Bringing Your Dog to Hawaii Without Quarantine (2026)

Hawaii is rabies-free, and every dog arriving from the mainland has to meet its quarantine rules. To have your dog released at the Honolulu airport (Direct Airport Release, $185), it needs a working microchip, at least two rabies vaccinations, a passing FAVN rabies blood test at least 30 days before arrival, and a health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival that includes a tick treatment. Your paperwork must reach the Animal Quarantine Station at least 10 days before you land. A dog that doesn't meet every requirement can be quarantined for up to 120 days.

Last verified September 27, 2026 against official sources

Direct airport release, 5 Day Or Less, or 120 days

A dog that meets every requirement can skip long quarantine in one of two ways. With Direct Airport Release, it's inspected and released to you at the Honolulu airport. Under the 5 Day Or Less program, it's taken to the state's Animal Quarantine Station and you pick it up there. A dog that doesn't meet all the requirements is quarantined for up to 120 days.

Hawaii quarantine fees per dog
Program	Fee
Direct Airport Release, Honolulu (documents received 10+ days before arrival)	$185
Direct Airport Release, Honolulu (documents received later or on arrival)	$244
5 Day Or Less program	$244
Direct release on Kona, Kahului (Maui) or Līhu‘e (Kaua‘i), with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit	$165
Arriving before your dog is eligible (Honolulu)	$14.30 per day early + $244

Flying straight to Kona, Kahului or Līhu‘e takes more planning: you need a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, a booking with an approved vet clinic on that island (whose fees are extra), and your documents in 30 or more days before arrival. No permit is needed to fly into Honolulu.

Sources: Animal Quarantine Information Page (Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity), Checklist 1 for Direct Airport Release & 5 Day Or Less Program, Honolulu (Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity)

Step by step (Honolulu arrival)

Microchip. Your dog needs a working microchip before the blood test. Ask your vet to scan it and check the number: a dog that can't be identified by its microchip goes into 120 days of quarantine.
Two rabies vaccinations. Your dog needs at least two in its lifetime, given more than 30 days apart. The most recent one must be more than 30 days before arrival and still valid when you land.
FAVN rabies blood test. Your vet sends the blood sample to an approved lab: Auburn University, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri or the DOD lab in Texas. Make sure "HAWAII" is the destination on the lab form, and don't use an RFFIT test. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Wait 30 days. The 30-day wait starts the day after the lab receives the sample. Arriving earlier means quarantine until the 30 days are up, plus daily fees. The test stays valid for arrival up to 36 months after that date.
Health certificate and tick treatment. Within 14 days of arrival, your vet issues an original health certificate in English and treats your dog with a long-acting tick product (Revolution doesn't count), recorded on the certificate.
Send your documents. The Dog & Cat Import Form (AQS-279), the two original rabies certificates and the fee must reach the Animal Quarantine Station at least 10 days before arrival. You can apply online through the Hawaii Pet Owner Portal or by mail.

The screwworm detection in the U.S. adds one line: the health certificate must state that your dog was inspected and found free of evidence of New World screwworm infestation.

Sources: Checklist 1 for Direct Airport Release & 5 Day Or Less Program, Honolulu (Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity), Animal Quarantine Information Page (Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity)

Arriving in Honolulu

Dogs are inspected at the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. Plan a flight that lands early enough: it can take up to an hour for the airline to bring your dog to the facility.

Inspection hours: Hawaii's information page says 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and recommends arriving by 3:30 p.m.; Checklist 1 says 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Confirm with the Animal Quarantine Station.
Dogs that arrive in the late afternoon or evening are held overnight and released the next morning. For a dog not picked up by 10 a.m., the information page says an extra $59 is charged, while Checklist 1 says the dog moves to the 5 Day Or Less program ($244). Confirm before you fly.
A dog with ticks or other parasites on arrival doesn't qualify for direct airport release.
On an international flight, your dog must clear U.S. Customs before it can be released.

Puppies and banned dogs

Getting a puppy ready takes time: Hawaii says a newborn puppy will be about 6 months old by the time it meets every requirement. Puppies that can't meet them are quarantined for 120 days.

Non-domestic dogs and hybrids, such as wolves, wolf crosses and dingoes, aren't allowed into Hawaii at all.

Source: Animal Quarantine Information Page (Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity)

Before you go

Entry rules change, sometimes with little notice. This page summarizes the official pages below as of September 27, 2026. Confirm the current requirements with your vet, USDA APHIS and your airline before you travel.

Flying there? Compare airline pet policies. For how USDA endorsement works, see ourUSDA health certificate guide.