The US recently specified out all the details on how tourists from Europe can re-enter from November 8th. In a nutshell, proof of vaccination, a negative test (max. 3 days old), and, of course, ESTA are required.
So far it had remained unclear what the state of Hawaii would do. At the moment there is still a quarantine obligation for the Aloha State, but this can be avoided by uploading a vaccination or test certificate on Safe Travels Hawai’i. For tourists from Europe and other parts of the world, this has not been very practical: proof of vaccination is only accepted if the vaccination took place in the USA. Corona tests, on the other hand, must have been issued by an authorized laboratory. Such a laboratory does not exist in Europe, so a second test would have to be carried out in Los Angeles, for example.
Fortunately, the governor of Hawaii has now announced new regulations. From November 8, entry will be much easier for international travelers:
Conditions to Enter Hawaii From November 8
The new conditions differentiate between direct entry into Hawaii (from an international departure airport) and non-direct entry (e.g. London – Los Angeles – Honolulu). The most important information is given below:
Direct Flight to Hawaii
The rules are particularly simple for anyone who flies non-stop to Hawaii from abroad. Unfortunately, this is not particularly practical from Europe. There are basically only three options:
- Europe – Canada – Hawaii
- Europe – Japan – Hawaii
- Europe – South Korea – Hawaii
From November 8, the state of Hawaii will no longer have any special requirements for these travelers. Post-landing controls in Hawaii are only carried out for randomly selected passengers. Only the rules of the CDC have to be observed, i.e. you need proof of vaccination and a test. Registration at Safe Travels Hawai’i is not necessary.
Flights With a Layover in the USA
Almost all good deals to Hawaii include a layover on the US mainland – for example in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York. Unfortunately, the requirements are a bit more complicated for these travelers.
If you want to fly to Hawaii from the (continental) USA, you must first create an account with Safe Travels Hawai’i and enter all kinds of information there. This includes your personal data, details about the trip to Hawaii, health issues, and uploading a quarantine exemption.
The good news: From November 8, international vaccination certificates will also be accepted. The prerequisite is that the vaccine is accepted by the American FDA or has received emergency approval from the WHO. According to the current status, this applies to the following vaccines:
- BioNTech/Pfizer Comirnaty
- Johnson&Johnson Janssen
- Moderna Spikevax
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
- Covishield
- Sinopharm Vero
- Sinovac CoronaVac
- BharatBiotech Covaxin
The process is as follows:
- Create an account at Safe Travels Hawai’i
- Entering the personal data
- Creation of a trip (with date of entry + accommodation)
- Upload a vaccination certificate
- 24 hours before departure: fill out a health questionnaire
- Save the QR code and present it to the airline
Safe Travels Hawai’i does not currently accept international vaccination certificates. You can only try to upload the vaccination certificate as an Other Document. It can be assumed that the website will be updated by November 8 at the latest.
Conclusion
The new rules for entering Hawaii are not easy to read, but they are definitely a step in the right direction. Hawaii is finally open again. Perfect to escape the European winter.
Before booking, however, you should take a look at the prices for rental cars and accommodation. The prices fluctuate considerably – and are currently mostly higher than before the pandemic.
Cover Picture: ©shanemyersphoto - stock.adobe.com