Under an amendment to Mayor Harry Kim’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 12, travelers arriving on Hawai‘i Island from out of state who have chosen to participate in the State’s pre-test program to bypass the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period will now be required to take a County administered COVID-19 test upon arrival to Hawai’i Island. The tests will be administered at all three Hawai’i Island airports: Ellison Onizuka International Airport at Keahole, Waimea-Kohala Airport, and Hilo International Airport.

Mayor Harry Kim said “This second test upon arrival to Hawai’i island will provide an extra layer of protection for our community. Virtually, all medical and Coronavirus experts agree for the necessity of more than one test.”

The cost of the rapid COVID-19 arrival test will be borne by Hawai‘i County via federal CARES Act funding. Testing will be managed by Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency staff and administered by Premier Medical Group Hawai’i. This antigen test will provide results within 15-20 minutes. If a traveler tests negative for COVID-19, they will not be subject to self-quarantine. Those testing positive for COVID-19 will be required to take a subsequent PCR test immediately and will be required to self-quarantine per State Department of Health rules while awaiting those results of this test, which are expected within 36 hours.

The 14-day self-quarantine period imposed by the State on inter-island travel from O‘ahu and between the neighbor islands will remain in place until Governor Ige modifies Emergency Proclamation #13.