Hawaii Considering Uniform Quarantine Rule

Above, a view of Waikiki and Diamond Head. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the pandemic began, there has been much confusion on what can and can't be done in each state.

Probably the most confusing are the different sets of rules each island of the state of Hawaii has imposed.

Hopefully, all that will soon change if a bill passes the Hawaii legislature that will set uniform rules for the state as a whole.

According to TravelPulse:

As diligent as the state of Hawaii has been with its travel rules and restrictions, visitors have nonetheless been confused about which island has which rules.

Hawaii’s seven main islands – Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai and Niihau – all have different rules of entry for tourists regarding quarantines against the coronavirus.

But that might soon become a thing of the past.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that would standardize the state's pandemic travel restrictions across the islands, a departure from the current system that allows individual counties to create their own modified safety measures, according to a story published in USA Today.

Currently, each of the seven islands can opt out of the state's “Safe Travels” program, which requires a single negative COVID-19 test before departure for Hawaii to avoid a mandatory quarantine. Some counties can choose to require all visitors to quarantine for 10 days; some can ask for additional screening; some can set up a modified quarantine program.

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