HB 043: Hawaii Reopening to Tourism – What Visitors Need to Know

Unknown Speaker 0:00

And here we meet again beneath the mighty Mater banyan tree beside the sea. The great panorama of Waikiki Beach before all diamond had at one end, surfboards and outrigger canoes catching the waves out there. many colors along the shore up bright and beautiful picture. This is Webley Edwards speaking are all the islanders for these many mainlanders from so many places, whose voices now rise with us and that traditional shout that begins our songs from the Allah as Hawaii call. Hawaii calls

Bryan Murphy 0:35

again, take two. On today's episode, we are unpacking everything that you need to know. Right now if you are planning on a trip to Hawaii. This is a very important episode if you are thinking about traveling to Hawaii, anytime in the remainder of 2020 or in the coming months of 21. Let's go.

Hawaii's Best 0:56

Welcome to Hawaii's Best travel podcast where we help you prepare for your next trip to Hawaii. Discover the experiences businesses and stories that make Hawaii the Aloha state. And now your host, Brian Murphy.

Bryan Murphy 1:11

Hello and welcome to Episode 43 of Hawaii's Best where we help prepare you for your next trip to Hawaii. I'm your host Brian Murphy, the owner of Hawaii's Best and on our blog. In this podcast, we offer resources and local and cultural insights to get the most out of your stay on the islands. On today's episode, we are unpacking everything that you need to know as of today, November 18, when traveling to Hawaii, now travel to Hawaii has officially been reopened for about a month. And I've been waiting to give you this episode and resource because as you know, things change all the time. And at the time of you listening to this if it be a week from the air date, or a month from the air date or whatever information probably has already changed. So it's important to go to Hawaii COVID-19 dot com for the up to date, most current information. But as of today, I feel like things are pretty much where they're going to be for the next little bit. And I just want to unpack some of the most frequently asked questions that we received on Hawaii's Best. And things to know and to consider when traveling to Hawaii, I think anytime soon, especially going into not just the remainder of 2020. But through the next few months of 2021. And probably through all the way into fall of 2021 some of these current restrictions and just things you need to do in order to get over to the islands are going to be put in place. And what I do have to say about the pre travel checklist and the pre travel testing, it seems like it is going pretty well and people I've talked to and knowing some people who have traveled to Hawaii recently, it seems like things are going smoothly. Now I know that there are stories out there, and there are people out there and experiences that that hasn't been the case. But for the majority it seems like what is in place has been working and I just want to simply impact some of the big things to know when going to Hawaii especially right now. But before we dive into all that I would love to read the review of the week and these reviews honestly guys like this gets me pumped. This is like why I do what we do with the Hawaii's Best podcast. This is really it's really about you and it's really about just the love for Hawaii. So this comes from I love this this comes from hippy rock chick on Apple podcast. Hawaii has always been such a special place for my family, even our extended family but we have only experienced Hawaii all these years Hawaii's Best has such an amazing information and great local tips and secret spots is definitely made us want to go back and experience so many other islands and other places. When COVID is over, we are going to plan the most awesome trip using this podcast as our guide. Mahalo Hawaii's Best

hippie rock chick that just means the world to me and the team here at Hawaii's Best. I totally appreciate you taking the time to leave that review and to subscribe and just thank you so much. And if you've been listening for a little bit, I just want to encourage you to go ahead and leave an honest review and rating that would just help us be able to create more content geared towards what you want to be hearing as it relates to travel to Hawaii. Today's episode is brought to you by our partners. Shaka guide. Shaka guide has 21 GPS audio tours across the Hawaiian Islands. They are available on their apps for Big Island, Hawaii, Maui and Oahu. Each audio tour offers you turn by turn directions to popular sites with stories and music along the way. So you aren't just seeing the sights you're learning about them too, which is awesome. Shaka guys main goal is to connect you with places enriching your travel experience. In today's travel environment in Hawaii Shaka guy gives you all the benefits of a tour guide, but from an app giving you the freedom to explore and to socially distance. So to change the way you see Hawaii go to Hawaii's Best travel.com slash Shaka to download today. Also, the content for today's episode comes from our partners Shaka guide as well. So go to Hawaii's Best travel.com slash Shaka to download today. So as many of you know, after about eight months of shut down, Hawaii has began to open up to travelers again, and that was back almost a month ago. It was around October 15. And in this reopening, travelers can begin boarding flights headed to Hawaii without having to undergo a 14 day quarantine when they arrive. And as I've said before Hawaii's reopening comes with caveats mainly, that travelers must prove a negative covid 19 tests result upon arrival. And just to be honest, the rollout of this pre travel testing program has gotten some travelers confused from what we've heard and what we've seen, and information surrounding the program is changing daily. So in our update, today, I'm going to give you an overview of what it means to travel to the Big Island because the Big Island has an extra step. And if you follow everything that we highlight out into traveling to the Big Island, you'll do just fine traveling to Maui County Oahu in Hawaii. So for pre travel, step one is get tested. The first and arguably most important thing you must do before boarding your flight is to get a COVID-19 test. But not any test or testing center will suffice. Here's what you need to know about the test, the test must be administered by a trusted partner. And to find a list of those partners. Again, go to Hawaii COVID-19 dot com. Also, the test must be taken within 72 hours of departure. tests that are taken prior to the 72 hour window are not are invalid. Also for the test, you must get an FDA authorized na t test. Rapid tests, anybody tests or any sorts of tests do not qualify for the program. Some of the frequently asked questions that we have seen when it comes to pre arrival testing is number one, what if I take the test within 72 hours, but I don't get the results back. And if that's the case, you must quarantine until you get the results once you get your results. If they are negative, you are free to leave quarantine. If they are positive, you must remain in quarantine for 14 days or the remainder of your trip. Number two, what if I take a test and the result is positive. And here's the bummer part to that then you shouldn't travel to Hawaii. And I know that planning a trip takes a lot of effort and saving for a trip takes a lot of effort. Luckily, airlines like Hawaiian Airlines, and many other resorts have been willing to work with people who are having to reschedule a trip. So just be aware of that. Whenever you go to book a trip planning trip, just be aware of what their cancellation policy is or what their reschedule policy is. Number three, what if I take a different type of test and not the n a t test, then you will have to quarantine for 14 days, or the length of your stay. So make sure you get the and a T test. And it's from one of the trusted partners. That's another thing. Another question that has been popping up is what if I get a negative test result from a facility that's not a trusted partner? Well, then you must have to quarantine for 14 days. Another question do children need to take a test to yes children five years and older need to prove a native test result to forego the 14 day quarantine? So please note that not all testing facilities will test children. So confirm with your testing facility before making an appointment. What if I don't get a test prior to departure? That's a fairly obvious answer, but it is you're going to have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Can I test when I get to Hawaii? No. Hawaii will not administer tests for travelers to bypass the mandatory 14 day quarantine the test must be taken prior to departure. Alright, so step two now is to register for Safe travels Hawaii. Now that you've tested and ready to travel to LA you must register for the Safe travels [email protected] after you've registered and within 24 hours of your departure login to your account to fill out the online questionnaire, this is mandatory, you will have to prove that you filled this out upon arrival to Hawaii. So now that you've completed step one, getting a test at a trusted testing facility, and step two, you registered for Safe travels Hawaii, now it's time to travel to Hawaii. So you've completed these steps and now you're on your way to Hawaii and during your travels, it's recommended that you wear a mask on your flight, socially distance when possible and wash your hands and use alcohol based hand sanitizer frequently. All of those three things that I think we've been pretty much accustomed to since March so when you travel over to y, just please be mindful of that. And an extra step when traveling to Hawaii that I want to highlight is taking the Pono pledge, you can go to Hawaii's Best travel comm slash Pono to take the Pono pledge. And this is something that the island of Hawaii county has set up and it's really cool. Basically, you pledged to be Pono righteous on the island of Hawaii. And I would just encourage you to do that on any of the islands that you travel to. So go to Hawaii's Best travel.com slash Pono Take the pledge there. It's just a really cool way to say yes, when I travel to Hawaii, I'm going to do my part to travel responsibly to a place that we all love so much. Alright, so now you have landed in Hawaii. Here's some posts arrival things to be aware of at the airport when it comes to traveling to the Big Island. If you're traveling to the Big Island, you'll be required to take a second COVID test upon arrival to the airport. The test will be a rapid antigen test that will be administered free of cost at both Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport, you will receive test results within 15 to 20 minutes. And regarding this second test, here are some questions that have come up. Number one, do I need to take a second test at the airport, even if I got a negative test result from a trusted partner prior to departure? And that is yes, if you are traveling to the Big Island of Hawaii, it is requiring that all visitors and returning residents take another test as an extra layer of protection against COVID-19. Question two is what if I test positive on this second test result if you get a positive test result, you'll then take a PCR test for a more accurate result. You must quarantine as you await those results. If that test comes back negative you're free to bypass the 14 day quarantine. However, if the test comes back positive, you must quarantine for 14 days. And number three, what if I get a negative test result on this second COVID-19 test? Well, then you're free to bypass the 14 day quarantine question for What if I refuse to take the second test on the Big Island of Hawaii? Well, if you refuse to take that second test, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days, or the duration of your stay. Also, it's important to note that upon arrival to the airport, on Hawaii Island, you'll undergo a temperature check and have to confirm you filled out the Safe travels questionnaire by showing an airport representative the QR code confirmation you received when the form was completed. So all that to say and if you pass through all of those things. Welcome to Hawaii. Hawaii is a place filled with Aloha. And if you've been to Hawaii, you just know that feeling that is honestly impossible describe it has to be experienced. Hawaii is thrilled to welcome new back to his islands. But as Hawaii does, please remember to practice aloha to keep yourself and the community safe. You can do this by wearing a mask in public, respecting current protocols in place by each island and practicing social distancing. I know many local businesses truly appreciate you traveling back to the islands and and supporting local and experiencing an amazing rest and relaxation. But as we do it, let's just be mindful when we travel and wherever we travel to to be mindful of the protocols and of the things that are in place. And like I mentioned at the top of this episode, things do change quite a bit and for the most up to date information go to Hawaii covid nineteen.com Well, thanks so much again for hanging out with me on this episode of Hawaii's Best what I want to ask of you if you have found value in listening to these episodes. I would love if you would just take like two minutes and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple podcast. Or if you're on Spotify, go ahead and hit follow that would mean the world to us and you can also follow us on our Instagram while we're pretty active over there at Hawaii. Best. Well until next time, I just want to say a big Aloha. Mahalo for traveling safely. We're gonna get through this. It's really cool to see that the State of Hawaii has been opening travelers again to Hawaii and even recently, there's been movements and welcome back our Japanese friends to the islands as well. So, until next time, guys be well.

Unknown Speaker 15:25

Aloha.

Hawaii's Best 15:27

Thanks for listening to Hawaii's Best travel podcasts. To stay up to date on future episodes. Be sure to subscribe. For more information to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii visit Hawaii's Best travel.com