Vaccine passport and non-US visitors

[lorenni]

Does anyone know how Aulani will be handling visitors who do not reside in the US? We are fully vaccinated but we live in Canada and got our shots here. So under the new program, we are not vaccinated for purposes of the vaccine passport.

If I understand the new rules correctly, we will not be able to dine within Aulani. Will we be able to enter the quick service restaurant to take food to go?

I usually grab groceries and cook 2/3 of our meals in the villa, but being shut out of all of the Aulani food service options might push us over the edge to cancel.

That said - I’m going to lose a lot of DVC points if I cancel. I’ll be making some calls today, but thought I’d ask here as well.

 

[Kristie71]

Does anyone know how Aulani will be handling visitors who do not reside in the US? We are fully vaccinated but we live in Canada and got our shots here. So under the new program, we are not vaccinated for purposes of the vaccine passport.

If I understand the new rules correctly, we will not be able to dine within Aulani. Will we be able to enter the quick service restaurant to take food to go?

I usually grab groceries and cook 2/3 of our meals in the villa, but being shut out of all of the Aulani food service options might push us over the edge to cancel.

That said - I’m going to lose a lot of DVC points if I cancel. I’ll be making some calls today, but thought I’d ask here as well.

not totally true. If not vaccinated you need to show a neg covid test no more then 48 hours old any time you want to dine in. At least that is what i read on the Hawaii website

 

[lorenni]

not totally true. If not vaccinated you need to show a neg covid test no more then 48 hours old any time you want to dine in. At least that is what i read on the Hawaii website

Right – that means we can dine in on the first day using the test we took before we left Canada. I can’t think it would be worth the effort to go get tested basically daily so that you can have a running 48 hour valid test. So for practical purposes we can’t eat in restaurants.

I did also read in the official information that takeout is not affected, but I’ll just call the hotel and see what that means for their quick service restaurants as they are not technically takeout.

 

[Drewski77]

Does anyone know how Aulani will be handling visitors who do not reside in the US? We are fully vaccinated but we live in Canada and got our shots here. So under the new program, we are not vaccinated for purposes of the vaccine passport.

If I understand the new rules correctly, we will not be able to dine within Aulani. Will we be able to enter the quick service restaurant to take food to go?

I usually grab groceries and cook 2/3 of our meals in the villa, but being shut out of all of the Aulani food service options might push us over the edge to cancel.

That said - I’m going to lose a lot of DVC points if I cancel. I’ll be making some calls today, but thought I’d ask here as well.

I believe this is just about the new digital passport system announced yesterday. This is only for people vaccinated in Hawaii.

However, this system is only for convenience, a paper copy or picture of vaccine card is still valid.

 

[lorenni]

I believe this is just about the new digital passport system announced yesterday. This is only for people vaccinated in Hawaii.

However, this system is only for convenience, a paper copy or picture of vaccine card is still valid.

Unfortunately that’s not the case – if you look at the official emergency order it specifically states that vaccines administered outside the US are not acceptable.

we can live with not being able to eat inside any restaurants – so long as we can still take advantage of services like Uber eats. The more recent announcement that hotels are going to be requiring the same US administered vaccine proof is a lot more concerning. I really hope that pilot program dies out quickly.

I do 100% appreciate that their focus here is getting the local population vaccinated. It’s just the irony of traveling from a low risk jurisdiction and being treated as if we are the risk is a bummer.

 

[StarSeven7]

We're in the same boat, we're planning to travel to Hawaii in November, so I'm trying to follow this carefully to see what's happening. Has anyone found any clarification on whether this vaccine passport for restaurants is only for those who were vaccinated in the US? I see that for actual travel to Hawaii but I haven't been able to find anything specific for the restaurant vaccine passport. My DH and I had 2 shots of Moderna, so this is frustrating because it's not like we even had AZ or mixed our vaccines!

 

[Drewski77]

Unfortunately that’s not the case – if you look at the official emergency order it specifically states that vaccines administered outside the US are not acceptable.

we can live with not being able to eat inside any restaurants – so long as we can still take advantage of services like Uber eats. The more recent announcement that hotels are going to be requiring the same US administered vaccine proof is a lot more concerning. I really hope that pilot program dies out quickly.

I do 100% appreciate that their focus here is getting the local population vaccinated. It’s just the irony of traveling from a low risk jurisdiction and being treated as if we are the risk is a bummer.

That’s unfortunate, and it definitely is confusing given all the different vaccine/testing mandates.

 

[StarSeven7]

Ok, I found where it says proof of an approved vaccine administered outside of the US is not acceptable for the Oahu vaccine passport program.
https://www.oneoahu.org/safe-access-oahu/#patrons
I think we're screwed! Ugh, I'm so upset! We're supposed to be going on this trip to celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary, we've had it planned for years (long before covid) and all the rest of my family is in the US so this doesn't affect them at all!

 

[Great3]

Ok, I found where it says proof of an approved vaccine administered outside of the US is not acceptable for the Oahu vaccine passport program.
https://www.oneoahu.org/safe-access-oahu/#patrons
I think we're screwed! Ugh, I'm so upset! We're supposed to be going on this trip to celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary, we've had it planned for years (long before covid) and all the rest of my family is in the US so this doesn't affect them at all!

This is total crazy. Didn't realize how much it will affect international / non-US based residents until now. Perhaps you can a find places that has outdoor dining? I know the experience will be diminished, but I would still go if I am standing to lose a bunch of points, and try and salvage as much of the vacation / family reunion as possible.

Great3

 

[StarSeven7]

This is total crazy. Didn't realize how much it will affect international / non-US based residents until now. Perhaps you can a find places that has outdoor dining? I know the experience will be diminished, but I would still go if I am standing to lose a bunch of points, and try and salvage as much of the vacation / family reunion as possible.

Great3

Thanks. Looks like patio dining is not allowed for “unvaccinated” guests on Oahu so takeout is the only option. We just rented one night of points through David’s and booked the other night through Disney and this is just an add-on to the rest of the family trip so only our immediate family and my sisters family is doing Aulani

 

[Great3]

Thanks. Looks like patio dining is not allowed for “unvaccinated” guests on Oahu so takeout is the only option. We just rented one night of points through David’s and booked the other night through Disney and this is just an add-on to the rest of the family trip so only our immediate family and my sisters family is doing Aulani

Wow really, even patio dining is excluded. I am sorry to hear this. It doesn't seem right, that's for sure. I am at a lost for words. I didn't think too much of it since it doesn't affect me and my family vacation in Oahu, but the world is not just the US, and this huge for international travelers, just to even enjoy a good meal, it's impossible.

Great3

 

[808blessing]

From personal experience, this local caterer ThatGirlCooks on IG is off the hook for special occasions on Oahu. Visiting family secured her services in advance and did not disappoint.
Also I hope Disney and David’s and others are able to do something about the points. Things change so fast!

 

[StarSeven7]

Just an FYI, this is the article I saw that mentioned outdoor dining is not allowed for unvaccinated guests:
https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/m...indoor-dining-other-rules-with-safer-outside/

 

[StarSeven7]

Has anyone heard about restrictions like this for other islands? I found the article I posted above that talks a bit about Maui (doesn't sound as strict as Oahu) but I haven't found anything for the Big Island. We are supposed to be visiting all 3 islands.

 

[bcwife76]

We are Aulani owners and from Canada. Switched our March reservation to Vero Beach instead. We are fully vaccinated but not according to Oahu.

 

[lorenni]

Quick non-update. I spoke to someone at Aulani and she said they haven’t yet had a policy communicated that they can share. She didn’t know whether the quick service restaurant would be accessible without a vaccine passport. She suggested Uber eats and Doordash…

The island mandate goes into effect on Monday so I’ll call back then and find out where they landed. It would be bizarre if they opt to shut down all food options for guests who are not US residents so I do hope they find a way to keep the quick service restaurant available for take out.

 

[FinnFogg]

Following this post. We are fully vaccinated Canadians (supposedly) travelling to Aulani in November. I really hope Oahu figures out this mess soon. I’m all for vaccine passports, but there should be some sort of reasonable accommodation for non- US visitors (other than testing every 48 hours).

 

[StarSeven7]

Quick non-update. I spoke to someone at Aulani and she said they haven’t yet had a policy communicated that they can share. She didn’t know whether the quick service restaurant would be accessible without a vaccine passport. She suggested Uber eats and Doordash…

The island mandate goes into effect on Monday so I’ll call back then and find out where they landed. It would be bizarre if they opt to shut down all food options for guests who are not US residents so I do hope they find a way to keep the quick service restaurant available for take out.

Thank you for the update! I emailed Aulani as well, I will post back here if I get a response from them!

 

[StarSeven7]

Following this post. We are fully vaccinated Canadians (supposedly) travelling to Aulani in November. I really hope Oahu figures out this mess soon. I’m all for vaccine passports, but there should be some sort of reasonable accommodation for non- US visitors (other than testing every 48 hours).

Agreed. It feels like a ban on international visitors without technically being a ban. Trying to decide if we should just skip Oahu entirely. It doesn't look like the Big Island will implement any restrictions and we're going there as well so it might be easier to just focus on that!

 

[LisaDKG]

I've been reading everything I can get my hands on as we are arriving on Sept 30 for 10 days. I am fully vaccinated here in Canada with Pfizer and am seeing this on the Safe Access Oahu page (I added the red box):



Doesn't this indicate that there will be some flexibility regarding those having hard copy records of being fully vaccinated with an FDA approved vaccine like Pfizer? It sounds like it will be at the discretion of the establishment?

It's from this website:

https://www.oneoahu.org/safe-access-oahu