[Closed - new thread started] Will Hawaii Open by [OCTOBER???] [Please use this thread for all Hawaii Coronavirus discussions]

[luv_maui]

This is keeping me from feeling good about going to Maui in August. We have two weeks booked. I cannot imagine going under this kind of stress. Plus, I don't think our flights are going to happen. We were supposed to fly to Maui nonstop from Denver. That flight was not full at all, and it looks like I cannot check for different seats, so I have to assume the flight is cancelled.

We had a direct flight home in July. Not cancelled, but you couldn’t buy seats for the flight. Alaska airlines told me they were anticipating cancelling the flight which they did just a couple days ago. Are you on the United direct flight? If so, it looked like they were still selling seats and I’d guess if Hawaii can execute their 8/1/20 negative test result alternative to 14 day quarantine, that United won’t cancel the flight. Obviously later in August is better than early August as kinks are worked out on Hawaii execution and details of their plan, over next 5 weeks

 

[CO skier]

The covid test pre-arrival or post-arrival should r/o the asymptomatic people.
However there's still a window in which visitors could be sick and spread the virus while in Hawaii.
Say a person gets a test 2 or 3 days before flight, and gets exposed plus/minus 1 day from test. Probably they won't have had time to develop enough levels of virus to be detected by the test. So then later while in Hawaii they become symptomatic.

Hawaii will eventually have to open and have some more exposure I guess ...

Airports are certainly a vector for Covid-19 transmission. A few travelers with negative Covid-19 test in-hand will pickup the virus at an airport or at some other time after the testing and before arriving in Hawaii and be asymptomatic for the first few days or for their entire visit. Even with the pre-arrival testing, Hawaii will see an increase in Covid-19 cases, just like many (most) other areas that are reopening.

 

[csodjd]

Airports are certainly a vector for Covid-19 transmission. A few travelers with negative Covid-19 test in-hand will pickup the virus at an airport or at some other time after the testing and before arriving in Hawaii and be asymptomatic for the first few days or for their entire visit. Even with the pre-arrival testing, Hawaii will see an increase in Covid-19 cases, just like many (most) other areas that are reopening.

I've not been at an airport yet, but my experience tell me they should not be a vector or high-risk place at all. They are quite open, not at all a closed space where viral load builds in the air. Everyone is moving around and you spend little time in close proximity to anyone (hopefully they have addressed lines/crowding at TSA, etc). For the most part you can easily avoid close engagement with anyone. Assuming most or all are wearing face protection, all in all, it seems to be a far less risky proposition than most work environments, indoor restaurants and similar places. Transport to/from parking, or rental car pickup/dropoff, is more risky than the airport itself.

 

[Luanne]

I've not been at an airport yet, but my experience tell me they should not be a vector or high-risk place at all. They are quite open, not at all a closed space where viral load builds in the air. Everyone is moving around and you spend little time in close proximity to anyone (hopefully they have addressed lines/crowding at TSA, etc). For the most part you can easily avoid close engagement with anyone. Assuming most or all are wearing face protection, all in all, it seems to be a far less risky proposition than most work environments, indoor restaurants and similar places. Transport to/from parking, or rental car pickup/dropoff, is more risky than the airport itself.

I haven't been in an airport yet either, but I have the opposite feeling. Lines, lines, and more lines.....unless as you say they have addressed that issue, but in some airports I've been too I'm not sure how they would.

I did read a report from someone who said the airport where they were the food court was packed, no social distancing. I'm not sure what they are doing about the waiting areas either. Taking off every other chair? Where are people waiting?

 

[CO skier]

I've not been at an airport yet, but my experience tell me they should not be a vector or high-risk place at all.

Airports Expecting Crowding Problem Even With Travel Demand Still Low

Social distancing measures will prove to be a challenge.

www.travelpulse.com

"Right now it might not be an issue, but as the flying public slowly returns to the air, it will become a case of too many people and not enough space. Where once officials were fine with packing in customers like sardines – ticket counters, security checkpoints, seating at the gate – social distancing and the lack of useable space will certainly make things difficult. "

 

[dsmrp]

I went ahead and cancelled my II exchange for a Big Island week the last week of July. Even if Gov Ige moved up the neg Covid test alternative from Aug 1,testing in my area is still reserved for those with symptoms. I work for a healthcare org, but not in direct care, and mass testing isn't available for all us non care employees either.

 

[jabberwocky]

Even if we did (not sure actually), would Hawaii accept test results from there? So many details for them to work out to make this actually feasible...

Not that we're going to Hawaii anytime this year now.

My dad got a test a couple of weeks ago in Alberta. Results were back same day. Alberta also just announced today that testing will be available at drug stores for asymptotic individuals.

 

[TravelTime]

I took a test at UC Davis in Roseville. I was negative. I got my results within 24 hours. I would like to test at the center again if I go to Hawaii. However, I would need my doctor to send me there and I am not sure if she will send patients without symptoms for testing. I wonder if testing is started to become required for travel, will doctors let us get tested?

 

[Yellowfin]

False positives from PCR tests are not common. False negatives are more common. In that case the concern is landing in Hawaii with a fever. May be a lot of people handing out Tylenol to the family about an hour before landing!

I am not so sure. I have tried to find a clear answer online but I could not. This is what I found

How Reliable Are COVID-19 Tests?

Justin Gilmore was hospitalized and treated for COVID-19. His care team was certain he had it — but he kept testing negative. Why?

nymag.com

 

[YYJMSP]

My dad got a test a couple of weeks ago in Alberta. Results were back same day. Alberta also just announced today that testing will be available at drug stores for asymptotic individuals.

interesting. I am not aware of anything similar in BC...

but second part of the question remains if other jurisdictions, especially other countries, will recognize the results.

 

[controller1]

June 24 Update on Hawaii Quarantine: Beginning August 1, travelers to Hawaii who have a valid negative COVID-19 test result up to 72 hours prior to arriving at Hawaii’s airports will not be subject to the 14-day quarantine. The FDA-approved PCR test from a CLIA-certified laboratory must be done prior to arrival. No testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport. Click here to view the press release.

Note that it is 72 hours prior to arrival, so you essentially have to get your test done and results back no more than two days before departure. Looks like I'll need to let my August 1 reservation go. PM for 6-nights, 2BR, Ocean Front, at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Lahaina & Napili Towers

Perhaps there has been a change. I just checked the website and instead of what you quote "up to 72 hours prior to arriving at Hawaii's airports" the website now states "within 72 hours of their trip" which may mean within 72 hours of the first flight which in my case (due to being an overnight connection) would give me an additional 22 hours prior to arrival at a Hawaii airport.

 

[nerodog]

Starting August 1, travelers will be able to visit Hawaii without having to quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 prior to arrival, the governor announced on Wednesday.
In a press conference, Gov. David Ige confirmed that visitors must be tested ahead of their flight to Hawaii as tests will not be conducted at any of its airports. Anyone who arrives in Hawaii without the results of a negative test will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Source- Travel and Leisure magazine

 

[Tamaradarann]

Here's the CVS site for COVID testing. They claim $0 cost if you have health insurance: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing. Results come back in 2-4 days.

I looked at the form you need to fill out and I don't see anything on it about needing the test for travelling. There are qualifications for the test and they seem to be focused on high risk groups and symptoms which is fine except that with the new exemptions for quarantines for travel that should be a critteria as well.

 

[amy241]

Perhaps there has been a change. I just checked the website and instead of what you quote "up to 72 hours prior to arriving at Hawaii's airports" the website now states "within 72 hours of their trip" which may mean within 72 hours of the first flight which in my case (due to being an overnight connection) would give me an additional 22 hours prior to arrival at a Hawaii airport.

I am sure that testing is required within 72 hours of arrival in HI. We have the same problem. We live on the east coast and break up the trip into 2 days by overnighting in LAX. I really wish he had gone out to 96 hours. We are scheduled to go in November but I am not sure I will be able to handle the crowded airports and flights. I am at a higher risk for serious complications and I am getting really worried about the surges in cases. We live in Florida and it is REALLY getting bad here. We aren’t even leaving our home.

 

[Tamaradarann]

LA County alone is doing 96,000 per day. I believe the US is doing about 640,000 per day. I'm not sure doing maybe 2,000 per day is that much a burden relative to the 200,000 unemployed people in Hawaii that will benefit from having tourism return. Moreover, some of those getting tested JUST for a trip to Hawaii will unexpectedly test positive, get quarantined and contact traced, and help reduce unwitting spread. We need MORE people randomly tested. Giving people a reason is not necessarily a bad thing.

I agree that giving tests before travel should be a priority. Having symtoms is obviously a top priority. I can understand certain high risk groups being a priority also so that the infection is caught early for treatment for life saving. However, they have been routinely testing many people who "MAY" have been exposed do to their job. Now that things have opened up in many areas that is everyone everyday who is working near people or public transportation commuting. That is millions and millions of people who are neither symptomatic or in a high risk group. Certainly air travel to another location should be as high or higher prior

 

[JanT]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

 

[Yellowfin]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

It is very risky indeed. Probably some will keep the current reservations but most will think twice before booking anything new. This situation will pose a particular problem to the timeshare owners that rent out their units. Few if any renters will accept a strict cancellation policy and the owners will have to live with the incertitude all the way to the check in date.

 

[controller1]

I am sure that testing is required within 72 hours of arrival in HI.

If so then why do you believe the wording on the website was changed?

Also, Hawaii indicates it wants to court visitors from Japan and Australia. Those flights are longer and it will be even more difficult to have results of a test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Hawaii.

 

[SmithOp]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

I’m still undecided on a Nov 5th arrival at HNL, and I have a premier unit at HHV Lagoon booked so at least its a quarantine with a killer view.

The flights I’m tracking just went up over $100 since this announcement.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Tamaradarann]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

Well, if they can tighten up the testing and result procedure so that a test 3 days before a flight gets you results before the flight that should take away the anxiety of worrying about being quarantined if you are in fact negative for the virus and should be going and NOT be quarnatined which is the real issue.

However, if in fact your ARE positive for the virus not only should you be quarantined, YOU SHOULDN'T BE GOING AT ALL!! So that if you get a postive test result you are sick and shouldn't be going so the system worked to perfectioin and you won't spread the virus.

 

[bnoble]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

We're more concerned about the risk of a (very long) flight. I'm still waiting to see to what extent air travel is/is not a risk. So far, it does not seem like a major means of transmission, but that could be because almost no one has been flying for three months.

 

[csodjd]

The big question is, now that Hawaii will be "open," albeit with testing requirements, are people going to go? Are they going to risk spending that kind of money only to find themselves in quarantine?

My guess/expectation is that TS owners will be more inclined, hotel/infrequent visitors will not. TS's have kitchens, and are frequent visitors, so they know their way around and can manage nicely even if not everything is open. I don't need to see Pearl Harbor, again. But for those looking for their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii, now would be a lousy time for that trip! And, of course, there will be plenty that have a rationale fear of going, especially high-risk, 70+ year olds, etc. I'm expecting Hawaii in November to be very quiet compared with normal.

 

[csodjd]

Airports Expecting Crowding Problem Even With Travel Demand Still Low

Social distancing measures will prove to be a challenge.

www.travelpulse.com

"Right now it might not be an issue, but as the flying public slowly returns to the air, it will become a case of too many people and not enough space. Where once officials were fine with packing in customers like sardines – ticket counters, security checkpoints, seating at the gate – social distancing and the lack of useable space will certainly make things difficult. "

Take a look at CLEAR if you have it at your airport. I use it all the time. Pretty much eliminates the high-crowd TSA checkin.

 

[Luanne]

I have another question. I'm just musing, and I might be able to look it up, but hear me out.

On our annual trips to Maui we stop in San Francisco for two nights coming and going. Would this mean I would have to get the test in San Francisco to be within the 72 hours? I would think so. And does the 72 hours count back from the time of take off of your flight? I've read several of the articles and don't remember this level of detail, but I could have easily missed it.

 

[Yellowfin]

I have another question. I'm just musing, and I might be able to look it up, but hear me out.

On our annual trips to Maui we stop in San Francisco for two nights coming and going. Would this mean I would have to get the test in San Francisco to be within the 72 hours? I would think so. And does the 72 hours count back from the time of take off of your flight? I've read several of the articles and don't remember this level of detail, but I could have easily missed it.

Even if you get your answer now, what are the requirements going to be when you actually start your trip? We have a trip with just 1 night stop in SF, I am thinking it might be safer to change the flights so we can get to Hawaii the same day.