Hawaii - what is required and what should we know to go there this summer?

I am planning this right now.

You have to have a test from an APPROVED list to skip quarantine. If you have the test in the timeframe you are allowed to visit. But it has to be an approved test. I’ve heard stories of people not realizing that specific tests were allowed and being sent home. The approved list seems extensive, and Walgreens and CVS along with one of the at home kits are on the list so it doesn’t seem hard. I have not gotten to this point yet but apparently you upload your negative test to a website and they give you a QR code to show at the airport on arrival. Kauai had tighter restrictions but that ends April 5 and from then they require a negative test as above but nothing else. Maui also requires you to download a tracing app

One thing I haven’t figured out is testing between islands. If you fly to Maui and have a negative test, you might need another test to go to Kauai a week later. Not sure. I’m just staying on one island.

As usual things may change, verify everything frequently!

https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/

Tests approved:
https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/

In regards to test results, for Hawaii, you can use the "Clear" app to document your results, though your Airline should be able to give you more information on that.

Wow, thanks for all this great info. I didn't know that renting a car was that hard or expensive, and we definitely will think about that before we book flights.
I think if we do this we will only go to one island, Maui or the Big Island. Any suggestions on which one, and reasons why? I have been to both but many years ago, and I have no idea what things look like with covid on the two islands.

Not sure where Ufkak got his/her car rental information but last week the price was $700 for a one week summer rental (Kauai) for our son and we thought that was expensive.

We plan to go to Maui the end of this month, SO if that actually happens, I'll report back. Yes, there is a severe rental car shortage- hard to predict when the companies will replenish their fleets.
We have our appt for the approved tests 72 hours in advance. We are both vaccinated.
Who knows???

hey hey all
there are alot of itchy people everywhere wanting to go here and there. keep reading up about what is and is not needed in hawaii. each island is saying something different. safe travels hawaii is a program for pandemic travel entry. as of friday hasn't been approved but meeting on monday.
my family in hawaii have told me about the rental car issues, and yes it's crazy. seems to be maui and big island has the extreme rates (one week end of april $1500 kona and maui). seems to be supply and demand, after this ugly year, cars were costing too much to just be parked, some were sent to open lots. sent back to mainland or sold, if companies would have to file for bankruptcy.
who would have known a vaccine was created this fast and being administered now. since people are more inclined to scratch their itch to travel, can't just wave a wand or sprinkle fairy dust and expect rental cars to appear like magic. my sister and nephew have told me residents are even renting their own cars out. hope things get better for summer holidays. as ufkak mentions before booking flights, check car rentals. fares are cheap now to hawaii until end of may till august.
all you tourists want to see the same things, drive the same places, visit same attractions, relax on beaches, looking for "budget" accomodations, eat at their favorites restuarants on each island, it will be a busy season. hope all works out for everyone, i'm trying to get back to see my family, hoping by end of year.
aloha

thanks ufkak
you threw me off that you live in hawaii. seems to be issues with people wanting to travel. friends that are traveling in their RV's from next month are finding it hard to find campsites or RV parks to stay in, either booked for months in advanced or the cost is higher than expected. haven't looked at rental cars here since i have my own but surprised to hear that you said none when you wanted one in honolulu.
my plans are to fly to kona at thanksgiving time and stay with family for about a month or two, since i missed out last may. fly to honolulu for a weekend or week day (4 days) getaway to see family and visit my old stomping grounds and hole in the wall restaurants to eat local food. may stay at pagoda and rent a car to check things out but will look ahead of time to make sure we have a car. lots of different changes since i've been to honolulu years ago, like a lot of other cities all over this country.
don't need to worry about car and place to stay on big island since with family. thanks for info and will be reading about what restrictions are will covid-19. i have had my 2 vaccinations with no side effects.
aloha

A lot more to consider during COVID era travel from pre-travel testing to getting housing /hotel and car rentals booked. The Hawaii State portal is a good start: https://hawaiicovid19.com/

The rental car situation is current travel issue both in Hawaii as well as on the mainland. During the peak of the COVID travel stop, rental car companies were having a cash flow problem (more going out and not much coming in). On top of the cash flow, rental stations are not designed to store cars. At one point Honolulu car rental companies were storing cars at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. The obvious solution at that time was to sell off the fleet solving the cash flow problem and the car storage problem. Fast forward to 2021 and the automobile microprocessor (chip) shortage. Many factors at work but the bottom line is today's cars need microprocessor chips and NA car producers have scaled back production.

Bottom line is to reserve rental cars early in your Hawaii vacation planning if you are traveling near term. I am delaying visiting until the testing/quarantine restrictions are relaxed. rental car fleets return to normal and destinations open as we all get vaccinated. In the interim, stay masked and hang loose.

Car Rental In Hawaii What You Need To Know! | Oahu Hawaii 13,898 views•Apr 8, 2021:
https://youtu.be/Ja46vKZzB-M