Pets in Hawaiii

Hawaii Pet Quarantine on the Big island

Moving to Hawaii with Pets

Hawaii Pet Quarantine Information

Astonishingly, Hawaii remains the only state in the country that is rabies-free. This is a direct result of Hawaii’s stringent pet quarantine guidelines that have been in place for decades. Despite the frustration of many people moving with pets to Hawaii, keep in mind that the rules were not designed for convenience, but rather for the safety of Hawaii’s people and animal population.

 

The process of moving with pets to Hawaii can be a bit overwhelming and somewhat confusing, especially when your ultimate destination is the Big Island. Oahu is the Port of Entry where quarantine generally begins for your pet, so that can make things a bit trickier.

 

Just remember, these are your pets – so your efforts will be well worth the hassle.

Moving with Pets to Hawaii

Bringing two (big) dogs from Colorado to Kona was the most challenging part of the move – especially for them. Tiki (shown here), needed to lose 4-lbs within 30-days to meet airline rules. She was not happy about that…

 

– Penn

Professional Assistance

Kona Pet Relocation Services

Hawaii Pet Quarantine Options

  1. Direct Airport Release (DAR)
  2. The 5-Day-or-Less Program
  3. The 120-day Quarantine.

*Eligibility for DAR and the 5-Day-or-Less Program:

  • You must submit the required paperwork on time
  • The FAVN Rabies Antibody test result is successful
  • The 30-day waiting period has been completed

Be diligent and organized, there is no room for error. Skipping steps or arriving early can mean disqualification, triggering the mandatory 120-quarantine.

DIRECT AIRPORT RELEASE (DAR)

Pets who qualify for Direct Airport Release can leave the airport with their owners once they pass an entry inspection.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture Checklists:

  • Complete Checklist 1 if you are flying into Honolulu 
  • Complete Checklist 2 if you are flying into Kona, Kahului or Lihue airports 

5-DAY-OR-LESS

This program may become applicable under the following circumstances:

  1. You are unavailable to pick up your pet upon arrival.
  2. A minor issue occurs with the requirements.

Your pet can be released when these issues are resolved, either when you pick up your pet or the minor issue is remedied.  More info about the 5-Day-or-Less program (Brace yourself, there’s a lot of details!)

120-DAY

Do everything possible to avoid this scenario. 4-months is a heck of a long time to be locked up. Animals that enter the state before the 30-day mandatory waiting period, without the proper rabies vaccines or paperwork, or without an OIE-FAVN blood test, will be transferred to the Animal Quarantine Station for a 120-day quarantine period. More Info

Hawaii Pet Quarantine FAQ

  • How do I sign an offer if I don’t have a FAX?

    Faxing is quite uncommon nowadays. Most communication transpires through email, along with documents utilizing digital signatures via DocuSign® (http://docusign.com) where the paperwork is pre-filled with tabs so you only click with the mouse to initial, sign, and date.

  • Where is NextHome Paradise Realty located?

    NextHome Paradise Realty
    75-170 Hualalai Road, Suite #D118
    Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
    Get Directions |

    Phone: 808-345-6214 | Contact Penn Henderson

  • What are the down payment requirements?

    The amount of down payment required depends on how you intend to use the property, (eg. primary residence, 2nd home, investment.)

    Typical Down Payment Requirements:

    Primary Residence:

    • 0% VA
    • 3 % FHA
    • 3% - 3.5% HomePath
    • 20% Conventional
    • 25% Portfolio

    2nd Home

    • 3% - 10% HomePath
    • 20% Conventional
    • 30% Portfolio

    Investment

    • 3% - 10% HomePath
    • 30% - 35% Portfolio

    *Additional factors may affect down payment requirements. Your lender can help guide you through the various options.

  • How many days are required to claim Hawaii residency?

    200 days in Hawaii County (Big Island) to be eligible for residency. If you had your legal domicile in Hawaii for the whole tax year, or if you lived in Hawaii for at least 200 days (no matter where you had your domicile in this period), you are a resident of Hawaii. There are some exceptions, however: military employees and students are not considered residents if their domicile is outside Hawaii and if they resided in Hawaii for more than 200 days solely for educational or work purposes.

    >> Detailed Hawaii Residency Requirements

  • What is considered a long-term rental on the Big Island?

    A rental term of at least 180 consecutive days.

  • Can I bring my Pet Cat or Dog to Hawaii?

    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. 

    State Quarantine Details

    State Quarantine FAQ

  • How much are property taxes on the Big Island?

    Hawaii real property taxes are based on the fiscal year, running from July 1 - June 30 of the following year and are paid in 2 even installments: 1) Installment 1 is due August 20 (payment for July 1 - Dec 31 taxes) and 2) installment 2 is due February 20 (payment for January 1 - June 30 taxes of the following year).

    Assessed Value
    Property taxes are based on assessed value, which is a value the tax office’s appraisal team determines a property is worth, which is different from market value (what a Buyer is willing to pay).

    Existing Properties
    An appraiser at the tax office will typically review and analyze 5 comparable properties that have sold prior to July 1 of a given year (without actually visiting the property) and ideally not too many months prior to July 1 to determine what the value may be of a given property. The appraised value is the value on October 1 and since the appraiser only looks at sold data prior to July 1, the appraiser will also assess how much the market may have moved up or down in the 3-month period from July 1 to October 1 and use that as well in determining the property’s value on October 1. The assessed value on October 1 is used to calculate property taxes due the following fiscal year. Example: October 1, 2017, assessed value is the value used to determine property taxes for the fiscal year 2018, which runs July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019. An owner can contest and appeal the assessed value in case an owner believes the assessed value is too high. *If you intend to appeal an assessment, make sure to have actual recent sold data to support your claim. Appeals can be filed online using this PDF form: RP Form 19-91 (Appeal Application)

    New Construction
    For new construction, not completed yet, the appraiser will typically look at the costs of the building permits the developer takes out at the County of Hawaii’s Department of Planning & Permitting, which is normally a fraction of actual market value and a major reason why new construction oftentimes have 1-year or longer with property taxes that are substantially below where property taxes should be, based on market value. Example: If a new home is completed in May 2019 the property taxes for the fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020) will be based on assessed value on October 1, 2018, which is a date prior to the house being completed, and there is a good chance property taxes will be low, relative to market value, since the assessed value is determined in great part based on the costs of the builder’s building permits. Come October 1, 2019, there will be sales data (at the least May 2019 original sales prices) and it is likely the assessed value for fiscal 2020 (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021) will be much closer to the home’s market value.

    Hawaii County (Big Island) Property Tax Rates

    Property ClassTaxable per/$1000
    Affordable Renting Housing$6.15
    Agricultural/Native Forests$9.35
    Apartment$11.70
    Commercial$10.70
    Conservation$11.55
    Homeowner$6.15
    Hotel/Resort$11.55
    Industrial$10.70
    Residential (less than $2M)$11.10
    Residential (more than $2M)$13.60
    (Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)

    Review Property Assessed Values & Property Taxes
    Click here to review the assessed value of any property in Hawaii County. Select “Yes, I accept the above statement” and then click “Search by Site Address” and you can enter Street Number, Street Name, and Unit Information.

  • Fee Simple vs Leasehold

    Fee Simple (also known as Freehold) is the most complete form of ownership and most common throughout the United States and Hawaii. Fee Simple ownership includes the land and the buildings thereon. A Fee Simple condominium includes the actual condominium unit and the proportionate interest in the land underneath plus the proportionate interest in the common and limited common elements of the project. Common elements could include the lobby, elevator, walkways, swimming pool, etc. Fee Simple owners are responsible for their property taxes and sometimes association dues and or maintenance fees in the case of a condominium. 

    Leasehold ownership only includes the buildings, but not ownership of the land! A Leasehold condominium includes the actual condominium unit and the proportionate interest in the common and limited common elements of the project but not the ownership of the land. Someone else (the fee owner) owns the land and the Leasehold owner only leases (rents) the land at terms defined in the lease document. Prices for leasehold properties may appear very affordable, but remember, the price reflects a value without ownership in the land.

    Potential buyers of leasehold property should proceed with caution with a full understanding of leasehold terms: Leasehold owners pay a monthly lease rent to the landowner. Per the terms of the lease, the lease rent could increase over time and is payable above and beyond the property taxes and any possible association dues or maintenance fees. Per the terms of the Lease, there may be restrictions on property usage, alterations, and maintenance.

    Financing for Leasehold properties could be more difficult depending on how short the remaining lease term is. Generally, lenders require the lease to be at least 5 years longer than the loan term. So, a 15-year loan would tend to require at least 20 years remaining on the lease. The terms and details of the Lease can vary for different properties and the risks of ‘Step-Up Lease Rent’, ‘Lease Renegotiation’, and ‘Lease Expiration’ need to be carefully considered.

  • Property Values: Assessed vs Appraised vs Market

    Tax Assessed Value
    The tax assessor establishes an assessed value for the purpose of collecting the appropriate property taxes. Big Island assessed property values are established once every year on October 1 based on ‘comparable sales’ (similar size & location) that recorded prior to July 1st of a given year while also considering any market movements up until October 1.

    The assessed value on October 1 determines taxes for the following fiscal year, which begins the following year on July 1. That means tax assessed values lag behind the real market value by at least one year. Note: The tax assessor rarely inspects the inside/condition of the property, which means the tax assessor may lack information to consider such as expensive upgrades versus original or even tear down condition. Additionally, the tax assessor does not adjust for gorgeous ocean views, beautiful landscaping, or property frontage.

    For example, a property in Kona with great ocean views, spectacular landscaping, and stunning curb appeal might have the same tax assessed value as a ‘similar property on a nearby busy street with a dilapidated interior and no view of the ocean. While both properties might have the same tax assessed value, the true market value for both properties could differ substantially. Hence, one of the reasons why lenders don’t use assessed value in their loan calculations since it’s far from an 'accurate' or reliable indicator of the real market value.

    Appraised Value
    The appraised value (appraisal) is a professional value opinion completed for a fee by a licensed appraiser, often hired by mortgage lenders.  A licensed appraiser determines the appraised value by researching and comparing most recent (during the last few months) comparable sales (similar size & location) and uses certain predetermined detailed criteria to make adjustments for condition, upgrades, functionality, layout, etc. While appraisers have to be very detailed and follow specific formulas, 10 different appraisers still might come up with 10 different value opinions!   Keep in mind, that appraisals are subject to the person performing the appraisal (appraiser), and even with a high degree of detailed analysis and specific formulas used for calculations, the end result can often be different from one appraisal to the next.

    Real Market Value
    The real market value is the price that a willing and able buyer pays for a property at that time. This could be affected by several market dynamics. For example, if two or more buyers are interested in the same property at the same time, it is possible that the property could sell at a higher price than otherwise.

  • What’s the difference between a ‘Foreclosure’ and ‘Short Sale’?

    A Foreclosure is when the lien holder (generally the bank) files legal documents to take possession of the property because the homeowner defaulted on their payment obligation. The process takes time and is costly for the lien holder, and therefore the bank’s last and least favorable remedy.

    A Short Sale involves a lienholder willing to approve a sale even though the proceeds of the sale will not be enough to pay off the balance owed to the lien holder.

    Banks will often prefer a Short Sale, where the bank (or lienholder) will accept less than the balance owed in order to avoid having to foreclose on the property.

    The property owner will need to qualify for the Short Sale approval, by showing evidence of true financial hardship that makes it difficult to continue with the payment obligation for the property (job loss, income loss, etc.), and does not have the funds to make up the shortfall for the amount owed. 

    The lienholder typically orders an appraisal to determine the true market value and carefully scrutinizes the property owner’s financial hardship before approving the short sale. 

    >> Big Island Real Estate Resources for Home Sellers

    >> Big Island Real Estate Resources for Home Buyers

Penn Henderson

Kona Realtor® (RS-83962)

Big Island Real Estate - Hawaii

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Contact Penn Henderson - Kona Realtor in Hawaii
MAHALO FOR DROPPING BY!
Big Island Real Estate - Kona, Hawaii

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I excel in locating ideal Big Island properties specific to your needs and unique lifestyle.

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Contact Penn Henderson - Kona Realtor in Hawaii
MAHALO FOR DROPPING BY!
Big Island Real Estate - Kona, Hawaii

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HELP WITH YOUR SEARCH?

I excel at locating ideal Big Island properties specific to your needs and unique lifestyle.

100% Hustle.

No Gimmicks. No Hassles. No Fees.

Just a Few Questions (3-Minutes)