Originally posted as: Hawaii's quarantine rules to be updated October 15 and updated in comments to help highlight ongoing updates to the process.
Although a domestic destination for US travelers, Hawaii's self-imposed travel restrictions have been a bit of trouble to navigate if you've been hoping to escape to the islands this season or even if you've been trying to plan a trip for the coming winter.
It's expected that new arrivals into Honolulu will be able to avoid the 14-day quarantine from October 15 if you can show a negative coronavirus test taken in the 72 hours prior to your arrival in Hawaii.
Airlines have been moving to provide passengers with rapid testing facilities available in advance of a flight or possibly at select airports - none of which has yet become a reality, however United has indicated their intent to deliver a testing service for flights from San Francisco to Honolulu as a priority.
As I understand it, the upcoming change applies to initial arrivals into Maui and Kona but that facilities for inter-island travel and arrivals to other airports are not yet established.
Updated for November 2020
Travelers lucky enough to be headed to Hawaii during the next few months might want to make themselves very aware of the current and ongoing updates to Hawaii's Safe Travel program and other requirements if you're hoping to bypass any 14-day quarantine when you arrive.
This is not advice.
Register for the Safe Travels program as soon as your flight is booked and consider arranging an appointment for the required NAAT type test from a certified lab during the 72 hours prior to scheduled departure.
The lab must be from an approved testing partner facility.
Once a negative result is received or any pending notice prior to departure, revisit and update the Safe Travels account, filling out the requisite health questionnaire 24 hours prior to any flight.
A completed questionnaire should result in delivery of a QR code which will be needed to complete the landing process in Hawaii.
Then fly to Hawaii as scheduled, respecting the rules surrounding masks and anything else required by airline or airport staff in regard to safety and security.
On arrival there will be a second screening and temperature check, the QR code received should be shared and any pending results which may have been completed should be updated into the Safe Travels account.
Any deviation from the process, a positive or outstanding test result, or other circumstances determined by the updated process may result in immediate 14-day quarantine.
If quarantine or isolation is required, guidance should be provided by local health authorities.
Bypass of quarantine may extend to inter-island travel inbound to Honolulu City & County, but additional 72 hour tests may apply for other destinations. Visitors should be prepared to finance their own testing.