Hawaii’s vaccine passport is available -- but with two big caveats
There will be no federal mandate for vaccine passports or plans for a vaccine database, so individual states can decide whether to roll out vaccine passports, and most are choosing not to.
Hawaii is, however, one of the states rolling out vaccine passports for travel, but unless you're a Hawaii resident, you won't be able to use it just yet -- a little more on that below. Vaccine passports are widely seen as a way to restart travel quickly, and proof of vaccination is quickly becoming a requirement for cruises, tours and entry to certain international destinations.
Here's what you need to know about Hawaii's vaccine passport program.
Hawaii's vaccine passport for inter-island travel
The state of Hawaii on May 11 rolled out its new vaccine passport program inside its current travel entry system, Safe Travels
As of right now, though, the vaccine passport is only for inter-island travel. There are other caveats if you want to use it right away.
Right now, it's only available for travel between Hawaii's islands -- and it's only available to people who received a COVID-19 vaccine in Hawaii.
You can only use it to avoid testing if it's been two weeks after the last shot (or first shot if it's the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine). Unfortunately, if you're coming from out of state, or if you didn't get your vaccine in Hawaii, you can't use this platform just yet. Locals are hopeful that could change by this summer.
Related: I visited a reopened Kauai; 5 things to know
The vaccine passport idea was first broached back in February when it was thought it could be up and running as soon as May. It would have allowed vaccinated travelers to skip quarantine and potentially even testing requirements.
Hawaii said it doesn't have a timeline when the program will be extended to out-of-state visitors, citing verification challenges.
"We don't have a firm timeline on trans-Pacific. The challenge is about verification — about vaccination done in other states," Hawaii Gov. David Ige said, according to Hawaii News Now.
"We've been working with a couple of other private sector partners about working to get access to the state vaccination records, and we believe that that would help them to get vaccination records in other states as well."
Related: Hawaii making it easier to visit
Travelers bound for Hawaii this summer seem eager to use Hawaii's vaccine passport whenever it's available to out-of-state visitors.
"I'm from the mainland and will be hopping from LIH to KOA next month, so I don't get to use this unless they expand earlier than planned, but if the opportunity arises, I absolutely will," said TPG Lounge member Alan Pugh.
"It needs to be said that Hawaii is in a very difficult position from the perspective of their physical isolation and limited resources, and the fact that they're taking common-sense steps to limit exposure is such an obvious thing to do," Pugh continued.
But even if you can't use Hawaii's vaccine passport just yet, you still have options if you want to use a digital way to prove your vaccination or COVID-19 test status.
Related: Here's everything you need to know about visiting Hawaii right now
Other vaccine passports in Hawaii
There's no word just yet when a vaccine passport for non-residents might be used for travel to Hawaii. However, the state is partnering with two companies on digital health passes.
Clear's Health Pass feature is already being used to approve tourists for quarantine-free travel to Hawaii. Delta and United flyers traveling nonstop from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) can securely link their test results and verify their identity, making it easy for Hawaii to identify travelers approved to avoid the state's otherwise-mandatory 10-day quarantine.
And the CommonPass app can be used on select Hawaiian Airlines and United flights to Hawaii.
Related: I took 5 COVID-19 tests to go to Hawaii and it was worth it
What to know about vaccine passports
Vaccine passports are what the travel industry says is an easier way to prove vaccination status.
Using a vaccine passport, they say, could make it easier to enter certain countries or to be exempt from strict testing and quarantine requirements. Currently, the only way to confirm vaccine status in the United States is a card from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Related: Fair warning: Hawaii is crowded again
Confirming COVID-19 test results for travel is a little more straightforward now, as many facilities put them online, but we're not yet close to a standardized system for vaccine records used worldwide. Still, with over 100 million people in the United States having been fully vaccinated, travelers are naturally curious about their vaccine passport options.
However, it's important to note that "vaccine passport" is a pretty broad term and that every app or platform won't offer the same features. And while proof of vaccination might be required to enter a destination, using an actual vaccine passport is voluntary.
Related: TPG compares 4 at-home tests
Some of the publicly available vaccine passports include:
- Clear Health Pass: Used to verify negative tests required at some sports arenas and approve tourists for quarantine-free travel to Hawaii.
- CommonPass: Travelers on select United Airlines and Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt to the U.S., Hawaiian Airlines and United flights to Hawaii and JetBlue flights to Aruba can use the CommonPass app.
- IATA Travel Pass: Partnering with 30 airlines worldwide, including ANA, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
- IBM Digital Health Pass: New York partnered with IBM to create the Excelsior Pass. New Yorkers can use the Excelsior Pass if you have been fully vaccinated in New York state and it's been 14 days or longer since your final shot; you had a negative PCR test administered in New York within three days, or you took a negative antigen test in New York in the last six hours.
- VeriFLY: Can be used on select American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Japan Airlines flights to fly into the U.S. from abroad and to several international destinations.
- V-Health: Its technology is already being included in a platform called HELIIX Health Pass, which has been introduced in Las Vegas to reopen the city.
Bottom line
The vaccine passport feature for Safe Travels has been delayed before -- so it's entirely possible that there might be more setbacks. Still, Hawaii's vaccine passport rollout is positive news for restarting travel between the islands. If you're looking for a platform to store or verify your test or vaccine results for travel to Hawaii, you're better off using tools like Clear's Health Pass or CommonPass right now.
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Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.