to the 9th. We have already rebooked our trip. We have no problem with the state request for a C0vid test. In fact, it eases my mind. We are getting so close to leaving, and I have been trying to not let any of my family be concerned that we have no clue yet how we are getting these test to your state within 72 hrs before we go. But, I’m starting to get nervous. This is an extremely expensive trip that the owner of the property has been so kind to rebook with no fee. But, if we cant get results before flying, I may not get a refund again.
I know you probably have this question asked more times than I could imagine… But, could you please tell me if you think this trip will REALLY happen, or should I start preparing my family once again that we will not be going.
Thank you for your response in advance.
Wendy
Hi Wendy.
Yes totally frustrating to not know. We do hope to have clarification on August 1 soon, but that is obviously out of our control.
Aloha..
Hello, do you have any idea what the difference is between the naat and pcr covid tests. I can’t find any info at all on naat tests.
Thank you very much!
Hi Anthony.
Others have said in comments what they have learned. We’ll provide more information as soon as we have it.
Aloha.
I am super curious about this too… my trip is August 1st ( originally I’m June ) not sure if I should cancel now. Keep us updated thank you
Hi Timer.
Will do.
Aloha.
Timber – my daughter and her fiance travel Aug 1 also. I think you will make it! Surely they’ll make some changes or else no one will come.
Never mind:(
We are August 15th. Please, keep us posted on your process. You are like the canary in the mine.
Hi Lisa.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thank for keeping us informed. This sounds very complicated and we may be rescheduling our August 21st trip to Maui not by choice, this will be our second reschedule, better safe than sorry.
Hi Joan.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Good morning.
If we are vacationing from the mainland to Hawaii and have the test results, will we have to take another test to come back to the mainland?
Thank you,
Sharie
Hi Sharie.
No, you will not.
Aloha.
Thanks for such great information on the c0vid travel information , this is becoming quite a complex situation and now one thing being considered is a second test being required after being in Hawaii 7 days to confirm that the traveler is not infected with covid . I personally would be happy to do this if it makes the people of Hawaii feel safer that travelers are being cautious and am willing to pay a reasonable fee for this .
Please clarify the type of test required.
Antibody test and / or C0vid 19 active virus test.
Thank you
Hi Judy.
Not antibody. But let’s wait for next clarification.
Aloha.
Can you please clarify a rumor? I was told by someone at a hotel on Kauai that all flights to kauai will now have to connect through Honolulu. I have not been notified of this by Delta yet.
Thank you!
Lisa
Hi Lisa.
While that has been the case, we have heard no such thing about what happens starting August 1.
Aloha.
Looks like Hawaii has figured out how to “Legally ” re-open any yet keep the tourist out.. I wonder how they would be reacting if all their free government money was taken away until the islands open back up. ..
There are safe ways to live with the “New Normal ” … Step up Hawaii , your being completely irresponsible to your local citizens in regards to their livelihood .. When you’ve killed the tourism industry, Caused property owners from the mainland to file bankruptcy and destroyed outside investors … Then Where Are You Goung To Get Your Tax Dollars ? ? ? ? ?
Thank you,
Hi Chris.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Chris H free money? You DO realize that Hawaiians ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS pay taxes etc? So how pray tell do you think they are getting FREE MONEY?
Yes exactly Paul, Hawaii is a Part of the U.S. And our Goverment is so far in dept from this C0vid pan demic it may never recover….
All the states within the U.S. have been given substancial amounts of money and also their citizens . So the point is — We can travel to any other STATE But Hawaii.. — Again it’s part of the UNITED STATES … Not fair to reap all the benefits the U.S. Has to offer , but then bite the hand that feed you.
It’s time to function under the “New Normal ” Hawaiis biggest income is from tourism , in all the months of shutdown Hawaii should have had a clear plan in place for C0vid-testing and Welcoming tourist to the islands.
There’s no incentive to go back to work when the goverment is giving you more money staying home than working… ( and that’s happening in All States ) Hawaii can not support itself, it needs the tourism to survive .
Thank you 🌺
Hi Chris.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Well, to be fair, a lot of the “local citizens” are getting a check to do nothing–or less than they were doing before–and were already getting EBT, etc before the shut downs. The beach parks are full of locals all day every day… hanging out and having fun. I don’t think they’re in any big hurry to go back to work.
Its time to just shutter down again and get rid of this virus once and for all. We have already paid out a ton of money and to ask us to spend an additional 640 dollars for the four of us who are coming will take money directly out of the hands of the small businesses there that need the money the most. If a decision is not made soon we will be putting off our visit till 2021 at some point. I love everyone there and want you all to be safe so to be clear I am not complaining just sounding off on the extra expenses. I would much rather put those dollars into hands of locals who need it.
Also stop with the politics already. Seems the LT governor is playing a big game here vs the Governor. Mahalo
Hi Paul.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Are we watch the movie “Ground Hog Day?” I could’ve sworn nearly the exact same scenario was delivered by you two days ago? Oh wait, it IS the same scenario. SOS, different day … ROFL!!!
For us with plans to travel, it is really frustrating that the state couldn’t have thought through these things before announcing the opening of the state. For example, deciding on what kind of tests will be required. My state has been doing PCR tests and most places offer only this kind of test. A brief Google search turned up a whopping number of 1 place that does it in Texas for patients of the hospitals and clinics it serves. Nowhere else. How in the world did Hawaii come up with this testing requirement? It just seems like they are woefully overwhelmed by the situation and have no real ability or clear plan to meet the challenge.
Hmm… let’s see… so on our annual vacation from Canada we will have to book a flight and hope the border is open by the date of departure, then hope that if we can obtain a c0vid test within 72 hours of departure it will be accepted in Hawaii and not be rejected due to some bureaucratic snafu (but they told us it was valid!) and then we will have to risk contracting c0vid at the airport and on the plane where we will be seated among Tylenol zonked out passengers hoping to thwart the temperature screening on arrival, then we have to hope we pass the temperature screening and not be sent back. In other words, not a hope in hades.
Hello,
Thanks for the ever changing and confusing updates, oh me oh my. What would we do without you guys! Please let your readers know about this option.
Here in Indiana, the state offers free testing sites and you don’t have to show any symptoms to get it.
I’d say it’s worth a try to call your State Department of Health and see if that’s an option.
I’ve been told that the results come back rather quick.
Good luck everyone!!
Hi Julie.
Thank you.
Aloha.
What kind of testing are they doing? PCR or NAAT? And from my friends in Indiana, the state tests are still taking a decent amount of time. It would be more helpful as well for you to provide better info for your examples.
California does not provide any covid tests unless an individual has at least one symptom. Assuming I am healthy, then I can not get a test.
hawaii has stayed that tests can be done prior to planned trip.
Even though CVS may provide tests, same process followed about having symptoms. so therefore what is an alternative to get a test for healthy resident/tourists? any feedback would be appreciated.
thank you.
Not true. San Luis Opispo county offers everyone testing, symptoms or not.
Hi Brian,
I believe it varies by county. I’m in Santa Clara County and just got a test today at a drop-in testing site. My sister is in Orange County and couldn’t get a test without a doctor’s order.
I personally spoke with representatives of Hawai’ian Airline’s official flight insurance provider and was told unequivocally that the company DOES NOT cover COVID-19 issues as the specifically have written in their coverage that epidemics and pandemics are not covered.
So if you get stuck with a positive test, you’re on your own.
Mahalo Beat of Hawai’i for all you do for everyone!
Hi Pam.
Thank you.
Aloha.
It just gets weirder and weirder in Hawaii. I hope they figure it out . Right now this simply comedic, like who’s on first…
We moved our February 2021 trip to July 2021. We will decide in January 2021 whether to cancel completely or book flights.
Too many ‘what ifs’ for our comfort. It is all just waaaay too crazy. No one knows which end is up.
Hawaii may never be the same again. Not sure we want to visit the ‘new normal’ Hawaii. Nope. Not sure at all. We may just do a summer road trip to the mountains.
We love Hawaii and will cherish our Memories of one of the most beautiful places we have visited. But it isn’t the only lovely place on this earth. We will be disappointed if we don’t visit again. But…….
Hi Colleen.
We sure hope to see you in person again.
Aloha.
Aloha guys – I know you don’t own a crystal ball, but do you have any idea if the testing requirement will carry over into 2021? If so, I’m thinking we will need to cancel our plans for May 2021. Don’t worry, I won’t hold you to it, I’m just wondering what your guts are telling you, and if you would please share what you think. Mahalo, and please stay well!
Hi Debi.
Honestly no clue on that one. It is a new world. We’d like to make plans for an international business trip next year.
Aloha.
Aloha!
I did some internet sleuthing and it looks like the PCR test is a type of NAAT test.
Hi Jessica.
Thanks. Weird then how the state website worded the change.
Aloha.
ok so here’s a question:
I have a home where I do short term vacation rental.
under current law I’m allowed to do it if the visitor is NOT under quar antine, but it allowed to do it if the visitor is under quar antine.
But it sounds like under the August 1 rules, a visitor might not know if they’re under quarantine or not, until they arrive and get their temperature checked etc.
SO, how are they to know where they are allowed to book accommodation? How are we to know which bookings to accept?
FREE HOMEOWNERS TO ACCEPT GUESTS THE SAME WAY HOTELS ATE ALLOWED TO DO! I have even MORE oversight over my guests than a hotel does! Why do they get to accept guests while quarantining and I don’t?
Instead of hyping us up and worrying us, why not wait until tomorrow when you claim more info will be available ? I hope we have no problems leaving for our Aug 8 trip.
Does Hawaii really want to re-open the tourist industry? Sure doesn’t look like it.
Nah Doug … we need an imploding economy to wake folks up and make them wonder why in the world they continue to vote for incompetent politicians:)
I take it you have not seen Florida beaches that caused a huge spike huh?
We have a three week reservation beginning in late November. We will not travel without a PROVEN vaccine so this trip will be cancelled. We have traveled to Hawaii for many years and hopefully will return but at our age, mid-seventies, we will not take any chances. We are not holding our breath as we won’t reserve another trip until things are completely back to normal (no test, no masks, everything open).
I agree, the comfort that will come from the vaccine is huge. Planning, then replanting the trip with all the unknowns really makes the trip entirely too risky to take. Sorry to see the islands hurting so, but they have to be careful or their limited hospital beds will be flooded.
Thanks for your wonderful updates…I’m done. We’re going to wait until 2021, instead of Aug. What a mess…love Hawaii, but we can’t deal with this indecision/confusion.
Hi Dean.
Thanks.
Aloha.