Hawaii to Allow Tourists From the Philippines to Skip Quarantine

If surfing across tall waves, eating rainbow-coloured shave ice, and chilling on palm-fringed beaches are all part of your bucket list — and you happen to have a U.S. Visa — then you’re in luck. A stress-free trip to the state of Hawaii just might be possible this year. 

Hawaii adds the Philippines to its Safe Travels Program

On 3 Aug 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that the Philippines has been added to Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program as a “trusted testing partner.” Travellers flying from Manila to Honolulu through Philippine Airlines (PAL) can forgo the mandatory 10-day quarantine period in Hawaii, as long as they present a negative RT-PCR test result taken at a PAL-accredited laboratory no earlier than 72 hours before their departure. 

In light of the large overseas Filipino community living in Hawaii, State of Hawaii Governor David lge says that the state hopes to restart international tourism with the Philippines on a “more robust and regular basis.” 

How to be exempted from a 10-day quarantine in Hawaii

Upon arrival, Filipino passengers travelling to Honolulu from Manila may be exempted from the state’s mandatory 10-day quarantine period if they meet both of the requirements below: 

1. The negative COVID-19 test result must be from an RT-PCR test (NOT an Antigen Swab test). 
2. The negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result must be taken from a State of Hawaii-approved Trusted Testing and Travel Partner, such as Philippine Airlines.  

Aside from a negative RT-PCR test result and a valid U.S. Visa, the full list of travel requirements to Hawaii can be found at the website of Philippine Airlines here. 

Note: Failure to comply with the full requirements of Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program may result in non-acceptance to board the flight to Honolulu. 

Also read: Complete List of Philippine Airlines’ Flights During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Will you go surfing and beach-hopping in Hawaii when it’s safe to travel again? For more information, visit this page to learn more about the Safe Travels Program in Hawaii. 

Featured image credit: Channey | Unsplash