Traveling With Pets

When traveling with pets on your Maui vacation, the State of Hawaii follows some strict guidelines backed up by its Animal Quarantine Laws to continue keeping the islands free of rabies. The following list is only a partial summary of these guidelines. Please see the links at the bottom of the page for the complete guidelines when traveling with pets to Maui.

1. All dogs and cats, regardless of age, must comply with Hawaii’s importation laws.

2. There is a 5-Day-Or-Less Program that must be followed in order for your pet to qualify for Direct Release.

3. If you are traveling with pets to Maui, you must first go through Honolulu International Airport in Oahu. Direct Release is only available at Honolulu International Airport. When your pet has been shown to have complied with the 5-Day-Or-Less Program rules and is eligible for Direct Release, you can then take your flight to Maui.

4. 5-Day-Or-Less Program includes two required rabies shots – the 1-year rabies vaccine not more than 12 months before entering Hawaii, and the 3-year rabies vaccine not more than 36 months before arriving in Hawaii. These two shots must be more than 90 days apart. The most recent vaccination must have occurred more than 90 days upon arrival in Hawaii. If the most recent vaccination occurred less than 90 days upon arrival, then the animal will be quarantined until the 90 days are completed.

5. Pets not meeting the strict 5-Day-Or-Less Program will be quarantined for up to 120 days upon arrival in Hawaii

6. Exceptions to the quarantine laws apply to only locations that have laws as strict or more strict than Hawaii (British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand). These pets must have resided in one of these localities for at least six months and have complied with strict transportation guidelines.

7. Non-domestic dogs and cats are prohibited (e.g., wolf, wolf cross, et cetera).

8. The process to complete all preparations is lengthy so at minimum, puppies or kittens will be about 10 months old. If they don’t meet all of the requirements, they will be quarantined for up to 120 days.

9. If you are arriving on an international flight and traveling with pets, your pets will have to clear U.S. Customs (in addition to Hawaii’s 5-Day-Or-Less Program) before being released to you.

10. There is a $165 fee per pet that you must pay for Direct Release of your pet, or a $225 fee per pet for the 5-Day-Or-Less program.

11. For Guide Dogs and Service Dogs guidelines, please click here: Allowing Guide Dogs and Service Dogs to Enter Hawaii Without Quarantine

For a complete explanation of the 5-Day-Or-Less Program and Direct Release, please visit the following links at the State of Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture:Animal Quarantine Branch, Hawaii's Animal Quarantine Laws and Checklist For 5-Day-Or-Less Program.

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