Would you wear a tracking bracelet for a Hawaiian vacation?
If you don't mind wearing a wrist monitoring bracelet (and paying for that privilege), have we got the postcard-perfect vacation for you.
The Hawaiian Island of Kauai has received permission to create "resort bubbles," that officially kick off today. Hawaiian Governor David Ige first approved the resort bubble concept back in September, but the details surrounding implementation weren't fully ironed out, approved and launched until now.
The program called an "enhanced movement quarantine," was approved by Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami on Dec. 30 and is distinctly different than the state's pre-travel testing program that is in effect on the other islands. That program has allowed travelers to bypass an otherwise mandatory 10-day quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test from an approved provider taken with 72 hours of departure to the islands.
But faced with rising cases and limited medical capacity, Kauai opted out of that program in early-December. Since then, there's been no way around a mandatory quarantine of 10 days upon arrival to the Garden Island -- until now.
Related: Everything you need to know about visiting Hawaii
With this program that takes effect today, those wishing to travel to Kauai have a new hybrid option, the resort bubble.
To participate in this new program, travelers will need to have negative results from a pre-travel COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours from the final leg of departure of their trip to Kauai. However, of note is that this test can be any COVID-19 diagnostic test (antigen or PCR) approved by the FDA, as opposed to relying solely on the state's Trusted Testing and Travel Partners list. Travelers will need to complete the County of Kaua'i arrival form available at www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.
Upon arrival to Kauai, travelers then proceed directly to their resort bubble either by hotel transport or a car service type of ground transportation, though no rental cars allowed until the traveler is released from the bubble program.
At one of those six designated bubble resorts, guests who participate in this program will be able to move about the property. This means access to pools, dining (if available) and potentially even the beaches during the 72 hour quasi-quarantine period. The catch?
During the three days of quarantine, guests cannot leave the resort other than for medical care and will have their movements monitored by a bracelet.
After the 72 hour mark, participants can get another coronavirus test on the property at their expense, and if they are negative, are then free to move about the rest of the island.
Related: State-by-state guide to coronavirus reopening
Hawaii Guide lays out the official rules here:
To qualify, travelers must:
- Take a pre-travel test within 72 hours before traveling to Kauai and receive a negative test result.
- Stay at an approved EMQ "resort bubble" property.
- Take a post-travel test more than 72 hours after arriving on Kauai and receive a negative result.
So far, only six Kauai resorts are approved for the bubble program, though two do allow traditional points reservations.
The approved properties are The Cliffs at Princeville, Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu, The Club at Kaukuiula, Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences at Hokuala and the Kauai Marriott Resort.
You can book your stay directly with those properties like normal, but factor in not only the cost of the pre- and post-arrival tests, but also the monitoring bracelets.
Related: Country-by-country guide to reopenings
The Kauai Hilton Garden Inn is charging $80 as a one-time fee for the bracelet. I recently spoke with the general manager of the hotel who is thrilled to be part of the new program. He told me guests would be able to move about a portion of the resort while they wait for the test results, and he laughed when I accidentally described it as an "ankle bracelet."
He said it's actually unobtrusive and you wear it on your wrist.
A call to the Kauai Marriott revealed a $100 fee for the monitoring bracelet at that property. The Marriott does provide a $25 food and beverage credit once you've paid the bracelet's fee, which is good, because you can't leave the property to go grab a meal anywhere else. I learned that one restaurant on property was open for quarantine tests, but that food and beverage can be delivered to the room.
The Marriott has a free shuttle from Kauai's Lihue Airport (LIH) while the Hilton Garden Inn says guests are allowed to use taxis or Ubers as ground transportation, but emphasized that guests should come directly to the hotel from the airport.
Related: Why we love Hawaii
For what's it worth, several other countries have similar tracking devices that may be a sign of things to come for future travel as the world battles the pandemic. And of course, this is not mandatory for entry to Kauai.
Visitors or returning residents to Kauai may instead opt for the island's traditional 10-day quarantine, though keep in mind that quarantine option doesn't come with the freedom of enjoying a mai tai by the resort pool.
Related: U.K. goes back into strict lockdown
If you are considering a Hawaii visit in 2021, be sure to read my colleague Summer Hull's complete guide to visiting Hawaii right now, as well as this first-hand report on what it's really like to vacation in Hawaii right now.
Featured photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees