Lieutenant Governor Josh Green posts a short, but informative COVID-19 summary video every day on his Facebook page. For would-be travelers to Hawaii, the June 9th video had some hints of encouraging news.
Of course, nothing is official yet, but the lieutenant governor seems to indicate that a plan to reopen tourism is about to come together. He calls it “Travel with Aloha” and it involves pre-testing for COVID-19 prior to a trip to Hawaii. If a visitor tests negative within a window of time (perhaps 48 or 72 hours) prior to a trip, they would be able to come to Hawaii without a 14-day quarantine.
In the June 9 summary video, the lieutenant governor says that the state is working with a number of entities with a goal to pre-test travelers to Hawaii. He said, “We should have a decision in the next couple of days. Right now it’s looking pretty good to do this. So, this will make it safer to come to Hawaii. We won’t have to worry about a surge…”
You can watch the lieutenant governor’s briefing video from Facebook that we’ve embedded below. It’s less than 90-seconds long.
Travel with Aloha has been in discussions for more than a month. We first wrote about it on May 12. Alaska has already implemented a similar plan. Now, it appears that Travel with Aloha may become a reality. We’ll definitely be keeping a close watch on any news towards this plan and post accordingly.
When could this plan be in place? Per this KHON segment/article, the lieutenant governor is pushing to have a pre-testing plan in place by July 15 if the governor approves. (Edited to add that the pre-test travel plan to Hawaii has been announced.)
As a reminder, currently there is a 14-day quarantine required for all incoming travelers to Hawaii. That order is in effect through at least June 30, 2020 July 31, 2020.
*** Post publishing updates:
- In the governor’s press conference on June 10, 2020, he announced that the 14-day quarantine will be extended though July 31, 2020. See the resulting article and more details.
- In a press conference on June 24, 2020, the governor announced a plan to open domestic tourism without quarantine with the condition that the person comes to Hawaii with proof of a negative COVID-19 test. For more details, see this link regarding the non-quarantine pre-test travel plan for Hawaii.
***
Sheila Beal
26 comments
We have a trip planned to Honolulu starting Aug 30 through September 4. Will the luau, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Center, and dinner cruises be open by then ? We don’t want to visit and not see or do things.
We don’t know yet what, if any, restrictions will be placed on those tourist attractions at that time.
Sheila, thank you for this bit of hope! Any clarifications as to whether or not that July 15 date would include visitors coming from the mainland? We would be more than happy to be tested!
Lise-See Sheila’s comment below. 14 day quarantine has been extended o July 31.
Thanks Jon.
I’ve been working on a new update after listening and re-listening and re-listening again to what the governor and lieutenant governor are saying. Their messages aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. The new update was just published: https://govisithawaii.com/2020/06/11/hawaiis-governor-extends-out-of-state-traveler-quarantine-through-july-31-but/
Lise – see today’s update https://govisithawaii.com/2020/06/11/hawaiis-governor-extends-out-of-state-traveler-quarantine-through-july-31-but/
Thank you! Aloha
This is promising. The logistics with CVS and others are the key. Right now if you aren’t symptomatic its pretty hard to get a test. I would think to get this test you would have to show evidence of your trip such as a flight or hotel reservation to get tested in the 72 hour window before your flight. Trip planned for October seems possible now.
Yes, there are many logistics to work out.
We have had a trip to Maui scheduled numerous times and now pushed to Aug. We are in Oregon where they are not doing testing unless you have symptoms so not sure how this would work. I would cancel the trip all together but our condo rental will not refund and it is a large sum to lose.
Hopefully tests will become more readily available. Also, with testing becoming a practical “requirement” in order to visit, that may become a valid reason to qualify for a test. There’s still lots to learn about “Travel with Aloha.”
You seem to think it’s easy peesy to get tested. It’s not. Testing is limited and most certainly not available in all areas. Many will not test without symptoms. Why don’t you just say it..tourists stay out.
No we do not think it’s easy peesy to get tested.
We are not connected to the government of Hawaii at all. We have no say in the matter. We’re merely keeping track of news, press conferences as it relates to reopening tourism, which many people have appreciated.
I appreciate it
I live in Nor Cal and have been able to get tested twice even though I’ve never been symptomatic. The first time was thru community testing and there was no cost. The 2nd was thru my HMO after I asked my doctor. I just don’t understand why testing is not more widely and readily available. I am no one special. Getting tested really gave me some piece of mind.
Thank you for keeping us updated. Depending on what the Governor has planned, will depend on us keeping our trip to the Big Island. We love Hawaii and I understand their concern, but it will all depend on if people in the stated can get the testing needed. There was some talk at one time about doing quick testing at the airports. I don’t know if that is still an option.
Yes, a test at the airport was mentioned when this concept was first discussed last month. We’ve not heard anything about that recently. It could possibly still be in the works. Hopefully we’ll know more soon.
Supposed to visit Maui July 14-21. So do you expect quarantine to be in effect then? What s a bout hiking, snorkeling on boat with group
We’re still waiting to hear from the governor regarding when the quarantine will be lifted.
Businesses and activities are slowly opening, but right now we don’t know what sort of group activities will be allowed more than a month from now. Currently, boat tours are limited to 10 people only, including the crew.
FYI – I’m watching the governor’s press conference as I type. He’s just announced that the mandatory 14-day quarantine will be extended through July 31 for passengers arriving from outside the sate. 🙁
The governor and Lieutenant Governor do not seem to be on the same page. Didn’t the LT Gov say two days ago that the pretesting was almost certainly going to begin July 15?
I like most folks, are probably willing to take a test to come but and however, as everyone else has stated, you just can’t walk in and get a test. I work in Healthcare, you have to have at least 3 of the symptoms and depending on the symptoms you have, it has to be even more of them. And here, we don’t have the quick testing. So not only is it hard to get tested but hard to get results back within 48 to 72 hours of your trip. I hope things work out. I’ve changed my trip three times, not sure how many times they are going to keep allowing us to change. The pandemic isn’t our fault or Hawaii’s fault, everyone is just trying to do the best we can with what we’ve been given. 🙂 Thanks for the updates!
If my girlfriend who is a local stays with me while I’m in quarantine and then I leave will she be forced into a 14 day quarantine as well? She has to go to work.
If you have any questions regarding this quarantine order, email local government at: CovidExemption@hawaii.gov.
For general travel-related questions, please contact the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau Call Center at 1-800-GO-HAWAII (1-800-464-2924).
It’s important to note that, while the 72 hour rule is well indented, the required Covid PCR test turnaround time from Quest per their website is 3 to 5 days, so in practice, it will be difficult to get results back timely to say the least…
https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/HCP/NAAT/
So just to clarify, I would have to get tested and test result all within 72 hours before arriving? If I am planning to arrive on August 7 I have to get tested by August 4 and get the results to fall within the 72 hours?