How to bypass the long lines upon arrival to Hawaii?

May 31

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As you plan your trip to Hawaii, I am sure you are well aware of all the steps you need to take in order to enter Hawaii, but what you may have not heard is the long line that awaits you when you finally arrive. Here I am going to share with you my experience on how to bypass the long lines upon entry.

Since March 2020, there has been a mandatory 10 day quarantine for visitors who wish to travel to Hawaii, but now travelers can avoid quarantine by showing proof of a negative COVID 19 test result within 72 hours prior to departure. This new update has resulted in a surge of travelers visiting Hawaii, causing long waits upon entry.

Before we get into how to avoid the lines, let’s make sure you have all the documents necessary for pre-clearance.

Register and create an account with Hawaii’s Safe Travels program. This is so the state of Hawaii can verify all travelers.
Take a COVID test (regardless if you are or aren’t fully vaccinated) with the state’s Trusted Partners. Note: Make sure you book an appointment ahead of time as time slots fill up quickly. There is a $20 cost for the information to be included in your Hawaii travel itinerary.
Complete the questionnaire and upload a PDF of your negative results via Hawaii’s Safe Travels program.
Once you complete all items you will receive a QR code that will need to be presented to your travel agent for screening.

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How to bypass the long lines upon arrival?

In order to bypass the lines, you will need to book a flight with an airline that offers pre-clearance. This program is only available through the following partners: Alaskan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

Note that not all pre-clearance checkpoints are at your gate. In Oakland, where I flew out of, the Southwest pre-clearance check point is between Terminal 1 &2.

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Make sure you arrive to the airport with enough time to go through the pre-clearance line. It took me about 20 minutes.
Have all your documents ready. The first thing you will need for screening is the QR Code you receive upon completing Hawaii’s Safe Travels program. An agent will have a questionnaire for you confirming your stay, arrival and departure dates along with a proof of your negative test results.

Once you’ve completed all questions you will be given a wristband. This wristband will allow you to bypass the long lines upon arrival. When you arrive to Hawaii all you need to do is to show your wristband, and voila! No line for you!

Lastly Do NOT travel if you are sick, have been exposed, tested positive for COVID or are waiting for COVID test results.

I hope this information has been useful and that you safely plan your next adventure!