Hawai‘i’s 5 Day Or Less quarantine programme
Hawai‘i is rabies free, and its quarantine law is the strictest thing most pet owners will ever deal with. Meet every requirement and your dog or cat is released at the airport on arrival. Miss one and the same animal is quarantined for up to 120 days. Here is what the state itself requires.
Everything on this page is the State of Hawai‘i’s own published requirement, read from the Animal Industry Division’s Animal Quarantine Information Page on 8 September 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the authority, or with us, before booking a flight.
The two waiting periods that decide your travel date
These are the numbers that turn a Hawai‘i move into a months-long project:
| Requirement | Minimum before arrival in Hawai‘i |
|---|---|
| After a successful FAVN rabies antibody test | 30 days |
| After the most recent rabies vaccination | 30 days |
The state also requires proof of two rabies vaccinations within the required timeframe and a passing FAVN test for every dog and cat entering Hawai‘i. Both are reviewed and verified by Animal Quarantine staff before an application is approved.
What happens if you miss one requirement
The law requires dogs and cats that do not meet all of the 5 Day Or Less programme requirements to be quarantined for up to 120 days on arrival. Avoiding that is the entire point of preparing properly, and it is why we start with your pet’s vaccination dates before anything is booked.
Puppies and kittens
Because of the minimum time the requirements take, the state notes that a newborn puppy or kitten will be about six months of age by the time the preparations are complete. Younger animals that cannot meet the requirements are quarantined for 120 days.
Breeds and hybrids Hawai‘i does not admit at all
Non-domestic dogs and cats and hybrids — wolf, wolf cross, Dingo, Bengal, Savannah and similar — are prohibited under Hawai‘i’s Plant Quarantine law. This is not an airline preference or a crate question. They are not admitted.
The fees the state charges
These are the state’s quarantine fees only, separate from the flight, the crate, ground transport and our own service.
| Service | Fee per dog or cat |
|---|---|
| Direct Airport Release in Honolulu | $185 |
| Direct Airport Release, documents received less than 10 days before arrival | $244 |
| 5 Day Or Less programme | $244 |
| Neighbor Island Inspection Permit — direct release in Kona, Kaua‘i or Maui | $165 |
| Arriving early, before eligible for 5 Day Or Less (Honolulu) | $14.30 per day early + $244 |
| Re-entry, if qualified | $98 |
| Re-entry, documents received less than 10 days before arrival | $130 |
The ten-day deadline is worth real money. Getting paperwork to the Animal Quarantine Station 10 days or more before arrival is the difference between $185 and $244 per animal on a Honolulu release, and between $98 and $130 on a re-entry. Late paperwork can also mean the release cannot be processed on arrival at all.
Flying into Kona, Kahului or Līhu‘e
A Neighbor Island Inspection Permit issued by the Department must be presented to the airline before boarding to fly a cat or dog directly to an approved neighbor island airport. Those arrivals also require a prior reservation with an approved private veterinary facility, and the permit is not issued without confirmation from that facility. It is one of the easiest ways to be turned away at check-in, and one of the easiest to avoid.
Applying
Applications may be submitted online through the Hawai‘i Pet Owner Portal, or on paper by post to the Animal Quarantine Station. Each dog and cat needs its own application, with the rabies vaccination certificates, FAVN results, health certificate and itinerary attached. Every document is reviewed and verified by Animal Quarantine staff before approval.
On a move we handle, that is our job rather than yours. Start with a free consultation and we will check your pet’s vaccination status against these dates before anything is booked. On PCS orders to a base in Hawai‘i? We give discounts to service members.
See also: our Hawai‘i pet transport page · choosing the travel kennel · measuring your dog · requirements for other destinations
Who sets these rules
- Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Animal Industry Division — Animal Quarantine Information Page — every requirement, waiting period and fee on this page, read 8 September 2026
Hawai‘i quarantine questions
How long before arrival does the FAVN test have to be done for Hawaii?
Hawai‘i requires a minimum waiting period of 30 days after a successful FAVN rabies antibody test before the animal arrives in the state, and a separate minimum of 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccination.
Source: Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Animal Industry Division, read 8 September 2026.
What happens if my dog does not qualify for the 5 Day Or Less programme?
Hawai‘i law requires dogs and cats that do not meet all of the 5 Day Or Less programme requirements to be quarantined for up to 120 days on arrival. Avoiding that is the point of preparing properly.
How much does Hawaii charge to release a pet at the airport?
The state’s fee for Direct Airport Release in Honolulu is $185 per dog or cat, rising to $244 when documents are not received by the Animal Quarantine Station 10 days or more before arrival. The 5 Day Or Less programme is $244, and a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit for Kona, Kaua‘i or Maui is $165.
These are state fees only, separate from the flight, the crate and transport.
Can I bring a Bengal cat or a wolf hybrid to Hawaii?
No. Non-domestic dogs and cats and hybrids such as wolf, wolf cross, Dingo, Bengal and Savannah are prohibited under Hawai‘i’s Plant Quarantine law.
Can I fly my pet straight into Maui, Kona or Kaua‘i?
Yes, with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit issued by the Department, which must be presented to the airline before boarding. Those arrivals also need a prior reservation with an approved private veterinary facility, and the permit is not issued without confirmation from that facility.
How young can a puppy or kitten travel to Hawaii?
The state notes that because of the time the requirements take, a newborn puppy or kitten will be about six months of age by the time preparations are complete. Animals that cannot meet the requirements are quarantined for 120 days.