Key takeaway: With the right paperwork, your dog or cat can be released at the Honolulu airport for $185. Miss the requirements and the 120-day quarantine costs $1,080 (Hawaiʻi Dept. of Agriculture & Biosecurity). Start at least four months ahead. Numbers checked October 30, 2026.
Hawaiʻi is rabies-free, and the state’s Animal Quarantine Branch keeps it that way. The agency is now the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, at dab.hawaii.gov. Older guides still link to the former Department of Agriculture site.
Fees
| Program | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Airport Release, Honolulu | $185 | $244 if documents arrive fewer than 10 days before you land |
| 5-Day-or-Less | $244 | If you qualify but miss direct release |
| 120-day quarantine | $1,080 | If requirements aren’t met |
| Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (Kona, Kahului, Līhuʻe) | $165 | Plus a separate fee to the contracted vet clinic; documents due 30+ days ahead |
Sources: DAB Animal Quarantine; DAB quarantine FAQ, updated Oct 2, 2026.
Timeline
- At least two rabies vaccinations.
- A FAVN rabies blood test with a passing result, then a 30-day wait from when the lab receives the sample. Results can take one to two months.
- Documents in at least 10 days before arrival in Honolulu, or 30 days for the neighbor islands.
- New in 2026: health certificates need a New World screwworm statement, and the state uses an online portal called HIPOP (DAB).