Big Island Travel During COVID - What To Expect

Travel to the Big Island of Hawaii has changed during the global pandemic. Although we are accepting visitors, there are slight restrictions. While the suggested precautions are undergoing constant changes, it is essential to know what to expect if you are planning a trip during this time. If you are hoping to get away from the mainland in the coming months, here is what you need to know to be prepared!*

*Disclaimer: While we are keeping a close eye on the situation in Hawaiʻi to aggregate all travel information into one coherent resource we are not an official resource. Please consult any of the official links we supply below for the most up-to-date information. Information is accurate as of March 1st, 2021.

Big Island, Hawaii Travel Restrictions & Information

The Safe Travels Application

Safe Travels is the mandatory online application form all travelers entering Hawaiʻi must complete. It collects travel and health information in order to protect the health and safety of visitors and residents alike.
The use of this app is mandatory for both inter-island and trans-Pacific travelers.
The app replaces and streamlines the visitor arrival process. You can find the Safe Travels application on the official State of Hawaii Safe Travels site.

How Does the Safe Travels App Work?

Everyone traveling to Hawai‘i needs to create an account on the State of Hawaii Safe Travels website and fill in their trip details before they travel. Then, 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart, you will be prompted by email and/or text to complete the Travel Health Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire you receive a QR code. Make sure to save this QR code to your phone, as showing it at the airport will significantly speed up the arrival process.
Travelers that can’t show a valid negative test before starting the last leg of their trip to Hawaiʻi still have to complete a mandatory 10-day quarantine (see quarantine restrictions).

Pre-Travel Testing Program

The pre-travel testing of passengers — both residents and visitors — allows those with a negative result to avoid the state’s 10-day mandatory quarantine for the islands of O‘ahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii. Please note the island of Kauai has its own set of rules regarding COVID and quarantine. You can read more about it on the official County of Kauai website.

Travelers wishing to bypass the 10-day mandatory quarantine must have their COVID-19 test results – from a trusted testing partner – prior to departure for the State of Hawaiʻi. If test results are not available before boarding the final leg of the trip, the traveler must quarantine for 10 days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter.

Additional testing is required for people flying to the Big Island, and pre-travel testing can in some cases also be used to skip the quarantine required for interisland travel.

Pre-travel testing program outline:

The state of Hawaiʻi ONLY accepts test results from trusted testing and travel partners. You can find an up-to-date list of these partners on the State of Hawaii COVID-19 Portal site.
All arriving travelers will be required to use the Save Travels app. This app will also allow you to upload your pre-travel test results.
The test has been taken within 72 hours from the final leg of your flight arriving to Hawaii. If you have a multi-city itinerary, it’s the departure time at the last city before arriving at a Hawai‘i airport. Travelers themselves will be responsible for the cost of the test.
Travelers wishing to bypass the 10-day mandatory quarantine must have their COVID-19 test results – from a trusted testing partner – prior to departure for the State of Hawaiʻi. If test results are not available before boarding the final leg of the trip, the traveler must quarantine for 10 days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter
The 10-day quarantine will remain in place for transpacific travelers who choose not to get pre-tested. Taking a test on Hawai‘i will not help you reduce your time in Quarantine (hence the name “pre-travel”)
If you have technical problems with the Safe Travels app you can contact the travels service desk at +1-855-599-0888 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. HST.

Additional testing requirements for the Big Island

All travelers arriving on the Big Island will be administered an antigen test upon their arrival. This arrival test is a rapid-response COVID-19 test and will be administered free of charge upon arrival at any of the three Hawaiʻi Island airports: Ellison Onizuka International Airport at Keahole, Waimea-Kohala Airport, and Hilo International Airport.

Test results should be ready within 15-20 minutes, and those testing positive for COVID-19 at the arrival test will be required to take a subsequent PCR test immediately and will be required to self-quarantine while awaiting the results of this test, which can be expected within 36 hours. There will be no additional quarantine measures imposed should the rapid test result be negative. Read more about the arrival testing program on the county of Hawaiʻi website.

*FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER HAWAIIAN ISLANDS PLEASE CONSULT THEIR COUNTY WEBSITES. Kauai, Maui, Oahu

Official Information

If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 virus we recommend following frequently updated official resources:

Sign up for email notifications from the Hawaii Department of Health
Hawaii Tourism Authority updates
Hawai‘i Department of Health dedicated COVID-19 website
Hawaii Department of Transportation COVID-19 resource

Aloha Adventure Farms is Open!

Should you make the decision to travel to the Big Island, we hope you will come see us at Aloha Adventure Farms! We are committed to keeping you safe with the following COVID Protocols & Precautions: