Some good news for those looking to vacation on Kauai in 2021.
It has been reported that Kauai has launched two new initiatives for travelers: one that allows them to avoid quarantine altogether if they’re coming from another Hawaiian island, and another that greatly reduces the quarantine time if they arrive directly into Kauai.
Quarantine rules for trans-Pacific travelers
If you plan to fly directly from the mainland US to Kauai, you can participate in Kauai’s pre-arrival testing program, known as the 3-day Enhanced Modified Quarantine.
First, you must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Then, you must quarantine for three days upon arrival at one of its six “resort bubbles.”
There, you will be required to remain on-property and wear a tracking bracelet on your wrist, although you will have use of the resort facilities, such as the pool and beach.
After three days, you can take another COVID-19 test at the property. If the test is negative, you’ll be released from quarantine and free to explore the island.
Right now, the six resort bubble properties are:
- The Club at Kukuiula
- Timbers at Hokuala
- The Cliffs at Princeville
- Koa Kea Hotel & Resort
- Hilton Garden Inn Hotel
- Kauai Marriott Resort at Kalapaki Bay
To qualify for this option, travelers must do the following:
- Create a Safe Travels account and complete the mandatory State of Hawai‘i Travel and Health Form.
- Take a pre-travel test within 72 hours before arriving on Kaua‘i and receive a negative test result. This test can be any COVID-19 diagnostic test (an antigen or PCR test) with emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The lab does not need to be on the state’s Trusted Testing and Travel Partners list for use in Kaua‘i’s resort bubble program.
- Make a reservation at an approved Enhanced Movement Quarantine (EMQ) “resort bubble” hotel.
- Complete the County of Kaua‘i arrival form by clicking on the “Kaua‘i Arrival Form” button at the top of the page.
- Guests should consult their resort for transportation options, as travelers will not be allowed to rent a car until released from quarantine.
- Provide proof of your negative pre-travel test result to resort staff upon check-in.
- After three days on Kaua‘i, take a post-travel test. Guests should consult the resort on post-travel testing options.
- Resort staff will verify your negative post-travel test result and will update the system to release you from quarantine.
Quarantine rules for inter-island arrivals
If you travel to another island in Hawaii – for example, Oahu – and land with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival, you are able to avoid quarantine on that island through the Safe Travels program.
If you stay on that island for at least three days and then take another COVID-19 test that comes back negative, you can fly to Kauai and avoid quarantine completely.
To qualify for this option, travelers must do the following:
- Create a Safe Travels account and complete the mandatory State of Hawai‘i Travel and Health Form.
- Take a pre-travel test from one of the State of Hawai‘i’s Trusted Testing and Travel Partners after you have been in Hawai‘i for more than three days, but within 72 hours of arriving on Kaua‘i:
- Upload negative test results to your Safe Travels account. The Safe Travels program is currently being updated to accommodate Kaua‘i travelers. For now, travellers should plan to present a hard copy of their negative test results for review at Līhu‘e Airport.
- Safe Travels records will be used to verify that you have not traveled out of state in the past three days.
A step forward
Whether travelers will take up this option and pay for such an experience remains to be seen. However, it’s a good sign to see things moving along on Kauai.
As the vaccine continues to work its way through the population, we all hope better days are ahead for tourism on Kauai. If you have any queries, then please do not hesitate to contact the team here at Ali’i Kai Resort.
Photo by Jimmy Conover on Unsplash
