Hawaii's COVID-19 Rules Vary By Island

Above, the food lines at an Oahu luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Heading to Hawaii?

Before going it may behoove you to check what COVID-19 rules are at the places on the itinerary. Rules for visitors vary by county and island.

The following will be a big help in one's research before going.

Travel Weekly posted:

Just prior to Thanksgiving, Gov. David Ige announced that starting Dec. 1 all statewide restrictions on social gatherings, gyms, bars and restaurants would be lifted. Additionally, the state is no longer requiring county governments to obtain state approval prior to enacting emergency rules, allowing mayors more flexibility to adjust emergency regulations.

However, a statewide indoor mask mandate and Hawaii's SafeTravels Program remain in effect. SafeTravels requires out-of-state travelers to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test no more than 72 hours prior to entering Hawaii or submit to a 10-day quarantine. 

"Hawaii continues to have amongst the lowest rates of infection and fatalities in the nation due to the Covid-19 pandemic," Ige said. "As we have seen an improvement and stabilization of the virus activity in our community, it really is a good time to pivot state coordination back to the counties."

Hawaii's current rate of 10 Covid-19 cases per day per 100,000 people is the third-lowest in the U.S., and 72% of the total population is fully vaccinated.

In conjunction with the governor's announcement, the county mayors have all eased Covid-19 rules, but the regulations within each county all differ in some way, and travelers to the Islands, especially those planning any type of event, should be sure to consult the specific restrictions for the county they are visiting.

Here's an up-to-date look at the regulations in place across the state and its four counties.  

To read what the regulations are, go here.