In March 2020, the islands faced a crossroads: shut down and wait, or find new ways to move forward. For Hawaii, where one in five jobs depends on tourism, the pause was devastating. For us at Halia Private Tours, it became an unexpected mission of service, resilience, and rediscovering what hospitality really means.
Table of Contents
Do I still need a COVID test to visit Hawaii?
No. As of November 2022, Hawaii has no testing, vaccination, or quarantine requirements for travelers.
What was the Hawaii Safe Travels Program?
It was the state’s system (2020–2022) requiring negative tests, health forms, and QR codes for entry to help manage COVID.
When did Hawaii end all travel restrictions?
In November 2022, the state officially lifted Safe Travels and all related COVID-19 entry rules.
What was travel to Hawaii like during the pandemic?
Empty beaches, quiet airports, limited park access, and strict safety protocols defined the visitor experience between 2020 and 2022.
How did Halia Tours adapt during COVID?
Instead of tours, Halia launched DeliverWE.org, helping kupuna and frontline workers with grocery and meal deliveries until tourism returned.
What was it like during the pandemic?
Hawaii has lived through pandemics before. From the arrival of Captain Cook in the 1700s through the Kalakaua Dynasty, waves of disease reshaped life in the islands:
- Kamehameha the Great saw warriors fall to disease, shifting battles.
- Liholiho (Kamehameha II) and his queen both died of measles abroad.
- Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) signed Hawaii’s first quarantine order during a smallpox outbreak that killed thousands.
- Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma founded Queen’s Hospital after another epidemic.
- Kamehameha V established Hawaii’s first quarantine station, mandating vaccination and beginning segregation of leprosy patients.
- King Lunalilo died of tuberculosis.
- Kalakaua and Liliuokalani enforced travel restrictions to protect their people.
- Later, the Spanish Flu claimed thousands of lives here.
With that history, it’s no surprise locals had mixed feelings when tourism reopened during COVID. Hawaii needed visitors to return. But protecting kupuna and ohana came first.
DeliverWE: Serving Our Community
When tourism shut down in March 2020, we had a choice: wait it out or step up. We chose the second.
That’s why we launched DeliverWE.org, a delivery service for Waikiki residents. Many didn’t have cars and suddenly couldn’t safely access groceries. Kupuna and first responders received discounted deliveries. ICU and ER workers got them free.
The plans quickly changed, and it wouldnʻt be for the last time. Partnering with community programs, we began delivering free meals through Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, a program that continued well into 2021, at no cost to families.
If you lived on Oahu, especially on the West Side, you may have seen us dropping off bags at doorsteps instead of picking up guests for tours. What started as survival became a mission to serve our neighbors, and it still shapes how we think about hospitality today.
The Early Days: Lockdown and Empty Streets
From afar, headlines told the story: unemployment spiked to over 22% in April. But something else happened too:
- Hanauma Bay cleared by more than 40%.
- Fish returned to shallow waters.
- Beaches stood still without 30,000 daily visitors.
For locals, it was eerie but grounding. For travelers who had to postpone, it meant the Hawaii you knew was quietly healing.
Welcoming Visitors Back: Safe Travels
By October 2020, Hawaii cautiously reopened under the Safe Travels Program. If you came during that time, you experienced:
- Negative test within 72 hours from an approved partner.
- Health questionnaires + temperature checks.
- QR code scans at the airport.
- Vaccination proof once it became available.
It wasn’t easy, but we all went through it together. Since Halia Tours operates private tours only, we adapted with masks, sanitization, and plenty of fresh-air breaks.
Stops, Starts, and Adjustments
2021 and 2022 brought constant shifts. Some weeks, we ran tours; other weeks, we held off as cases spiked. Rules changed monthly:
- Oahu’s tier system.
- Capacity caps.
- Vaccine mandates.
We rerouted tours when parks closed and adapted as best we could. It wasn’t easy, but every guest who stuck with us made those moments worthwhile.
| Then (2020–2022) | Now (2023+) |
|---|---|
| Pre-travel COVID test within 72 hours | No testing |
| Health questionnaire & temperature check | No checks |
| QR code scan on arrival | No code |
| 10–14 day quarantine without test | No quarantine |
| Capacity limits at parks & tours | Fully open |
Health Concerns and Preexisting Conditions
For many in Hawaii, COVID wasn’t just a passing worry. Local families often live in multigenerational households, where kupuna and keiki share the same roof.
The Economic Impact on Hawaii
The shutdown devastated Hawaii’s economy almost overnight:
- 1 in 5 jobs tied to tourism disappeared when flights stopped.
- 25% of small businesses in Hawaii closed their doors for good.
- Hardest hit: restaurants, tour operators, musicians, small shops, and hotels.
- Ripple effects: with tax revenue gone, schools, public programs, and infrastructure saw cuts.
- Tourism debate: the crisis showed the advantages and disadvantages of tourism’s role as the economic backbone.
- Recovery challenge: by 2022, it wasn’t just about reopening. It was about rebuilding confidence for both visitors and locals.
Of the Companies lucky enough to survive those challenging times, most are still in some stage of the rebuilding process.
Hawaii Safe Travels: The Final Update
By November 2022, Hawaii officially ended all COVID-related travel restrictions. Today, there are no testing, vaccination, or quarantine requirements for visitors. Travel to Hawaii is just as simple as it was before the pandemic. If you’ve been waiting for the green light, this is it. You can come without worry.
The pandemic tested every part of life in Hawaii: our health, our economy, our spirit, and our patience. For us at Halia Private Tours, it wasn’t just about surviving. It was about serving our community, protecting our guests, and honoring Hawaii’s long history of resilience in the face of pandemics.
And now? If you’ve toured with us before, we can’t wait to welcome you back. If you’re planning your first visit, you’ll find us stronger, more connected, and more grateful than ever.
Because no matter what the world throws our way, one thing will always remain: Hawaii is open, safe, and ready to share its beauty with you, one unforgettable adventure at a time.
Planning a Hawaii trip? Get the latest travel restrictions, health updates, and safety tips. Stay prepared and explore Oahu with confidence.
