Hawaii travel news: Pearl Harbor ticket distribution changes, Hawaiian Air Sweepstakes & more

– We just recently learned that the traditional first-come, first-served ticket distribution program has been discontinued at Pearl Harbor National Memorial. To visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you must reserve your ticket/time at www.recreation.gov. There is a fee of $1 per ticket to participate in the USS Arizona Memorial program. Their ticket distribution system has changed numerous times over the years and it is a bit confusing. On top of that, their own website appears to show conflicting information about ticketing and reservations. It is our understanding that tickets can be reserved up to seven days in advance. In addition, another batch of tickets are released each day at 3pm Hawaii Time to reserve a time/ticket for the next day. For more advice, see this link to these tips written by a park ranger

as well as this facebook post.

– Hawaiian Airlines is hosting a sweepstakes to giveaway 1,000,000 HawaiianMiles. See the official rules here and this link to enter.

– Yesterday, Governor Ige announced that starting May 11, 2021, residents who have been fully vaccinated in Hawaii will be able to bypass quarantine and pretesting for inter-island travel only. This exemption is open only for persons who have received their vaccine in Hawaii and 15 days have passed since the final dose. Travelers must still create and complete a Safe Travels account. See this link to his facebook announcement for more information on this beginning step towards relaxing rules for vaccinated travelers. The governor stated, “We’re working to expand the program, and hope to announce dates for transpacific travel soon.”

– Since October, Travelers to Hawaii (Big) Island have had to take a rapid COVID test upon arrival. Per the Star Advertiser

, this second test will be phased out starting May 1, 2021.

– Earlier this month Maui County announced that they plan to require a rapid COVID test upon arrival. This rapid test will be in addition to the pre-travel test that is required in order to bypass a 10-day quarantine. We continue to watch for a start date, but the county does not yet know when it will begin. They are currently in the bidding process to start a contract for testing. Post publishing update: Per The Maui News, the county plans to start the post-arrival tests in early May and vaccinated travelers would be exempt.

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As COVID travel restrictions and rules continue to change in Hawaii, we recommend you check HawaiiCOVID19.com/travel for their current policies.