What are the Requirements to Travel to Hawaii Right Now in the Wake of COVID?

From hand sanitizer in airport lobbies to getting used to airplane crews in masks, Covid-19 has transformed the travel experience. As the travel industry looks towards a new normal, travelers confined in their homes for months have begun to dream again of beaches and mountains. Yet, this new normal offers its own set of challenges.  One of the biggest is new travel requirements. So, we’re going to discuss the requirements to travel to Hawaii.

Hawaii, an all-time favorite tourist destination, famous for its pristine coastline dotted with volcanoes, cave-filled beaches, traditional Pacific culture, and decadent cuisine, has applied strict restrictions for travelers. With roughly 160,000 cases and 1,100 deaths reported as of January 14, Hawaii has seen relatively low Covid numbers compared to the rest of the United States. It maintained some of the strictest travel measures compared to any other state, and perhaps, this is partially why.

Hawaii began reducing restrictions in 2021, but the spread of the Delta variant over the summer spurred the state to, once again, tighten up on the rules. As the omicron variant gradually recedes, restrictions have been loosened once again.

Here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you wish to visit the Aloha State in the wake of the pandemic.

The Essentials

The State of Hawaii has aligned its entry policy for international travelers with USA’s federal policy for air travel. Travelers are required to be fully vaccinated and must show proof of vaccination prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane. In addition, the new policy requires other proven COVID-19 requisites such as enhanced testing, contact tracing, and masking.

All international travelers aged two and older must test within one day of departure for the United States, regardless of their vaccination status.

A negative pre-travel test for unvaccinated travelers is required to bypass the ten-day quarantine, now reduced to 5 days. 

The test should be taken no more than 72 hours before boarding the final leg of the trip to Hawaii, and the result must be uploaded before departure. Visitors are responsible for quarantine costs. The pre-travel test will only be accepted by the trusted partners of the Hawaii Safe Travels program.

For vaccinated travelers, their vaccination documents are also to be uploaded on the Safe Travels website prior to departure.

All restrictions on inter-county travel have been lifted, meaning no pre-travel testing or quarantining is needed for travel between the Hawaiian Islands. In addition, domestic travelers to the islands will not be required to include proof of COVID-19 booster shots.

What can visitors expect?

Statewide limits on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, gyms, and other social establishments have been lifted with permission to operate at 100% capacity. Six-foot distancing has also been eliminated.

As the island of Maui officially eliminates its vaccine and test requirements for restaurants, bars, and gyms, the other Hawaiian Islands like Honolulu and Oahu are also in line to drop their policies in the coming weeks.

Presently, Hawaii’s long-standing restrictions could potentially be relaxed within the next couple of weeks as the state anticipates moving away from the Safe Travels Program. But, as of March 2022, these are the requirements to travel to Hawaii.

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