Hawai‘i welcomes more visitors, announces new policy

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 in Capitol Connection, Featured

A Japanese visitor shows test results to Gov. Ige and Lt. Gov. Green.

The state has announced it is expanding its pre-travel testing agreements to Japan and Canada — Hawai‘i’s top two international markets — to allow visitors from those two countries to take part in the Safe Travels program. Like the one available to domestic travelers from the U.S. mainland, Japanese and Canadian visitors are able to bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine if they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a trusted partner taken 72 hours before departure. The Canadian agreement with Air Canada and WestJet will take effect in mid-December.

“Welcoming our Japanese and Canadian guests back to Hawai‘i is an important step in maintaining the close relationships we’ve developed,” Governor Ige said. “We believe we have created the safest travel testing program in the country and are grateful to be able to make our pre-travel testing program available to their residents.”

In a new policy for domestic transpacific and international flights, travelers must have their COVID-19 test results PRIOR to departure to the islands. The State of Hawai‘i has added more new trusted partners for its domestic transpacific and inter-county pre-travel testing programs. Partners were selected based on their ability to administer the test and expand the testing network, with the goal of making it easier to safely travel to Hawai‘i. For details, go to https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/.