Nov 8 Direct International Travelers – What to Ask For Upon C/I

Aloha,

The Presidential Proclamation and CDC Order is effective November 8, 2021, for travel from international airports to the United States. “Direct International Travelers” will no longer need to have a Safe Travel Account to present upon arrival to Hawaii. “Non-Direct International Travel” will be considered domestic travel and passengers must have a Safe Travels account.

Following are options for your staff to check regarding Direct International Travelers’ exemption status:

  • Direct International Travelers will present their passport and boarding pass. US citizens will show their departure stamp on their passport and boarding pass.
  • Airline and cargo crew will show their departure page on their passport and work ID.

Following is additional information as guidance for your business and staff regarding CDC guidelines for international travel to Hawaii. More information is available at: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/
Travel Category & Description   Examples  Process 

Direct International Travel – Aircraft begins flight in another country and ends the flight at the port of federal debarkation in Hawaii. Passengers are subjected to U.S. customs processing in Hawaii. This category will be either:

1. A non-stop flight - from one airport to another, without any stops along the way.

2. A direct flight - from one airport to another but includes stops in one or more cities along the way. The flight number or aircraft and passengers boarding pass remain the same. 

1. Narita, Japan direct flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

2. Manilla, Philippines direct flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 

Adhere to U.S. Federal process for international travel; No Safe Travels Hawaii or state requirement 

Non-Direct International Travel - Aircraft begins flight in another country and ends the flight at a port of federal debarkation not in Hawaii. Passengers are subjected to U.S. customs processing not in Hawaii. This category will consist of:

1. Connecting flights - from one (Non-U.S.) city to another (U.S.) city, with a layover stop in between to change planes (in the U.S.). Each flight requires a separate boarding pass, but passenger is on one itinerary. 

1. London, England direct flight to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Clears customs in Atlanta and boards another aircraft to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

2. Mexico City, Mexico direct flight to Los Angles, California, USA. Clears customs in Los Angeles and boards another aircraft to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. 

Adhere to U.S. Federal process for international portion of travel; Adhere to Safe Travels Hawaii requirement for domestic portion of travel

Domestic Travel – Aircraft begins flight in U.S. and ends in Hawaii.
*Can be Non-stop, direct, or connecting 

1. San Francisco, California to Hawaii.

2. New York, New York to Seattle, Washington to Hawaii 

Adhere to Safe Travels Hawaii requirement for travel
* Exception: No Safe Travel Hawaii requirement for Hawaii intra-state (inter-county) travel 
 

NON-U.S. citizens traveling directly to Hawaii from an international destination must present BOTH a vaccination record AND a negative COVID-19 test result (NAAT or antigen) within three days of boarding a flight to the United States.

U.S. citizens flying directly to Hawaii from an international destination have two options:

  • Fully vaccinated travelers must provide proof of vaccination and present a test** taken within three (3) days of boarding flight to U.S.; OR
  • Travelers not fully vaccinated must provide proof of negative COVID-19 test result within one (1) day of boarding flight to U.S.

    ** Note: Tests do NOT have to be done with Trusted Travel Partners under the new international federal requirements, but they MUST be done with a Trusted Travel Partner for unvaccinated domestic travel.

There will be no additional State of Hawaii requirements for passengers flying directly into Hawaii from an international destination. No Safe Travels account will be required for entry to Hawaii. The airlines will screen passengers prior to their departure to the U.S. If foreign passengers fail to meet BOTH requirements and if U.S. citizens fail to meet ONE of the two requirements, they will not be allowed to board the flight.

Beginning November 8, accepted vaccines include:

Accepted COVID-19 Vaccines

  Vaccines Approved or Authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration  Vaccines Listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health Organization 
Single dose 
  • Janssen/J&J 
  • Janssen/J&J 
2-dose series 
  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna 
  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna
  • AstraZeneca
  • Covishield
  • BIBP/Sinopharm
  • Sinovac 
Space
Contact

Karen Wataru Nakaoka

Director of Membership
Phone

808-924-0231
Email

knakaoka@hvcb.org