BlueZebra

24 hours prior to checkin. You have a cash upfront booking?

mtofell

I've gone back and forth mainland to Hawaii 15+ times since Covid started and am still learning things about the process. My test results through Kaiser have typically come back within 24 hours which means before I'm eligible to fill out the Health Questionnaire at T-24 (I generally take my test within an hour of T-72). But one time the results were late and I realized it's possible to get the almighty QR code but still not have test results uploaded. Of course, once anyone scans the QR code they can see you don't have test results in yet. It just confused me since I thought once I had a QR code I was done but that's not the case.

SanDiego1K

I've filled out the questionaire and almost instantaneously got my QR code. There were some interesting points in the accompanying email:

If you depart to Hawaii without your test result uploaded, or as a paper copy, you will be required to complete a 10-day quarantine even if you receive your test result during your 10-day quarantine period. The state will no longer allow travelers to upload tests after departure to Hawaii.

(On arrival) Be prepared to show a copy of your reservations for lodging and return flight, if applicable.

Re the first point, I've read recent accounts of folks who got their test results while they were in the air enroute to Hawaii. I take the first point to mean that they will not be allowed to submit them and will be subject to quarantine on arrival.

BlueZebra

The ban on results arriving while in the air has been in place for a couple of months.

The other issue not mentioned here is United and Alaska (and perhaps other airlines...not sure) are pre-approving test results people at the departure airport and issuing a wrist band. So you don't have to do anything as you exit the plan for the State of Hawaii, you just leave the airport.

I don't recall showing any copy of our housing arrangements, but you should have entered it into the Hawaii site when you created the trip record.

bloodyeyeballs

I just returned from Guam and stayed in HNL for a couple of days. A couple of observations:
On LAX-HNL I flew United and I was able to get my QR code verified in LA and I was given a bracelet. You could do this on the concourse, in the United Club (if you have access) or at the gate. Once in HNL, the National Guard checked your bracelet and you were home free.
From Guam to HNL, I got the COViD test results and converted them to PDF and uploaded. I got the pending verification note and it never did get verified. Once in HNL the person behind the desk had to look up the lab to see if it was on the list and said it was not verified beacause it was a jpg, not a pdf. This was not true. Nevertheless he called a supervisor and I was good to go. I did chuckle as they always seem to need a supervisor. How about train and empower your staff to make decisions. Another topic I guess.
On the return from HNL I flew Hawaiian. Not too much hassle for my departure. However, on concourse C yesterday, a Saturday at 1 pm, multiple full flights were arriving and none of the flyers had bracelets. Thus the processing line extended back to my gate C1 and it looked like at least an hour wait to clear and be admitted to Hawaii, maybe longer. Clearly the airport checkpoints were understaffed and overwhelmed. I pity the poor supervisor who probably had to verify nearly everyone. ​​​​I’m sure many inter island connections were missed as a result of this.

SanDiego1K

I got an email from Alaska Airlines with the same message.

If your negative test results are still pending and we are unable to pre-clear you, we can move you to the next available flight. Otherwise, you will be required to self-quarantine on arrival in Hawai'i for 10 days or the duration of your stay, whichever is shorter. Testing or further document verification will not be available upon arrival in Hawai'i.

LASUA1K

How long is it usually taking for the QR code to change to exempt? I received the qr code immediately but it's saying N/A for exempt. I have my walgreens test uploaded and it says negative, I'm traveling along with 3 young ones so just hoping this goes smoothly.

mtofell

I think it always says "exempt" and "N/A" for screened. I believe those have to do with workers and military that are exempt from the process you are going through. I've never noticed mine to change from that and have gone through 10+ times without a problem. As long as you have your test uploaded and have answered the health questionnaire at T-24 hours everything should go smoothly.

Weatherboy

The state Senate in Hawaii ended up killing the bill that would have kept a universal travel policy in place across all of the islands. With that dead, island/county mayors can still have different COVID rules in place. Although once Kauai rejoins Safe Travels in April, the islands will pretty much be on the same page for except:
-Interisland travelers still won't need to test out of quarantine on flights into Honolulu
-Maui arrivals still need to download their contract tracing app
-Big Island arrivals are still subject to an additional, albeit free, quick COVID test upon arrival

With the pace of vaccinations picking up, Hawaii should be pretty well vaccinated by the start of summer travel season and I'd expect more restrictions to fall.

SNA_Flyer

I'll bet Mayor Derek goes back on his plan and continues to kill the Kauai economy while the others forge ahead. I hope I'm wrong.

exp

Do all the testing partners listed on the site

• https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/

have quick turnarounds?

What are the costs and logistics of the quarantine if you fail the test?

In fact if you fail the test, you won't be allowed to board the flight and you can change to different dates?

BlueZebra

If you read through the two main threads here on the topic, there are dozens and dozens of reports on speed of results return, ( and your other questions as well) which can be anywhere from an hour, to 48-72 hours. Each vendor has a stated timeline, but during the December/January surge, some vendors seriously struggled to meet their "guarantees". Note, typically, but not absolutely, the fastest results cost more money.

The cost of quarantine would depend on the hotel involved, and is totally the responsibility of the traveler. I have not heard any other definition of a price...I don't think the State is saying the per diem is XXX per day, or limiting it in any way.

The general statement is you can't get on a plane without a negative test. But there has been no proof that it is consistently enforced by the airlines...they don't want to be in that enforcement position. But, if you get put into quarantine, which WILL occur if you don't have a negative test, you can't buy your way out with a late test result or a fast test at or near the airport. Just get the test.

exp

Of course I would get a test.

But I would book the flight and hotels long before I take the test close to departure.

I guess I better look for refundable hotel reservations and easily changed flight tickets.

BlueZebra

Other than a few special cases, like award bookings at Hilton family members, aren't the vast majority of bookings refundable/cancelable? Most airlines allow cancellations with a credit.

We are getting our Covid test tomorrow for a Saturday flight. Flight and hotel are fully concealable up 24 hours prior to departure (check in for the hotel). We booked them months ago.

SanDiego1K

24 hours from departure, a questionaire was open on the travel.hawaii.gov site. Once I filled it out and submitted it, near instantaneously I got a QR code.

We flew SAN-KOA on AS. An AS agent was going person to person at SAN to check for the QR code. We also had to show personal identification. We were then given a wrist band. On arrival in KOA, we walked down the steps from the plane, were given a round disk (which purpose was never obvious to me), walked thru a long path outside the terminal, dropped the disk in a basket someone was holding, and were sent inside. There we were given a dollop of hand sanitizer and filled out a questionaire. We then went thru many more twists and turns within the terminal and eventually got to people to whom we handed the questionaire. I thought we were done but no, we were sent outside to technicians who swabbed our noses. We were told we would hear within 2 hours if we failed our latest Covid test. I believe that 100% of our plane was tested though didn't stick around to be sure. We then wended our way outside around the terminal and waited for our car rental van.

Once at the car rental office, we had to bring up our QR code on our phone before being allowed to rent a car. They would not accept a paper copy as they said there had been too much fraud. The final time that we had to show the QR code was at our hotel as a requirement to be allowed to check in.