Hawaii Will Let Visitors Bypass Quarantine Requirement if They Test Negative for COVID-19

Traveling to Hawaii could soon be possible. You will have to get a COVID-19 test before traveling, but at least you will not have to go through a 14 day quarantine which is not the ideal activation.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has announced that starting October 15, travelers arriving from out of state may bypass the 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19. Travelers will have to take the test within 72 hours of arrival in the islands. Initially drug store operator CVS and healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente will conduct the tests as part of an agreement with the state. More testing partners will be announced in coming weeks. Airlines are expected to help inform travelers of the requirement.

Hawaii was supposed to launch a pre-travel testing program August 1, only to have to postpone it as COVID-19 cases spiked on the U.S. mainland and in Hawaii. A shortage of testing supplies also forced delays. It was then scheduled to launch on September 1, but it was canceled again.

The quarantine requirement for visiting Hawaii began in March.

Guidelines for Pre-Travel Testing Program – Launch on October 15

Governor Ige confirmed on September 16, the start date of the pre-travel program for US mainland travelers will be October 15. The current program outline follows:

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab.
Travelers are exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine if testing is completed no more than 72 hours in advance of arrival with proof of a negative result.
If results are not available by time of arrival, quarantine necessary until test results received.
All travelers (returning residents and visitors) of all ages subject to pre-test requirement.
Individuals responsible for testing costs.
Travelers (returning residents and visitors) are not able to test upon arrival in Hawaii because this is a pre-travel testing program.

The governor says the pre-test is one part of a multi-layered screening process which includes arrival temperature checks, completion of the State Travel and Health form, and secondary screening for those with symptoms or temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher.

No commercial COVID-19 NAAT testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport. Travelers without the pre-test will be in quarantine.
CVS and Kaiser Permanente are testing partners and details are forthcoming.
Information about how to submit test results are forthcoming.