Are you craving a vacation in paradise? After this past year, have you been itching to fly somewhere with warm humid air, crystal clear blue water, and tasty tropical drinks being served to you by the pool? Well, if you carefully follow the steps required, you might actually be surprised at how simple it can be to travel to Hawaii right now. Keep reading to find out what it’s like to travel to Hawaii during a pandemic.
A look at This Past Year
To give you a little bit of a run down on what has been happening in Hawaii, it is actually quite a nice place to be (in our opinion) compared to many other parts of the world right now.
First of all, Hawaii has always been such an enjoyable destination to visit or live in. In a place with breathtaking beaches, surfing, snorkeling, hiking and endless activities, you will never get bored!
Second, we are not currently on lockdown. Residents and visitors are allowed to be outdoors, go about our daily lives, and enjoy many different activities. There have been many changes made such as wearing masks, limiting large gatherings, and public places running at 50% capacity.
Hawaii is Open and Welcoming
In March of 2020, when the pandemic was starting to get serious, Hawaii closed down. This meant, anyone traveling here was required to do a 14 day quarantine! With these rules in place, it made it extremely difficult for people to travel here. The quarantine lasted up until mid October, when the state was finally able to gain approval for the pre-travel testing program. Now, with a few simple steps and a negative COVID test, you too can join us for some sunshine and paradise!
How are the Residents Coping with This?
Before I mention these easy steps to traveling to the Aloha State, please keep some things in mind. Many of the residents of Hawaii have been experiencing an extremely difficult time. The majority of the state is still unemployed and businesses have been permanently closed, or are still awaiting to reopen. This pandemic has been devastating to our economy, as we rely on tourism. We welcome visitors with open arms, in hopes that you please respect our health and safety, taking the proper measurements required so that we can continue to re open and piece our community back together.
Before Traveling
First, you must register for the safe travels program online. You will create an account, and this will assist you with anything related to traveling to Hawaii and COVID. Next, schedule a test that is Hawaii State Approved from one of the “trusted testing and travel partners”. You must take this COVID test within 72 hours of your scheduled departure. Remember that Hawaii will only accept results from the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT).
Depending on which island you are traveling to, you may want to double check the updates and rules, as some requirements vary island to island. For example, Kauai has opted out of the pre-travel testing and still requires a quarantine.
Once you have received your test results, it is time to upload them to your Safe Travels account. Make sure to upload the PDF version in order for it to be accepted. I highly recommend printing a copy of your test result in the event that they ask to see it in the line at the airport.
Right Before Your Flight
Now, you are less than 24 hours away from your exotic getaway! You will be required to wear masks quite often (going out to dinner, shopping, tours, etc) Do not forget to pack a few extra masks to have on hand! Last but not least, log onto your Safe Travels account and take the Health Questionnaire. On completion of this, you will receive a QR code. Save this for your travels to Hawaii, because you will need it once you arrive.
What if my results are not ready in time for the flight?
You will still be able to board the flight. Without results on time, prepare to quarantine until receiving negative results.
What if I do not want to take a COVID test? Can I still travel to Hawaii?
You can still travel to Hawaii without a COVID test. However, without a test, there is still a mandatory quarantine order in place.
The regulations are constantly changing, so it is always a good idea to keep yourself updated if you plan on taking a trip to Hawaii anytime soon. It may seem like quite a bit of information to swallow, but it is way easier than you think! Now that you know what it’s like to travel to Hawaii during a pandemic…good luck, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
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