Hawaii travel is about to get a lot easier: Here's what you need to know
Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
As of March 26, domestic travelers to Hawaii will no longer have to comply with the state's Safe Travels program, ending testing and vaccination requirements for those arriving in Hawaii from within the United States.
Since October 2020, the digital COVID-19 health system has been required for use by all visitors to the Aloha State to facilitate proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to avoid quarantine on arrival.
Here's what you need to know about traveling to Hawaii in late March and beyond.
The latest: Say goodbye to the Safe Travels program
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. GMT on March 26, passengers arriving in Hawaii on domestic flights will no longer need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or submit negative results of a pre-travel COVID-19 test to the Safe Travels portal. Additionally, the mandatory five-day quarantine for travelers who possess neither no longer applies.
Island restrictions are no longer in place
Local county restrictions have been lifted across the Big Island, Oahu, Kauai and Maui.
Gov. David Ige's indoor mask mandate remains in place for now at public spaces, including airports.
Who can travel to Hawaii?
Hawaii is open to domestic and international tourists alike, the only difference being foreign visitors to Hawaii will remain subject to U.S. law requiring all air travelers age 2 and older to take a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) within one day of departure to the U.S. and show negative results to their airline.
These travelers age 18 and older must also provide proof of full vaccination to the airline to enter the country by air.
"All of the screening activity will occur prior to departing from that country," according to a spokesperson for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Related: Proof of vaccination or recent test no longer required to access indoor spaces in Maui
Bottom line
Hawaii is soon to be open as close to normal as we've seen in the past two years, which means there's perhaps no better time to plan your trip than right now.
Even for foreign visitors, Hawaii is more than doable thanks to a simple proof-of-vaccination requirement.
Although an indoor mask mandate is still in place, it's the only state to still have one.
Read more: Hawaii's Safe Travels program is ending
Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner, Chris Dong, Victoria M. Walker, Katherine Fan, Madison Blancaflor, Clint Henderson, Nick Ellis, Andrea M. Rotondo and Ashley Kosciolek.
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