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COVID-19 and your trip to Hawai‘i

By Love Big Island | updated

The unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 keeps disrupting many parts of our society and it looks like 2022 will continue the trend set in the past years: rising and waning restrictions needed to control the number of hospitalizations and safe lives.

This means that it still makes sense to seriously consider how COVID-19 could impact your upcoming trip to Hawai‘i (if you are in the lucky position of planning one).

Table of contents

Table of Contents

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 for domestic travel: the Safe Travels Application

Safe Travels is the mandatory online application form all domestic 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.

You can find the official site for the Safe Travels application at https://travel.hawaii.gov.

How does the Save Travels app work?

Domestic travelers 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 5-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

Pre-travel testing is not necessary for domestic visitors that can provide a valid proof of vaccination.

The pre-travel testing of passengers — both residents and visitors — allows those with a negative result to avoid the state’s 5-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 5-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 November 29th, 2021 Governor Ige issued the latest emergency proclamation related to the COVID-19 response, which is valid up to January 15th, 2022.  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 completed vaccination or negative COVID-19 pre-test can visit Hawai‘i without having to quarantine. Read more about the pre-travel program above. Domestic 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.

International travel quarantine restrictions

The State of Hawaiʻi will welcome international travelers under the new federal requirements starting Monday, Nov. 8.

Direct International Travel to Hawaii

NON-U.S. citizens traveling directly to Hawaiʻi from an international destination must present BOTH a vaccination records AND a negative COVID-19 test result (NAAT or antigen) within three days of boarding a flight to the United States.

U.S. citizens flying directly to Hawaiʻi from an international destination have two options:

  • Provide proof of vaccination OR
  • Provide proof of negative COVID-19 test result within three days of boarding flight to U.S.

There will be no additional State of Hawaiʻi requirements for passengers flying directly into Hawaii from an international destination.

Note: Tests do NOT have to be done with Trusted Travel Partners under the new international federal requirements, but they MUST be done with a Trusted Travel Partner for unvaccinated domestic travel.

Non-Direct International Travel to Hawaii

International passengers entering the U.S. from another state or territory will be treated as domestic travelers when entering the State of Hawaii. The Safe Travels Hawaii program remains in place for domestic travelers.

Also, beginning on Nov. 8, the State of Hawaii, in alignment with the federal government, will accept vaccines approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and vaccines listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. A list of currently accepted vaccines is posted on the CDC website.

Specific Restrictions for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi 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 5-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 2021-16 through January 21, 2022. 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 November 5, 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 updates on COVID restrictions on the Big Island are the twelfth Supplementary Emergency Proclamation (valid until January 28, 2022) and Emergency rule 19 (valid until January 28, 2022). You can find all emergency rules, together with other COVID-19 related news for Hawaiʻi County, on their website.

For more in-depth information and a good summary of the Hawaiʻi county COVID restrictions 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.
  • Otherwise, you must quarantine for 5 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

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.

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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