Islandwide Distribution of Free COVID-19 Home Tests Completed

The County of Kaua‘i, in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office, completed on Friday, Jan. 28 its final distribution of free COVID-19 home test kits.

“As case counts on Kaua‘i remain elevated, these test kits came at the right time for our community. We know this because we saw our residents show up every day for an opportunity that wasn’t available at the start of the Omicron surge,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami, who visited every distribution site this week. “This initiative was intended to reach residents in their community, and offer another easy option for testing. We thank our partners with the Kaua‘i District Health Office for providing the test kits, and our county team for helping to meet this high demand while also continuing to manage our county’s free testing facility at the Convention Hall and mobile testing van. All of these initiatives help to stop the spread of COVID and will ultimately keep our island and families safe.”

Approximately 15,000 COVID-19 home test kits were distributed from Jan. 24-28, at various county neighborhood centers and locations across the island. Supplies were limited to five tests per individual/household, and 1,500 tests per facility, on a first-come first-served basis. The Hawai‘i Department of Health provided the test kits through federal funds.

“The interest in home tests is another indication of Kaua‘i residents’ interest in doing the right thing to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “Home tests put knowledge directly into the hands of our residents, and allow them to act responsibly. Mahalo to the County for making this distribution possible.”

While there are no current plans for additional home test distributions, if additional supply becomes available, the County of Kaua‘i will work with its partners to distribute them to the community. Additionally, the public is reminded that all households are eligible to receive four free home tests through the federal government. To sign up for these free tests, visit covidtests.gov.

Free testing remains available at various locations islandwide, including the county’s Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall testing site and free mobile testing van.

The Kaua‘i War Memorial Conventional Hall testing site is open weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If there is a wait, you will receive a ticket with a time to return for your test.

The county’s free mobile testing van is available for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Wednesdays, Kīlauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalāheo Neighborhood Center on Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays, and the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a on Sundays. Testing performed at the Convention Hall and through the mobile testing van is rapid PCR. Same-day results are sent via email.

For a full list of testing sites and more details, visit www.kauai.gov/covidtest.