TORONTO — With the U.S.-Canada border expected to remain closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, Hawaii has announced a new pre-travel testing program for out-of-state travellers starting Aug. 1.

According to a statewide order by Governor David Ige, travellers arriving in Hawaii must self-quarantine for 14 days. Beginning Aug. 1, however, all travellers arriving from out-of-state will be required to get a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their trip, and to show proof of a negative test result at the airport to avoid the 14-day quarantine.

The FDA-approved PCR test from a CLIA-certified laboratory will need to be done prior to arrival. Travellers will be required to provide printed or emailed pre-test certification as evidence of a negative test result. They will also be responsible for the cost of the pre-travel test.

No testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport.

“We are working on an alternative to the 14-day mandatory quarantine that would allow a safe and healthy way for travellers to return to the islands,” said Ige. “The health of our community continues to be our primary focus and priority. This multi-layered screening process allows travellers to return and allows us to continue to protect the health and safety of our community.”

The 14-day mandatory self-quarantine apples to all arrivals at state airports, including private and commercial aircraft. The period of self-quarantine begins from the time of entry into the state and lasts 14 days or the duration of the person’s time in Hawaii, whichever is shorter.

Temperature checks will continue at airports across the state. Any traveller with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees or who is experiencing other symptoms will be required to undergo a secondary screening at the airport.

All arriving passengers are also required to sign a declaration order confirming that they are aware of the 14-day quarantine, as well as a State Travel and Health form that will be validated upon arrival.

Timed to coincide with the new program, Hawaiian Airlines will resume a reduced schedule between Hawaii and most of its U.S. mainland gateways cities on Aug. 1. The airline will also increase neighbour island flights to offer guests more connectivity between Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Island of Hawaii.
Hawaiian, which suspended most of its flying in late March due to the global pandemic, resumed once-daily service between Honolulu and Portland on July 1, and will add once-daily service to San Diego and Sacramento on July 15.

Effective Aug. 1, when Hawaii begins waiving its quarantine requirement for travellers who test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure, the carrier will reinstate nonstop service from six U.S. mainland cities to Honolulu, including Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose, and Oakland. Hawaiian also will resume select U.S. West Coast-to-neighbor island routes with its narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft, including Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento to Kahului, Maui; Los Angeles and Oakland to Lihue, Kauai; and Los Angeles to Kona on the Island of Hawaii.

Hawaiian plans to resume weekly service between Honolulu and American Samoa on Aug. 6. Passenger service for the carrier’s international markets remain suspended due to restrictions on inbound travel.

Following these service additions, the airline will be operating an average of 252 weekly flights connecting Hawaii to the U.S. mainland and 114 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands.