Mufi's Message - November 11, 2021

Veterans Day

Aloha,

On this Veterans Day, the Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association offers our deepest thanks to all those who have served our country. We send a special mahalo to the many veterans who work alongside us in Hawai'i's hospitality industry, and thank you for your willingness to serve in the name of the many freedoms that we cherish and hold dear.

We hope that today may be restful, restorative, and spent with your families and loved ones.

International Travel

On November 8, international travel to the United Stated resumed. There has been a fair number of inquiries on what the process looks like for these guests, so we have compiled some key information for your reference.

The Presidential Proclamation and CDC Order is effective November 8, 2021, for travel from international airports to the United States. “Direct International Travelers” will no longer require a Safe Travel Account to present upon arrival to Hawai'i. “Non-Direct International Travel” will be considered domestic travel and passengers must have a Safe Travels account.
 
The following are options for your staff to check regarding Direct International Travelers’ exemption status:

• Direct International Travelers will present their passport and boarding pass. US citizens will show their departure stamp on their passport and boarding pass.
• Airline and cargo crew will show their departure page on their passport and work ID.

Below, you will find additional information as guidance for your business and staff regarding CDC guidelines for international travel to Hawai'i.

​NON-U.S. citizens traveling directly to Hawai'i from an international destination must present both a vaccination record and a negative COVID-19 test result (NAAT or antigen) within three days of boarding a flight to the United States.
U.S. citizens flying directly to Hawai'i from an international destination have two options:

• Fully vaccinated travelers must provide proof of vaccination and present a test** taken within three (3) days of boarding flight to U.S.; OR
• Travelers not fully vaccinated must provide proof of negative COVID-19 test result within one (1) day of boarding flight to U.S.

** Note: Tests do NOT have to be done with Trusted Travel Partners under the new international federal requirements, but they must be done with a Trusted Travel Partner for unvaccinated domestic travel.

There will be no additional State of Hawai'i requirements for passengers flying directly into Hawai'i from an international destination. No Safe Travels account will be required for entry to Hawaii. The airlines will screen passengers prior to their departure to the U.S. If foreign passengers fail to meet BOTH requirements and if U.S. citizens fail to meet ONE of the two requirements, they will not be allowed to board the flight.

Currently Accepted Vaccinations

• Single Dose
  • Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
• 2-Dose Series
  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna
  • AstraZeneca
  • Covishield
  • BIBP/Sinopharm
  • Sinovac

More information about international travel processes can be found at https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/. Please also feel free to contact our offices at any time should have any questions or need further clarification.

Mahalo,
​Mufi