MY RECENT TRIP TO HAWAII

Before Arrival

Even before I left for my flight from LAX to KOA (Kona International Airport), I made sure my required pre-travel application, COVID test and health form were in order. According to the “Safe Travels Hawaii” program, I must have a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of departure for me to be allowed to roam the islands freely. If I did not take the test, or if my test results were delayed, I’d have to be quarantined until it’s all cleared up. While quarantining in a spacious Hawaii hotel with majestic ocean views doesn’t sound too bad, that was not on my agenda.

Hawaii is very particular about which COVID tests are allowed — they only accept a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from select approved partners. Thankfully, they provide a long list of trusted testing and travel partners, making it easy to find a test provider near you.

To get things started, I created an account and registered with the State of Hawaii’s “Safe Travels Hawaii” program. It was quick, easy and free to fill out this online application. To take my test, I went to the same place I go to purchase my usual meds, CVS, which generally has quick result times. I got my negative results back on Friday, just in time for my Saturday flight.

Also, 24 hours prior to my flight, I got an email from the Safe Travels Hawaii program with a travel and health form I needed to fill out. A few short questions about how I was feeling and the form was submitted. After completing the form, I got an email with a QR code that I needed to show to airline and airport staff upon arrival in Hawaii to help them look up my Safe Travels Hawaii account.

I decided to print out both the test results and the QR code and headed to the airport. If you don’t want to deal with paperwork, you can also log on to Hawaii's pretravel testing site to register your travel details and upload your negative results. It’s a pretty quick process, and once submitted you’ll receive a digital barcode you’ll need for your flights, car rentals and hotel check-in. I did both to be double-sure.

The Flight

The flight itself was seamless, with plenty of social distancing in the airport and at the gate. Middle seats were blocked off, so I had no one seated beside me. Please note that the airline staff are only allowed to offer a few drinks and snacks, so be sure to have a full meal before you board that six-hour flight from L.A.

When I deplaned, I was ushered into a socially distanced line to show them my hard copy of the test results and its QR code. Once scanned, I was given the green light to leave the airport. Others on my plane were selected for rapid testing on arrival. That whole process is quick and well-organized, with friendly airport staff ready to help you at every checkpoint.

The view from Waipi'o Valley Lookout on Big Island, Hawaii