Can You Take a Dog to Hawaii?
Hawaii has the strictest pet entry rules in the US. Here is exactly what your dog needs, what it costs, and how many months to plan.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can take a dog to Hawaii without quarantine, but only if it meets every 5 Day or Less requirement before landing: two rabies vaccinations, a passing FAVN blood test plus a 30-day wait, tick treatment within 14 days, and paperwork received 10 days ahead. Miss one requirement and your dog can be held up to 120 days.
Why does Hawaii have special rules for dogs?
Hawaii is the nation’s only rabies-free state, and its quarantine program exists to keep it that way.[1] The rules apply to all dogs and cats regardless of age or purpose.[2]
There are two outcomes at the airport. A dog that meets every requirement is released within about an hour. A dog that does not can be held in quarantine for up to 120 days.[3][4]
What do the terms mean?
Hawaii’s pet process uses six terms you will see on every form. This table defines each one in plain language.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| 5 Day or Less | Hawaii’s program that releases a dog after five days or less of quarantine, or straight from the airport, when every requirement is met before arrival.[3] |
| Direct Airport Release (DAR) | Release at the airport after inspection, instead of a stay at the quarantine station. Honolulu does this as part of 5 Day or Less.[3] |
| FAVN (OIE-FAVN) | A rabies antibody blood test. A passing result is valid for 36 months from the day the lab received the blood.[4] |
| NIIP | Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, needed to fly a pet directly to Kona, Kahului or Lihue.[3] |
| AQS-279 | The Dog and Cat Import Form Hawaii asks for with your documents.[3] |
| HIPOP | Hawaii’s online Pet Owner Portal for applications, uploads and payment.[6] |
What does a dog need to qualify for 5 Day or Less?
Your dog needs four things in place before it lands: vaccinations, a passing FAVN result with a 30-day wait, tick treatment and early paperwork. Miss any one and it goes to quarantine.[3][4]
| Requirement | The rule |
|---|---|
| Rabies vaccinations | Two vaccinations at least 30 days apart. The second must be given more than 30 days before arrival.[4] |
| FAVN blood test | A passing result, then a 30-day wait before arriving. Valid 36 months from lab receipt.[4][3] |
| Microchip | Required. The chip number goes on your application and payment.[5] |
| Tick treatment | Within 14 days before arrival, recorded on the health certificate. The product must be a long-acting tick treatment equivalent to or better than fipronil.[4] |
| Documents | Two rabies certificates, a health certificate and the AQS-279. Originals must arrive at least 10 days before your dog does.[3][4] |
Which tick treatments are accepted?
Hawaii accepts a long-acting tick treatment equivalent to or better than fipronil, and it says Revolution is not acceptable.[4] Our reading of that: K-9 Advantix works for dogs, and a flea-and-heartworm product that does not list ticks on its label will not satisfy the rule. Ask your vet to record the exact product and date on the health certificate.
How many months does it take to get a dog to Hawaii?
From scratch, plan about 3 to 4 months. This is our calculation from the published rules, not a Hawaii figure.
| Day | Step | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Microchip and first rabies vaccination (skip any step your dog already has current) | Chip first so the number appears on every record. Chip order is our advice, not a stated rule. |
| Day 31 | Second rabies vaccination | Hawaii requires at least 30 days between doses.[4] |
| Day 31 | FAVN blood draw (we assume the same visit as vaccination 2) | Ask your vet and the lab to confirm the order and timing before you draw. |
| Day 61 to 91 | FAVN result arrives | Results take 1 to 2 months.[5] |
| Day 91 to 121 | Earliest landing date | Counting the 30-day wait from the result date, which is the cautious reading.[3] |
| Landing minus 14 days | Tick treatment | Must fall inside the 14-day window and be recorded.[4] |
| Landing minus 10 days | All original documents received | Late documents raise the fee and can risk release.[3] |
Shortcut: a passing FAVN is valid for 36 months.[4] If your dog already has a current result and in-date vaccinations, the long wait disappears and the schedule shrinks to the 14-day and 10-day steps.
What does it cost to bring a dog to Hawaii?
Expect $185 to $244 in Hawaii fees, plus a vet visit, a lab test and the airline fee. Fees rise when documents are late or your dog arrives early.[3]
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Direct Airport Release, Honolulu | $185 ($244 if documents arrive late)[3] |
| 5 Day or Less | $244[3] |
| Neighbor Island Inspection Permit | $165[3] |
| Arriving early (before 5 Day or Less applies) | $14.30 per early day plus $244[3] |
| Re-entry fee (qualified pets) | $98 ($130 if documents arrive late)[3] |
Hawaii’s page does not say whether the $185 and $244 fees are ever charged together, so ask the Animal Quarantine Station.[3] Our arithmetic: a dog that lands 10 days before the 30-day wait is complete would owe 10 x $14.30 + $244 = $387 in Hawaii fees. Add your own costs with the Pet Travel Cost Calculator.
What is the 30-day neighbor island trap?
If you fly straight into Kona, Kahului or Lihue, your documents are due 30 or more days ahead, not 10, and you need a booked vet inspection first.[3] Plans built around the Honolulu deadline fail here.
| Honolulu | Kona, Kahului, Lihue | |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | None needed[3] | Neighbor Island Inspection Permit ($165)[3] |
| Documents due | At least 10 days before arrival[4] | 30 or more days before arrival[3] |
| Inspection | At the airport facility[3] | At an approved private vet facility you book and pay separately[3] |
| Permit needs | Not applicable | Vet facility confirmation and a passing FAVN confirmed first[3] |
How do you avoid the trap?
Decide your landing airport before you book anything else, then work backward from that deadline. Our advice: if a neighbor island is your destination, book the vet facility and send documents the day your FAVN passes, because the permit cannot be issued without both.[3]
What happens when your dog lands in Honolulu?
Inspection runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, and Hawaii advises a flight arriving by 3:30 p.m. Processing usually takes about an hour once your dog reaches the facility.[3][4]
- Arrive by 3:30 p.m. A dog not at the facility by 4:30 p.m. is not released that day.[3]
- Overnight pickup: an animal held overnight must be collected by 10:00 a.m. or $59 more applies.[3]
- Bring a crate you can carry. Owners move the crate themselves.[3]
- Connecting flights: allow at least 4 to 5 hours, because airline delivery can take an hour or more. That figure comes from a page marked updated 2018.[4]
Why do dogs end up in quarantine anyway?
Almost always because one date or product is wrong. These five are the failures Hawaii’s own pages point to.[3][4]
- Wrong tick product. Revolution is not accepted.[4]
- Late originals. Documents must arrive at least 10 days ahead, and the fee jumps from $185 to $244.[3]
- Landing before day 30. Pets arriving before the 30-day wait are quarantined.[4]
- Puppies. A newborn puppy is typically about 6 months old before it can meet the requirements.[3]
- Neighbor island deadline. The 30-day document rule catches owners who planned for 10.[3]
What is the step-by-step plan?
Work these in order and you can do all of it before your flight is booked.
- Pick your landing airport. Honolulu is simplest. A neighbor island adds the permit and the 30-day rule.
- Microchip and vaccinate. Two rabies shots at least 30 days apart.
- Book the FAVN test. Allow 1 to 2 months for the result.[5]
- Create your account in HIPOP. Upload certificates, results and itinerary.[6]
- Book your flight only after the landing date clears the 30-day wait. See flying with a dog or cat.
- Treat for ticks within 14 days of landing and get it recorded.
- Check every date with the Pet Travel Document Deadline Calculator.
Your next step
Enter your landing date and see every deadline counted back for you. If you also travel abroad with your dog, read how a pet passport works.
Document deadline calculator Pet passport guide International pet insuranceFrequently Asked Questions
These are the questions owners ask most about moving a dog to Hawaii.
Do I have to quarantine my dog in Hawaii?
Not if it meets every 5 Day or Less requirement before arrival. A dog that does not can be held up to 120 days.[3]
Does it apply to puppies and cats?
Yes. The rules apply to all dogs and cats regardless of age or purpose, and a newborn typically needs about 6 months before it can qualify.[2][3]
How long does the FAVN test take?
Results take 1 to 2 months, and a passing result is valid for 36 months from lab receipt.[5][4]
Can I take my dog to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island directly?
Yes, with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, an approved private vet facility and documents 30 or more days ahead.[3]
What if my documents arrive late?
The Honolulu release fee rises from $185 to $244, and the re-entry fee from $98 to $130.[3] Originals are due at least 10 days before arrival.[4]
How long does airport release take in Honolulu?
Usually about an hour once your dog reaches the facility, during 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. inspection hours.[4][3]
Is a microchip required?
Yes, and the chip number goes on your payment and application.[5]
Who do I call with questions?
The Animal Quarantine Station. Its FAQ lists (808) 483-7151.[4]
Part of the Pet Travel hub
This guide sits inside our pet travel cluster. Start from the hub for passports, costs, flights and insurance.
Back to Pet TravelSources and verification
Every figure above comes from one of these pages, checked on November 11, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine Branch. Branch mission and rabies-free status.
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine Station brochure (2018 edition). Quarantine rules apply to all dogs and cats regardless of age or purpose.
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine Information. Fees, Honolulu inspection hours, neighbor island permit, HIPOP, puppies and kittens.
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture, FAQ for the 5 Day or Less program (page marked updated 10/2018). Vaccine intervals, FAVN validity, tick treatment, document deadline, airport release time.
- PetRelocation, Hawaii pet import requirements (a relocation company, so a commercial source). Microchip requirement and a service-provider view of the process.
- Hawaii Pet Owner Portal (HIPOP). Online application and document upload.
Hawaii’s FAQ page is marked updated 2018, so confirm every figure with the Animal Quarantine Station before you travel. Items marked as our calculation or our advice are our own reading of the published rules, not Hawaii requirements.
EpicLayover.com provides general travel information, not veterinary or legal advice. Ask your vet about vaccines, tests and tick products.
