WAILUKU, Hawaii — County officials in Maui are reminding travelers that they must provide COVID-19 vaccination documentation to be exempted from the testing requirement upon arriving on the island.
Maui County began requiring all trans-Pacific travelers participating in the Safe Travels program to take an additional rapid COVID-19 test upon arrival beginning May 4, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. But fully vaccinated trans-Pacific travelers in the program do not need to take a test with proof of vaccination.
Travelers are considered vaccinated after 14 days have passed since receiving both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“We remind trans-Pacific travelers that they need to provide proper documentation to be exempted from the post-arrival test,” Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said. “We need an original CDC vaccination card or a certificate of vaccination from the CDC. We are not accepting copies or photos of vaccination cards.”
County officials said travelers whether vaccinated or not must still comply to all pre-departure requirements.
Officials said 17 of the more than 40,000 travelers that have visited the island from May 4 to May 19 have received positive results from the required post-arrival testing at Kahului Airport. Those travelers were referred immediately to the Maui District Health Office.
The reminder came after Hawaiian Airlines on Friday began nonstop service between Phoenix and Maui, the Star-Advertiser reported. The four-times-weekly flights will be offered through Aug. 15 to meet demand for travel through the Memorial Day holiday and summer travel season.
The flight from Phoenix departs at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and arrives in Maui at 10:25 a.m., officials said. The flight from Maui departs at 10:40 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and arrives in Phoenix at 7:25 p.m.
