Kauai Opts Out of Hawaii’s Pre-Travel Testing, Forcing Quarantines

Starting on Dec. 2, Hawaii’s Kauai County will no longer participate in the state’s pre-travel testing program, a move that will force anyone coming from another state or another island to quarantine for 14-days.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige made the announcement on Friday, citing the “unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases on the mainland and the rise in community spread on Kauai” as the reasons behind the decision.

“Kauai county currently has the fewest number of ICU beds in the state, and private providers are seeking ways to increase capacity. This moratorium aims to stabilize the situation on Kauai,” Ige said.

The goal for the local government is to get a handle on the COVID-19 numbers in Kauai, which just recently reported over 1,200 cases in the last two-weeks, and to allow Kauai’s local businesses to remain open as long as possible.

Hawaii will still allow visitors traveling to its other islands—Maui, Honolulu, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island—to bypass the quarantine requirement with the testing program it has in place. That pre-testing program is available to guests traveling on American Airlines, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.

Despite the news, the state is still trying to attract some tourists as, even with the increase in Kauai, the state still boasts one of the lowest rates per capita of COVID-19 infections in the United States. And, with its tourism sector heavily hit by COVID-19, it is trying to attract a new type of guest.

The state recently announced that it would start offering free round-trip tickets to Honolulu for people who want to work remotely with a program called “Movers and Shakas.” That program, which is now open for applications through Dec. 15, will allow 50 applicants, at first, to work out of Honolulu.

The requirements for Movers and Shakas is that the applicants make a “commitment to respect the culture and nature resources of Hawai’i during their stay and commit some hours during their work week to a local nonprofit, which will be matched with the applicant by the government.

Those who secure a spot in the program will receive discounts on accommodations, flights, restaurants, attractions, and more while living in the state.

Applications are open here.