Beginning Thursday, October 15, the State of Hawaii opened its islands to visitors who follow established protocols to avoid a 14-day quarantine.
The State of Hawai‘i Safe Travels Hawai‘i program is a multilayered process designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community from trans-Pacific visitors and resident passengers arriving at airports/ports across the Islands. As part of the requirements to bypass the 14-day quarantine, visitors and returning residents must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test from one of the approved partners listed below taken within 72 hours from the scheduled departure time of the last leg of their flight.
It’s important to note that the testing requirements and quarantine restrictions have been fluid and are subject to change. The requirements also differ by island, so it’s important to verify this information on official government websites.
Testing for COVID before traveling to Hawaii
This enhanced entry into Hawai‘i includes a pre-travel testing program, the Mandatory State of Hawai‘i Travel and Health Form, and temperature screening at all Hawai‘i airports upon arrival. Travelers will not be able to obtain a test upon arrival at any Hawaii airport.
Please not there is no enhanced entry option available for international travel at this time.
Tests must be administered by one of the following approved partners in the Hawaii Safe Travels program (children under the age of 5 are exempt from taking the test):
HAWAII’S PRE-TRAVEL TESTING PROGRAM (FROM OUTSIDE HAWAII)
The state of Hawaii will ONLY accept test results from TRUSTED TESTING AND TRAVEL PARTNERS: AFC Urgent Care Portland, Bartell Drugs, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, Color, CVS Health, Discovery Health MD, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente, Minit Medical, Quest Diagnostics, Urgent Care Hawaii, Vault Health and Walgreens (as of 10/17/20).
AFC Urgent Care Portland – COVID-19 tests are available at clinics on the AFC Urgent Care Portland website. Tests available for ages five and older. Schedule in advance to guarantee appointment availability. A printed version of results is provided prior to leaving the clinic. Information and costs can be found at afcurgentcareportland.com/traveling-hawaii.
Bartell Drugs – In partnership with Alaska Airlines, Bartell Drugs offers testing at select locations. Tests available for ages five and older. Appointments are required at least one day in advance. Guaranteed results within 72 hours. Information can be found at bartelldrugs.com/alaska-airlines-covid-testing.
Carbon Health – Carbon Health offers COVID-19 tests at dedicated testing sites with results delivered within two hours. Tests available for ages five and older. Registration instructions and costs can be found at carbonhealth.com/alaska-airlines-to-hawaii-rapid-covid-testing.
CityHealth Urgent Care – CityHealth Urgent Care and its team of expert clinical staff and infectious disease physician consultants offer testing utilizing state-of-the-art Abbott Lab instrumentation for results in 15 minutes. Tests available for ages five and older. Information and costs can be found at bayareacovid19testing.com.
Color – Color supports the nation’s first COVID-19 testing program for airline passengers. Tests available for ages five and older. Information can be found at color.com/united-airlines-testing-program.
CVS Health – Travelers may schedule an appointment up to two days in the future at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. Tests available for ages 12 and older. Pre-registration is required. Registration instructions and costs can be found at cvs.com/selfpaytesting.
Discovery Health MD – Individuals traveling to Hawaii may schedule testing online with same and next day results at designated testing sites. Tests available for ages five and older. A limited number of walk-ups can be accommodated. Information can be found at discoveryhealthmd.com/covid-19-services/test-to-fly.
Kaiser Permanente (members only) – Kaiser Permanente members may schedule a test online, or contact the appointment call center or nurse advice line in their home region for scheduling instructions. Kaiser Permanente members returning home to Hawaii may call the Away-from-Home Travel Line at 951-268-3900 for scheduling instructions. Information can be found at kp.org/travel.
Quest Diagnostics – Individuals may order and schedule the company’s COVID-19 Active Infection Test online and select from more than 500 Walmart drive-thru pharmacy locations for a nasal swab test. Ordering instructions and costs can be found at questcovid19.com/hawaii.
Vault Health – At-home tests with real-time audio-visual supervision are available with Vault Health, the first FDA-authorized saliva test. Tests available for ages five and older. Tests are mailed with accurate results in 72 hours or less. Information and costs can be found at learn.vaulthealth.com/state-of-hawaii.
Walgreens – Testing is available at no cost to eligible individuals who meet CDC criteria. Tests available for ages five and older. All drive-thru testing locations operate outdoors and patients do not leave their vehicles. Appointment required. Information can be found at walgreens.com/covid19testing.
In-Flight and Arrival Information and Checklist
24 hours prior to departure, answer the health questionnaire on your Safe Travels account.
While in flight and deplaning, travelers must follow the guidance of their air carrier regarding physical distancing, mask wearing and sanitation processes.
All incoming Hawaii travelers will have their temperature checked upon arrival. Temperature scans will be taken via thermal temperature screening and facial-imaging technology. Photos are only temporarily retained for persons with elevated temperatures of 100.4 degrees F and above to help airport representatives identify them and conduct additional assessments.
Should travelers have a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher, display COVID-19 symptoms, or provide answers on the STATE TRAVELER HEALTH FORM(link is external) requiring additional testing, they will be required to complete a secondary screening at the airport performed by trained health care staff.
Travelers who arrive without proof of a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT will be subject to the state’s strict 14-day mandatory self-quarantine.
County of Hawaii (Big Island) Testing Requirements
Out-of-state visitors arriving on the Big Island wishing to skip the 14-day quarantine will be required to take an extra “arrival” test when arriving on the Big Island.
The arrival test is a rapid-response COVID-19 and will be administered free of charge upon arrival at any of the three Hawai’i Island airports: Ellison Onizuka International Airport at Keahole, Waimea-Kohala Airport, and Hilo International Airport.
Test results will be ready within 15-20 minutes and there will be no additional quarantine measures imposed should the rapid test result be negative. Those testing positive for COVID-19 at the rapid test will be required to take a subsequent PCR test immediately and will be required to self-quarantine while awaiting the results of this test, which can be expected within 36 hours.
Read more about the arrival testing program on the county of Hawai’i website.
Inter-Island Travel Requirements
Just as with travel from the mainland, your first step is to register for the Safe Travels program online. Everyone 18 and over in your party will need to register.
The Big Island is not participating in the inter-island pre-travel program as of October 20, 2020.
For all other counties, passengers with a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before departure will not have to complete a 14-day quarantine. The test requirement applies to anyone 5 and over, and travelers are responsible for the cost of the test. Passengers also must ensure their test is from a trusted provider.
Those traveling inter-island to Oahu were not subject to the quarantine mandate.
Approved Testing Partners For Inter-Island Travel
Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii will be offering “COVID-19” NAAT testing (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) as part of the State of Hawaiʻi’s Pre-Travel Inter-island Testing Program. Patients should visit www.clinicallabs.com to schedule an appointment, for more information on locations and how to obtain lab results. All lab tests require an order by a licensed healthcare provider in the State of Hawaiʻi.
CVS Health (Longs) – Travelers may schedule an appointment up to two days in the future at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. Tests available for ages 12 and older. Pre-registration is required. Registration instructions and costs can be found at cvs.com/selfpaytesting.
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health – Hawai’i Pacific Health – Interisland travel screenings are available at Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children on O’ahu and Wilcox Medical Center on Kaua’i in partnership with Clinical Labs of Hawaii. Appointments are required for screening at Kapi’olani and must be scheduled online at clinicallabs.com/covid. No appointment is necessary for screening at Wilcox. More information on site locations, hours and cost can be found at hawaiipacifichealth.org/covid19testing.
Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii will be offering “COVID-19” NAAT testing (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) as part of the State of Hawaiʻi’s Pre-Travel Inter-island Testing Program. Patients should visit www.clinicallabs.com to schedule an appointment, for more information on locations and how to obtain lab results. All lab tests require an order by a licensed healthcare provider in the State of Hawaiʻi.
CVS Health (Longs) – Travelers may schedule an appointment up to two days in the future at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. Tests available for ages 12 and older. Pre-registration is required. Registration instructions and costs can be found at cvs.com/selfpaytesting.
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health – Hawai’i Pacific Health – Interisland travel screenings are available at Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children on O’ahu and Wilcox Medical Center on Kaua’i in partnership with Clinical Labs of Hawaii. Appointments are required for screening at Kapi’olani and must be scheduled online at clinicallabs.com/covid. No appointment is necessary for screening at Wilcox. More information on site locations, hours and cost can be found at hawaiipacifichealth.org/covid19testing.
Kaiser Permanente (for members only) – Kaiser Permanente members may schedule a test online or contact the appointment call center or nurse advice line in their home region for scheduling instructions. Kaiser Permanente members returning home to Hawaiʻi may call the Away-from-Home Travel Line at 951-268-3900 for scheduling instructions. Information can be found at kp.org/travel.
Minit Medical – Inter-Island travelers in Hawaii may schedule testing online prior to travel to other islands. Minit Medical has three clinics on Maui with drive-up testing available. Appointment is required. Please call 808-667-6161 for details or logon to Minitmed.com.
Walgreens – Testing is available at no cost to eligible individuals who meet CDC criteria. Tests available for ages five and older. All drive-thru testing locations operate outdoors and patients do not leave their vehicles. Appointment required. Information can be found at walgreens.com/covid19testing.
Urgent Care Hawaii offers COVID-19 testing for inter-island travel. Results are emailed within 24 hours. Register at www.ucarehi.com. Limited walk-ins can be accommodated. Call 808-797-7980 for more information.
Inter-Island Pre-Travel Test Details
Some of this information may be redundant, but we recognize how confusing this is and thought it helpful to re-state some of the inter-island travel details below:
Travelers flying inter-island to either Maui or Kauai may bypass the mandatory 14-day quarantine if they take an FDA-authorized Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from the certified CLIA lab not sooner than 72-hours prior to departure with a negative test result.
Again, we want to note that Oahu does not currently have any inter-island travel restrictions, and the Big Island of Hawaii is not currently participating in an inter-island pre-travel program; all inter-island visitors to the Big Island will have to quarantine for 14-days at this time.
Inter-island travelers will be able to upload their negative test results when they complete their travel and health forms on the ‘Safe Travels’ digital system: travel.hawaii.gov. The traveler must have the test result with them upon arrival so airport screeners can review the result.
Travelers arriving on Maui or Kauai who choose not to take an inter-island pre-travel test, or who do not arrive with a negative test from an inter-island trusted testing partner, will be subject to the 14-day inter-county quarantine.
County and State Websites
To access the most current information for the island(s) you’re planning to visit please refer to the following websites:
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/
