I have a reservation for March 8th in the Lagoon Tower. Wondered what COVID restrictions are in place besides the COVID test needed to enter Hawaii. Are any of the restaurants and bars open? How are the pools handled to socially distance? So looking forward to this trip!
Thanks, Jackie
I stayed in the Lagoon Tower over Christmas week. Social Distance when in the lobby/common area of the property. Mandatory face mask except when eating, drinking or swimming. The elevators is max 3 people unless from the same family. Rocky's Teppan is open but you will need reservation and Pizza Hut. Lappart's ice-cream and Dairy Queen is also open for business for walk in. Starbucks, next to Diamond Head tower and in Kalia TS were closed. Then you have Ala Moana Mall food court and restaurants are open. Not sure if this is the new norm but there is no longer towel cards. Just show your room key and take as many towels as you want. Lastly, the rental equipment for the Lagoon is open.
As for the COVID test, make sure it is from an authorized COVID testing partner. Many visitors are getting caught up at the Airport with a negative test but not from an authorized test partner. Also, make sure you uploaded the test result to the Safe Traveler system. I know sites says bring a hard copy or hard copy will also suffice but reports on the news is that visitors are being delayed or turn back home because of confusion or forgetting at the departing ticket counter to annotate the negative test result. So when a visitor gets to HNL and it was not noted you departed with a negative result, you will be forced into a 10 day quarantine or you can go home that same day. This is what the site says "
IMPORTANT: Test results will
not be accepted once a traveler arrives in Hawaii. Travelers who do not have a negative test result prior to departing for Hawaii must self-quarantine for 10 days, without exception. Post-arrival testing and results will also not be accepted once a traveler has arrived in Hawaii. " You can claim you had one when you left but if it was never annotated, then the answer is "no you didn't have a negative test result when you left". You may also think the important note is for people getting a test when they arrive in Hawaii. Nope. The warning specially address "post arrival testing". That is why there is confusion and people, who have negative test results, are being forced in to a 10 day quarantine.
Also at check in, have your waiver from the Safe Traveler System ready because the front desk will check. There was a family ahead of me who deleted or forgot where the website was at and could not prove they had negative test result. They assumed that since they cleared the airport they would not need it any more. Well... the Hotels are required to enforce the 10 day quarantine for people that did not have a negative test. Enforcement means to call the police if they notice that you or your party left the room for any reason, even to get food. (you will need to have food delivered). With electronic key cards, it is very easy to keep track of your in and outs. Needless to say, after about 30 mins (there was only one person working the front desk) the family ahead of me finally was able to recover their negative test results.
I am not trying to scare you from going to Hawaii because Hawaii really needs the tourism income. However, I also don't want you to start your vacation stressed out, with a negative opinion about Hawaii.