My Maui Life

HAWAII PRE-TRAVEL TESTING: Yesterday’s announcement by Governor Ige triggered numerous questions about how pre-travel testing will work, if it includes interis...land travel, etc. The following FAQ’S, provided by the State of Hawaii, should answer most of your questions. More information can be found at hawaiicovid19.com. _______________ CURRENT STATE: The mandatory 14-day quarantine for all out-of-state travelers remains in effect. The twelfth supplementary emergency proclamation that was signed on August 20, 2020 continues this requirement, which has been in place since March 26. All incoming travelers are required to create a profile and fill out an online health questionnaire on Safe Travels Hawai‘i. This information is being collected to help keep us all safe and may be used to enforce quarantine rules. Read the self-quarantine instructions here. Check the Hawaii State Department of Transportation’s website for the latest news regarding travel. Recommendations for visitors and residents are frequently being updated. ______________ INTERISLAND TRAVEL: The mandatory 14-day quarantine remains in effect for all interisland travelers, except for those arriving on the island of O‘ahu. On August 20, 2020, the Governor announced that the quarantine requirement would continue for interisland travelers arriving on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, Maui and Kalawao (Kalaupapa), but that it does not apply to interisland travelers arriving on O‘ahu. The period of self-quarantine begins immediately upon arrival and lasts for 14 days or the duration of the person’s stay on the island, whichever is shorter. Before departure, passengers on all flights are required to create a profile and fill in a health questionnaire information on Safe Travels Hawai‘i. Visit travel.hawaii.gov and check the frequently asked questions for details. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: The U.S. State Department warns Americans not to travel abroad during the COVID-19 crisis. - TRAVEL FAQ’S: What do I need to do if I’m planning to travel to Hawaii? The State of Hawaii has established a multi-layered testing and screening process to protect the health and safety of everyone traveling to the Hawaiian Islands. All incoming travelers residents and visitors - are required to have their temperatures checked and complete a health and travel questionnaire using the Safe Travels digital system before they can leave the airport. In addition, all incoming travelers are subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the 14-day quarantine. Note: (The Hawai‘i State Dept. of Agriculture paper form continues to be distributed to passengers during flights and is still required to be completed prior to arrival) -What does a traveler to Hawaii need to do to avoid the 14-day quarantine? Evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result must be provided upon arrival to the Hawaiian Islands. The State of Hawai‘i is requiring all travelers to Hawai‘i to take an FDA-approved NAAT test from a CLIA certified laboratory within 72 hours of their arrival. Travelers also will have their temperatures checked upon arrival and must fill out a travel and health form. Travelers will be able to upload their negative test result when they complete their travel and health forms on the Safe Travels digital system, found at travel.hawaii.gov. -Will the 14-day quarantine still be in place on Oct. 15? Yes. The 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving from out-of-state will remain. Any traveler who is unable to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be required to quarantine. -Will the interisland 14-day quarantine still be in place on Oct. 15? When will the interisland quarantine end? Currently, the mandatory 14-day interisland self-quarantine applies to anyone arriving on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Moloka‘i and Lna‘i, and also traveling between these islands. It does not include interisland travelers arriving on O‘ahu. The interisland quarantine for anyone arriving on any island other than O‘ahu continues through Sept. 30, unless terminated or extended by a separate emergency proclamation. -What type of COVID-19 test will be approved as a pre-travel test? The State of Hawai‘i will accept results from any FDA-approved NAAT test, processed by a CLIA certified laboratory that is taken no earlier than 72 hours before your flight arrives. Currently approved trusted testing partners are: CVS and Kaiser Permanente. Trusted testing partners are entities that understand exactly what the State requires in terms of this program. Additionally, the state will accept test results from other sources so long as they meet the testing parameters set forth by the DOH, which are an FDA-approved NAAT test processed by a CLIA certified lab. Whether through CVS, Kaiser or another source, it is the traveler’s responsibility to confirm they are receiving the correct test. -Will antibody testing results be accepted? No. An antibody test will NOT be accepted. The State of Hawai‘i is requiring an FDA-approved NAAT test, processed by a CLIA certified laboratory taken no earlier than 72 hours before your flight arrives. -Where can travelers get the test? Currently approved trusted testing partners are: CVS and Kaiser Permanente. Trusted testing partners are entities that understand exactly what the State requires in terms of this program. Additionally, the state will accept test results from other sources so long as they meet the testing parameters set forth by the DOH, which are an FDA-approved NAAT test that is processed by a CLIA certified lab. -What if I accidentally take the wrong test? You will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and will only be allowed to leave your lodging for a medical emergency. There is no option to test upon arrival. -Who will verify the test results? State personnel at Hawai‘i’s airports will verify the results. Will you give me documentation once I complete my 14-day quarantine so that I can show it to law enforcement, the rental car company, hotel staff, or my employer? For those completing their entire 14-day quarantine, there is currently no release documentation being provided. For those who get their negative test result after arrival, the state will send you a confirmation and your name will be removed from the quarantine list. Do travelers need a doctor’s order to get the test? This varies by location. Please check with your doctor or review the health requirements in your area. -How can I get the test? (make an appointment, e.g.) Currently approved trusted testing partners are: CVS and Kaiser Permanente. Trusted testing partners are entities who understand exactly what the State requires in terms of this program. Additionally, the state will accept test results from other sources so long as they meet the testing parameters set forth by the DOH, which are an FDA-approved NAAT test that is processed by a CLIA certified lab. -How will the results be reported to the state? Travelers will be able to upload their test result when they complete their travel and health forms in the Safe Travels digital platform, found at travel.hawaii.gov, or after they arrive. Travelers may also bring hard copies of the test results for verification upon landing in Hawaii. -What happens if the test results aren’t received prior to the passenger’s arrival in Hawaii? Upon arrival in Hawai‘i, passengers unable to provide proof of an approved negative test will be required to go into quarantine, until such time they receive a negative test result. They must remain in quarantine for 14 days or until their proof of negative test results. -Will travelers be prevented from boarding if they don’t have test results? No. Travelers who don’t have test results upon arrival will be subject to the 14-day quarantine. -What happens if a traveler does not get pre-tested or chooses not to? Without a pre-test, travelers are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Hawaii. -Can travelers get a test upon arrival in Hawaii? No. This is a pre-travel testing program. However, when travelers go through the screening process upon arrival, a COVID-19 test may be offered if the traveler is symptomatic or a temperature check indicates a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, or answers upon arrival indicate that the traveler should be tested. The arrival test will not be offered in place of the pre-travel test. -Who pays for the test? The traveler is responsible for the cost of the pretravel test. -Will insurance pay for the test? Please check with your insurance provider. -What if I get tested and arrive prior to Oct. 15, do I still need to quarantine? Yes. If you arrive prior to Oct. 15, you will still need to complete the full 14-day quarantine. The pre-travel testing program starts on Oct. 15. Any travelers who arrive before then will need to quarantine. -Do minors need to get tested? Yes. All travelers wishing to avoid quarantine need to get a pre-travel test. -What if a traveler takes a test and results are pending when they arrive in Hawaii? If test results are not available upon their arrival, the traveler will remain in quarantine until the negative test results are reported to the State Department of Health. -If a traveler receives a negative test result while in Hawai‘i, who should they report the information to in order to be released from quarantine? The Hawai‘i State Department of Health. -What if someone who had tested negative before traveling to Hawaii gets a positive test result while in Hawaii? Any traveler who has a positive test result must remain in quarantine. Health services guidance will also be provided by the Hawaii State Department of Health. -What if a traveler develops COVID-19 symptoms while on vacation in Hawaii? Anyone experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath should immediately call and follow their doctor’s guidance. Visitors staying at hotels should call their front desk to notify them and get information on available healthcare services, or they can call 211 for referral to healthcare services. -Will local residents who travel out of Hawaii need to get tested prior to flying back? Yes. All travelers into the state including Hawaii residents will need to get tested no earlier than 72 hours before their flight arrives, otherwise they must undergo the 14-day quarantine upon return. If a local resident travels out of state for a short trip and is unable to take a test prior to returning, would they have the option of testing in Hawaii during their 14-day quarantine? And if the results are negative, can they be released from quarantine? This includes people relocating to Hawai‘i that are physically in Hawai‘i. No. -What other screening procedures will be in place for arriving travelers? Upon arrival, all travelers will undergo a temperature scan at their arrival gate. Travelers with temperatures of 100.4 and above will be taken to secondary screening and offered a COVID-19 PCR test with results available generally after 2448 hours. All travelers also must fill out the State of Hawaii Safe Travels travel and health form, found at travel.hawaii.gov. If the traveler has a printout of their negative result and has not yet uploaded it on the Safe Travels digital system, airport screeners upon arrival will take a photo of the hard-copy negative test result. -How are you going to enforce the 14-day quarantine for those that do not get pre-tested? Enforcement will be conducted by State and County law enforcement agencies. The state will continue to support these efforts and work with county law enforcement partners. Anyone required to quarantine for 14 days must check in daily, as instructed on the Safe Travels digital system. -How will hotels be notified once people are released from quarantine once they get their negative test results back? The traveler will be given proof of release by the Dept. of Health. -What if I rented a short-term rental and do not get my test results back by the time I arrive in Hawai‘i? Can I still quarantine in the short-term rental or do I have to rent a hotel room instead until I get my results back? You must quarantine in a hotel room. -What if I just have a flight connection or layover in Hawaii, am I required to test and/or quarantine? Passengers who have a layover in Honolulu do not have to quarantine if they will not be leaving the airport. However, passengers who are transiting through Hawaii and their connecting flight is not the same day and therefore will be leaving the airport, will need to quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their stay in Hawaii. -What if a traveler arrives by boat/cruise ship? As of Sept. 16, 2020: Persons arriving in the State on recreational boats that have been at sea for at least 14 days do not have to self-quarantine if no one on the boat is ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The no sail order remains in effect for cruise ships, and all disembarking cruise ship passengers will be required to go through the health screening process, including the thermal screening and completion of the questionnaire. -What about the Travel Bubbles/Corridors? Counties have the authority to establish resort bubbles, with the state’s approval. Please contact the specific county you are interested in to see if they have a resort bubble program. -Will restaurants, beaches and attractions be open when I come to visit? Please check with the county you are staying in to see what rules are in effect just prior to your arrival. You may also want to contact the restaurants and attractions you are interested in visiting to check on their status.

You have to start somewhere! Excellent news. It will continue to get easier and cheaper!! https://www.cbsnews.com//united-airlines-covid-testing-p/

Back to Maui after 12 months! United Airlines and The Hawaii safe travels program worked very well. A minor inconvenience. Worth the effort! Tested 72 hours prior and got results in 3 hours from Walgreens - they send an email including a PDF file. Upload the PDF file results to your trip account at https://travel.hawaii.gov. Take a 3 minute online questionnaire 24 hours prior to depart and they email you a file with a QFR code. Make sure you bring paper copies of all! Screening wait line at airport was 5 min - very well done. Expect masks and social distancing and common sense! Be aware you are a visitor. That’s about it! Make reservations now for the summer.

https://beatofhawaii.com/99-southwest-hawaii-in-2021-unite/