We are fortunate to have many outdoor activities to enjoy, away from crowds. However, with rising COVID-19 numbers in Hawaii, the state and county has put new rules in place to help protect the community and visitors. Effective September 15, 2021, many indoor activities are curtailed or require proof of full vaccination, including indoor dining. Travelers are strongly advised to stay up to date on current rules.

Note: This page is being updated as official information becomes available. 

What you need to know before you go

County officials are calling Maui’s new set of rules “Safer Outside.” It includes the previously announced vaccine guidelines for eateries, and newly announced reduction in capacity for commercial recreational boating, ground transportation, and commercial tour operators. There will also be no spectators at indoor or outdoor sporting events, and groups of 10 or more are asked to gather outdoors instead of inside.

Summary of new rules effective September 15th, 2021

• Restaurants, bars and other high risk activities:
  • Maui County will be limiting operations for these businesses to close by 10 p.m.
  • Patrons must remain seated with no mingling among patrons.
  • Maui County is also modifying the current rule, requiring that indoor operations may operate at the 50% capacity, provided that all customers over the age of 12 provide proof of full vaccination.
  • Completed vaccination cards and original photo copied or digital form, or other similar vaccination documents from a health care provider are acceptable proof. The governor is working on an electronic system for that verification right now.
  • Unvaccinated patrons must be served in outdoor dining areas or with takeout or drive-thru service only.
• Gyms, fitness centers and other high risk businesses: may operate at a 50% indoor capacity, again with all customers over the age of 12 showing proof of being fully vaccinated. Operators are responsible for verifying vaccination status.
• Commercial recreational boating shall operate at no more than 50% capacity, down from 75%.
• Ground transportation and commercial tour operators: must operate at no more than 50% capacity, also down from 75%.
• Sports: No spectators will be allowed at any indoor or outdoor sporting events. This still will allow those who are playing the sports to play. Coaches and support staff are still able to attend, but no spectators. This was a compromise so that kids could still play sports, but that gatherings surroundings such activities could be reduced.
• Commercial events: Must apply for an exemption for any event planned for more than 50 people. Commercial events are under the management of professional event planners or professional caterers and are hosted at a commercial venue. Group organizers will be responsible for ensuring compliance.

Be fully vaccinated in the U.S. or test negative within 72 hours of traveling to Hawaii

Effective July 8, 2021, Hawaii’s Safe Travel Plan allows domestic travelers with a fully completed COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. to bypass testing and quarantine by uploading their information to the Safe Travels website. People are fully vaccinated on the 15th day following their final vaccine dose. Travelers will need to create a Safe Travels Hawaiʻi account and check county websites for additional requirements. 

All others travelers who want to legally skip the 10-day quarantine still need to obtain a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their final leg of travel to Maui. The test must be an FDA-authorized nucleic acid amplification test from a certified lab that is also one of Hawaii’s trusted testing partners. Travelers are encouraged to upload negative test results, along with the state’s mandatory travel and health form, to the Safe Travels Digital Platform at least 24 hours before traveling. It is also a good idea to carry a paper printout of your negative test results with you. If you do not have a negative test from a State of Hawaii approved lab before boarding, you are subject to the 10-day quarantine.

We can’t emphasize enough that the test must be conducted by a provider on Hawaii’s list. The state of Hawaii will ONLY accept test results from trusted testing and travel partners.

Use the Aloha Safe Alert app

 In addition to being fully vaccinated or having a valid negative COVID-19 test, people will need to download the Aloha Safe Alert App from Google Play or the Apple Store and present it to screeners at the airport. The app helps with contact tracing and can let someone know if they have been exposed to someone who has the virus.

If someone can’t get the app, another Google or Apple notification system can be downloaded. If a person does not have a smartphone, they must be travelling with someone who does and has the app. If not, they will be required to quarantine.

In addition, indoor spaces have been further restricted, including limiting stores to 50% of capacity. However, with current lower visitation, this is not expected to cause too many delays.

No test or vaccination? 

Without a test or qualified vaccination, both residents and visitors, arriving from out-of-state to Hawaii are still subject to a mandatory 10-day self-quarantine, which is in effect for all Hawaiian islands. Here’s what quarantine means in Hawaii:

• It means no leaving your designated self-quarantine location for any reason—except for medical emergencies or to seek medical care.
• Food must be delivered at your own expense, so no sit-down dinners at local spots, trips to the grocery store or picnicking on the beach.
• Vacation rentals are not permitted as a quarantine location.
• Failure to follow this order is a misdemeanor and punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or 1-year imprisonment.

What to expect upon arrival

Upon arrival, travelers will also be required to have completed a travel & health form that includes your length of stay and return flight confirmation. You should have download the Aloha Safe Alert App from Google Play or the Apple Store ahead of time. You will be asked to present it to screeners at the airport.

Inter-Island restrictions have ended

As of June 15, 2021 restrictions on intercounty travel ended, meaning once you have entered Hawaii with your vaccination confirmation or negative COVID-19 test, you can travel to other islands within the state without retesting.

Keep up to date

Read the State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels page for complete information before planning your trip.

Since pandemic policies and procedures are still a rapidly evolving situation, we recommend you bookmark and revisit this page. You can also find useful economic recovery information on the State’s Economic and Community Recovery Navigator.

Maui rules

• Face masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces unless exercising, eating or dealing with a medical condition.
• Proof of full vaccination is now required when in high risk indoor spaces
• All people should maintain a minimum of 6-feet physical distance from people outside their household.
• Anyone who is sick should stay home or at their place of lodging
• Beach parks close at 7pm, and no grilling or tent structures are allowed
• Read the latest Maui County COVID-19 information.

Help the community

If you would like to help those in need, the Maui Food Bank could use your support. You can donate online here: https://mauifoodbank.org/

Because of partnerships the Maui Food Bank has in place, their buying power to purchase food and other essentials is greater than we could do ourselves.

We look forward to your visit!

Whenever you get a chance to join us, we look forward to welcoming you. Mahalo your understanding as we navigate a new normal in making your Maui vacation dreams come true. Warm aloha from Destination Maui Vacations