Hawaiian Airlines is now offering travelers visiting or returning to the Hawaiian Islands from the U.S. mainland a pre-travel COVID-19 test they can take from the comfort of their home to qualify to be exempt from the state of Hawai’i quarantine.
The tests can order the $150 mail-in saliva test online through Vault Health. The test kit, which is available for travelers of all ages including children, will be express mailed overnight to travelers who will self-collect their sample with assistance from a testing supervisor in a video call. The kit is express shipped overnight to Vault’s lab, which will process and analyze the sample and provide travelers their results electronically within 24 hours.
Travelers with a negative COVID-19 test taken at a state-approved testing facility within 72 hours of departure will be exempt from Hawai’i’s 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
Hawaiian’s new at-home COVID-19 test option, facilitated by Vault Health, adds to the carrier’s partnership with Worksite Labs that will provide guests exclusive access to drive-through PCR testing ($90 for results within 36 hours, or $150 for day-of-travel express service) from dedicated, conveniently located labs near Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) international airports, with more testing locations coming soon to its other U.S. mainland gateways.
Hawaiian’s comprehensive health and safety program covers all aspects of the travel journey, starting at check-in, when guests must complete a health acknowledgment form indicating they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and will wear an adequate face mask or covering at the airport and during the flight. Guests 2 years of age and older who are unable to wear a face mask or covering due to a medical condition or disability must undergo a health screening to board.
Hawaiian’s enhanced cleaning includes frequent disinfecting of lobby areas, kiosks, and ticket counters, electrostatic aircraft cabin spraying, plexiglass barriers at staffed airport counters, and sanitizer wipe distribution to all guests. The carrier, which has been operating a reduced schedule since March due to the pandemic and resulting travel restrictions, will continue to cap cabin capacity at 70 percent through Dec. 15 to allow for onboard distancing.
Hawaii officials had hoped to reopen the state on Aug. 1 to visitors possessing proof of a recent and valid negative COVID-19 test, but pushed that reopening back to September 1, then to October 1 and beyond as the earliest Hawaii may reopen. Like many closings and openings over Covid, those dates remain moving targets.
However, some hotels and resorts are taking matters into their own hands and reopening now in anticipation of a near at hand official opening announcements by the governor. One of those resorts is the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, which will be welcoming guests back on November 20. The resort’s new Safe on Maui program in in place to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for guests both as they travel and through the duration of their stay.
“There’s no question that, right now, our guests’ and employees’ biggest concern is safety. So we focused efforts on reimagining safer travel that will both help protect our guests and, ultimately, our employees as well,” says General Manager Marc Bromley. “Our guests will enjoy the resort with the assurance that Four Seasons Maui has gone above and beyond.”
Resort’s five “Safe on Maui” innovations includes:
– 24/7 onsite medical care. From injury to illness to wellness, guests seeking medical attention will have on-the-spot access to an around-the-clock team of medical professionals led by Dr. Reza Danesh, MD, founder of MODO Mobile Doctor. A board certified emergency physician who trained at UCLA and was attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Danesh and his team are equipped to administer rapid antigen COVID-19 tests guaranteeing results in 15 minutes, PCR tests upon departure, and all basic urgent care medical services.
– PS at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – The Resort, along with the other Four Seasons Resorts in Hawaii is collaborating with PS, a private airport experience for commercial flights at LAX. Located separately at the private terminal, PS provides private suites with amenities, dedicated TSA and customs clearance, luxury car service to the aircraft, and “back door” access to the aircraft avoiding the public LAX terminal entirely. Four Seasons Resort Maui includes this one-way service for guests of the Resort’s top 21 “Complete Suites.”
– Virtual Classroom – Supervised by friendly counselors, the Resort’s complimentary Virtual Classroom allows children to focus on schoolwork while parents enjoy the Resort’s amenities. Creative breaks feature various characters from the resort such as a lei maker, hula dancer or pastry chef so the Virtual Classroom is as fun as it educational.
– Pre-Travel COVID-19 Testing Resources – The state of Hawaii has instituted additional safeguards for travelers, including requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of departure of the traveler’s final leg to Hawaii in order to avoid quarantine. The Resort also requires guests to present proof of a negative result upon arrival, and so to guarantee accessible pre-travel tests has identified labs with convenient testing options, nationwide.
– In-Room Air Purification – Guests will sleep easy as the resort has equipped every room and suite with individual air purification units. The best-in-class air purifier cleans the entire room every 30 minutes, and the HEPA filter device addresses major concerns.
The innovations will follow Lead with Care protocols, the enhanced global health and safety program, which is being implemented at Four Seasons properties worldwide.
Meanwhile, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kona is embarking on a resort-wide renovation with plans to open up again on December 1. The multi-million dollar enhancement program will update almost every aspect of the Resort, further enhancing the guest experience while maintaining the distinct, authentic character of the Resort.
All rooms and suites in the Resort will be extensively renovated with updated finishes and furnishings. A new bungalow consisting of six oceanfront guest rooms including a suite with a private pool will be constructed adjacent to Kumukea Beach on the Resort’s northern edge, providing spectacular views from its ocean front location.
The top three villas at the Resort — Hawaii Loa, Makaloa and Ho’onanea — will each be expanded to add a second story and unique design elements.
Amenities across the property will be updated. King’s Pond, Hualalai’s 1.8 million-gallon swimmable aquarium, will receive a dramatic update with the addition of a new elevated swimming pool, lounge deck, and Marine Activity Center. Seashell Pool, the Resort’s family-friendly pool, will receive new tiling and finishes to complement the updated poolside furniture and umbrellas added in 2019. A dedicated Culinary Academy will also be added upstairs of ULU Ocean Grill + Sushi Lounge, hosting a plethora of interactive culinary experiences and guest chefs.
The entire golf experience is also receiving considerable attention. Hualalai recently announced a new addition to its award-winning golf program, the Hualalai Golf Hale. This 3,000 square-foot instruction and practice facility will be the ultimate destination for golf enthusiasts of all ages. In addition to exclusive programming to improve the golf game with state-of-the-art technology and expert instruction, the facility doubles as an entertainment venue with a multitude of games, audio-visual flexibility, and food and beverage opportunities– perfect for family and group events, indoors and out. Additionally, the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course is undergoing a transformation with the reshaping of greens and bunkers and a conversion to Platinum Paspalum turf, which will transform both the playability and appearance with its luxurious feel and rich emerald aesthetic.
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