Frequently Asked Questions
We have put this list of questions together to make planning your holiday to Hawaii easier. These are questions that are asked all the time by our members. A lot of these relate to international travelers who require a more for their trips than regular American travelers.
Q - Do I need to be Covid vaccinated to travel to Hawaii from an international destination?
A – All travellers 18 years & old are required to double vaccinated with a vaccine that has been approved by the World Health Organization to enter the US. Anyone under 18 isn’t required to be vaccinated & they are not required to test every few days. Unfortunately a lot of information websites haven’t been updated so it’s making it difficult to know what’s true & not.
It's also a good idea to have a few covid tests with you so that if you do start to feel unwell you won’t have to go searching for one while you’re there. Our world has changed so it’s good to be prepared just in case.
Q – Do I need to have a Covid test to enter the US & Hawaii?
A – You are no longer required to have a Covid test when entering the US. You will have to check with your own country to see if you require one on the way home.
Q – Do I require a visa to enter the US?
A – The US has a visa waiver program for people from 40 countries around the world. If you’re not from one of those countries, you will need to apply for a different visa.
For those of you that are eligible for an ESTA & haven’t had one before it is recommended that you apply for it about a month before your trip.
When adding your name add your first, middle (if you have one) & last. You need to add everything that is on your passport, it all needs to match.
The ESTA lasts for 2 years so you can come & go for 90 days at a time with your tourist visa. You need to have at least 6 months left on your passport. If you get a new passport in that two-year period, you will need to reapply as the passport number will be different.
Please only use the website provided, it is the correct government website & only pay US$21. There are multiple scam websites that will change you a lot more & you will lose your money.
Please be very careful when you’re filling out your ESTA, if you make a mistake most of the time it can’t be fixed. We have had multiple members over the years who have made a mistake & they weren’t allowed to travel to the US.
Q - Do I need travel insurance when travelling to the US?
A - It’s not a requirement to travel to the US but it is strongly advised that you buy it. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in the US needing medical care. It is one of the most expensive places in the world for healthcare & it can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
It is best to buy your travel insurance the same day as when you buy your flights. It means you are covered from that moment until you return home. For the sake of a few hundred dollars, it’s definitely worth having when you travel.
If you are a US citizen, you can also buy travel insurance to cover your trip. It will cover you for lost baggage, flight delays & cancellations.
Q - Do you need an international driver’s license to hire or drive a car?
A - If you come from an English-speaking country then you don't require one. But if you come from a country where your license is in another language then it’s best to get one. Just be aware that you need to have your actual physical license, car hire companies won’t except a digital copy of any kind.