After a long winter of being cooped up —— so many of us in need of a change of scenery. We’re here to answer your questions about traveling to the Big Island of Hawaii right now.
What are the COVID-19 numbers on the Big Island?
Despite the island welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors since October, case counts here have been very low, with the rolling average typically being 10 or less cases per day. Very few of those cases have been travel related, even with 16 or more nonstop flights per day from the mainland USA and inter-island flights. The Hawaii Government has excellent resources. You can visit Hawaii COVID 19 Data to see the coronavirus numbers all across the state.
Due to the low case numbers, the Big Island has been able to keep many activities open, including beaches, pools, restaurants, and all manners of other activities, so there’s no shortage of fun things to do. Vacation rentals have been increasingly popular, as families can stay together without the stress of being in close quarters with other travellers. Plus, you can cook family meals, and enjoy the bikes, games, and beach gear provided in all our homes!
What is traveling to the Big Island Like?
In order to travel to the Big Island, you will need a negative COVID test from a Trusted Hawaii Partner
within 72 hours of your departing flight from the mainland. You’ll also need to create a Hawaii Safe Travels account on the state website and upload your trip information and negative test result.
AN IMPORTANT TIP: If you are flying to Honolulu before immediately flying to the Big Island, you’ll need to create two trip legs. One of these will be for the flight to Hawaii, and the other for the flight to Kona.
Once your negative test result has been uploaded and validated, you will get a QR code and status showing you are exempt from quarantine. This is required in order to rent a car, stay in a vacation rental, or stay in a hotel without quarantine.
For travelers arriving May 1st or later, there will no longer be a second COVID test at the Kona airport.
What’s it like on the Big Island?
Because so many Hawaii vacation activities are outdoors, it’s easy to have an incredible vacation while staying COVID-safe. Hawaii Beaches have remained fully open, and are some of the easiest places to social distance, especially on beaches such as Mauna Kea Beach , or the private Mauna Lani Beach Club, which you’ll have access to if you stay in any of our beautiful Homes in Mauna Lani.
Community pools and fitness centers also are all open, so you can still take advantage of those amenities! Many activities have remained open, and because of the outdoor nature of so many Big Island activities, are some of the safest things you can do! Some of our favorite distanced activities include relaxing on a quiet beach, horseback riding, hiking, and snorkeling.
Because of the stunning weather on the Kohala Coast, many restaurants are already patio based. It very rarely rains on this side of the Island, so every day is perfect for patio weather. Indoor dining is also open at limited capacity, but why dine indoors when the weather is so beautiful outdoors?
It is necessary to wear a mask whenever in stores or for other indoor activities, as well as when you cannot maintain six feet of separation from people outside your household, but the Big Island of Hawaii has always been Paradise, and COVID hasn’t changed that.
For many more details and FAQs visit our Hawaii Travel Update page.
We look forward to welcoming you!
