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Bringing a cat from the US mainland to Hawaii

Hawaii is rabies-free and runs its own rules — federal paperwork alone is not enough. Do the FAVN blood test and the 30-day wait properly, get your documents in 10 days ahead, and your cat can be released to you at Honolulu airport the day you land. Miss a step and the alternative is up to 120 days of quarantine.
3–4 months
Start preparing
Labs alone take 1–2 months right now
30 days
FAVN wait
From the lab receiving the sample
$185
Direct release fee
Honolulu, per pet
14 days
Health cert window
Issued within 14 days of arrival

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · the US mainland → Hawaii
StepWhat to doWhen
MicrochipElectronic microchip implanted BEFORE the FAVN blood test. It must scan and read on arrival — an unreadable chip makes your pet ineligible for direct release. Before the blood test
Two rabies vaccinationsAt least two lifetime rabies vaccinations, given more than 30 days apart. The most recent must be more than 30 days before arrival and still valid on arrival. You need the original, ink-signed certificates for the two most recent vaccinations. Latest >30 days before arrival
FAVN titer testOIE-FAVN test (RFFIT is NOT accepted) at Auburn, Kansas State, Missouri or the DoD laboratory, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher, with HAWAII as the destination on the lab form. Labs are currently taking 1–2 months. Months ahead
Wait 30 daysThe sample must have been received by the lab at least 30 days — and no more than 36 months — before arrival. Arriving even one day early disqualifies your pet from direct release. 30 days from lab receipt
Documents to Animal Quarantine (Honolulu)Form AQS-279 (one per pet), the two original rabies certificates, and payment must be RECEIVED at least 10 days before arrival for Direct Airport Release. For Kona, Kahului or Lihue instead: a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, documents at least 30 days ahead, and a pre-booked inspection with an approved local vet. ≥10 days (HNL) / ≥30 days (neighbor islands)
Health certificate + tick treatmentOriginal health certificate in English issued within 14 days of arrival, including a vet-applied long-acting tick treatment within 14 days (Revolution/selamectin is not accepted). Certificates must now also state the animal was inspected and found free of New World screwworm. Final 14 days

Your preparation timeline

  1. 1Months out — Microchip, then make sure two rabies vaccinations are on record, >30 days apart
  2. 2~2–3 months out — FAVN blood draw; the 30-day wait starts when the lab receives the sample
  3. 3≥30 or ≥10 days out — Neighbor-island documents (30 days) or Honolulu documents (10 days) must be received
  4. 4Final 14 days — Health certificate with tick treatment and screwworm statement
  5. 5Arrival — Inspection at the airport station (arrive by ~15:30); release the same day if everything checks out
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Trusting old advice about a 120-day wait — or its opposite. The current rule is a 30-day wait after the lab receives the FAVN sample; 120 days is the quarantine pets get when they DON'T qualify. The other classic failure is an unreadable microchip on arrival, which also disqualifies direct release.

Costs you can plan for

Official Hawaii fees per pet: Direct Airport Release at Honolulu $185; the 5 Day Or Less program $244 (also the fee when documents arrive late); Neighbor Island Inspection Permit $165, plus the private vet's own inspection fee on that island; re-entry $98. The expensive outcome is failing to qualify: quarantine at $14.30/day plus the $244 program fee, up to 120 days.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Can I fly straight to Maui, Kona or Kauai?

Yes, with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit: documents received at least 30 days before arrival, a passing FAVN already on file, and a pre-booked inspection with an approved vet on that island. The permit is emailed to you and must be printed for the airline.

Does my pet need a USDA-endorsed certificate for Hawaii?

Hawaii's own checklists do not include a USDA endorsement step — they require the original health certificate, the original rabies certificates, and Form AQS-279 sent ahead. Follow the checklist for your arrival airport.

Are any cats prohibited in Hawaii?

Non-domestic cats and hybrids such as Bengal and Savannah cats are prohibited under Hawaii's plant quarantine law.

How old must my pet be?

Hawaii notes a puppy or kitten is about 6 months old by the time the vaccination and testing sequence can be completed — there is no way to rush the biology of two vaccinations plus the wait.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-11

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

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