Hawaii is a spectacular vacation destination anytime, but as an antidote to the stress of the past couple of years it’s especially hard to beat. Restaurants, activities, and even hotel lobbies are outdoors and there is plenty of tropical atmosphere to clear away all your quarantine blues.

Traveling to Hawaii during COVID-19 does present some unique challenges however. Here are eight simple tips to know before you go to Hawaii in 2022.

This post was last updated on March 10, 2022.

1 – Reserve your rental car first

No kidding – your rental car might be the hardest thing to book in Hawaii. Before you even buy your plane ticket or reserve your lodging, be sure to take a look at rental car rates and availability.

In order to survive the COVID shutdown, the rental car companies sold off a large chunk of their fleets. Now that demand is bouncing back, there just aren’t enough cars for Hawaii’s eager visitors.

Add in a labor shortage as staffing continues to ramp up, and you have the recipe for sold-out rental cars, high prices, and long lines at the counter. Even if you have Gold service, or similar, you will probably have to talk to a clerk to get your car keys. Hawaii wants rental car agencies to verify that travelers are exempt from quarantine before handing over the keys. (See the Hawaii Safe Travels info below).

Pack your patience and be ready to pay a higher price than last time. And be sure to lock in your rental car reservation ASAP. If you want to wait and see if the price will come down, make a refundable reservation right now but don’t pre-pay. This way you can cancel and re-book if the price drops, but you’ll have the car locked in if it doesn’t.

Make reservations for everything in advance

Same goes for reservations for excursions and even dining. Travel is ramping up faster than staffing can keep up, plus Hawaii is limiting capacity for almost everything. Make sure you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. If you wait until you get there to decide what to do, you will likely miss out.

If you’re heading to the Big Island be sure to check out my posts about tours at the Greenwell Farms coffee plantation and the amazing Ocean Rider Seahorse farm.

2 – Register on the Hawaii Safe Travels website

Note that beginning March 26, 2022, there will be no COVID-related requirements for arriving domestic passengers to Hawaii. If you are traveling earlier in March 2022, be sure to read the info below – otherwise you can skip right over to tip #3.

The state of Hawaii has strict rules for travelers during COVID-19. In order to avoid a mandatory quarantine, visitors are currently required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival in the islands.

The best resource for current requirements is at https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements Be sure to keep eye on this site as your trip approaches since requirements can change at any time.

Regardless of the requirements, all travelers will need to register with the state on the Hawaii Safe Travels website. This is where you’ll upload a photo of your vaccination card or your negative test results, and answer a health questionnaire.

Every Hawaii traveler needs a Hawaii Safe Travels login, but kids under 18 can be listed as an “additional traveler” on an adult’s account. You can set up this registration even before you have a trip fully booked.

Bring your vaccination card and your Hawaii Safe Travels login info with you

Be sure to write down your Hawaii Safe Travels login and password, and carry it with your travel documents. You may be asked to log in to the website at your departure and/or arrival airport.

Once you’ve uploaded your proof of vaccination or negative COVID test result to your Hawaii Safe Travels account, you’ll receive a QR code that will be scanned at the airport. The code changes once the airline scans it in, which is why you may need to log out and log back in to get that updated code. So be sure you’re phone is charged too.

Get your Hawaii pre-clear wristband at your departing airport

As a traveler to Hawaii, you’ll have at least one extra airport checkpoint to clear. Your airline will likely ask to see your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code, and may ask you to login to the website too. This will happen either at the main check-in counter for your flight or at the gate. Make sure you allow a little extra time for this.

Once the airline is assured that Hawaii has you cleared to visit, you’ll get a wristband to wear on the flight. Keep it on all the way until you check-in for your lodging. The wristband acts as a signal that you’ve been cleared to travel, but you may still be asked to show your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code at your hotel or even to the rental car agent.

If you don’t get this wristband before boarding your flight, you’ll have an extra line to wait in once you get to Hawaii. So be sure to look for the special Hawaii check-in counter at your departure airport, or ask the agent at your gate for the Hawaii flight.

3 – Expect a modified flight experience

Everything from your check-in interactions, to waiting at the gate, to in-flight service will likely be different than the last time you flew. Following directions and being patient will go a long way to improving your in-transit experience.

Limited service on board flights to Hawaii during COVID-19 operations

At a minimum, a flight to Hawaii will be around six hours. Be aware that your airline may have limited food and beverage service on board. Ordering your food choice ahead is strongly advised. You’ll probably also notice only a couple of beverage services, even on a six-hour flight.

A big reason for the limited service is to keep interactions on board to a minimum. You are required to wear a mask throughout the flight, except briefly to eat or drink. Airlines aren’t giving a lot of opportunities to take those masks off.

Appreciate that flight crew

It should go without saying that every airline flight crew has had a rough year. Make their life easier by keeping that mask on and following the rules.

If you want to do something extra special, bring a treat for your flight attendants. I brought some fancy chocolate bars, enough for the pilots too, as a thank you. It’s easy to do and makes a big impression.

Be patient with your fellow travelers

The airport may seem a bit more chaotic than you remember. That’s because many of us haven’t been in one for a long time. Those road-warrior business travelers still aren’t flying, so expect it to take a little longer to load the flight and get everything into the overhead bins.

4 – Bring a variety of PPE

Expect Hawaii to take a little longer than most places to remove mask and distancing mandates. Remember, this island chain is the most remote center of population in the world. Medical facilities on most of the islands are very limited and it’s just not good if an epidemic breaks out here.

You’ll want a robust supply of PPE for your stay. Bring antibacterial wipes for your airplane seat, and pretty much everywhere else.

Useful masks and accessories for your Hawaii vacation

Expect to be required to wear a mask indoors, and possibly also outdoors when on resort property and at the airport. Bring a selection of lightweight masks so you can rotate to whatever’s most comfortable.

I also recommend using a mask frame like this, which really helps with comfort, especially for the extended time on the plane.

The other thing I really suggest is a lanyard for your mask. There’s a lot of on-and-off with masks, especially at the pool or beach. Wearing it around your neck on a lanyard makes it a little harder to forget to put back on.

5 – Plan for the unexpected

Even though things seem to be returning to normal, 2020 taught us that we should always expect the unexpected. Pack enough medication and essentials to get you through a two week stay, in case you find yourself in quarantine or caught in an unexpected travel delay.

Keep an eye on travel guidance from the State of Hawaii, the CDC, and your home state. Policies can change overnight so don’t assume the rules will be the same when you fly home.

Buy travel insurance

Now more than ever, it’s really important to have a safety net in case something goes wrong. Travel insurance can cover extra expenses if your trip gets delayed or cancelled, and include medical benefits, not just for COVID.

If you’re on one of the less-populated islands like Kauai or the Big Island, anything that requires a hospital visit might mean a flight to Honolulu, or beyond. Providers like Allianz and TravelGuard offer policies to cover these expenses.

You can buy travel insurance online, or through a travel agent. If you don’t have an agent, call your local AAA office, which should have an expert in-house. Check the fine print before you buy the insurance from your airline. These plans usually just insure the tickets and don’t include medical transportation or care.

6 – Show your gratitude

Once you’re in paradise, be sure to show your gratitude to everyone that’s making your vacation possible. A huge portion of Hawaii’s population works in tourism and these families really had a difficult 2020.

Bring tip money

One of the best ways you can say thank you is to tip generously. Bring cash with you so you’ll be ready for the airport car rental van driver, the shuttle driver, the bellhop, you get the idea. These folks work for tips and for many there were none for almost a year.

A lot of Hawaii’s hospitality workers are still not working full-time either, so your generosity really goes a long way.

7 – Not everything is back to normal

The beaches are still there, the tropical breeze, the mai tais, and the sunshine are all still there. But not everything is quite back to normal in Hawaii yet. Expect restaurant hours to be more limited than before COVID. Staffing is still ramping up, and capacity may also be limited when you visit.

The same goes for excursions and other tourist destinations. Hawaii is just beginning to recover from the complete shutdown of the travel economy. Space will be limited for just about any activity you’ll want to book. Plan ahead and get your reservations as far in advance as possible.

Hawaii’s supply chain has been severely disrupted

Almost everything on the Hawaiian islands gets there by boat. During the COVID shutdown, shipping declined significantly. Tourism has resumed at a rate much faster than the shipping companies can match, which means lots of shortages.

It’s going to be awhile before supplies catch up to meet demand in Hawaii. Be flexible and don’t expect to find your favorite brand of rum or sunscreen. Merchandise in small local shops may be limited to whatever inventory was in stock way back in early 2020.

Bars and restaurants are getting creative with ingredients as everyone waits for a more steady supply. You may find a certain wine available by the glass but not the bottle at your resort, because there just aren’t many bottles left, and the next shipment is months away.

Consider 2023 instead

If this is your first time visiting Hawaii, or you have a very specific plan in mind, this may not be the best time to visit. It’s important to recognize that travel to Hawaii during COVID is not quite business as usual. Consider planning for the end of 2022 or beyond if you really want the complete experience.

8 – Unplug

Hawaii really is a great place to hit the reset button. The warm sun and beautiful natural environment is truly therapeutic. Give yourself permission to really lean into the moment and experience the world again.

If you’ve been in a cycle of constantly checking the news or social media, make a real effort to unplug. Avoid the TV and read a book instead. Get out for a walk and actually talk to strangers – it’s OK, they’re learning how to do this again too.

Give yourself the break you deserve

How many times have you unloaded the dishwasher in the past year? Even if you usually rent a condo, consider booking a full-service resort for at least part of your stay. You won’t believe how good it feels to let someone else do the cooking and cleaning for days in a row.

On our vacation we stayed at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid resort. Between the attentive staff, gorgeous grounds, and wonderful dining options, it was just what we needed. Did I mention the sea turtles that swim in the lagoon? And the champagne bar? Absolute heaven!

Before you even get there, schedule a massage for your first day. I guarantee it will help get all that mainland stress right out of your system.

Please don’t bring your office on my vacation

If you’re bringing work along, do it away from others. Especially if it involves anything out loud. There is nothing worse than finally getting into vacation mode only to overhear someone’s keyboard or business meeting.

Or better yet, put your phone on do-not-disturb and go play in the ocean for awhile. You won’t believe how good it feels, especially in 2022.

More Hawaii travel tips

Here on Go Informed, you’ll find more tips for visiting the Big Island of Hawaii including:

• Exploring the world of seahorses at Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
• See where Kona coffee comes from at the Greenwell Farms tour

This post contains affiliate links.

The post 8 Simple Things to Know about Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19 appeared first on Go Informed.

A Kona coffee farm tour is one of my favorite ways to explore the history of Hawaii’s Big Island. Greenwell Farms, located about 30 minutes south of Kailua-Kona town, offers the perfect introduction to Kona’s coffee growing culture. Not only does Greenwell offer a highly informative free guided tour, you’ll also get to sample to your heart’s content in a heavenly tropical landscape.

You’ll find the farm south of Kona on Highway 11, between mile markers 112 and 111.

Touring the Kona Coffee region

About 30 minutes south of Hawaii’s Kailua-Kona town is the home of the USA’s coffee country. The Kona coffee region covers about 2200 acres and produces some of the most prized coffee in the world.

Cool, lush, and steamy, the Kona coffee region is a wonderful retreat from the Big Island’s hot lava plains.

Free Kona coffee farm tours at Greenwell Farms

Greenwell Farms runs free guided Kona coffee tours continuously every day beginning at 9:00am. The tours last about 60 minutes and include a walk through the coffee trees, a look at the cherry drying operations, and samples of the many roasts produced by Greenwell.

The farm is not just home to coffee trees, but also a wide variety of tropical fruits – from bananas to mangos to avocados.

Kona coffee since 1850

The Greenwell family was among the first to plant coffee trees in the shady hills above Kona Town. Establishing the plantation in 1850, Henry and Elizabeth Greenwell helped found an industry that would soon produce some of the best coffee on earth, a tradition that continues to this day.

Coffee production at Greenwell today is still much the same as the Victorian era. Coffee cherries are still picked by hand at maximum ripeness and beans are dried in the sun.

On the tour, you’ll see the operations at work and learn why these old techniques still result in the best beans for your morning cup of joe.

True made-In-Hawaii souvenirs

A coffee plantation is the perfect place to find authentic Hawaiian souvenirs. Greenwell offers about a dozen different roasts of their 100% Kona Coffee. Plus you can also purchase the best chocolate-covered macadamia nuts I’ve ever tasted, Big Island jams and honey, and even natural skincare products made from coffee cherries.

If you can’t get to the Big Island, you can order Greenwell coffee online, to bring Aloha to your breakfast anytime.

Kona coffee farm tour tips

Coffee trees are shade-lovers, which means you may find a wet, cloudy environment up in the Kona hills. Mornings are usually a better bet if you like sunshine, afternoons for overcast and maybe even rain. Greenwell provides umbrellas for shade or rain protection.

You won’t cover a ton of ground on the tour, but you will be walking through a working farm, and standing throughout. Be ready for mud and wear whatever footwear will be most comfortable for you. And don’t forget the sunscreen.

Taste the coffee and meet the local wildlife

Much like at a winery, guests have the opportunity to taste the full variety of Greenwell’s Kona Coffee roasts.

Next to the tasting space you might be lucky enough to spot a family of chameleons napping in an orange tree. Of course they are hard to spot – ask one of the tour guides to help you get a glimpse.

Kona coffee region nearby diversions

Make a day of it and head over to City of Refuge National Park, about 20 minutes or so south of the farm. Besides the awe-inspiring history of the site, this is one of the best snorkeling bays on the island.

Get my tips for what to bring when you go snorkeling here.

More Big Island tips from goinformed.net

Here are some more posts to help you have a fantastic vacation in Hawaii:

• 8 simple tips for travel to Hawaii during COVID-19
• The Big Island seahorse farm where you can hold a seahorse!
• What to bring when you go snorkeling or shore diving

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The post Aloha Grows on Trees: Kona Coffee Farm Tour at Greenwell Farms appeared first on Go Informed.

After dozens of shore dives on Bonaire, we’ve come up with a standard bag of supplies to bring for every dive. No matter where you dive, or if you snorkel, everything on this list will make your outing more comfortable.

Don’t tempt thieves

In our excursions on Bonaire and in Hawaii we’ve never had anything taken from shore, but we also don’t leave anything of value behind. If you’re not taking it in the water with you, and you’ll be sad for more than 5 minutes if you lose it, don’t bring it along.

Leave car doors unlocked when you go into the water and take the keys with you.

Trucks make the best dive vehicles

If it’s an option, choose a pickup truck for your island vehicle. Wet gear rides perfectly in back, and the tailgate makes an ideal loading shelf for your tank and BCD.

On Bonaire, we recommend AB rentals, for their friendly service and competitive rates. Unlike at some other destinations, we always pay for full insurance coverage. We drive the truck straight out to the dive site and like having the peace of mind in case something goes wrong.

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What to pack in your beach bag

Here’s a look at our typical shore dive supply bag

Water

Bring at least one bottle of water for each diver/snorkeler. We buy bottled water at the beginning of the trip, write our names on the bottles, and refill them. I keep them in the fridge so they’re cold when they go into the bag.

A waterproof container for keys

At the very least, you’ll have car keys and a room key or house key to keep safe while you dive. We use a small container like this one. I carry it around my neck in the water (under my rash guard so it stays out of the way). It keeps things safe and dry, and can hold several keys and cash or a credit card too.

First aid kit

At the very least, you should have some bandaids and neosporin along. Even though it’s taboo to touch anything on the reef, it can be easy to get scratched up on entry or exit.

Another good thing to have along is a small container of vinegar. Vinegar counteracts the sting from a jellyfish or coral much better than seawater can. (Of course if you have a serious sting you should consult a doctor).

Sunscreen

Don’t get burned when you’re out of the water. Bring some sunscreen so you can re-apply when you get back to shore.

Towels

Drip-dry works pretty well in warm climate but it’s always nice to be able to dry your face and cover the car seat when you’re wet.

Cheap sunglasses

Don’t worry about losing your favorite Maui Jim’s (my favorite too!). Bring a pair of cheap sunglasses to wear to the dive site. You can leave them in the car care-free.

Essential equipment: dive booties

What to bring scuba equipment-wise is a whole other topic. But we do recommend that you use open-heeled fins so you can wear booties. Almost anywhere you go, you’ll be walking over rocks or coral, or at least hot sand, to get to the water. Booties are a real foot-saver for shore diving and snorkeling.

Are you planning a trip to the island of Bonaire?

Consider a coral restoration dive! Here’s my post about diving with Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire.

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The post Six Things to Bring When You Go Shore Diving and Snorkeling appeared first on Go Informed.

Hold and Feed Seahorses

Visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii should not miss the chance to visit the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm. Located just south of Kona’s airport, this unusual aqua farm houses thousands of raised-in-captivity seahorses. With daily tours available, you’ll have the chance to feed and even hold seahorses and learn about how they live.

Saving the Seahorse

Millions of seahorses are taken from reefs every year, many for home aquariums. Heartbreakingly, wild seahorses mate for life and once removed from their mate they die within weeks. Capture from their reef is a virtual death sentence for these seahorses.

Ocean Rider breeds seahorses that can live solo or in groups in aquariums. These seahorses eat readily available food (seamonkeys!) and yes, you can buy one or more for your own fish tank for about $100-$200. By breeding the seahorses at the farm, Ocean Rider is creating an alternative to wild capture of seahorses, and raising seahorses that live a long, happy life in your aquarium.

The Seahorse Farm Tour

Tours at the seahorse ranch last about one hour and cost about $40. There are three tours a day, Monday through Friday. Note that there are no tours on weekends. Tour information and tickets are available on the Ocean Rider website: http://seahorse.com/shop/Ocean-Rider-Hawaii-Tour-Tickets/

Guided by a biologist, you’ll learn lots of information about seahorses and you’ll get up close and personal with them. The seahorses are raised in big tanks fed by Hawaiian seawater. Some of the tanks have tiny baby seahorses and many are full of intertwining adults.

Hold a Seahorse

At the end of the tour you’ll have the chance to hold a live seahorse. (Actually it’s more like the seahorse holding you). After placing your hands in the tank, a biologist will gently hook the seahorse tail around your finger. Feeling the tail of your contented seahorse as she rests on your hand is well worth the price of admission.

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How to Find the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

Getting to the seahorse farm is easy, but it may look hard as you make your way there. The seahorse farm is located at Kona’s Natural Energy Lab campus. This business park is the site of a former government study that experimented with pumping deep sea water to create energy. The energy experiment is over but the pumps remain, feeding commercial enterprises from algae harvesting to abalone farms and the seahorse ranch.

Driving into the park feels a little like Area 51 but don’t let that deter you. Be sure to take a look at the directions on the Seahorse Farm website before you go: http://seahorse.com/location-facilities/ocean-rider-location-facilities , and watch for the blue signs that say “Seahorse Farm” along the road.

The Gift Shop

One other thing to know about the seahorse farm is they have a great little gift shop. And if you visit a seahorse ranch how can you not get a souvenir? The shop has Tshirts, mugs, jewelry, and much more at really nice quality and decent pricing.

For more information about Kona’s Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm, visit www.Seahorse.com

Kona Coffee Farm Tour

Another of my favorite unique Big Island experiences is a visit to a Kona coffee farm. Our favorite tour is at Greenwell Farms. Click here to read my post all about visiting Kona’s Greenwell Coffee Farm.

More Tropical Touring Advice from goinformed.net

Get my 8 simple tips for travel to Hawaii during COVID here

Want to see wild seahorses in their natural habitat? Add Wakatobi Dive Resort to your bucket list. Here’s everything you need to know.

Planning on a shore dive or snorkeling expedition? Here’s what to pack in your beach bag

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

I’m a big fan of the organic sunscreens from Coola. They really last in the water and smell good too!

This post contains affiliate links.

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The post Giddy Up! Exploring the World of Seahorses at Kona, Hawaii’s Seahorse Farm appeared first on Go Informed.