HAWAII Pet Quarantine and How to Avoid IT

To fly with your Dog or Cat to Hawaii, your Pet needs a Microchip, Rabies Vaccine, Rabies Titer Test, (excludes British Isles, Australia, Guam, New Zealand) and Tick Treatment, Health Certificate & Import Permit. Hawaii has quarantine requirements.  You pet may qualify for the DIRECT RELEASE PROGRAM.

Let’s start with the quarantine requirements and how to avoid quarantine and then all the documentation and timeframe you will need to bring your pet to Hawaii.

HAWAII PET QUARANTINE 2022

There are TWO ways to bring your dog or cat to Hawaii:

UP TO 120 DAY QUARANTINE

ALL Dogs and Cats, (all ages) must be rabies-free.  IF they are and you comply with all the steps below, they likely will qualify and be released under the Direct Release Program.  Puppies and Kittens will need to be about 6 months old to meet the requirements.

The period of quarantine is up to 120 days. If your Pet arrives and your Documents are not complete, your pet must be quarantined for up to 120 days.

Restricted breeds are: all non-domestic dogs and cats (including Wolf and Cross-Wolf, Dingo and Savannah).

B. HOW TO AVOID PET QUARANTINE—THE DIRECT RELEASE PROGRAM

IF FLYING INTO HONOLULU, OAHU, use CHECKLIST 1(current as of April, 2022), from Hawaii Animal Industry Division’s (AID) HERE

IF FLYING INTO KONA, KAHULUI OR LIHUE use CHECKLIST 2 HERE

IMPORTANT TIP:  Ensure all your paperwork is with the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility (AAQHF) 10 DAYS OR MORE BEFORE ARRIVAL to allow time to have those documents reviewed by AAQHF.  

If you do not submit your paperwork for approval at least 10 days before, there likely will be delays in releasing your pet.  They are so overwhelmed with arrivals that are in compliance, you will not be a priority. Your pet may not be released on arrival.

NOW that you know how to avoid Quarantine, here’s a Step by Step Guide to bring your pet to Hawaii.

RELATED: Pet Travel: How to Book Your Pet to Fly In Cabin

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Your Pet Must Have a Microchip

All Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets must have a microchip implanted. We recommend your pet have a microchip in the standard ISO compliant microchip format. Most country inspection services; veterinarians and animal shelters word-wide use the ISO standard.

If you have a microchip, ensure it is up to date an accurate for free at AAHA Microchip Lookup.

Read more about Microchips for Pets-Everything You Need to Know for Travel.

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NOW that you know how to avoid Quarantine, here’s a Step by Step Guide for everything else Hawaii Requires to bring your pet to Hawaii.

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VETERINARIAN APPOINTMENT—1^st Appointment

If you have a microchip, ensure it is up to date an accurate for free at AAHA Microchip Lookup

Your Pet Must have a Rabies Vaccine/Booster Vaccination and a FAVN/Titer Test.  This is done in two steps, FIRST the vaccine or booster and, SECOND, the Titer Test at the 2^nd Veterinarian visit. (more about vet visit 2 below)

No other vaccines are required, The only vaccination that is a legal requirement to enter Hawaii is the rabies vaccination. In order to fly to Hawaii, your dog must have been vaccinated against rabies at least twice in his lifetime.

Your dog’s latest rabies vaccination must be administered no less than 30 days prior to arrival in Hawaii.

Pets must be vaccinated for Rabies less than 30 days and less than 36 months before entry to Hawaii.  This information is included in the pet’s microchip. If your pet was vaccinated for rabies before the microchip was implanted, you pet must be revaccinated.  The Rabies vaccine MUST occur the same day or after the microchip implant.

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VETERINARIAN—2^nd Appointment

Rabies Titer Test/FAVN.  This ensures the vaccination is effective and your pet has the antibodies. (Exception: New Zealand, British Isles, Australia).

A licensed veterinarian will take a sample of your dog’s blood and send it to the authorized laboratory for testing. The sample must be processed at 1 of 2 Labs: Kansas State University or DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas.

These laboratories process samples from all over the world. They are understaffed so, please get your sample taken as soon as possible. Your test is valid for 36 months.

TIP: Ensure your Veterinarian states your destination is Hawaii, so the Laboratory knows to send the results to Hawaii.

Within 24 hours of the Results of the Blood Test (not submission of the Sample:

• Notice is sent to you via Email.
• Results are sent to Hawaii Animal Quarantine Station in Hawaii.
• The Results are available to your Veterinarian to Complete the Rabies Certificate and Health Certificate (more on that next).
• The Results are Recorded on Your Pet’s Microchip. If you want to be certain the results have been recorded on your Pet’s microchip, Enter Your Chip Number at the Hawaii AQS Microchip Search HERE.

Once the results are returned, a Health Certificate will be completed.

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Next, GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS: 

You need 4 Documents: 

• The Rabies Certificate (from the Veterinarian).
• A Health Certificate obtained within 14 days of your arrival in Hawaii (from your Veterinarian).
• An Import Certificate-A notarized Dog or Cat Import Form (AQS 279)
• Flight Booking Information.

You must mail (no email) this documentation for approval to Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine Branch.  To ensure it arrives and is sent back on time send via FEDEX or other “overnight” service. You will need these documents on arrival in Hawaii.

Send documents to: Animal Quarantine Branch, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 9670.

The documents must arrive 10 days prior to your dog’s arrival to qualify for same-day release and reduced fees (Fees are listed below). Again, since the documents must be processed within 14 days of your arrival, you must send them by an overnight carrier to qualify for airport Direct Release of your pet.

IMPORTANT TIP: YOU MUST schedule your flight to arrive no later than about 15:30 because it takes up to an hour to transport your pet to the Holding Facility and the Holding Facility ceases operation for the day at 17:00. 

If you do not arrive in time, your pet will spend the night in holding.  The Holding Facilities hours are 8:00 to 17:00 every day, including weekend and holidays.  If this happens, you MUST pick up your pet before 10:00 am or pay $59usd.

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FEES:

Direct Airport Release

$185 $244 if documents are not received by the Animal Quarantine Station at least 10 days prior to arrival

5 Day or Less	$244
Neighbor Island Inspection Permit	$165
Arriving early before eligible for 5 Day or Less	$14.30/each day early + $244
Re-Entry Fee (if qualified)	$98**
** The higher fee of $130 for each dog or cat released at the airport shall apply (instead of $98) when documents are not received by the Animal Quarantine Station 10 days or more before arrival (re-entry). This includes situations where documents are submitted on arrival for review and qualification purposes.

To reach the quarantine station staff, call (808) 483-7151 or email rabiesfree@hawaii.gov. They are very responsive!

Update: Expect Delays When Releasing Your Pet at the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility COVID-19 mitigation procedures have increased the time for pet releases.

Delays happen if you do not submit your paperwork 10 days or more before arrival and have their documents reviewed at the AAQHF.

NOTICE: It may not be possible to release these Dogs if you did not follow the steps.  This is another reason why it is very important to book your flight to arrive before 1530pm so you have time to have your Dog release before the office closes at 1700pm.

Your Airline may require you fill out an Attestation of Health.  An Airline form (not Gov’t.) asserting that your pet is in good health. It is a simple, 1 page form the airline will give you at check in.

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You may visit your pet during its quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa Valley. 

TIP:  The best way to get in touch with Animal Quarantine Station is: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov but, here’s their phone:  808-483-7151.

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Parasite Treatment (Ticks)

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TIPS to SEARCH FOR FLIGHT OPTIONS

But do not book immediately. Write down the airlines that travel to your destination and preferred routes. Maybe begin with your top 3 airlines flying your route to your destination.

a. When flying with a pet, your first choice or favorite may not be best or even available to allow your pet to travel. See more information: Pet Passport Page and How to Get a Pet Passport or Health Certificate for many Countries.

b. Each airline has different requirements. They all follow International Air Transport Association (IATA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other regulatory agencies but each airline set their own requirements for carriers based on aircraft, cabin and seat selection.

c. Check each airline flying your route for their carrier size requirements.

d. NOTE THE FLIGHT NUMBERS FOR EACH POTENTIAL FIGHT/AIRLINE and call the airline DIRECTLY.

e. Ask IF each flight has space available for your pet and how many are left available to book. The reservationist can also help with finding alternative routes with available pet space.

f. It is not only a matter of whether there is a seat for you, each airline allows only a certain number of animals in cabin for each flight—not each seat. Just because you can book your seat, does not mean you can book your pet in that seat.

See also: How to Book Your Pet to Fly In Cabin

Airlines that Fly Pets to Hawaii

1. Hawaiian Airlines

• Hawaiian Airlines allows Pets In Cabin.
• From/To the Continental US and Inter-Island Flights only.  No International Flights for Pets In Cabin
• Except for flights from/to JFK, BOS, MCO, or AUS airports
• The carrier must not exceed: Length 16 in. X Width 10 in. X Height 9.5 in.
• Your Pet and the carrier may not exceed 25 pounds total.
• For Pets in Checked Baggage, the maximum combined weight for your pet and Crate is 70 pounds.
• All Pets 70+lbs must fly in Cargo

2. Alaska Air

• For Airline travel with Pets In Cabin:
• The Pet carrier counts toward your carry-on bag allotment . You may bring either a pet carrier and a personal item, or a pet carrier and a standard size carry-on bag.
• Hard-sided Max Dimensions 17″ x 11″ x 7.5″
• Soft-sided Max Dimensions: 17″ x 11″ x 9.5″
• You may not board the aircraft with a pet carrier, a standard size carry-on, and a personal item.
• A customer may travel with a maximum of 2 pet carriers in the main cabin, only when the adjacent seat is purchased by the same customer.
• Pets allowed in the passenger cabin are dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and must have been fully weaned and accustomed to take solid food and has done so, without nursing, for a period of at least 5 days.
• Up to 2 pets of the same species and similar size may travel in the same carrier, provided no body parts protrude from the carrier and the animals are not in distress.
• The pet must stay in its container (including head and tail) with the door/flap secured at all times in the boarding area (during boarding and deplaning), Alaska Lounge, and while onboard the aircraft. They must be stowed under the seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
• Pets with offensive odors or those that create a noise disturbance must travel in the climate-controlled baggage compartment.

3. United Airlines

According to the United Airlines Pet Policy:

Dogs from high-risk rabies locations temporarily barred from entering the U.S.
As of July 14, 2021, the U.S. government is temporarily suspending the transportation of dogs into the U.S. from countries considered high risk for rabies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The suspension is in place until further notice.

As of December 1, 2021 dogs vaccinated in the United States by a US-licensed veterinarian may re-enter the United States from a high-risk country without a CDC Dog Import Permit if the dog:

1. has a valid US-issued rabies vaccination certificate;
2. has proof of a microchip;
3. is at least 6 months old;
4. is healthy upon arrival; and
5. arrives at an approved port of entry

Expired US-issued rabies vaccination certificates will not be accepted. If the US-issued rabies vaccination certificate has expired, you must apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit, if eligible.

United currently serves the following affected locations:

Belize, Brazil, Colombia, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa

Customers connecting to United from other locations may be affected. Dogs from high-risk countries will be denied boarding unless a CDC Dog Import Permit, which must be requested at least 6 weeks before travel, or a US-issued rabies vaccination certificate is presented. Dogs without a permit or vaccination certificate will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense. Learn more about the CDC guidelines.

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You can see these requirements for entry and quarantine including the 5 Day or Less at Hawaii Quarantine Information Page.