Yes. However, there are strict requirements you must follow before traveling to Hawaii with animals, in addition to post-arrival quarantine.
Hawaii is rabies-free and the quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies.
All dogs and cats, regardless of age (puppies and kittens included) or purpose, must comply with Hawaii’s dog and cat import requirements.
Hawaii Administration Rules govern the importation of dogs, cats, and other carnivores into Hawaii. This law states that dogs and cats meeting specific pre-and post-arrival requirements may qualify for 5 Day Or Less quarantine program, which has a provision for direct release at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu) after inspection.
Furthermore, the law requires dogs and cats that do not meet all of the specific 5 Day Or Less program requirements to be quarantined for up to 120 days upon arrival in Hawaii.
- Direct Airport Release ($185)
- 5-Day-or-Less program ($244)
- Neighborhood Island Inspection Permit ($165)
- Arriving early before eligible for 5-Day-or-Less ($14.30/each day early + $244)
- 120-Day program ($1,080)
*Prices can fluctuate and are subject to change
Pet owners must pay the fee prior to arrival, and there are no discounts for multiple pets.
Guide dogs for the blind and certified service dogs do not have to pay this fee. Active-duty U.S. military members may also qualify for fee reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Once your pet arrives in Hawaii, they will be transported to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility (AAQHF) by airport personnel for inspection.
They’ll then be relocated into indoor kennels and given fresh water (food is provided at your request).
If they arrive early enough during the day, they’ll be transferred to the main station in Halawa Valley, where they may be eligible for direct release. Pets arriving in Honolulu after 3:30 p.m. will spend the night at the airport facility and either be ready for release the next morning or taken to the Animal Quarantine Station (for unqualified animals).
Yes. There is a satellite quarantine station located on the east side of Hawaii Island in Keaau (Near Hilo), about a 2-hr drive from Kona. It is a privately run business with excellent facilities for your pets. Both of Penn’s Dogs were quarantined here in 2001 for 30-days. The 4-lbs 'Tiki' lost prior to travel was quickly regained (and then some) after discovering avocados from the tree located in the quarantine courtyard!
*You must make arrangements with them directly, well ahead of time.
Bar-King Dog Kennel
P.O. Box 1184
Keaau, HI 96749
Phone: (808) 966-8733
If your pet is being quarantined at a satellite kennel, your pet must first go to the Animal Quarantine Station on Oahu for positive identification and examination. Pets usually stay in Honolulu for at least two* days before being transferred. (* Due to a limited number of inter-island flights, pets arriving on Thursday or Friday may not be transferred until the following Monday.)
Owners must pay fees to the Animal Quarantine Station prior to the pet being transferred to the satellite facility. In addition, owners are responsible to pay for fees charged by satellite facilities. ($120-day quarantine costs – approximately $136, plus satellite station fees).
The following FAQ’s are some of the questions frequently asked in some, but not all of the areas the author(s) of this content are familiar with. The questions and answers are not intended to be exhaustive and do not constitute legal or tax advice in any such manner. Content is subject to occasional amendments without notice.
It does not create an agent-client relationship for your particular question, issue, or concern. The questions and answers do not create any agent-client relationship or duty to assist you.
The information is intended to be helpful and to get you thinking in a more sophisticated manner pertaining to the buying or selling real estate. Moreover, you are encouraged to contact Penn to dialog further on your issues pertaining to matters of real estate.
