Interest in Hawaii travel is surging right now, thanks to new airline routes, lower prices and the stir-craziness that follows more than a year of pandemic-related isolation. The demand for " revenge travel" - making up for lost travel time - has skyrocketed as the CDC relaxes mask mandates and many countries reopen their borders to international visitors. Because the system doesn't integrate data for anyone inoculated outside of the state, the passport can't be used by most travelers. Under that program, anyone who received all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in Hawaii can use the passport to bypass the interisland testing requirements. Last week, Hawaii rolled out its new statewide vaccine passport program. Plus, of the DIY options, Vault Health is currently the only one approved for use in Hawaii.Īt-home PCR test kits provide a backup option, but shipping times can vary, and the Vault Health kit is the only one whose results are accepted in Hawaii. Locals tell us that overnight shipping isn't available from the islands, and by the time the specimens arrive at their designated labs, the results are too old to be used for interisland travel. Hawaii travelers concerned about the availability of tests while on the islands should note that at-home testing kits are not a viable option. "We had to test before leaving for Hawaii, and it cost nothing." tests at home are free now," Saltzman said. That can be a tough pill to swallow for people coming from other states where testing is often free. surprised by the price - $140 per person at. "In Kauai, our friends got their results on the spot," she said, echoing Levy's sentiment that testing can cost a pretty penny. Saltzman said friends in her travel party also were tested on the Big Island and Kauai with no issues. (Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images) PCR testing costs can add up, creating unexpected expenses for travelers. (Levy said he got his in about three hours.) In addition to wasted travel time, it cost him nearly $600 in airline change fees and $280 for two airport-administered tests. The snag forced him to change his and his wife's direct flights between Maui and Kauai in order to route through Oahu's Honolulu, where PCR tests are available at the airport, some offering a guaranteed six-hour turnaround. "Upon calling them, we were informed that they ship the tests to Oahu and that it could be four days before we got our results," Levy said. Levy said he and his wife were finally able to schedule PCR tests at a local CVS (at the cost of $129 each), but despite the pharmacy's assurances that the results would take one to two days, they weren't available in time. ![]() ![]() Walgreens might have a free option, but we couldn't get an appointment, so we can't be sure." ![]() cost in excess of $100 per person out of pocket, and insurance cannot be used. "Appointments to be PCR tested on Maui are very hard to come by and should be made weeks in advance if possible," said Jared Levy, who ran into trouble finding an appointment. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) Travel to Kauai requires visitors to show proof of negative PCR test results returned no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.
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