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COVID-19 and your trip to Hawai‘i

By Love Big Island | updated

The unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 has disrupted many parts of our society but 2021 may still end on a good note depending on how the situation evolves in the coming months. This means that it still makes sense to ask seriously consider how COVID-19 could impact your upcoming trip to Hawai‘i (if you are in the lucky position of planning one).

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The information on this page is primarily meant for people with concerns about traveling to Hawaiʻi. While we cannot give you definitive answers, we can provide you with up-to-date information about the current status of the Coronavirus in Hawai‘i, and discuss some potential impacts on your vacation plans.

Disclaimer: While we are keeping a close eye on the situation in Hawaiʻi to aggregate all travel information into one coherent resource we are not an official resource. Please consult any of the official links we supply below for the most up-to-date information.

Mandatory: the Safe Travels Application

Safe Travels is the mandatory online application form all travelers entering Hawaiʻi must complete. It collects travel and health information in order to protect the health and safety of visitors and residents alike.

The use of this app is mandatory for both interisland and trans-Pacific travelers.

The app replaces and streamlines the visitor arrival process, you can find the Safe Travels application at https://travel.hawaii.gov.

How does the Save Travels app work?

Everyone traveling to Hawai‘i needs to create an account on the travel.hawaii.gov website and fill in their trip details before they travel. Then, 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart, you will be prompted by email and/or text to complete the Travel Health Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire you receive a QR code. Make sure to save this QR code to your phone, as showing it at the airport will significantly speed up the arrival process.

Travelers that can’t show a valid negative test or proof of vaccination before starting the last leg of their trip to Hawaiʻi still have to complete a mandatory 10-day quarantine (see quarantine restrictions).

The following video outlines all the steps you need to take to before traveling to Hawai‘i:

The Pre-Travel Testing Program

The pre-travel testing of passengers — both residents and visitors — allows those with a negative result to avoid the state’s 10-day mandatory quarantine. The State of Hawaiʻi will accept test results ONLY from trusted testing and travel partners or the State’s Digital Health Pass Partners — AZOVA, CLEAR,  and CommonPass.

Important: A negative COVID-19 test result or proof of U.S. vaccination is required prior to departure to avoid quarantine in Hawai‘i.

Read more below about:

Outline of the pre-travel testing program (for transpacific domestic flights only)

While the details of the pre-travel testing program unfortunately keep changing, the following is a current outline of what travelers can expect:

  • All arriving travelers will be required to use the Save Travels app. This app will also allow you to upload your pre-travel test results.
  • The state of Hawaiʻi ONLY accepts test results from trusted testing and travel partners or the State’s Digital Health Pass Partners. You can find an up-to-date list of these partners at https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/.
  • The test has been taken within 72 hours from the final leg of your flight arriving to Hawaii. If you have a multi-city itinerary, it’s the departure time at the last city before arriving at a Hawai‘i airport. Travelers themselves will be responsible for the cost of the test.
  • The 10-day quarantine will remain in place for transpacific travelers who choose not to get pre-tested. Taking a test on Hawai‘i will not help you reduce your time in Quarantine (hence the name “pre-travel”)
  • If you have technical problems with the Safe Travels app you can contact the travels service desk at +1-855-599-0888 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. HST.

Pre-travel testing for interisland flights was discontinued as of 06/15/2021

Beginning June 15th, all restrictions on inter-county travel have been lifted (i.e., there will no longer be inter-island quarantine or pre/post travel testing requirements). Please note that this does not apply to travelers who have entered the state on a transpacific flight and then transferred to an inter-island flight.

Quarantine Restrictions for Hawaii

On October 1st, 2021 Governor Ige issued the latest emergency proclamation related to the COVID-19 response, which is valid up to November 31st, 2021.  Read more about the quarantine restrictions below:

Self-quarantine procedure

Upon arrival, visitors are required to self-quarantine in a designated location in their residence. Visitors will self-quarantine in their hotel room or rented lodging. Self-quarantined individuals may only leave their designated location for medical emergencies or to seek medical care. Failure to comply with all rules and protocols related to quarantines is punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

See the Hawaii Tourism Authority website for more information on who should quarantine and how.

Inter island travel quarantine restrictions (lifted as of June 15, 2021)

Starting Tuesday June 15th, all restrictions on inter-island travel have been lifted. This means there will be no pre-travel testing or other requirements needed for travel between the Hawaiian Islands.

Trans-Pacific travel quarantine restrictions

Trans-Pacific travelers with a negative COVID-19 pre-test can visit Hawai‘i without having to quarantine. Read more about the pre-travel program above. Trans-Pacific travelers are required to use the Safe Travels app in order to travel to Hawai‘i.

Starting July 8, 2021, Hawaiʻi has eliminated the pretravel testing and quarantine requirement for everybody vaccinated in the United States. Vaccinated travelers still need to use the Safe Travels app in order to travel to Hawai‘i.

Specific Restrictions for Oahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaii Island

To keep their residents and visitors as safe as possible our islands all have different challenges to deal with when trying to control the spread of COVID-19. For visitors this means that they still are bound by some more local restrictions about where they can go and what they can do, even after they have completed their potential 10-day quarantine.

The COVID response of the different counties of Hawai‘i exists mainly of a patchwork of emergency rules, orders, and proclamations. Some of these are universal for all of Hawai‘i, for example the requirement that people must wear facial masks while in indoor public settings, others differ between counties. Below we keep an up-to-date list of measures and emergency orders on a per-island basis, and link you to the most relevant official resources.

You can find the orders and rules for all counties in the state here. Highlights on a per-island base are summarized below.

O‘ahu local Restrictions

O‘ahu is currently under Emergency Order 2021-13 through November 20, 2021. You can see all proclamations and special rules for O‘ahu here.

You can find out more specific information about the COVID-19 response from the city and county of Honolulu at the Frequently Asked Questions section on the OneOahu website.

O‘ahu Reopening Strategy

Mayor Blangiardi announced on September 20 to be moving away from the Tier System and into a more flexible and responsive approach to Honolulu’s COVID-19 related restrictions called the Safe Oahu Response Plan.

Read more about the allowed activities, openings, and group sizes for the Safe Oahu Response Plan on the One O‘ahu website.

Maui Local Restrictions

Travelers to Maui must download the AlohaSafe Alert App in addition to other requirements. Visit mauicounty.gov/2417/Travel-to-Maui-County for details

The most up-to-date information about the COVID restrictions on Maui can be found on the Maui county website here and here, and also in the Public Health Emergency Rules for Maui County (last amended September 15, 2021).

County of Maui COVID-19 Call Center

Maui County has set up a call center to answer questions relating to COVID-19. The call center will operate during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is reachable at (808) 270-7855.

Big Island Local Restrictions

The latest update on COVID restrictions on the Big Island was the tenth Supplementary Emergency Proclamation, which extended Emergency rule 17 until October 4, 2021. You can find all emergency rules, together with other COVID-19 related news for Hawaiʻi County, on their website.

For more in-depth information see the county of Hawaiʻi COVID resources page.

Kauaʻi Local Restrictions

As of April 5 Kauaʻi has rejoined the statewide Safe Travels program. Visitors and residents traveling to Kauaʻi have several options under the current COVID-19 emergency rules.

  • If you have been in the State of Hawaii for more than 72 hours, you are eligible to take an approved pre-travel test for interisland travel to Kauaʻi.
  • If you are traveling from out of state, you can take a pre-travel test, stay in a “Resort Bubble” (see below) for 72 hours or more, then take a post-travel test to be released from quarantine.
  • Otherwise, you must quarantine for 10 days after arriving on Kauaʻi.

You can find the most recent information for Kauaʻi in the Kauaʻi COVID-19 webpage. All emergency rules and emergency proclamations for Kauaʻi can be found here

The “Resort Bubble” program

Travelers from out of state now have the option of a shortened three-day quarantine by participating in the resort bubble post-travel testing program. Participation to this program is voluntary and allows people a shortened quarantine provided they can show valid and negative pre- and post-arrival COVID tests.

See the Kauaʻi County website for the most up-to-date requirements as well as a list of participating resort bubble hotels.

When are you required to wear a mask?

All islands: visitors and residents are required to wear a non- medical grade face masks covering of the nose and mouth while indoors in public settings. As of May 25, 2021 it is not required anymore to wear a mask while being outside.

You can find the island specific mask rules and exemptions here: Maui | Kaua‘i | O‘ahu | Big Island.

please wear a mask

Please do your part to protect yourself and others by following the 3Ws: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, and Watch your distance.

What will happen in the coming months?

Tourism is an essential part of the Hawai‘i economy and our government is trying to find a balance that keeps our inhabitants safe while allowing more visitors to visit respectfully. With the the pre-travel testing program allowing travelers with a negative COVID-19 pre-test or a completed vaccination to visit Hawai‘i without quarantine, the state of Hawai‘i is in the process of carefully reopening.

Vaccination passports and exemptions

Domestic trans-pacific travelers may bypass pre-travel testing and quarantine providing they can show valid vaccination credentials.

Vaccination Rates and the lifting of restrictions + the Safe Travels program

The relaxation and eventual elimination of travel restrictions for the state of Hawaiʻi is directly tied to the vaccination rate of the state residents. You can check the current vaccination rate here.

At 60% vaccination rate (currently reached), social gatherings are expanded to 25 people indoors and 75 people outdoors. Also, restaurants may increase capacity to 75% – with maximum group sizes of 25 indoors and 75 outdoors.

When the state achieves a 70% vaccination rate, all restrictions terminate. Social gatherings will no longer be restricted, and restaurants will continue to be regulated in the normal course by the Department of Health, which may establish new, permanent rules in light of the pandemic.

More relevant for most of our visitors the Safe Travels program will also end when a 70% vaccination rate has been reached, and there will be no more testing or vaccination requirements for travelers.

Official Resources

Please rely on facts, and not rumors, to get your information.

If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 virus we recommend following frequently updated official resources:

Featured image by eddygaleotti via depositphotos

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