TLDR: Hawaii has four separate checklists depending on where your pet is coming from and where it is landing. Using the wrong checklist is one of the most common and most costly mistakes in the entire process. Identify your scenario first, then follow only the checklist that applies to you.
This page consolidates the four official Hawaii pet import scenarios into a single printable reference. Each checklist covers the complete set of requirements for that path, nothing more, nothing less. For the full regulatory background behind these steps, see our Hawaii pet import requirements guide. Links to detailed guides for each step are included where relevant.
| Your situation | Use this checklist |
|---|---|
| Pet is outside Hawaii, flying into Honolulu (HNL) | Checklist 1 |
| Pet is outside Hawaii, flying directly to Maui (OGG), Kauai (LIH), or Big Island (KOA) | Checklist 2 |
| Pet lives in Hawaii, left the state, returning to Honolulu (HNL) | Checklist 3 |
| Pet lives in Hawaii, left the state, returning to Maui (OGG), Kauai (LIH), or Big Island (KOA) | Checklist 4 |
Pets arriving from the British Isles, Australia, Guam, or New Zealand use a separate checklist not covered here. Contact AQS at rabiesfree@hawaii.gov for those routes.
For dogs and cats currently outside Hawaii, flying into Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
Step 1: Microchip
Step 2: Rabies Vaccinations
Step 3: OIE-FAVN Blood Test
For a full walkthrough of this step, see our Hawaii FAVN test guide.
Step 4: Health Certificate
Step 5: Tick Treatment
Step 6: Import Form and Documents
Step 7: Arrival at Honolulu
What happens if any step is missed: Pet will not be released. Quarantine begins immediately at up to 120 days. At $14.30 per day plus the $244 program fee, a full 120-day quarantine costs approximately $1,960. There are no on-site remedies.
For dogs and cats currently outside Hawaii, flying directly to Kahului (OGG), Lihue (LIH), or Kona (KOA).
All requirements from Checklist 1 apply, plus the following neighbor island additions:
Steps 1 through 5: Same as Checklist 1 above. Complete all steps before proceeding.
Step 6: NIIP Pre-Approval
Step 7: Import Form and Documents
Step 8: NIIP Issued
Step 9: Arrival at Neighbor Island
What happens if any step is missed: Pet will not be released. NIIP cannot be issued retroactively. Pet may be quarantined or owner required to route through Honolulu at own expense.
For dogs and cats that live in Hawaii, have left the state temporarily, and are returning to Honolulu.
Key difference from Checklist 1: All testing and vaccination requirements must be completed before the pet departs Hawaii, not after. The timing anchor is the departure date from Hawaii, not the arrival date back. For a side-by-side comparison of how timing works for mainland-origin versus returning resident pets, see our Hawaii pet import timeline.
Before departure from Hawaii:
Health certificate at departure:
On return, Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 from Checklist 1 apply:
What happens if any step is missed: Pet will face quarantine on return, or be required to complete the full mainland import requirements as any other non-resident pet entering Hawaii.
For dogs and cats that live in Hawaii, have left the state, and are returning directly to Kahului (OGG), Lihue (LIH), or Kona (KOA).
All requirements from Checklist 3 apply, plus the following additions:
Before departure from Hawaii:
NIIP requirements on return, same as Checklist 2:
What happens if any step is missed: Pet will face quarantine on return or be required to route through Honolulu. NIIP cannot be issued retroactively.
| Scenario | Fee |
|---|---|
| Direct Airport Release, documents received 10+ days before HNL arrival | $185 |
| Direct Airport Release, documents received late (under 10 days) | $244 |
| 5 Day Or Less program | $244 |
| Re-entry, documents received 10+ days before arrival | $98 |
| Re-entry, documents received late | $130 |
| NIIP fee (neighbor island arrival) | $165 |
| Arriving before 30-day waiting period is complete | $14.30/day + $244 program fee |
| Pet not picked up on scheduled release date | $17.80/day |
| Overnight hold (pet not delivered to AAQHF before 4:30 PM) | $59 |
| 120-day quarantine worst case | Approximately $1,960 |
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| AQS general | (808) 483-7151 |
| AQS email | rabiesfree@hawaii.gov |
| AAQHF (airport holding facility) | (808) 837-8092 |
| AQS mailing address | 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701 |
| Online portal (HIPOP) | hipop.ais.hawaii.gov |
| FAVN result and eligibility check | dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-microchip-search/ |
| Accepted tick treatments | dab.hawaii.gov/ai/main/tick-treatments/ |
| Current NIIP contractor list | dab.hawaii.gov/ai/nivetfac/ |
If you are moving any pet other than a dog or cat, including rabbits, birds, or other species, requirements differ significantly. See our guide to animals allowed and prohibited in Hawaii before booking travel.
The checklist is only as useful as the timeline behind it. PetRelocation's relocation coordinators guide every step across all four scenarios, from FAVN test coordination through document submission and NIIP arrangement. If you are not sure which checklist applies to your situation, a consultation with a relocation coordinator will map it out before you commit to a travel date.
Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through every step.
Which checklist do I use? The checklist depends on two things: where your pet is coming from (outside Hawaii vs. returning Hawaii resident) and where it is landing (Honolulu vs. a neighbor island). There are four combinations and four checklists. Match your situation to the table at the top of this page before starting any preparation.
What is the difference between Checklist 1 and Checklist 2? Both cover pets coming from outside Hawaii. Checklist 1 is for pets landing at Honolulu (HNL). Checklist 2 is for pets flying directly to Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. Checklist 2 requires a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, a contracted inspection facility on the destination island, documents submitted 30 days before arrival (not 10), and a $165 NIIP fee instead of the $185 direct release fee.
What is the difference between the resident returning checklists (3 and 4) and the mainland origin checklists (1 and 2)? For resident pets (Checklists 3 and 4), all testing and vaccination requirements must be completed before the pet leaves Hawaii, not in advance of the return arrival. The timing anchor is the departure date from Hawaii. For mainland-origin pets (Checklists 1 and 2), the timing anchor is the arrival date in Hawaii.
Can I submit documents online? Yes. The Hawaii Pet Owner Portal (HIPOP) at hipop.ais.hawaii.gov accepts online submissions with payment by Visa or Mastercard. Hard copy submissions by mail with return receipt are also accepted. Faxes and photocopies are not accepted for mailed submissions.
What if my pet is a Hawaii resident but my FAVN test was not done before we left? If your pet left Hawaii without a passing FAVN test on record, it will face quarantine on return or be required to complete the full mainland import requirements. There is no retroactive exemption for Hawaii residents. The test must be passed and the pre-departure timing requirement met before the pet departs the state.
How do I check if my pet's FAVN result and eligibility date are confirmed? Use your pet's microchip number at dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-microchip-search/. Do not contact the laboratory directly for results.