Bringing Your Dog to Hawaii: Inside the 5-Day-or-Less Quarantine Program

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that has never had a case of rabies, and it intends to stay that way. Every dog and cat entering the islands goes through an animal quarantine program run by the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity — and if you’re planning to move or vacation there with your dog, the paperwork needs to start months before you fly, not the week before.

Two programs: 5-Day-or-Less vs. 120-Day

Hawaii runs two tracks for incoming pets. Most owners who plan ahead qualify for the 5-Day-or-Less program, which keeps the actual quarantine stay in Hawaii to about five days. Pets that don’t meet every requirement, or that arrive before their waiting period is up, go into the 120-day program instead — a full four months in quarantine.

Steps for the 5-Day-or-Less program

• Two rabies vaccinations, at least 30 days apart. The most recent dose must be given at least 30 days before arrival in Hawaii, and can’t be more than 12 months old (or 36 months old for a 3-year vaccine).
• Microchip. Required so the blood test result can be matched to your dog.
• OIE-FAVN blood test. An approved lab tests your dog’s rabies antibody level. The result has to come back above 0.5 IU/ml.
• 30-day wait after the blood draw. Hawaii counts 30 days from the date the lab receives the blood sample, not the test result date — so build that into your travel date.

Miss any of these and your dog defaults to the 120-day program on arrival, with at least 90 extra days in quarantine after the most recent rabies shot if you arrive before the waiting period ends.

The 120-day program

If your dog doesn’t qualify for the shorter track, you’ll still need a health certificate from an accredited vet dated within 14 days of arrival in Honolulu, current core vaccinations, and proof of parasite treatment, including ticks. The dog then completes the 120-day wait after passing the same OIE-FAVN blood test.

What it costs

• 120-day program: $1,080 per pet
• 5-Day-or-Less program: $244 per pet
• Direct release program: $185 per pet
• Late arrival (before the waiting period ends): $14.30/day plus $244

Fees are paid by cashier’s check or money order to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity — there’s no discount for multiple pets. Active-duty military families moving with a PCS order can be reimbursed up to $550 per family for a dog or cat.

Where to send your paperwork

Send a notarized Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279) ahead of your pet’s arrival so it’s already on file. If a microchip number was entered wrong anywhere in the process, your vet has to submit a correction request directly from the clinic’s email. Questions go to the Animal Quarantine Station at (808) 483-7151, or the airport holding facility at (808) 837-8092, staffed around the clock.

The state’s FAQ page was last updated October 2, 2026, so requirements and fees can shift — check the current page on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s site before you book anything, and start the vaccine and blood-test clock as early as you can. For a move or long vacation, that often means starting the process two to three months out.