This article was originally published on 10/20/2020

UPDATE, 1/20/2021: As of Wednesday, December 2nd ALL Travelers and returning residents to Kauai can NO LONGER bypass the 10-day quarantine with a negative Covid-19 test result as part of Hawaii's pre-travel testing program. However, if you'd like to travel to Kauai and avoid the 10-day quarantine, you have two options, which we've outlined below. 

Option one:

1. Fly into and stay on another island for three days (72 hours). 
2. Take a pretravel test at a trusted partner. 
3. Upload negative test results to Safe Travels or bring hard copy of results.
4. Fly to Kauai and enjoy your trip! 

Some important things to consider: 

• You'll need to take a pre-travel test before you arrive in Hawaii, so you'll need to take a total of two tests. 
• The trusted partners in Hawaii may differ from those on the mainland, check out a list here. 
• If you don't receive your test results prior to your arrival to Kauai, you'll have to quarantine in your hotel until you receive a negative test result. Then, you must upload your results to Safe Travels. 

Option two: 

1. Fly to Kauai (take a pre-travel test within 72 hours of departure)
2. Participate in a resort bubble program. 
3. Stay in resort bubble for 72 hours. 
4. Take a second PCR test. 
5. Get a negative test result. 
6. Leave quarantine and enjoy your trip!

For more on traveling to Kauai right now, click here. 

If you are traveling to Kauai and plan on minimizing your quarantine by visiting another island or staying a resort bubble you must still follow all the protocols for travel to Hawaii. These include: 

1. Taking a pre-travel test at a trusted partner within 72 hours of departure. 
2. Register for Safe Travels Hawaii here. 
3. Within 24 hours of departure, fill out the online questionaire on Safe Travels. 
4. When you receive your negative test results, upload them to Safe Travels (must have negative test results prior to arrival, see FAQ #3 for more). If you have trouble uploading them, bring a hard copy -- we recommend you do both. 
5. Travel to Hawaii - wear a mask, socially distance when possible, wash hands and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Have questions, no worries, scroll for some FAQ's. 

1. What if I don't want to quarantine for three days or stay in a resort bubble? 

Then you will have to quarantine for ten days at your hotel or for the duration of your stay. 

2. Do I still need to get a pretravel test before arriving to Hawaii if I choose to visit another island for three days or stay in a resort bubble? 

Yes, you must get a pretravel test prior to arrival to Oahu, Maui, and Big Island. For more on Hawaii's pretravel testing program, click here. 

3. What if I take a pretravel test and don't receive results prior to my arrival? 

If you do not receive a negative test result prior to your arrival in Hawaii then you will have to quarantine for 10 days or the duration of your stay. 

4. What if I take a test and the result is positive? 

Do not travel to Hawaii. If you do, you can be arrested upon arrival. 

5. What if I take a different type of test -- not the NAAT test? 

Then you will have to quarantine for 10 days or the length of your stay. 

6. What if I get a negative test result from a facility that's not a trusted partner? 

Then you will have to quarantine for 10 days or the length of your stay. 

5) Do children need to take a test too? 

Yes, children 5 and older need to prove a negative test result to forgo the 10-day quarantine. Please note that not all testing facilities will test children, confirm with your testing facility before making an appointment. 

6) What if I don't get a test prior to departure to Hawaii and/or Kauai? 

Then you must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. 

7) Can I take a test when I get to Hawaii? 

No, Hawaii will not administer tests for travelers to bypass the mandatory 10-day quarantine. The test must be taken prior to departure. 

Once you arrive to Kauai, here's what to expect:

Post-Arrival at Airport

When you get to the airport you’ll undergo a temperature check and have to confirm you’ve filled out the mandatory health questionnaire by showing an airport representative the QR code confirmation you received when this form was completed. An airport respresentive will also call your phone to make sure you have provided a working number so they can communicate with you throughout your quarantine period if you have one. 

A lot has changed — attractions, restuarants and hotels remain closed.

Here's a list of attractions that have reopened: 

• Kilauea Lighthouse - reservations required 
• Haena State Park - reservations required, shuttle service is temporarily suspended
• Kalalau Trail
• Limahuli Gardens
• Wailua Falls
• 'Opaeka'a Falls
• Keahua Arboretum Walk
• Sleeping Giant Trail
• Ho'opi'i Waterfall Hike
• Spouting Horn
• Kauai Coffee Company 
• Waimea Canyon 
• Koke'e Lodge and Museum 

You Should Also Know

It’s also important to note that there is currently a mask mandate for the state of Hawaii. It is mandatory to wear a mask on every island while in public. Please remember to pack masks for your visit.

And... 

Should you have to quarantine for ten days, you cannot leave your hotel room or quarantine destination for any reason. This includes getting food, physical exercise, and even getting a Covid-19 test. 

Parting Thoughts…

Please remember to practice aloha to keep yourself and the community safe. You can do this by adhering to quarantine requirments, wearing your mask in public, respecting the current protocols in place by each island, and practicing social distancing. For more on how to keep yourself and Hawaii safe, watch this video here. 

RELATED: 15 Socially-Distanced Things to Do in Hawaii

Visiting other islands? Here's what you need to know if you're visiting Maui, Oahu and Big Island. 

We'll update this post periodically as more information becomes available.