New Safe Travels app explained

Safe Travels Hawaii, the web application intended to manage travel to the state, went live Tuesday and has replaced paper documentation for arriving airline passengers.

Doug Murdock, chief information officer at the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services, explained how to use the app during a video conference Thursday with Gov. David Ige.

Using the app is required for all out-of-state arrivals and interisland travel, and can be accessed at travel.hawaii.gov.

Travelers will be asked to submit trip details, confirm their destination addresses and contact information, as well as a health status form that must be completed within 24 hours of arrival.

The app also includes a form that travelers will be required to fill out each day during their mandatory 14-day quarantines.

Ige said if a traveler does not fill out the daily check-in form, or if they do not have internet at their destination, they will be contacted by a state official and an officer will visit their stated location after several days of no contact.

While the app completely replaces the paper forms for the mandatory travel and health screenings for travelers, Murdock noted that certain aspects of the process — such as confirmation of a traveler’s contact information – can still be conducted at the destination airport, although it will likely take longer.

Murdock said the app requires an email address and a phone number at each traveler’s final destination to complete, although employees with tablet computers will be available at airports for those without computers or smart phones.

Murdock also assured travelers that their personal information will be securely stored, but will gradually be deleted over time.