The pre-trip testing program is slated to begin October 15, a key step in restarting tourism in Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) — After a months-long delay, a much-vaunted pre-travel testing program will begin on Oct. 15, which authorities say is a key step in restarting the tourism industry, allowing transpacific visitors to forego a 14-day quarantine if they tested negative for COVID-19.

Gov. David Ige made the announcement Wednesday, saying reopening doors to transpacific travelers is critical to reopening tourism-dependent businesses and getting people back to work.

Under the program, travelers must test negative for COVID-19 no more than 72 hours prior to arrival to qualify for the quarantine exemption. Transpacific travelers of all ages are subject to the rule.

And there will be no testing at airports, at least for now.

However, important details have yet to be worked out, including details of how the state would confirm that a negative test is valid and will be carried out within the required window. The state said it is contracting with CVS and Kaiser Permanente to offer the testing at the traveler’s expense.

“The pre-trip testing program provides an extra layer of security,” Ige said.

Lt. gov. Josh Green, who will oversee the launch of the testing program, added that testing will cost around $140. He said the program “definitely presents economic opportunities for our state.”

The tourism industry has been all but shut down since late March, when Hawaii implemented its mandatory quarantine for transpacific travelers and issued a stay-at-home order.

On Tuesday, tourism industry officials said it was crucial that the test program for travelers be launched by mid-October if there is any hope of a sustained economic recovery this year.

“We’ve been ready for a while,” said Sadi Mufi Hannemann, CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association. “In fact, we have 5,000 rooms in Waikiki that are ready for occupancy tomorrow.”

The state originally hoped to roll out the program on Aug. 1, but delayed its launch several times — first because of a COVID-19 spike on the mainland and then because of a surge in cases on Oahu.

In addition to the testing program, the state has given Kauai the green light to proceed with “resort bubbles,” which would allow visitors to use resort facilities while still meeting quarantine requirements.

Curiously, while the pre-trip testing program moves forward, the governor said he does not yet have a firm date for lifting the quarantine for inter-island travel.

He said he was discussing the matter with the county mayors.

The planned tourism industry restart comes as Hawaii continues to see a gradual decline in new COVID-19 infections – amid the third week of a stay-at-home order on Oahu that has closed many businesses and banned many gatherings.

The mayor has indicated he will ease restrictions from next Thursday, with the issuing of a new order expected to allow retailers to reopen and small groups to gather at beaches or parks.

However, a timeline for a more significant reopening has not yet been released.

The rise in COVID-19 infections in August, followed by stay-at-home orders, was another blow to the state’s economy, which has already seen tens of thousands of layoffs and scores of business closures.

This story will be updated.

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