NOTE: This blog post was originally published back in early 2021 when travel to Hawaii had just opened back up. It's obviously outdated but I'm going to keep it up for posterity's sake. While some of the guidelines below no longer apply, others should be universal such as do your research, stay safe, be patient and practice aloha.
The Aloha State is a beautiful place to visit. Pandemic or not, you can still have a great time in Hawaii but it will take a little extra research and planning. Here are some travel tips before you book your Hawaii vacation...
Do your homework. Know the cancellation and rescheduling policies of your airline and accommodations. You'll likely be forfeiting your payments if you need to cancel. You'll likely be hit with fees if you need to reschedule. Travel insurance may be a prudent investment during these uncertain times.
Get tested. Hawaii requires a 10-day self-quarantine unless you test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel. The test needs to be done with one of the state's pre-travel testing partners. If you plan on traveling to other islands, you'll still need to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of flying to those islands. Different islands may have different rules and regulations so do your research before you plan on island hopping. Hawaiicovid19.com is a great resource for up-to-date travel information.
Know what's open. At the time of this writing there are still a lot of businesses in Hawaii that are closed or operating on limited hours. Here are a few popular attractions and their hours:
Polynesian Cultural Center – 12pm-9pm, closed Sundays
Dole Plantation – 10am-4pm, closed Wednesdays
Hanauma Bay – 8am-4pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
These hours are subject to change so be sure to call or check the website of the places you'd like to visit.
Stay safe, practice Aloha. Many local businesses can't afford to stay closed during the pandemic but they also can't afford to get sick, so they're doing everything they can to stay open and stay healthy. Help them out by adhering to current CDC guidelines and/or guidelines posted at the place of business. And of course, if you're feeling sick, stay home!
As always, use common sense and be patient and understanding during your travels. If you want to postpone your Hawaii vacation, you can still get a piece of Hawaii sent to you from our shop. Mahalo!
Comments