Since the pandemic started in 2020 it has been difficult to know how to travel to Hawaii during COVID. Navigating the various websites can be a challenge but we have simplified it for you!
Travel to Hawaii During COVID Tips!
The easiest way to avoid challenges is to get one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. This will allow you to request an exemption on the Safe Travels Hawaii website to avoid a 10 day quarantine! This is ideal if you are going for vacation, as technically the 10 day quarantine is still in effect for all islands. As someone who just went through this process, let me walk you through it!
Travel to Hawaii During COVID Checklist
There are many ways to find a great deal on a trip to Hawaii, and this is especially true if you are trying to travel to Hawaii during COVID pandemic. There are currently less flights than normal heading to the islands, and it appears Oahu is still the easiest bet for discounted travel.
Rental Cars are a Wild Card!
Make sure to check on the rental car situation, as most rental car locations have since offloaded their inventory. This has made obtaining a rental car difficult, especially on Kauai and Hawaii.
- Follow the Safe Travel Hawaii process, which is where you will indicate your flight number, where you are staying, and securely upload your vaccination record. I strongly discourage falsifying this information, and there have been so many instances of travelers being arrested for doing just that.
- If you have chosen to not get vaccinated, you will be required to test within 72 hours at one of the Safe Travels Hawaii partners. If you test positive, you will be required to quarantine for 10 days regardless of if you test negative once arriving in Hawaii. (You can now see why being vaccinated makes this much easier)
- Within 24 hours prior of your departure, make sure to answer the health questionnaire on your Safe Travels account.
- Make sure you adhere to all the policies and procedures set forth by the airline you are travelling on.
- All incoming Hawaii travelers will have their temperature checked upon arrival. Temperature scans will be taken via thermal temperature screening and facial-imaging technology. Photos are only temporarily retained for persons with elevated temperatures of 100.4 degrees. This will allow airport representatives to identify them and conduct additional assessments.
- Should travelers have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, display COVID-19 symptoms, or provide answers on the online STATE TRAVELER HEALTH FORM the will be stopped. Once stopped, they will be subject to additional assessments.
- Travelers who arrive from a trans-pacific flight will find it more difficult. Currently, all travelers from outside the United States are required to quarantine for 10 days.
What to Know When You Get There
Be aware than just arriving at the islands is an adventure in and of itself. Once you arrive, you will be subject to local COVID regulations such as mask and vaccine mandates. Hawaii might be a playground to you, but to those native to the islands it is home. Please respect their rules and regulations.
Hawaii currently has restrictions and limitations around gathering sizes, indoor dining, outdoor events and masking. Keep up to date at Hawaii’s own website. These change frequently.
Enjoy your trip to Hawaii! There is no better time to visit than now.
