Kauai has been requiring everyone arriving to quarantine for 10-days unless, they received a negative result from a second test taken three days after stepping off an airplane. This has been in effect for the last 4 months but as of April 5th, 2021, it is no longer required. The County is however keeping some form of its post-arrival test requirements, which are, a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure or a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Hawaii's Safe Travels program provides visitors with pre-travel testing approval, in addition to requiring a state travel and health form and temperature screenings on arrival. Free voluntary COVID-19 tests are being offered to visitors after arrival. Those who take it and test negative receive a Kokua Kauai Card for discounts and freebies from more than 80 businesses. Kokua Kauai Card is the incentive program which launched April 5th, 2021, will have a QR code linking to a list of businesses on the island, including hotels and restaurants, that offer different discounts. The list of testing sites on Kauai is available at kauaiforward.com.
Getting rid of this strict system makes traveling a lot easier, but some people want to keep the post-travel test to protect the community. There are a lot of mixed emotions about reopening, some are scared but know it has to happen to keep this Island going. Because at the end of the day, we can't stay on lockdown and keep everything locked up forever. Local residents want to be able to travel also and not worry about quarantining when they come back home.
A lot of vacation rental properties have sat empty ever since Kauai went on lockdown. But now that tourism is back, business is looking good. Local restaurants, stores and tourist companies have really been struggling as well and now will hopefully be able to come back and have more activity to restore their businesses.