hawaii

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Hawaii Expects To Lift Covid Testing Requirement For People That Have Been Vaccinated

by Gary Leff on January 21, 2021

Jan 21 2021

Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor, an emergency room physician responsible for the state’s arriving passenger testing program, says to expect the testing requirement for arriving passengers to be lifted this spring for those who have been vaccinated.

While we haven’t proven that those who have gotten the vaccine don’t spread the virus, or that they spread it far less than those who haven’t, no one believes it doesn’t have this property we just don’t know for certain the magnitude of the effect yet.

Avoid Long Lines And Risk Of Getting Turned Away From Hawaii By ‘Pre-Clearing’ Before You Fly

by Gary Leff on December 11, 2020

Dec 11 2020

There can be long lines to wait in when you land in Hawaii, not always well socially-distanced, to show you’ve met the state’s testing requirements to avoid a 14 day quarantine. And the state makes mistakes, too, one family showed up with negative results from an approved testing provider but was told to quarantine anyway by mistake. By the time the state sorted it out, they’d already turned back around and flown home to California.

Fortunately there’s now a solution to all of this.

Hawaii Covid Restrictions May Change AGAIN, Driven By The Governor’s Race Not Safety

by Gary Leff on December 3, 2020

Dec 03 2020

After several months of delay, Hawaii opened to tourism October 15th. They allowed arriving passengers to skip the mandatory 14 day quarantine by getting a Covid-19 test from an approved vendor within 72 hours of travel.

That’s about to change, because starting Wednesday it will no longer be possible to test out of quarantine when arriving on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. And that’s not the only change we may see, as local politicians vie for positions ahead of the 2022 Governors’ race where the incumbent faces term liimits.

You Can No Longer Visit Kauai Without Quarantine, As The Hawaiian Island Opts Out Of Testing Regime

by Gary Leff on November 28, 2020

Nov 28 2020

Effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, December 2 visitors to the Hawaiian island of Kauai will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Pre-travel testing for Covid-19 will no longer excuse arriving passengers from this requirement, as the Governor of Hawaii approved a request by the Mayor of Kauai to opt out of the state’s testing program.

Family Flies Home After Hawaii Rejects Negative Covid Test. When They Landed, Hawaii Said Oops.

by Gary Leff on November 7, 2020

Nov 07 2020

CVS Pharmacy is a trusted partner for Hawaii, and one San Diego family got their CVS test prior to travel. They arrived in Hawaii, presented their negative results, and were sent to quarantine anyway.

Facing the prospect of 14 days of quarantine, they decided to fly home. Once the family arrived back in California they got an email from Hawaii acknowledging the mistake and inviting them to leave quarantine.

Hawaii’s Big Island Opts Out Of October 15 Tourist Re-Opening, While Maui Is Still Deciding

by Gary Leff on October 7, 2020

Oct 07 2020

We’re only a week away from Hawaii’s announced October 15 re-opening. The state has said they’d allow arriving passengers to skip 14-day quarantine with a negative Covid-19 test from the past 72 hours. Airlines including United, Hawaiian, Alaska and American have set up testing regimes to help open up travel to the islands.

Already Hawaii’s plan is partially unraveling and the pandemic yo-yo continues.

Kauai Rebels Against Hawaii’s Re-Opening Plan

by Gary Leff on October 3, 2020

Oct 03 2020

Hawaii has required everyone arriving in the state to quarantine for 14 days. They’ve put off plans to re-open tourism until October 15. At that point they’ll allow visitors with a negative Covid test within 3 days of arrival to skip quarantine.

The island of Kauai, though, isn’t satisfied and doesn’t want to participate.

The Testing Wars Have Begun: Oakland Airport Wants To Attract Passengers With Free Rapid Covid Testing

by Gary Leff on September 29, 2020

Sep 29 2020

It was only Thursday that United Airlines announced they would offer rapid coronavirus testing at the airport in San Francisco for passengers taking its Hawaii flights. Testing would be available by appointment, with results available in 15 minutes, and the airline hoped the $250 price point would come down in the near future.

Since then Hawaiian Airlines also announced same day airport testing coming for its passengers for $150. The State of Hawaii plans to allow people to enter the state without 14 day quarantine starting October 15, provided they present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arrival. United says the state will accept their Abbott rapid tests.

Now Oakland airport is announcing that its Hawaii passengers can get rapid tests for free starting October 15.

United Introduces At-Airport Covid Testing For San Francisco-Hawaii Flights

by Gary Leff on September 24, 2020

Sep 24 2020

There are two new important testing developments in travel today, both United Airlines announcement. United is partnering to provide Covid testing for its San Francisco – Hawaii flights. They’re providing testing at the airport, and they’ve worked with Hawaii to accept an Abbott rapid test rather than just a PCR test.

The airline expects to expand this to other airports and destinations.

Hawaii Will Allow Visitors Without Quarantine Starting October 15

by Gary Leff on September 17, 2020

Sep 17 2020

In mid-March Hawaii’s governor asked tourists not to come to the islands and then on March 26 imposed a 14 day quarantine on all arriving visitors. They couldn’t legally ban people from coming, but they could impose public health restrictions.

We’ve seen re-opening dates of August 1, and September 1, and now Hawaii is saying that visitors will be able to travel to Hawaii without 14 day quarantine starting October 15. In liqu of quarantine passengers will have to present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arriving.