Hawaii Will Welcome Out of State Visitors in October

Hawaii Will Welcome Out of State Visitors in October

After multiple delays, Hawaii is finally expected to lift its mandatory quarantine rules for visitors who can prove they do not have the coronavirus with a recent negative test results. Hawaii Gov. David Ige has announced that starting October 15, travelers arriving from out of state don’t have to quarantine if they have proof of a negative test within 72 hours of arrival.

Initially drug store operator CVS and healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente will conduct the tests as part of an agreement with the state. More testing partners will be announced in coming weeks. Airlines are also expected to help inform travelers of the requirements to visit the state.

The quarantine requirement for visiting Hawaii began back in March. Hawaii was supposed to launch a pre-travel testing program August 1st, only to have to postpone it as COVID-19 cases spiked around the U.S. and in Hawaii. A shortage of testing supplies also forced delays. It was then scheduled to launch on September 1, but it was canceled again.

Hawaii Pre-Travel Testing Program

Governor Ige confirmed on September 16, the start date of the pre-travel program for US mainland travelers will be October 15. The current program outline follows:

• Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab.
• Travelers are exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine if testing is completed no more than 72 hours in advance of arrival with proof of a negative result.
• If results are not available by time of arrival, quarantine necessary until test results received.
• All travelers (returning residents and visitors) of all ages subject to pre-test requirement.
• Individuals responsible for testing costs.
• Travelers (returning residents and visitors) are not able to test upon arrival in Hawaii because this is a pre-travel testing program.

The governor says the pre-test is one part of a multi-layered screening process which includes arrival temperature checks, completion of the State Travel and Health form, and secondary screening for those with symptoms or temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher.

• No commercial COVID-19 NAAT testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport. Travelers without the pre-test will be in quarantine.
• CVS and Kaiser Permanente are testing partners and details are forthcoming.
• Information about how to submit test results are forthcoming.

Conclusion

This is great news for those who are planning to visit Hawaii. You need to do a test before visiting the islands, but it is better than a 14 day quarantine on your vacation.

Travelers can still arrive in Hawaii without a COVID-19 test. But they will be required to quarantine for 14 days, or until they are able to provide negative test results. Hawaii also has a “Resort Bubble” program in Kauai for now, which allows travelers to leave their hotel rooms while under quarantine if they wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Anyone planning to visit Hawaii soon?

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