HAWAII

Use: Checklist

for Requesting Direct Airport Release at

Kona, Kahului and Lihue Airports

Flying To:

KOA – Kona

Island of Hawaii

LIH– Lihue

Island of Kauai

OGG– Kahului

Island of Maui

If the Dog or Cat is:

Located in Hawaii;

Leaving the state; and

On return Flying To:

HNL – Honolulu

Island of Oahu

Use: Checklist

Only for Dogs and Cats Located in Hawaii that are Departing

and Returning for Direct Airport Release and the 5 Day Or Less Program

Use: Checklist

Only for Dogs and Cats Located in Hawaii that are Departing and

Requesting Direct Airport Release at Kona, Kahului and Lihue Airports on Return

If the Dog or Cat is:

Located in Hawaii;

Leaving the state; and

OGG– Kahului

Island of Maui

LIH– Lihue

Island of Kauai

On return Flying To:

KOA – Kona

Island of Hawaii

CHECKLIST GUIDE

Flying To:

HNL – Honolulu

Island of Oahu

Use: Checklist 1 for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

If the Dog or Cat is:

Not Located in Hawaii; and

If the Dog or Cat is:

Not Located in Hawaii; and

The checklists on the following pages have been created to assist owners in preparing their

dog or cat to enter Hawaii without quarantine.

For complete information, additional forms and Checklists such as “Checklist for Pets Arriving from

British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand”, go to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s,

Animal Quarantine Information Page at:

hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs-info

Please check each box after you read and understand each item so that all the procedures

are followed.

If all procedures are not followed in the case of Direct Airport Release (DAR) in Honolulu, the

dog or cat will be: denied Direct Airport Release and will undergo quarantine up to 120 days

until requirements are met for release; or transported out-of-State at the owner’s expense

If all procedures are not followed in the case of neighbor island entries, the dog or cat will be

denied entry at Kona, Kahului or Lihue Airport. Pets that are denied entry will be transported

to Honolulu for inspection and/or quarantine or transported out-of-State at the owner’s

expense.

CHECKLISTS

Every dog or cat must meet the requirements listed on this Checklist and all required documents

must be received by the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) 10 days or more before the intended

date of arrival for Direct Airport Release (DAR) in Honolulu.

Refer to section “Step 5 Waiting Period” and “Step 8 Other” for information on DAR.

Your dog or cat must have an electronic microchip implanted before the FAVN rabies

antibody blood test is performed).

Have your veterinarian scan the microchip to verify that it is still working and see that the

microchip number is correct. Microchip number: ___________________

Any pet that cannot be identified by scanning the microchip will not qualify for either

Direct Airport Release or the 5 Day Or Less quarantine and will be assigned to 120

days quarantine.

Your dog or cat must have been vaccinated at least twice for rabies in its lifetime.

The rabies vaccines must have been administered more than 30 days apart.

The current (most recent) rabies vaccine must have been administered:

More than 30 days before the pet’s date of arrival in Hawaii ; and

Not more than the vaccine’s licensed booster interval listed on the manufacturer’s label

Your veterinarian will give you rabies vaccination certificates for every rabies vaccination.

The date and type of vaccine must be indicated on these vaccination certificates.

• For pets in Hawaii, please use: “Checklist Only for Dogs and Cats Located in Hawaii That Are Departing

and Returning for DAR or the 5 Day Or Less Program” instead.

All steps need to be completed to qualify for this program. If you are unable to meet the

following requirements, your pet will undergo quarantine for up to 120 days.

• For Owners wishing to fly their pet direct to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, Kahului

Airport or Lihue Airport Refer to the “Checklist for Requesting Direct Airport Release at Kona, Kahului and Lihue

Airports” instead.

- AUGUST 31, 2018 PAGE 1 of 5

Step 2 MICROCHIP NOTE! Make sure the microchip is working!

Step 3 RABIES VACCINATIONS

Checklist 1 for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

HNL – Honolulu, Island of Oahu

Step 1 PLANNING

NOTE! Two rabies vaccinations are required. The pet’s most recent rabies vaccination must not be expired

when your pet arrives in Hawaii. If arrival in Hawaii occurs before 30 days has elapsed from the most

recent rabies vaccination, the animal is subject to quarantine until the 30 days are completed.

NOTE! Be sure “HAWAII” is listed as the destination on the lab submission form!

Do the FAVN Rabies Antibody Test.

Have the test done at an approved lab (Auburn University (AU), Kansas State University (KSU) or the

DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas(DOD).

The day after AU, KSU or DOD received your pet’s blood sample must not be more than 36 months

and not less than 30 days before the date of arrival in Hawaii.

Note! Be aware that use of an intermediate lab (Antech, Idexx, etc.) may delay the date AU, KSU

and DOD receives your pet’s sample.

The result of the dog’s or cat’s blood test must be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml.

Obtain a copy of this successful blood test result from your veterinarian showing the pet’s microchip

number for your records. Do not contact the laboratory directly.

Following a successful FAVN Rabies Antibody test result, animals must wait at least 30 days before

arriving in Hawaii. If arrival occurs before 30 days has elapsed, the animal is subject to quarantine

until 30 days are completed

Your pet must complete the 30-day waiting period before arriving in Hawaii or your pet will not qualify

for either direct airport release or the 5 Day Or Less quarantine program when it arrives.

1. Completed Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279. (Does NOT have to be notarized.)

2. Original certificates for 2 rabies vaccinations (must be signed in ink by a licensed veterinarian.)

The 2 rabies vaccination certificates must have the vaccine name, lot or serial number, booster

interval, vaccination date and vaccine lot expiration date listed.

Step 4 FAVN RABIES ANTIBODY TEST NOTE! RFFIT Do NOT do a RFFIT test

Checklist

for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

HNL – Honolulu, Island of Oahu

IMPORTANT!: The waiting period begins the day after AU, KSU or DOD received the blood sample

for the OIE-FAVN test. The test must also have a result > 0.5 IU/ml.

WARNING! Arriving before the 30-day waiting period has elapsed will result in disqualification of a pet

from the 5 Day Or Less quarantine program and direct airport release. All pets arriving before the

eligible date of entry will be quarantined and assessed $14.30 each day in addition to the

$244.00 program fee. There are no exceptions.

– AUGUST 31, 2018 PAGE 2 of 5

Step 5 WAITING PERIOD NOTE! Arriving Early = Disqualification

Step 6 DOCUMENTS

REQUIRED

IMPORTANT! Authorized Handlers and Transport Companies cannot be listed as owners of an animal.

Not identifying and listing the legal owner of the animal on the Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279) is

considered fraud and will create delays in processing and disqualification.

Step 6 DOCUMENTS REQUIRED (continued)

3. An original health certificate in English, done within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii including rabies

vaccine name, lot or serial number, booster interval, vaccination date and expiration date is

required. If you do not send the original health certificate to the Animal Quarantine Station in

advance of your pet’s arrival with your other documents, you must provide the health certificate

upon arrival to the Inspector. Failure to bring the original health certificate (photocopy not

acceptable), will prevent your pet from being released.

4. A veterinarian must treat the pet for ticks with a product containing a long-acting product labeled

to kill ticks (Revolution

is not acceptable) within 14 days of arrival and the product name and

date of treatment must be recorded on the pet’s health certificate.

5. If you are applying for re-entry under the same FAVN blood test and rabies vaccinations used

for a previous entry, you must send a copy of the Airport Release Card given to you when your

pet was released at the airport on that previous arrival in Hawaii.

Send documents in as a set so they are received more than 10 days before arrival in Honolulu, to:

Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701. Send by mail with

return receipt to verify delivery, or by an overnight carrier that provides tracking of your documents.

Be sure to allow adequate time to ensure your documents are received by AQS more than 10 days

before your pet arrives at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu for DAR (This

includes re-entry DAR.)

Failure to send documents as instructed will incur additional fees and can disqualify a pet

from airport release. Other than the original health certificate, hand carrying documents in for

review and qualification on arrival will cause delay and result in a higher fee of $244 for DAR, and

$110 for Re-Entry. Priority is given to dog and cat owners that properly submitted documents

beforehand as instructed.

Send documents (Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279, two rabies vaccination certificates, payment*),

include a cashier’s check or money order (no personal checks are accepted) for $185 for Direct

Airport Release in HNL or $244 for 5 Day Or Less. Include your pet’s microchip number with the

payment to ensure proper credit. Payable to: Department of Agriculture.

If you are applying for re-entry under the same OIE-FAVN blood test and rabies vaccinations used on

a previous entry, send a copy of the Airport Release card given to you when your pet was released at

the airport from the previous arrival.

Payment must be made in full before your pet will be released. Payment more than fees will receive

refunds through the mail in approximately 8 weeks or more after a request for refund is made.

Retain copies of necessary qualification documents for your files and to accompany your pet as a

backup.

Owners wishing to fly their pet direct to the island of Hawaii, island of Maui or island of Kauai must

send in documents in 30 days or more before arrival and request a Neighbor Island Inspection

Permit.

Checklist

for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

HNL – Honolulu, Island of Oahu

- AUGUST 31, 2018 PAGE 3 of 5

Note! Faxes and photocopies are not accepted!

Step 7 SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS

Step 7 SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS (continued)

A Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) is required to fly direct to Kona International Airport at

Keahole (KOA), Kahului Airport (OGG) or Lihue Airport (LIH). Refer to the

“Checklist for Requesting

Direct Airport Release at Kona, Kahului and Lihue Airports” No permit is required to fly into Honolulu

at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), island of Oahu.

It is recommended that you check your pet’s blood test results at the Hawaii Department of

Agriculture web site: hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs-info

Direct Airport Release

Arrange for your pet to arrive at the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility (AAQHF) at HNL -

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu during normal inspection hours between 8:00 AM

to 4:30 PM. It may take up to one hour for the airlines to transport a pet to AAQHF [Phone: (808) 837-

8092] Animals not delivered to the facility during normal inspection hours will not be released when

they arrive.

Warning!: Inspection hours are subject to change at any time without notice.

Unless prior arrangements are made with the AAQHF, pets qualified for Direct Airport Release that

arrive between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM must be picked up between 8 to 10 AM during the subsequent

inspection period at the AAQHF. If not picked up during that time, the pet will be transferred to the

AQS and entered in to the 5 Day Or Less program at $244. In this situation, after all necessary

documents are received and verified, pets may be picked up at the Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951

Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701, phone: (808) 483-7151, during normal office hours.

Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Saturday,

Sunday, State Holidays: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM

The higher fee of $244 for each dog or cat released at the airport shall apply (instead of $185) when

documents are not received by the Animal Quarantine Station 10 days or more before arrival. This

includes situations where documents are submitted on arrival for review and qualification purposes.

Animals will not qualify for the $98 reduced re-entry fee when documents are not received by the

Animal Quarantine Station 10 days or more before the re-entry. In this case, the higher fee of $110 for

each dog and cat released at the airport shall apply.

You must contact the AAQHF and notify them at (808) 837-8092 if you cannot pick up your pet the

day it is delivered to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility (AAQHF) in HNL during normal

inspection hours between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The pet may be available for pick up from between 8:00 to 10:00 AM at the AAQHF the next day, or it

may be transferred to the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) the following morning. After 10 AM or

when pets are transferred to AQS, they are entered into the 5 Day Or Less program. Fee for the 5

Day Or Less program is $244 per pet.

Animals on international flights will need to clear U.S. Customs before they may be released from the

Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. Please check with your airlines regarding U.S. Customs

clearance to assure they will be open to process your pet for release.

Your pet will not qualify for direct airport release if ticks or other parasites are found at the time of

arrival.

- AUGUST 31, 2018 PAGE 4 of 5

Checklist

for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

HNL – Honolulu, Island of Oahu

Step 8 OTHER

Step 8 OTHER (continued)

Direct Airport Release will not be possible when prohibited by Federal airport security advisories.

Under those circumstances pets will be released the following day at the Animal Quarantine Station

99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701, phone: (808) 483-7151, during normal office hours:

Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM to 4:30PM

Saturday, Sunday, State Holidays: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM to 3:30PM

The pet owner is responsibility to arrange all transportation for the pet once it is released from the

Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility in Honolulu. An animal may only be released to:

• The Owner listed on a Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279);

• The Consignee identified on the shipmaster’s declaration; or

• The Co-owner(s) or Authorized Handler listed on a Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279).

If you are not traveling with your pet, you must arrange with the airlines to consign your pet to the

individual who will pick up your pet.

Due to Federal security regulations at the Honolulu International Airport, all pets must be secured in

their flight carriers when picked up from the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. Do not remove

your pet from its transport carrier on airport property!

You must notify the Animal Quarantine Station prior to arrival, follow the same procedures, and meet

all the requirements each time your pet enters or returns to Hawaii.

You will pay a fee of $185 per pet for direct airport release or $244 per pet for the 5 Day Or Less

program each time your pet enters or returns to Hawaii unless it qualifies for subsequent entry fees

outlined in: “Re-Entry Fee Requirements”.

Any dog or cat not picked up on its scheduled date for release is considered “Overdue” and an

additional $17.80 fee is added for each day a pet remains beyond its scheduled release date.

Animals are not allowed to remain in AQS past their scheduled release date.

Due to the high volume of telephone calls it’s recommended you contact staff with questions, by

email to [email protected]

Hawaii Department of Agriculture contacts: Animal Quarantine Station telephone:

(808) 483- 7151 fax: (808) 483-7161 email: [email protected]v

Information included in this publication is subject to change and

revision at any time without notice

Checklist

for Direct Airport Release (DAR) & 5 Day Or Less Program

HNL – Honolulu, Island of Oahu

- AUGUST 31, 2018 PAGE 5 of 5

NOTE! Pet owners should bring a baggage cart or other means to transport their crated pet from the Airport

Animal Quarantine Holding Facility to the Inter-island Terminal if traveling on to an outer island after

release of their pet. There are no carts or porters at the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility.