We hope!  It’s been a long time of hoping and being disappointed with many false starts to reopening the Hawaiian Islands to tourism.

It was supposed to reopen in June, then July, then August but now we hope, Oct 15, 2020.  My Vacation Lady LOVES Hawaii and we had to postpone and move so many of our clients’ vacations and honeymoons during this long pandemic.  We truly hope that this time is the charm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s what to expect with this new pre-travel testing program: 

  • 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.
  • Tests will be offered at CVS and by Kaiser Permanente as part of the agreement the companies made with Hawaii and will reportedly cost about $140 per traveler.
  • The state said it will release some more details about how it will register each tourist’s test, but Ige called the program “an added layer of security” in the state’s effort to balance tourism and safety.

We are still unsure about the policy for inter island travel, since the the inter-island quarantine for anyone arriving on any island other than O‘ahu continues through Sept. 30, unless terminated or extended by a separate emergency proclamation.

My Vacation Lady will keep you up to date as we hear more information.  Our team of Hawaii vacation and honeymoon specialists are on hand to assist with planning your next Hawaii adventure.

For daily updates and Hawaii travel inspiration, check out our Hawaii Honeymoons and Vacations- Tips and Trips facebook group