#covid-19 test hawaii travel

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) encourages anyone flying into or out of Hawaiʻi airports to expect a busy summer travel season.

With nearly 3,000 travelers screened in Maui County on Thursday, issues surfaced over long lines and problems with some visitors providing tests from non-approved facilities.

Maui Airports District Manager Marvin Moniz said that considering it was the first day, the day went by “fairly well.” He reported the biggest issue was large volumes of passengers arriving at the same time. This included two American Airlines flights and one United flight, which arrived at the same time, “deplaning approximately 500 passengers that caused a back up in the holding room.”

The state’s pre-departure COVID-19 testing program and Maui County’s voluntary post-arrival COVID-19 testing program for travelers seeking exemption from Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine begin today.

Once the list is established and the pre-travel program is launched for Japan —  travelers from that country will have the option to take the NAAT test from a trusted partner 72 hours prior to their departure for Hawai‘i.

The new document extends the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers; however, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Governor David Ige has verbally approved Maui Mayor Michael Victorino’s request to allow Maui County residents to travel solely between Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi without having to quarantine for 14 days or take a pre-travel test.

Governor Ige hosts a media briefing today to discuss the upcoming pre-travel testing program for the state and other comprehensive safety measures ahead of the Oct. 15 launch. 

Mayor Kim said he and the other mayors on Tuesday discussed a two-test policy for transpacific travel, instead of the policy that goes into effect on Oct. 15.

The governor has already denied requests from Maui and Kauaʻi for post-testing proposals; however Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said, “even though he has denied the second test for incoming trans-Pacific travelers, he is still in favor of looking at some other alternatives.”

Hawaiian’s initial labs will be operational near Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) International airports, with more testing locations coming soon at its other US mainland gateways.

Starting on October 15, customers traveling on United from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaiʻi will have the option to take a rapid test at the airport or a self-collected, mail-in test ahead of their trip.

Governor David Ige today signed a 13th supplementary emergency proclamation that extends the COVID-19 emergency period in Hawaiʻi through Oct. 31.  However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Governor David Ige this afternoon confirmed that the state’s pre-travel testing program will launch on Oct. 15, enabling travelers to get a COVID-19 test no earlier than 72 hours prior to their flight arrival in Hawai‘i to avoid the 14-day mandatory quarantine if the test comes back negative for the virus.

Mayor Victorino said he supports an interisland pre-travel test, which leaders are looking at to gauge effectiveness ahead of launching a program for mainland arrivals.