LIHU‘E — Gov. David Ige’s Fourth Supplementary Proclamation instituted a 14-day mandatory quarantine at the end of March for interisland travel, similar to the same quarantine for out-of-state travelers are subjected.
At this time, these quarantine rules were extended through the end of May.
Kaua‘i resident Barbara Van Balen traveled to O‘ahu last week, and shared her tips for how to navigate traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her first suggestion: frequently check your flights. Van Balen said an earlier flight was consolidated and she got bumped from her original flight. It wasn’t an issue for her because she had time padded.
“What I suggest is everybody gets to the airport with a lot of time,” Van Balen said.
Outside of the Lihu‘e Airport is a table where flyers coordinate their travels with officials. Van Balen had already filled out an Interisland Declaration Form which she downloaded from the state’s Department of Transportation website, that established her travel purposes. Because of this foresight, she was able to have a quick chat at this table before being waived through. Others had to fill out the form at the airport.
At this point, officials gave Van Balen a paper saying she had traveled between islands, a hall pass of sorts that she would later need to show to Kaua‘i Police Department and Hawai‘i National Guard members at the airport checkpoint while heading home.
“Do not throw this out,” she emphasized.
Before her flight to O‘ahu, Van Balen said her temperature was checked and again while deplaning.
“Everybody was on high alert,” she said of fellow travelers in the mostly empty airports and planes. “Everybody seemed anxious.”
When coming back to Kaua‘i, her temperature was checked while entering Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and when she got off in Lihu‘e, she said. “It was really a no incident flight,” Van Balen said, noting that nearly everybody she saw and came across wore a face mask. “Everybody respected social distance.”
For those traveling between islands, there are a few exceptions to the self-quarantine rules.
According to the proclamation, those traveling for medical or health care purposes do not need to self-quarantine as long as they continue wearing protective gear and follow social distancing measures.
And for travelers partaking in necessary functions, they must be self-quarantined when not performing these tasks. However, upon return to their island of residence, they “will not be subject to the self-quarantine so long as they wear appropriate protective gear and follow the social distancing requirements,” the proclamation reads.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
