COVID-19 Booster Shots Not Required for Travel to Hawaii

For Immediate Release: February 8, 2022
HTA Release (22-05)

2022.02.08 Safe Travels - HTA Release.pdf

HONOLULU – Governor David Ige today announced that Hawaii’s Safe Travels program will continue unchanged at this time, that domestic travelers will not be required to include proof of COVID-19 booster shots. Individuals who received their primary COVID-19 vaccination series 14 days prior to arrival, or those who provide an acceptable negative pre-travel test, will continue to be exempt from the mandatory 
five-day quarantine.

“Today’s decision by Governor Ige strikes a good balance between protecting public health and safety, and continuing the recovery of our economy which supports so many of our kamaaina families. While booster shots are not required to travel, we encourage visitors to stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, wear their masks, and travel responsibly throughout our islands,” said John De Fries, HTA president and CEO. “Many of Hawaii’s businesses and visitor industry partners continue to work diligently to get their employees vaccinated and boosted to ensure that we can continue to keep Hawaii safe and to be effective hosts to our visitors. We appreciate everyone taking personal responsibility to mālama (care for) ourselves and one another.”

De Fries also credited the various entities in the visitor industry that have been working hard to keep travelers informed and prepared – from airlines stepping up to pre-clear their passengers, to the multi-agency team answering questions at the call center, to the airport screeners checking the QR codes of incoming passengers.

The mandatory Safe Travels program remains in place for individuals traveling from the U.S. mainland and its Territories to the Hawaiian Islands. Travelers are considered up to date on the 14th day for vaccines that require two shots or for vaccines that require only one shot. The vaccination record must be uploaded to the Safe Travels website at https://travel.hawaii.gov/ prior to departure. Travelers who arrive without proof of vaccination or an acceptable negative pre-travel test result will be subject to a mandatory five-day quarantine.

This does not apply to passengers arriving directly from an international destination, as the federal requirements for entry into the United States remain in place.

For more information about the State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels program and what you need to know before boarding your flight, visit www.hawaiicovid19.com/travel.