BREAKING: Pre-Travel COVID-19 Test Results Must Be In Hand Prior to Departure for Hawai‘i

Kahului Airport. File photo: March 27, 2020.

Starting next Tuesday, Nov. 24, travelers wishing to bypass the 14-day mandatory quarantine must have their COVID-19 test results – from a trusted testing partner – prior to departure for the State of Hawaiʻi.

If test results are not available before boarding the final leg of the trip, the traveler must quarantine for 14 days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter.

“We’re taking this added safety precaution now in response to the dramatically increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the continental United States and around the world,” said Gov. Ige.

Currently 94 percent of travelers participating in the pre-travel testing program for Hawaiʻi arrive here with their tests in hand; but at least 44 travelers who took the pre-travel test before departure, got a positive result upon arrival or a day or two later.

“It isn’t a large number, but it’s enough to change the policy. We have to close the gap to ensure everyone’s safety.  The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, especially as more people travel to Hawaiʻi to celebrate the holidays,” said Gov. Ige.

The new policy applies to domestic transpacific flights and international flights departing from locations in which the State of Hawaiʻi pre-testing programs are in place.

Gov. Ige also announced that beginning in mid-December, travelers flying from Canada to Hawaiʻi may bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine if they take a COVID-19 test from labs identified by Air Canada and WestJet.

The test must be taken within 72 hours of travel to the State of Hawai‘i, and a negative test result must be received prior to departure.

Travelers without proof of a negative test result prior to boarding their flight to Hawai‘i will be required to self-quarantine for 14-days or the length of stay, whichever is shorter.

More details on that program are available here.