Kahului Airport (November 1, 2019) PC: Wendy Osher
Requirements differ between trans-Pacific travelers and those who are in Hawaii and planning to travel to Maui from another county.
The County of Maui has published the following guidelines and encourages travelers to read these FAQs before planning to travel to islands within County Maui.
Some key programs starting in the coming days include:
- Beginning May 11, 2021, travelers who received their vaccine in Hawaii will be able to travel between counties (Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaii) without a test or quarantine 10 days prior to travel.
- Beginning May 4, 2021, upon arrival at Kahului Airport, Maui will begin smoothly rolling out a secondary test for transpacific flights (for both visitors and returning residents, including mainland arrivals).
Trans-Pacific Travel
What Is a Trans Pacific Traveler and What Do I Have to Do to Get to Maui?
Trans-Pacific travelers are those who fly direct to Kahului Airport from a gateway city on the mainland. This includes the return of residents.
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Travelers enrolling in the state Safe travel The program can bypass Hawaii’s mandatory 10-day quarantine by testing negative for a COVID-19 test prior to departure no earlier than 72 hours prior to the final leg of departure for Maui. Nucleic acid amplification tests performed by the state only trustworthy test partner are recognized as valid.
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The county of Maui added a new requirement scheduled to begin May 4th. All trans-Pacific travelers participating in the government’s Safe Travel Program will undergo an additional rapid COVID test upon arrival at Kahului Airport.
I am fully vaccinated; Do I still have to meet the requirements before leaving?
Yes, all trans-Pacific travelers traveling direct to Kahului, Maui from a mainland city must meet all pre-departure requirements, even if they are fully vaccinated.
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I am fully vaccinated; Do I have to do the rapid COVID test upon arrival?
No. Maui County will provide an exemption for fully vaccinated trans-Pacific travelers from requiring a rapid COVID test upon arrival with proof of vaccination. Trans-Pacific travelers still need to take a pre-departure test (as set out in the Safe Travels program) in order to qualify for the travel quarantine exemption. After disembarking your aircraft, your vaccination certificate will be confirmed. After that, you can bypass the test upon arrival and exit the airport.
Fully vaccinated means you will receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and will be ready 14 days after your final dose. Vaccination certificate means that you present your original CDC vaccination card or vaccination certificate downloaded from the CDC’s VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System).
Please note that forging a federal document is a criminal offense that can result in heavy fines, imprisonment, or both.
What does the rapid test cost?
There are no costs for the traveler.
How long does it take to get the test results?
Your quick test results should be available to you within 15 to 20 minutes.
What if i test positive?
If your rapid antigen test is positive, you will be asked to perform a confirmatory PCR test at the airport test facility. You will be notified immediately if your confirmation test is negative. If you refuse to take a confirmatory test or if your confirmatory test is positive, you must complete the full 10-day quarantine in your designated location at your own expense.
I travel with children. Do you have to take the rapid COVID test upon arrival?
Children under five are not required to take the test upon arrival. However, minors between the ages of 6 and 16 must be tested even if their parents or guardians have been vaccinated. Vaccinated minors aged 16 and 17 with vaccine documentation are exempt from testing upon arrival
Why do you need a test upon arrival?
Maui County is first and foremost a community, so the health and wellbeing of our residents is our number one priority. The upon arrival test provides an extra layer of protection given the limited health capacity we have in the county.
What else should i know?
Maui County Public Health Emergency Rules stay in full force. Please note that face covering is mandatory in all public areas, gatherings are subject to attendee capacity restrictions, and physical distancing is required. Other restrictions include reduced occupancy limits in restaurants, retail stores, and activities. Maui Police Department officials regularly cite or arrest those who refuse to comply with the county’s mandatory public health regulations.
Why does Maui County have such stringent requirements?
As an isolated island community, our healthcare resources are limited, so we must be vigilant to prevent COVID-19 infections, especially from new variants. Leisure travelers who violate Maui County’s public health regulations should choose another vacation destination or postpone travel to Maui County until no more public health assignments are required.
Inter-County Travel
What are the requirements for traveling between counties?
Those already in the state planning to travel to Maui County from Hawaii County, Kauai County, and / or the city and county of Honolulu are subject to the same rules Safe travel Requirements prior to departure. Anyone who does not meet these requirements is subject to the mandatory 10-day quarantine.
I am a fully vaccinated resident. Do I still need to get tested before traveling to Maui County from another county?
Yes, this will be required by May 11, 2021. This is the first day the state of Hawaii will do this Exemption of fully vaccinated residents from pre-departure testing Requirements if they have been vaccinated in the state of Hawaii, have proof of vaccination and are uploading their proof of vaccination to the US Safe travel Program anytime after May 7th, 2021.
Fully vaccinated means you will receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 14 days after your final dose. Evidence of vaccination means that you upload your original CDC vaccination card or certificate of vaccination downloaded from the CDC’s VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System).
I am fully vaccinated, but not in the state of Hawaii. Can I be exempted from pre-travel tests for travel between counties?
No, not at this point. Authorities must validate vaccination records with the Hawaii Department of Health before approving an exemption.
