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Travel to Kaua‘i with the State’s Safe Travels program

Travelers to Kauai can bypass the State’s mandatory 5 day quarantine by participating in the Safe Travels program.  (See below for more information) Prior to departure for Hawai‘i, travelers will need to create an online account and register with the State of Hawai‘i Safe Travels Hawai‘i program.

Travelers fully vaccinated in the United States: Beginning July 8, the State of Hawai‘i will eliminate its pre-travel testing/quarantine requirement for domestic travelers to Hawai‘i who have been fully vaccinated in the United States. Travelers are considered fully vaccinated on the 15th day after the completion of their vaccine dose(s). Travelers to Hawai‘i must upload their CDC issued vaccination card to the state’s Safe Travels Program website and have that card with them upon arrival in the State of Hawai‘i.

Travelers who are NOT fully vaccinated: Travelers to Hawai‘i who are not fully vaccinated in the United States can bypass the State’s mandatory 5 day quarantine by participating in the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program. This option requires all travelers ages 5 and older to have a negative Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) result only from a State Trusted Testing and Travel Partner within 72 hours of departure of the final leg of the flight to Hawaii to avoid quarantine. Note: PCR and the Abbott ID Now Rapid Molecular tests are forms of NAAT. Travelers need to create an account on the Safe Travels website and complete a trip profile, where they will upload their negative test results prior to boarding. Please consider watching the Safe Travels video from travel.hawaii.gov for an overview of the process.

To learn more about the Safe Travels program, visit the State of Hawaii COVID-19 Portal (https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/) and see the travel FAQ. To find the most up-to-date list of Trusted Testing and Travel Partners, visit: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/. For more information about Kauai’s Travel options, please visit the County’s official COVID-19 webpage.

Inter-County Travelers

Passengers traveling from O‘ahu, Maui, or Hawai‘i Island will no longer be required to complete a Safe Travels profile or provide proof of a pre-travel test or vaccination when arriving on Kaua‘i. This only applies to travel within the State of Hawai‘i. 

Trans-Pacific Domestic Travelers

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Program

Beginning July 8, the State of Hawai‘i will eliminate its pre-travel testing/quarantine requirement for domestic travelers to Hawai‘i who have been fully vaccinated in the United States. Travelers are considered fully vaccinated on the 15th day after the completion of their vaccine dose(s). Travelers must upload their CDC issued vaccination card to the state’s Safe Travels Program website and have that card with them upon arrival in the State of Hawai‘i. 

To participate:

  • * Traveler must be fully vaccinated in the United States
  • * Traveler will need one of the following vaccination records as proof of vaccination:
    • A CDC COVID-19 vaccination card
    • VAMS printout or
    • DOD Form DD 2766C.
  • * Create an online account and register with the State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels Hawai‘i Digital Platform.
  • * Complete trip information from the U.S. Mainland or U.S. Territory. Vaccine documents can only be uploaded into the system when it is linked to a trip.
  • * Bring the original CDC Vaccination Record Card, VAMS printout, VAMS printout with DOH header and endorsement, or DD 2766C with you when you travel to show the screeners.

Safe Travels Pre-Travel Test Exemption Program

Travelers to Hawai‘i who have NOT been fully vaccinated in the United States are not eligible for the vaccine exemption program. They can avoid quarantine by taking the following steps:

  • * Create a Safe Travels account and complete the mandatory State of Hawaii Travel and Health Form at: https://travel.hawaii.gov/#/.
  • * Take a pre-travel test from one of the State of Hawaii’s State of Hawaii’s U.S. Domestic, International, or Airline Trusted Testing and Travel Partners within 72 hours before departure of the final leg of your trip to Hawaii.
  • * The negative test result must be uploaded onto Safe Travels prior to departure or printed out prior to departure with hard copy in hand when arriving in Hawaii.

It is important to get the correct test. The State of Hawaiʻi will only accept test results  from trusted testing and travel partners. Travelers will not be able to obtain an accepted COVID-19 test upon arrival at any Hawaii airport. 

International Travelers

For international travelers arriving in the State of Hawai‘i from Japan, Canada, Korea, Taiwan and Tahiti, only tests from Trusted Testing Partners will be accepted for purposes of bypassing the State’s 5-day traveler quarantine including any tests verified through the State’s Digital Health Pass Partners – CLEAR and Common Pass. Travelers originating from any other international destination and coming directly to Hawai‘i do not have the ability to test for purposes of bypassing the State’s 5-day traveler quarantine.

Transportation On Kauai

Visitors to Kaua‘i often rely on a rental car as their primary mode of transportation. With the
current shortage of rental cars, many visitors are now seeking alternative modes of travel. 

The County of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development recently launched a new website aimed at informing both visitors and residents of the various transportation options available on Kaua‘i. The website, GetAroundKauai.com, includes an overview of transportation options, a map with Kaua‘i bus stops and routes, regional walking guides, and other tips for how to get around Kaua‘i without a car. Weekly blog posts educate readers on transportation related topics, such as how to reserve an airport shuttle, parking permit requirements for Koke‘e State Park, and details regarding the Hanalei Hill access schedule.

Voluntary Post Travel Test 

If you have successfully completed the Safe Travels program, mahalo (thank you) for taking the time to get tested before your trip. Kauai County encourages our travelers to take a voluntary post travel test three days or more after your arrival. 

Testing Options for Visitors:

Please check with your accommodations for post travel testing options. Many accommodations have agreed to offer the voluntary second test to their guests. You can also receive post travel testing from the following testing providers:

Testing Options for Kauai Residents:

We encourage Kauai residents to take a free post travel test any time Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Līhuʻe at the War Memorial Convention Hall.  No appointment necessary.  For more information: visit Kauai.gov/covidtest

Activities and Accommodations

Accommodations available for those subject to the State’s mandatory quarantine:

Short-Term Vacation Rentals and TVRS:

  • ·        Travelers who successfully follow the State’s Safe Travels pre-travel test program and arrive on Kauai with a negative COVID-19 test are able to stay in a TVR.
  • ·        Per the Governor’s Eighteenth Proclamation, persons who require paid or commercial lodging while subject to the mandatory self-quarantine shall not designate as their quarantine location a short-term rental. Only the listed property owners are able to quarantine in short-term rentals. 

You can also view a list of Open Activities. This list was last updated on 12/31/2021 but is subject to change.

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