8 Simple Things to Know about Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19

What you need to know about travel to Hawaii in 2022

Hawaii is a spectacular vacation destination anytime, but as an antidote to the stress of the past couple of years it’s especially hard to beat. Restaurants, activities, and even hotel lobbies are outdoors and there is plenty of tropical atmosphere to clear away all your quarantine blues.

Traveling to Hawaii during COVID-19 does present some unique challenges however. Here are eight simple tips to know before you go to Hawaii in 2022.

This post was last updated on March 10, 2022.

1 – Reserve your rental car first

No kidding – your rental car might be the hardest thing to book in Hawaii. Before you even buy your plane ticket or reserve your lodging, be sure to take a look at rental car rates and availability.

In order to survive the COVID shutdown, the rental car companies sold off a large chunk of their fleets. Now that demand is bouncing back, there just aren’t enough cars for Hawaii’s eager visitors.

Add in a labor shortage as staffing continues to ramp up, and you have the recipe for sold-out rental cars, high prices, and long lines at the counter. Even if you have Gold service, or similar, you will probably have to talk to a clerk to get your car keys. Hawaii wants rental car agencies to verify that travelers are exempt from quarantine before handing over the keys. (See the Hawaii Safe Travels info below).

Pack your patience and be ready to pay a higher price than last time. And be sure to lock in your rental car reservation ASAP. If you want to wait and see if the price will come down, make a refundable reservation right now but don’t pre-pay. This way you can cancel and re-book if the price drops, but you’ll have the car locked in if it doesn’t.

Make reservations for everything in advance

Same goes for reservations for excursions and even dining. Travel is ramping up faster than staffing can keep up, plus Hawaii is limiting capacity for almost everything. Make sure you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. If you wait until you get there to decide what to do, you will likely miss out.

If you’re heading to the Big Island be sure to check out my posts about tours at the Greenwell Farms coffee plantation and the amazing Ocean Rider Seahorse farm.

2 – Register on the Hawaii Safe Travels website

Note that beginning March 26, 2022, there will be no COVID-related requirements for arriving domestic passengers to Hawaii. If you are traveling earlier in March 2022, be sure to read the info below – otherwise you can skip right over to tip #3.

The state of Hawaii has strict rules for travelers during COVID-19. In order to avoid a mandatory quarantine, visitors are currently required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival in the islands.

The best resource for current requirements is at https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements Be sure to keep eye on this site as your trip approaches since requirements can change at any time.

Regardless of the requirements, all travelers will need to register with the state on the Hawaii Safe Travels website. This is where you’ll upload a photo of your vaccination card or your negative test results, and answer a health questionnaire.

Every Hawaii traveler needs a Hawaii Safe Travels login, but kids under 18 can be listed as an “additional traveler” on an adult’s account. You can set up this registration even before you have a trip fully booked.

Bring your vaccination card and your Hawaii Safe Travels login info with you

Be sure to write down your Hawaii Safe Travels login and password, and carry it with your travel documents. You may be asked to log in to the website at your departure and/or arrival airport.

Once you’ve uploaded your proof of vaccination or negative COVID test result to your Hawaii Safe Travels account, you’ll receive a QR code that will be scanned at the airport. The code changes once the airline scans it in, which is why you may need to log out and log back in to get that updated code. So be sure you’re phone is charged too.

Get your Hawaii pre-clear wristband at your departing airport

As a traveler to Hawaii, you’ll have at least one extra airport checkpoint to clear. Your airline will likely ask to see your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code, and may ask you to login to the website too. This will happen either at the main check-in counter for your flight or at the gate. Make sure you allow a little extra time for this.

Once the airline is assured that Hawaii has you cleared to visit, you’ll get a wristband to wear on the flight. Keep it on all the way until you check-in for your lodging. The wristband acts as a signal that you’ve been cleared to travel, but you may still be asked to show your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code at your hotel or even to the rental car agent.

If you don’t get this wristband before boarding your flight, you’ll have an extra line to wait in once you get to Hawaii. So be sure to look for the special Hawaii check-in counter at your departure airport, or ask the agent at your gate for the Hawaii flight.

3 – Expect a modified flight experience

Everything from your check-in interactions, to waiting at the gate, to in-flight service will likely be different than the last time you flew. Following directions and being patient will go a long way to improving your in-transit experience.

Limited service on board flights to Hawaii during COVID-19 operations

At a minimum, a flight to Hawaii will be around six hours. Be aware that your airline may have limited food and beverage service on board. Ordering your food choice ahead is strongly advised. You’ll probably also notice only a couple of beverage services, even on a six-hour flight.

A big reason for the limited service is to keep interactions on board to a minimum. You are required to wear a mask throughout the flight, except briefly to eat or drink. Airlines aren’t giving a lot of opportunities to take those masks off.

Appreciate that flight crew

It should go without saying that every airline flight crew has had a rough year. Make their life easier by keeping that mask on and following the rules.

If you want to do something extra special, bring a treat for your flight attendants. I brought some fancy chocolate bars, enough for the pilots too, as a thank you. It’s easy to do and makes a big impression.

Be patient with your fellow travelers

The airport may seem a bit more chaotic than you remember. That’s because many of us haven’t been in one for a long time. Those road-warrior business travelers still aren’t flying, so expect it to take a little longer to load the flight and get everything into the overhead bins.

4 – Bring a variety of PPE

Expect Hawaii to take a little longer than most places to remove mask and distancing mandates. Remember, this island chain is the most remote center of population in the world. Medical facilities on most of the islands are very limited and it’s just not good if an epidemic breaks out here.

You’ll want a robust supply of PPE for your stay. Bring antibacterial wipes for your airplane seat, and pretty much everywhere else.

Useful masks and accessories for your Hawaii vacation

Expect to be required to wear a mask indoors, and possibly also outdoors when on resort property and at the airport. Bring a selection of lightweight masks so you can rotate to whatever’s most comfortable.

I also recommend using a mask frame like this, which really helps with comfort, especially for the extended time on the plane.

The other thing I really suggest is a lanyard for your mask. There’s a lot of on-and-off with masks, especially at the pool or beach. Wearing it around your neck on a lanyard makes it a little harder to forget to put back on.

5 – Plan for the unexpected

Even though things seem to be returning to normal, 2020 taught us that we should always expect the unexpected. Pack enough medication and essentials to get you through a two week stay, in case you find yourself in quarantine or caught in an unexpected travel delay.

Keep an eye on travel guidance from the State of Hawaii, the CDC, and your home state. Policies can change overnight so don’t assume the rules will be the same when you fly home.

Buy travel insurance

Now more than ever, it’s really important to have a safety net in case something goes wrong. Travel insurance can cover extra expenses if your trip gets delayed or cancelled, and include medical benefits, not just for COVID.

If you’re on one of the less-populated islands like Kauai or the Big Island, anything that requires a hospital visit might mean a flight to Honolulu, or beyond. Providers like Allianz and TravelGuard offer policies to cover these expenses.

You can buy travel insurance online, or through a travel agent. If you don’t have an agent, call your local AAA office, which should have an expert in-house. Check the fine print before you buy the insurance from your airline. These plans usually just insure the tickets and don’t include medical transportation or care.

6 – Show your gratitude

Once you’re in paradise, be sure to show your gratitude to everyone that’s making your vacation possible. A huge portion of Hawaii’s population works in tourism and these families really had a difficult 2020.

Bring tip money

One of the best ways you can say thank you is to tip generously. Bring cash with you so you’ll be ready for the airport car rental van driver, the shuttle driver, the bellhop, you get the idea. These folks work for tips and for many there were none for almost a year.

A lot of Hawaii’s hospitality workers are still not working full-time either, so your generosity really goes a long way.

7 – Not everything is back to normal

The beaches are still there, the tropical breeze, the mai tais, and the sunshine are all still there. But not everything is quite back to normal in Hawaii yet. Expect restaurant hours to be more limited than before COVID. Staffing is still ramping up, and capacity may also be limited when you visit.

The same goes for excursions and other tourist destinations. Hawaii is just beginning to recover from the complete shutdown of the travel economy. Space will be limited for just about any activity you’ll want to book. Plan ahead and get your reservations as far in advance as possible.

Hawaii’s supply chain has been severely disrupted

Almost everything on the Hawaiian islands gets there by boat. During the COVID shutdown, shipping declined significantly. Tourism has resumed at a rate much faster than the shipping companies can match, which means lots of shortages.

It’s going to be awhile before supplies catch up to meet demand in Hawaii. Be flexible and don’t expect to find your favorite brand of rum or sunscreen. Merchandise in small local shops may be limited to whatever inventory was in stock way back in early 2020.

Bars and restaurants are getting creative with ingredients as everyone waits for a more steady supply. You may find a certain wine available by the glass but not the bottle at your resort, because there just aren’t many bottles left, and the next shipment is months away.

Consider 2023 instead

If this is your first time visiting Hawaii, or you have a very specific plan in mind, this may not be the best time to visit. It’s important to recognize that travel to Hawaii during COVID is not quite business as usual. Consider planning for the end of 2022 or beyond if you really want the complete experience.

8 – Unplug

Hawaii really is a great place to hit the reset button. The warm sun and beautiful natural environment is truly therapeutic. Give yourself permission to really lean into the moment and experience the world again.

If you’ve been in a cycle of constantly checking the news or social media, make a real effort to unplug. Avoid the TV and read a book instead. Get out for a walk and actually talk to strangers – it’s OK, they’re learning how to do this again too.

Give yourself the break you deserve

How many times have you unloaded the dishwasher in the past year? Even if you usually rent a condo, consider booking a full-service resort for at least part of your stay. You won’t believe how good it feels to let someone else do the cooking and cleaning for days in a row.

On our vacation we stayed at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid resort. Between the attentive staff, gorgeous grounds, and wonderful dining options, it was just what we needed. Did I mention the sea turtles that swim in the lagoon? And the champagne bar? Absolute heaven!

Before you even get there, schedule a massage for your first day. I guarantee it will help get all that mainland stress right out of your system.

Please don’t bring your office on my vacation

If you’re bringing work along, do it away from others. Especially if it involves anything out loud. There is nothing worse than finally getting into vacation mode only to overhear someone’s keyboard or business meeting.

Or better yet, put your phone on do-not-disturb and go play in the ocean for awhile. You won’t believe how good it feels, especially in 2022.

Booking.com

More Hawaii travel tips

Here on Go Informed, you’ll find more tips for visiting the Big Island of Hawaii including:

• Exploring the world of seahorses at Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
• See where Kona coffee comes from at the Greenwell Farms tour

This post contains affiliate links.