Update! Effective October 14th, 2021, Kauai County’s COVID-19 tier system is no longer in effect, but restrictions on travel, masks and gatherings will remain (source)

More information about current pre-travel testing for all of the islands of Hawai’i can be found here.

Effective July 8, 2021, the island of Kauai has ended their Resort Bubble Program as the island enters “Tier Five” and vaccinated travelers are allowed into Kauai without pre-travel testing. (source)

Effective April 5, 2021, the island of Kauai has rejoined the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program (source).

Travelers who do not complete the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program must complete a 10-day quarantine or participate in the Kauai Resort Bubble program described below.

Starting on January 5th, 2021, Governor Ige and Kauai Mayor Kawakami have amended the previous Kauai pre-travel testing ban, and have allowed exemptions for travelers wishing to avoid the mandatory 10-day quarantine.

Contents hide
1 Pre-travel testing summary
2 Interisland travel
3 Transpacific travel “Resort Bubbles”
4 Kauai tours & activities

Pre-travel testing summary

If you are traveling to Kauai, and would like to avoid the mandatory 10-day quarantine, you will have two choices:

  1. Go to Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island first and stay for 72 hours or more before flying into Kauai
  2. Fly to Kauai directly, but stay at a designated “resort bubble” for three days

By doing either of the above, you will be able to skip the full day 10-day quarantine and quickly begin your Kauai vacation.

Interisland travel

If you want to start your Hawaii holiday from day one, this will be your best option.

  1. Complete the pre-travel testing requirements before flying to Hawaii.
  2. Fly into Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island, and stay there for at least 72 hours.
  3. Before flying to Kauai, take a second COVID-19 test from a Hawaii inter-county trusted travel partner.
  4. If you have a negative test result, successfully upload your results to your Safe Travels account.
  5. You will now be able to fly into Kauai, and avoid the 10-day quarantine.

To avoid any potential issues when flying interisland into Kauai, have a hard copy of your negative test result in hand when you arrive at the Lihue airport.

If you test positive while on Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island, immediately self isolate and contact anyone you may have been in contact with. You will NOT be allowed to travel to Kauai with a positive test result.

Transpacific travel “Resort Bubbles”

Those flying from outside of Hawaii into Kauai directly also have the option of a shortened three-day quarantine.

This three-day quarantine will require you to stay at an Enhanced Movement Quarantine (EMQ) “resort bubble” hotel on Kauai:

The process for the “resort bubble” is quite easy, and a great choice for those not wanting to travel between islands.

  1. Sign up for the Safe Travels online program.
  2. Make a reservation at one of the approved EMQ “resort bubbles”.
  3. Take a pre-travel COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving on Kauai. This test can be ANY COVID-19 diagnostic test (antigen or PCR test) approved by the U.S. FDA, and does not need to be be on the state’s Trusted Testing and Travel Partners list.
  4. Complete the County of Kauai’s arrival form.
  5. Check-in at your resort, and stay on the property for three days.
  6. After three days, take a post-travel COVID-19 test, and the resort staff will inform you of your test results.
  7. If you test negative, you will be released from quarantine, and can now enjoy Kauai to its fullest.

Be aware that you will not be able to rent a car until you have completed either the three-day “resort bubble” quarantine, or the full 10-day mandatory quarantine. Contact your resort for transportation options to your resort area from the Lihue airport.

Should you test positive while in the “resort bubble,” you will not be allowed leave until you have completed the 10-day quarantine.

Kauai tours & activities

There are still many things to do in Kauai during COVID-19, and tours and activities are also reopening every day.

To make the most of your Hawaii vacation, be sure to book in advance!

Take a look at our vast collection of available Kauai tours and activities.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at support@veltra.com at anytime, or call us at (808) 690-9990 Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM HST, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00AM to 12:00PM HST.

corona virus covid-19 quarantine