The Mayor's office just got approval from Governor Ige to make a few tweaks in our safe travels system.

Travelers that wish to avoid the 10 day quarantine in the pre-travel COVID-19 test program must have negative results prior to boarding their plane, and must also (1) Download either the AlohaSafe Alert application or another Google-Apple Exposure Notification System application (2) Or enable their exposure notification setting on their mobile device.

Folks arriving on the island with out the app on their phones will be asked to download it at the airport.

Inter-County travelers are now also subject to the 10 day quarantine restriction, in order to avoid quarantine they must have a negative COVID-19 pre-test from an approved travel partner uploaded to the safe travels website prior to boarding their plane.

You can find links to the Aloha Safe App to share here: https://www.alohasafealert.org/

Here is a flyer to share on your website or through email:

Click here for Aloha Safe Flyer pdf

New County Limits on Retail and Bars and Restaurants

The county has set 30% occupancy limits for retail establishments and bars and restaurants. Bars and restaurants must close no later than 10pm for dine in service.This does not apply to drive through, or non-liquor related take-out.

Masks Required

The county has also further clarified that masks must be worn to gyms, yoga studios and similar venues, for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Masks must also be worn while walking to the beach and pool areas. Your mask may be removed once stationary, and separated from non-household members outdoors.

These new rules for the county are scheduled to take effect Tuesday January 19, 2021.

New CDC Guidelines for International Travelers

We got notice from the HVCB on new CDC rules for international travelers:

Under the new CDC rule taking effect January 26, international air passengers -- including U.S. residents -- two years and older, will be required to get a viral test within three days before their flight back to the U.S departs and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy); or, provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19.

If the passenger chooses not to provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger. 

In order to qualify for the Safe Travels quarantine exemption the traveler must board with a negative test result specifically from a Trusted Testing Partner (TTP) taken within 72 hours of departure and uploaded to their Safe Travels account prior to boarding their flight to Hawaii.

The negative test used to meet the CDC requirement may be used for Safe Travels exemption only if it was issued by a TTP. Currently, Hawaii has established TTP's only in the United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and Saipan), Japan, and Canada. 

The CDC policy gives Hawaii an additional competitive advantage in that mainland travelers who might have considered other warm-weather destinations, will now have to secure approved testing in those foreign destinations prior to returning home. If they travel to Hawaii instead, they will have the convenience of testing in their home communities before leaving for Hawaii with no requirement to test before returning home. 

Since its inception, Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program on October 16, 2020, one million passengers have arrived in the state. A complete rundown of the state’s travel requirements and entry protocols for all arriving passengers can be found by visiting hawaiicovid19.com/travel.