Animal Quarantine Information
Hawaii's Animal Quarantine Laws
Contact Info:
- E-mail us: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov
- Animal Quarantine Station phone: (808) 483-7151
Hawaii is rabies-free. Hawaii's 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.
Chapter 4-29 Hawaii Administrative Rules, governs 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 Honolulu International Airport after inspection. (See “Checklist For 5-Day-Or-Less Program” for details.)
Furthermore, the law requires dogs and cats not meeting all of the specific 5-Day-Or-Less program requirements to be quarantined for up to 120 days upon arrival In Hawaii. (See “Hawaii Rabies Quarantine Information Brochure” for details on 120-day quarantine.)
Prohibited Animals: The regulation of animal breeds and species that are permitted to enter Hawaii is under Plant Quarantine Branch jurisdiction and administrative rules. Non-domestic dogs and cats and hybrids such as wolf, wolf cross, Dingo, Bengal, Savannah, etc are prohibited under Plant Quarantine (PQ) law. Refer to Plant Quarantine's animal guidelines for importation.
Puppies and Kittens: Due to the minimum amount of time needed to prepare a puppy or kitten to meet the requirements of the 5-Day-Or-Less program, a puppy or kitten will be about 10 months of age by the time the preparations are completed. Puppies and kittens not able to meet all of the requirements for the 5-Day-Or-Less program will be quarantined for 120 days.
Hawaii Resident Pets: Owners wishing to leave Hawaii with their pets and return without extended quarantine must meet all requirements listed on the “Checklist Only For Resident Dogs And Cats Originating From Hawaii And Returning For The 5-Day-Or-Less Program." The length of the waiting period after a successful rabies blood test is modified and must be completed before leaving Hawaii. See “Checklist Only For Resident Dogs And Cats Originating From Hawaii And Returning For The 5-Day-Or-Less Program” for details.
Re-Entry Fee Requirements: For pets re-entering Hawaii after completing a Hawaii rabies quarantine program, click here for requirements when a reduced "Re-entry" fee for Direct Airport Release or 5-Day Or-Less quarantine applies.
Direct Release on Neighbor Islands: Pets may now qualify for direct release at Kona Airport (Big Island), Kahului Airport (Maui) and Lihue Airport (Kauai). See "Checklist for Requesting Direct Airport Release at Kona, Kahului and Lihue Airports."
► INFORMATION AND FAQs
- Hawaii Rabies Quarantine Information Brochure [aqsbrochure.pdf, Rev. 02/06] This brochure contains important information about pre-arrival requirements, quarantine station location and contacts, procedures, policies, rules, operations and fees.
- Frequently Asked Questions [Rev. 02/08]
- Frequently Asked Questions for 5-Day-or-Less Quarantine Program [Rev. 10/05]
- Direct Airport Release Security
Advisory
- IMPORTANT! Pet owners are responsible for transporting all
pets released from the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility
(AAQHF) to their vehicles or the Interisland terminal. Airport security
regulations do not permit animals to be let out of the transport crate
on airport property. Pets must be picked up and loaded into a vehicle
or onto a baggage cart in their transport crate. Therefore,
vehicles must be large enough to accommodate the intact crate with the
pet inside. There are no baggage carts or porters in the
immediate vicinity of the AAQHF.
Due to limitations in inter-island service on the weekend, pets arriving on Thursday or Friday may not be transferred to satellite quarantine stations and approved hospitals on the neighbor islands until the following Monday.
► FORMS
- Dog and Cat Import
Form [AQS-278.pdf, Rev. 10/05]- One completed form per pet is
required to be submitted along with all pre-arrival documents (Two
Rabies Vaccination Certificates, Health Certificate, Pre-payments)
NO LESS THAN 10 DAYS BEFORE PET ARRIVES IN HAWAII TO QUALIFY FOR
5-DAY-OR-LESS or AIRPORT RELEASE. If the health certificate
cannot be sent 10 days before arriving with the rest of the documents,
the original must be given to the inspector upon arrival in Hawaii.
- List of Approved Veterinary Hospitals [AQS-20.pdf]
- Breed Code Listing and Color Code Listing [AQS-66.pdf, Rev. 06/05)]
- Intermediate Handlers
[aqs-interhandlers.pdf, Rev. 10/05] List of registered private
individuals or organizations that may be contracted with for fee as
intermediate handlers to assist in the interstate and inter-island
shipping of pets.
- Summary For
Veterinarians [AQS-39.pdf, Rev. 10/05] Summary for veterinarians of
health certification, microchip, rabies vaccination intervals, OIE-FAVN
test and waiting periods requirements of the 5-Day-Or-Less
program.
- OIE-FAVN Testing Forms - All posted laboratory fees and
documents are subject to change by the laboratory without notice.
- Kansas State University FAVN-OIE Testing Form for general public[aqs-ksu-favnform.pdf, fillable form, Rev. 07/07], IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: KSU FAVN-OIE Testing Form instructions
- FAVN Testing Request form for DOD Members [Rev. 02/08]
- Request For Electronic
Microchip for Foreign Countries [aqs-73.pdf, Rev. 07/03]
Effective June 30, 2003, the State of Hawaii will only provide microchips for requests outside of the 50 States of the United States.
- For pets arriving from exempt areas, Checklist for Pets Arriving from British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand [Rev. 11/05]
- For pets arriving from Guam, Affidavit for Export From Guam to the State of Hawaii [IC-5.pdf] is required.
► OIE-FAVN Test Results
Pets owners do not need to present a hardcopy of test results to the Rabies Quarantine Branch, as KSU and DOD will send results directly if “Hawaii” is listed as the destination on the lab submission form. Owners can obtain pre-arrival OIE- FAVN test results from the veterinarian that submitted the sample or on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website (see below). Please do not call laboratories directly for test results!
For those qualifying for the direct release or 5-day-or-less you can now check online for your pre-test results and the 120-day date after KSU or DOD received your pet’s sample. Click here for more information.
GUIDE & SERVICE DOGS
For information on requirements for allowing guide
dogs and service dogs to enter Hawaii without Quarantine click
here
.
If you have questions after reviewing our brochure and forms, please contact us at:
- E-mail us: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov
- Animal Quarantine Station phone: (808) 483-7151
- or you may contact our quarantine office at this address:
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Animal Quarantine Station
99-951 Halawa Valley Street
Aiea, Hawaii 96701-5602