ALOHA 🌺🤙🏄‍♀️🏝

I was saving a trip to Hawaii for “some day” but WHY? Why have I put this destination on such an elusive pedestal? So to say that I’m stoked is an understatement. I opted to base out of the Big Island for this 3 week adventure with an open ended ticket.

Crazy start to my journey & my 40th state….. After a chill week at one of my fav havens in Myrtle Beach, I drove home to a planned 48 hrs of cleaning, errands, workouts and visiting friends. Instead I get blasted with alerts of major snow and ice storms reeking havoc over the south, where I had purposely planned my layover due to low risk of delays. NOT! I only had 2 alternative options to Chicago or DC (in winter, really?) AND to head out a day early.

Luckily I’m a maniac when it comes to packing 2 weeks early (to build up excitement) so 15 hrs later LETS DO THIS! Hardest part was finding a ride to the airport mid day but with pandemic forcing many to work from home, everything fell into place.

Smooth sailing until on the runway out of Dulles and the pilot tells us we have to return to the gate as the case of baby chicks in cargo have to be moved away from the pallet of dry ice. WTH. But I digress…. I did later confirm both my Houston connections were expectedly cancelled, so crisis averted as San Fran was enjoying gorgeous & sunny low 60s weather.

After enjoying lunch outside overlooking the bay, I casually made my way to the airport to continue with my no stress start to vaca. I actually wasn’t allowed to checkin online for the first time ever because they didn’t believe I had no bags to check. Hmmmm. They’ve never met me.

Here are the important deets on Hawaii’s all new post COVID rules:

There is an additional pre check area for Hawaii, where officials will cross check you have already uploaded a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of departure (I found it easiest to go thru the Walgreens drive thru with results guaranteed to be emailed to you within 24 hours & received my negative confirmation within 2 hours), a recent picture saved on your profile on a new Hawaii travel safe site, 2 min online health form complete within 24 hours of the last flight and finally verification of a QR code sent to you prior. Sounds daunting but fairly easy to navigate if you reread the directions a few times. Finally you are given a wristband so you can bypass additional checks or quarantine upon arrival in the aloha state.

Wheels up to paradise! 🤙

Update: Aloha!!! 🌺 Officially feet on the ground at 10:09pm so 5 hours behind EST. We stepped off the plane to humidity & immediately got whisked away to take a 2nd nose swab test – out in 4 mins flat (I assume they call or visit you if there is an issue). My cute little Airbnb is 1 block from the famous Magic Sands beach. I’m sooooo ready to disconnect & can’t wait to wake up to explore. Good night! 😴

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