All trans-Pacific travelers are required to have a negative test result from a trusted travel partner before their departure for Hawaii. It is possible to bypass the mandatory 10-day quarantine. Below are the steps required. (Not written here in any particular order.)
Create a Hawaii Safe Travels Account as soon as you make your travel plans.
Here is the Link to the SAFE TRAVELS site.
- Create a Login and Password
- Start with TRIPS and enter “the last non-stop flight direct to Hawaii” For example: On your travel day you are flying from Boise Idaho to Seattle and then to Honolulu, Oahu, then onto Lihue, Kauai (BOI/SEA, SEA/HNL, HNL/LIH)- When completing the TRIPS form you should be most concerned with the last flight taken when entering the state of Hawaii. You would enter Seattle to Honolulu flight information.
- You’ll need to know the dates of your travel as well as your flight numbers for entering onto the TRIPS form. When you get to “Reason for entering the State or Island” (using the same example as above) for your flight from Seattle to Honolulu you would choose the appropriate choice for each person; returning home, vacation, flight attendant etc. For the inter island flight Honolulu, Oahu to Lihue, Kauai you would chose “Connecting Flight -Transit”.
- The TRIPS form asks you to provide the name of the place you will be staying as well as the address phone number, and your reservation number.
- You are asked about your return flight information. You should be most concerned with the first flight that leaves the state of Hawaii.
- Every traveler will need their own Safe Travels account. There is a place for minors to be added as additional travelers within the form.
- Your negative COVID-19 test result will be the first document you upload to your account on the Safe Travels site. If recognized as a “trusted Travel Partner for testing the test results uploaded will be verified within the Safe Travels site. If the results can not be verified you should be prepared to present your printed negative COVID-19 results.
- You’ll upload a selfie
- As a backup take all of your documents in a printed out form to present if requested.
Hawaii’s Governor David Ige has declared after June 15, 2021 all restrictions for inter county travel has been lifted. In Hawaii islands are referred to as counties. For Example Maui Country, Kauai County or Hawaii County (The Big Island in the state of Hawaii is called the Island or county of Hawaii.
Successfully complete a COVID-19 Test
- You need a negative COVID-19 Test result PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
- The state of Hawai‘i will ONLY accept Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab test results from TRUSTED TESTING AND TRAVEL PARTNERS (see link below).
- The test has to be taken 72 hours from the final leg of departure and the negative COVID-19 test result uploaded to the Safe Travels platform or printed out and in hand prior to departure to Hawai‘i in order to avoid the 10-day quarantine.
This may become a bit confusing so read it through carefully. Let’s say you are traveling from Boise, Idaho. You’re making a stop in Seattle, then Honolulu with the destination being Lihue, Kauai. Your flight itinerary is BOI/SEA, SEA/HNL, HNL/LIH. The 72 hour timer for having your test completed, PRIOR to travel, will end when you board your flight from Seattle to Honolulu. You have 72 hours PRIOR to boarding the Seattle flight to have the COVID-19 test AND to have the approved tester return your results.
You may have these results uploaded electronically to Hawaii’s Safe Travels site. You may have the results in a printed format as long as you have them prior to your last leg of departure int the state of Hawaii. You may also take part in certain airline’s approved testing programs. (see the list below)
These airlines understand the pre-travel testing requirements and are reliable sources of testing and for information on testing options. Travelers must follow the prompts of the airline and cannot deviate from the process provided.
Alaska Airlines – alaskaair.com/content/next-level-care/hawaii
American Airlines (CareNow, LetsGetChecked) – aa.com/covid19testing
Hawaiian Airlines (UMC of Southern Nevada, US Biotek, Vault Health, Worksite Labs) – https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/covid-test-options
Oakland International Airport – www.oaklandairport.com/steps-for-travel-to-hawaii
Ontario International Airport – https://www.covidclinic.org/ont
Southwest Airlines – southwest.com/coronavirus
United Airlines (ADL Health, Color and Go Health) – united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/covid-testing.html
Complete the Heath Questionnaire on the Safe Travels site.
- Within 24 hours prior to your departure you are asked to complete a Health Questionnaire.
- Once the questionnaire is completed an email will be sent to you with a QR code specifically created for you!
- It is much more convenient if you download the Safe Travels App to your phone as the QR code will appear in the app for showing airport officials.
- A QR Code is required for EACH leg of your trip. These individual QR Codes are generated when you entered your various legs of travel into the SAFE Travels site.
You will need to bring the following items to the airport with you:
- Your QR Code (one for each leg of your journey)
- Your Government issued ID; Driver’s license, Passport
- Bring your cell phone charged and ready to use. You will need to verify your contact information.
- A quarantine exemption form (This applies only for those with the full vaccine doses and completed a 15 day post waiting period, with a negative test result, and all completed IN the state of Hawaii. This would most likely only apply to Hawaiian residents)
- It’s a good idea to have all of the uploaded documents to the Safe Travels site in a printed form ready to present to screeners.
