Tourism Reopens Today in Hawaii

Pre-Travel Testing allows visitors to avoid quarantine

So you may have heard... October 15th marks the day transpacific travel to the islands of Hawaii opens back up, with pre-travel testing. What does that mean? Well in a nutshell if you can prove that you have tested negative for COVID within 72 hours of your departure flight to Hawaii you don't have to quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Here are the exact details of the program:
The pre-travel testing for transpacific travel program includes:

• Beginning October 15, those who do not want to be subject to the state’s 14-day mandatory travelers quarantine must take an approved COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure from the final leg of travel. (Children under the age of five will not be required to take a test.) 
• The test must be done through one of the 17 trusted testing partners (listed here).   
• Negative test results may be uploaded on the Safe Travels Digital Platform, and all travelers must also complete the state’s mandatory travel and health form on this digital platform. (Travelers are encouraged to do this step 24 hours prior to arrival in Hawai‘i. Airport screeners will review information upon arrival and conduct temperature screenings.) 

If a traveler’s COVID-19 test comes back negative, they will be exempt from quarantine. If the results haven’t come in yet, the traveler will be required to quarantine at their place of lodging until results come back. If the result comes back positive for COVID-19, the traveler and close contacts will be mandated to isolation for 14 days. Gov. Ige also announced that Kauaʻi and Maui will be participating in the pre-travel testing program for inter-island travel.  

Currently the neighbor islands have their own rules for this program:

• Kauaʻi County has established a voluntary testing program the third day after arrival. 
• Maui County has established a voluntary post-arrival test. 
• Hawaiʻi Island will require an antigen test for all arriving transpacific travelers who are participating in the pre-travel testing program.  
• The City and County of Honolulu is exploring its capacity for post-arrival testing. 

To be completely honest, I am excited and both concerned about this. Firstly, I am excited to have money coming into our economy, to have people go back to work and to have hotels, stores and restaurants reopen. But, I am concerned because even-though these precautions are being taken this will eventually lead to an increase in sickness being introduced to our island home. I know our economy is hurting and I know local families are struggling so it is a bit of a double-edged sword. But perhaps we need to move on and continue to live our life as best we can. I am still avoiding hugs and physically distancing myself from others, I wash and sanitize my hands after every touch in public and I am mindful of wearing my mask. The truth is we can't be on lockdown forever and just need to adapt and do our best to remain safe.