Traveling anywhere during a pandemic can seem like quite a feat. While some destinations are slowly beginning to relax travel restrictions, keeping up with the latest rules and regulations is no easy task! When Will and I thought about eloping, we wanted to go somewhere that combined relaxation with adventure. We could choose to hang on the beach all day, piña colada in hand, skin blistered like a lobster from hours of harsh sunlight. Then the next day, we could be off exploring the hidden gems of a rural landscape. Hawaii was the perfect answer. Since we would still be in the U.S., we wouldn’t have to worry about restrictions from getting in and out of the country. That’s not to say Hawaii was without its own restrictions, as we had to postpone our original wedding date due to a mandatory quarantine on the island. Read all about our elopement story here! Luckily, most of the Hawaiian islands are participating in the pre-travel testing program, which allows visitors to bypass the state’s mandatory 10 day self-quarantine. It’s a strict quarantine, by the way, so there’s no getting around it without participating in the testing program! Our time in Hawaii was spent in Maui, so this information is specifically geared towards towards traveling there; however, most of the islands have the same entry requirements as those in Maui. COVID travel restrictions to Hawaii may seem daunting at first. Initially, I was pretty overwhelmed by all the restrictions, but I’ve broken down everything you need to know to get prepped and ready for a trip to the beautiful island of Maui.
Here’s the skinny on the current restrictions at the time of this article:
- Maui is currently participating in the pre-travel testing program along with most other Hawaiian islands. Kauai is not currently participating in the pre-travel testing program, and is, instead, offering a “resort bubble” option for those hoping to gain exemption from the state’s mandatory 10 day self-quarantine. It’s expected that Kauai will rejoin the state’s pre-travel testing program on April 5th.
- All information for the pre-travel testing program can be found on hawaiitourismauthority.org, a website I stalked religiously when we were planning our trip to Maui. Here are the basics: visitors to Maui can bypass the mandatory 10 day self-quarantine by having proof of a negative nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) COVID test performed within 72 hours of the final leg of departure. The test must be from the state of Hawaii’s list of trusted testing and travel partners. We chose to get the rapid ID NOW test at Walgreens and it was such a seamless process! We even got our test results back within a few hours.
- Make sure you print your negative test result AND upload it to your Safe Travels Hawaii account before you board your flight! Once your result is uploaded, you must also complete the Safe Travels Hawaii online form. These testing requirements apply to everyone ages 5 and older.
- If you’re planning on heading to Maui, you must download the AlohaSafe Alert app before arriving. The app is a free official exposure notification app that is designed to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We were already in Hawaii when this was announced, so we didn’t actually have to download the app.
Once you’ve completed all the steps necessary for the pre-travel testing program, you’re ready to head to Hawaii!
The flight
Be mindful that airlines have suspended their in-flight food and beverage services, so make sure to pack snacks or grab a meal in the airport to eat later on. Our American Airlines flight from Dallas to Maui was about 8 hours and we were provided with a small snack box, which was a nice addition. We were also provided drinks upon request. On our returning flight from Maui to Dallas, we decided to splurge and upgrade to first class. The upgrade was available at the time of check-in 24 hours before the flight, and was the cheapest first class upgrade I’ve ever seen! To my surprise, we were provided full food and beverage service in first class. Both of our flights were far from full and we felt very safe due to the social distancing we were able to enjoy. Check out my travel favorites travel favorites for everything you’ll need to enhance your flying experience and have an amazing trip!
Arriving in Hawaii
Once we landed in Maui, we were guided to an area where our documents were checked and temperatures were taken. I showed both my paper copy of our test results, as well as the results we had uploaded to our Safe Travels account online. The process was super quick and we were on our way!
We grabbed our rental car and headed to our hotel. We showed our results again when we checked into our hotel, which made the whole process feel very safe! The mask mandate was similar to Nashville and many other cities in that masks are required pretty much everywhere. Once you are seated at a restaurant or bar, you are allowed to take your mask off. We could also take off our masks once we were at our seats at the pool or beach; however, if you’re in any common area, they’re required. Lastly, remember that you are a guest on the island, so be respectful of any restrictions that are in place!
If you can swing it, a trip to Hawaii is SO worth the work you might put in to participate in the pre-travel testing program! Have you traveled to Hawaii recently? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below! Wondering what to do on your trip to Maui? Be sure to check out the Ultimate Guide to Maui here!
