After the last year, it is safe to say you are probably itching to be on a beach somewhere wasting your worries away.
The good news is that travel bans continue to be lifted, and many places, including Hawaii, WANT you to visit, as long as you are safe and smart.
I am sharing exactly where you can get COVID tested to ensure you do not have to quarantine when you travel to Hawaii AND the most Insta-Worthy hotel in Waikiki that is a must stay for your trip.
A SHORT GEOGRAPHY RECAP
Before I started planning a trip to Hawaii I was thoroughly confused by all the cities and how to interchange talking about them in conversation. It gets easier when you start planning and actually go.
For the purpose of reading this article here’s the geography you need to know.
Oahu is the island in which you fly into Honolulu. Waikiki is a short drive from Honolulu. I will also briefly mention island hopping to Big Island (Hawaii Island) which is divided by Kona and Hilo. Maui is also an island within the Hawaiian islands in which you can travel to.
There are tons of amazing things to see and do if you stay in Oahu for an entire trip including: Waikiki Beach, Kualoa Ranch (where Jurassic Park was filmed), Sunrise Shack, and chances at seeing wildlife, but more than anything I highly suggest staying at The Shoreline Hotel for a relaxing and incredibly Instagram worthy experience.
THE SHORELINE HOTEL
Immediately from the street Shoreline Hotel shines a bright pink and begins inviting visitors by combining the beauty of nature and the boldness of neon.
Credit: @shorelinehotel
Walk up a few steps to find adorable deck seating outside the front doors alongside a purple and pink mural….the first mural of many. We walked to grab coffee and ate out here one morning to soak in some sun. Photo spot number one….check! ✔️
Credit: @bymellowyellowpay
Don’t stop for too long outside, because the lobby is incredible. I suggest taking a moment to really soak it in and spot all the small details that were added, like the paper mache birds that live here. 😉
Credit: @bymellowyellowpay
Symmetry makes a debut in Shoreline’s lobby with complementing yellow and blue seating and incredibly beautiful high ceilings. We were greeted every time we walked in, and there are some goodies you can buy if you forgot sunscreen or other necessities. 👏🏻
Credit: @mellowyellowpay
Not to mention, you can fill up your water with the H2O station while snapping some pictures at the hat wall.
Credit: @shorelinehotel/@carakuulei
Now for my favorite part….the jaw-dropping rooms.
Credit: @mellowyellowpay
I was sold on Shoreline’s aesthetic as soon as I saw the “You Are Here” walls and bold tropical colors in each room. You can choose from yellow, red, or blue for the mural, and every room comes equipped with all the non-negotiable comforts like a plush bed, a mini-fridge, Public Goods bath products, and a work desk.
You won’t want to leave the room but if you must, I highly recommend the pool.
When you are down for some sun but sick of the saltwater, the Shoreline Hotel offers the COOLEST rooftop pool in all of Waikiki. Don’t take my word for, just look.
Credit: @mellowyellowpay
Grab your best gal, and take in views of all of Waikiki while getting tanned and snapping the most #pinterestworthypics for the gram’! 🤩
Credit: @mellowyellowpay
So now that you know where you will stay, here’s how you can get there from Dallas safely, and avoid the quarantine.
COVID TESTING
You WILL be required to show proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the final leg of your trip.
We were tested here in Dallas on the 16th, two days before our flight to Honolulu on the 18th, and it counted for our first 4 days in Oahu, but we then had to test again on the 21st to ensure we would avoid the 10 day quarantine when landing in Kona, Big Island.
We could have stayed in Oahu and only tested BEFORE arrival, OR immediately gotten on a flight to another island and used the same test from home done before.
Once you leave Oahu for inter-island travel with a negative COVID test, you do not have to test again to get back to Oahu or back to Texas.
✅ TEST REQUIRED: Texas —-> Honolulu, Oahu
✅ TEST REQUIRED: Honolulu, Oahu —-> Surrounding Hawaiian Islands
❌ NO TEST REQUIRED: Surrounding Hawaiian Islands —-> Honolulu, Oahu OR Texas
It takes a second to understand all the rules, but I promise you, Hawaii, keeping others around you safe and the hotel we stayed at in Waikiki were well worth it.
WHERE TO GET A TRAVEL APPROVED COVID TEST
You can’t just get ANY test. We learned this the hard way in Oahu.
Click here for a full list of TRUSTED TESTING AND TRAVEL PARTNERS.
The most cost effective, FREE with insurance, test we found for getting into Oahu out of Texas was through Walgreens. Both the Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR) & the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now) are approved.
Pro-Tip: If you are unsure about the test, call and ask if it is travel approved. Believe it or not there are tests that will not count, even if you are negative. The result will be a 10 day stay in quarantine while the beach is right outside your window. Use the list or call and ask to be sure.
We did the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now) and got our results the same day. Since it is self-administered, ensure that you stick the swab ALL the way up. I had to drive though and test again because I didn’t go up far enough the first time and they were unable to determine my test. It could have been a disaster if they had not had time for me to go back.
Although I suggest you make it to the farthest island you will travel to as soon as you land in Honolulu, if you plan to travel to another island after a few days in Oahu like us, there is ONLY ONE PLACE I can recommend.
In fact, we spent 5 hours trying to find this place. Reading this part will 110% save you time.
The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii does COVID-19 testing for $125 and is an Inter Island Pre-Travel Trusted Testing Partner. The reason I recommend is that they got us results within 4 hours, when we were in a serious pinch.
Pre-Register at kidneyhi.workplace.lumisight.com
You can take your chances with finding an appointment at Walgreens in Honolulu with the same steps as you did in Texas, but there may not be an appointment, and I can’t vouch for the speed at which you will receive your results.
CVS will NOT cover a test for free, so don’t try. You will get stuck quarantining. The only travel approved test through CVS is the self-pay testing but again, I can’t vouch for their turnaround speed which could be vital depending on your flight.
Now that you have a negative result, you will have to show proof of it upon arrival. Here’s how to get the QR code that acts as a ticket to freedom once you land.
MANDATORY STATE OF HAWAII TRAVEL & HEALTH FORM
Each time you are required to show proof of a negative test, you will need to upload the results onto Hawaii’s Mandatory State of Hawaii Travel & Health Form.
Credit: Hawaii’s Mandatory State of Hawaii Travel & Health Form
Create an account once, then you can add a trip should you need two tests. Each trip you add will generate a QR code that must be shown upon arrival to avoid the quarantine. It was actually incredibly easy.
BING, BAM, BOOM…now you know how to get to Hawaii safely during 2021 and where you will be staying! 😉 What’s stopping you now?