Hawaii pre-arrival testing begins next month
Hawaii’s long awaited pre-travel testing program is set to begin in mid-October.
That means travelers arriving from 15 October will be able to avoid the current mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Travelers would be required to produce proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of their travel.
Hawaii has agreements with healthcare providers CVS and Kaiser Permanente to administer the program.
"I want to emphasize that this pre-travel testing will allow us to add a greater element of safety for travel into our state," said Hawaii Gov. David Ige.
Ige said there will be no testing for the required nucleic acid amplification tests at the airport.
Passengers who are unable to take the NAAT test will have to take one in Hawaii and then remain in quarantine until they receive test results.
"The technology of testing is rapidly evolving. So as cheaper, quicker tests become available … we’ll work with DOH, DOT, airports, health care, people everywhere to use those tests also. So this will continuously improve and get easier and easier," said Lt. Gov. Josh Green, who is overseeing Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program.
Officials are under increasing pressure from tourism industry workers and business owners to restart tourism.
"It definitely provides an economic opportunity for our state when so many people are suffering," Green said.
Hawaii’s quarantine protocol started in March and effectively shut down the state’s tourism industry which welcomed a record 10 million visitors last year.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive