Over 10,000 Arrive in Hawaii on Travel Re-opening Day

Over 10,000 Arrive in Hawaii on Travel Re-opening Day
Hawaii travel restrictions

Thursday, October 15, marked the first day of Hawaii’s travel re-opening day, and a surge of 10,102 passengers arrived by air yesterday at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on the island of Oahu.

Of the 10,102 that arrived, 6,918 (68%) were tourists while the remaining passengers were comprised of 3,184 (32%) residents, as reported by Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green.

Thursday was a surprise to Hawaii officials who had not anticipated such a large number of air passenger arrivals. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was normal to see passengers arriving daily in the 30,000 range.

Did Everyone Clear Quarantine?

The Lieutenant Governor said in response to the large number of arrivals under Hawaii’s pre-travel test program which began yesterday, that 84% of the passengers cleared quarantine, leaving 1,606 (16%) relegated to going into quarantine. Some passengers arrived without having had a pre-arrivals test or supplying a qualified exemption, so those individuals were instantly put under 14-day quarantine.

What determines being quarantined?

Travelers who come to Hawaii without having taken a pre-arrival test must submit to the mandatory 14-day quarantine, even if they undergo testing after arriving and get a negative result. Travelers who arrive in Hawaii and do not show proof of a negative test must quarantine until the test result is received.

There is also a partial interisland quarantine in effect for the counties of Kauai, Hawaii, Maui, and Kalawao. Maui and Kauai counties do not require visitors to take a second test after arrival, but are providing incentives to visitors who agree to take a free voluntary test 72 hours after arrival. Maui and Kauai counties will also allow interisland travelers to bypass the quarantine if passengers pre-test for COVID-19 72 hours prior to departure under the same rules as the state’s trans-Pacific travel program.

Hawaii island still requires interisland travelers to quarantine. A second test after arrival is required for visitors to Hawaii island, who will take a free rapid test at the airport. If the test is positive, travelers will be given a PCR test and have to quarantine until they get a negative result.

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About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz has been writing and editing articles since the start of her working career. She has applied this innate passion to such places as Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University, the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, and now TravelNewsGroup.

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