Updated March 13, 2022.
NOTE: If you are arriving in Hawaii March 26, 2022, or after, you will not have to apply for the Hawaii Safe Travels Program! Click here for more from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
It’s official! Steve and I are headed back to Hawai’i SOON! We’ll be visiting Kauai, which happens to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. It’ll be a little different from the last time we visited in May 2016, and not just for COVID-related reasons, but I’ll be writing more about that in the weeks to come. For now, let’s just get there!
*Your choice to vaccinate or not vaccinate is 100% yours to make, and I realize that some people, including some of my own family members, are medically not able to vaccinate. This post is not intended to promote vaccination or shame anyone who chooses not to vaccinate; this post is intended to help those who are vaccinated to navigate the Hawaii Safe Travels Program for a smooth trip to paradise.
What is the Hawaii Safe Travels Program?
Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program is the system the Hawaiian state government created to allow tourism in Hawaii during the pandemic. It started with quarantine, then pre-travel testing, and now we’re finally to the point where we can skip quarantine… but you’ll need to sign up for the program first!
Keep reading: Pro Tips for Your First Trip to Hawaii
Who can sign up?
Everyone! At the moment, all Hawaii visitors have to apply for the Hawaii Safe Travels Program. As of July 8, 2021, vaccinated travelers can skip the pre-testing option and the alternative 10-day quarantine option.
Need to read: Questions about Hawaii You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask
What do I need to sign up?
If you’ve been following along on the blog or Instagram for long, you know I love to be prepared! Here are the things you will need to make your sign up go as quickly and smoothly as possible.
- Your valid e-mail address
- Your text message-capable phone
- Your ID (whether passport, driver’s license, etc.)
- Flight information (outbound and return flight numbers)
- Destination Location (accommodation type, address, and phone number)
- Location of your vaccination
- The name of the entity responsible for your vaccination (for example, your state heath department)
- The type of vaccine you received (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson)
- Your vaccine lot number
- A photo of the front of your vaccine card ready to upload
Read next: What to Know Before You Visit the Hawaiian Islands
Where do I sign up?
1. Go to the Hawaii Safe Travels Home Page and Create an Account
Here you’ll have the option to log in or create an account. You can also sign in with Google or Facebook. We chose to create an account on the website. Here is the process:
- You’ll need to put in your e-mail address and create a 10-character password.
- Verify your e-mail address.
- You will be sent back to the home page to officially log in.
*Note: I have used a “dummy” trip for privacy purposes. The information below was made up for this post and is not accurate to the trip we will be taking.
Read on: 5 Things You Forgot to Pack for Hawaii
2. Fill In Your Information
Note: Each adult must make a separate account. Minors can be added to an adult’s account. For instance, I could not add my husband’s information to my account, but I could have added a minor (under the age of 18).
A few reminders: Everything You Need to Know about Taking Your First Flight Since the Pandemic Started
3. Include Your Home Address
Yes, this part is mandatory.
Related: What to Do if You Get Sick on Travel
4. Add Your Trip Information
This is the time in the process where you will need your outbound and return flight numbers. You will also need your accommodation information. If you’re staying in a hotel or at a resort, you can simply type in the name, and the site will populate the information for you; if you’re staying in a vacation rental, you will need the address and phone number. Have them handy!
More here: The Beginner’s Guide to Travel Immunizations
5. Apply For Exception from Quarantine
You will be prompted to visit this page to submit your vaccine exception, COVID test information, Clear exception, etc. Choose the one that is most appropriate for you. We chose the COVID Vaccine Exception. This is where you’ll need your vaccine card, dates of vaccination, location of vaccination, type of vaccine, vaccine lot number, etc.
Read next: The Ultimate Guide to Your Yellow Vaccination Card for Travel
6. Fill Out Your Health Questionnaire within 24 Hours of Your Flight
Note: This is within 24 hours of your flight to Hawaii. For instance, my husband and I will fly from IAD-SFO, then SFO-LIH. We will not be able to fill out the form 24 hours before out flight from IAD-SFO; we will only be able to fill out the form 24 hours before the flight from SFO-LIH.
If you have more quesitons, please check out their Help Page!
Need more about traveling during COVID? Check out my Health and Wellness Page! And for all your Hawaii travel needs, you won’t want to miss my Hawaiian Islands Page, too!
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How early can you sign up for the Hawaii Travels app and be able to input your trip dates? I tried and it’s not saving the trip information I was inputting. Our is in a month.
We did ours two months in advance. It should be working, so contact Safe Travels to let them know it’s not. Good luck!