Hawaii is the only rabies-free state in the U.S., and to keep it that way, every dog and cat entering the islands must either qualify for the 5-Day-Or-Less program (which includes same-day Direct Airport Release) or complete up to 120 days of quarantine at the state’s Animal Quarantine Station in Hālawa Valley, Oʻahu. If your pet’s paperwork, microchip timing, or rabies blood test waiting period isn’t perfect, quarantine is automatic. There are no appeals and no exceptions, including for service animals and ESAs.
The good news: the facility is clean, the staff is trained to care for relocating pets, and you can visit. Below is exactly what to expect, what it costs, and how Animal Land helps clients minimize or avoid quarantine entirely.
Moving to Hawaii? See our guide on Moving Pets to Hawaii.
Why Hawaii Has a Pet Quarantine in the First Place
Hawaii has operated a rabies quarantine program since 1912, when carnivores imported from the U.S. mainland were identified as a rabies transmission risk. Today, the state remains the only rabies-free state, and Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 4-29 requires every dog, cat, and other carnivore entering the state to complete either the 120-day or 5-Day-Or-Less quarantine program.
The rules apply to every pet: puppies, kittens, service animals, emotional support animals, and pets just transiting through Hawaii on the way somewhere else. There are no exemptions.
Who Ends Up in 120-Day Quarantine?
Most pets entering Hawaii qualify for Direct Airport Release and go home with their owners the same day. Quarantine generally happens in one of three situations:
- The owner has to move on short notice and can’t complete the 120-day waiting period after the OIE-FAVN rabies blood test before flying.
- A paperwork or timing error, such as a microchip implanted after the rabies vaccination, a wrong blood test lab, a late submission of Form AQS-279, or a health certificate issued more than 14 days before arrival.
- The pet’s flight arrives outside inspection hours (after 3:30 p.m.), or the owner can’t be present to receive them at the airport.
If any one of these happens, the pet is transferred from the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility to the main station in Hālawa Valley and held until the 120-day post-blood-test waiting period and 90-day post-vaccination period have both elapsed.
How Much Does Hawaii’s 120-Day Pet Quarantine Cost?
The base 120-day quarantine fee is $1,080 per pet, payable to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity. If your pet arrives before its 5-Day-Or-Less eligibility date and stays only until eligible, the daily holding fee is $14.30 per day plus a $244 program fee.
For comparison:
- Direct Airport Release (DAR): $185 per pet (or $98 subsequent entry)
- 5-Day-Or-Less program: $224–$244 per pet
- 120-day quarantine: $1,080 base, plus any additional services, veterinary care, or extended-stay charges
Owners are also responsible for registering their pet with an approved local veterinary hospital in case of emergency, and for any private veterinary care the station veterinarian deems necessary during the stay.
What the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Station Is Actually Like
The main Animal Quarantine Station is located at 99-951 Halawa Valley Street in ʻAiea, just outside Honolulu. Here’s what pet owners should expect:
Kennel size and setup. Dog kennels are roughly 6 feet wide and range from 14 feet long (small dogs) to 25 feet (large dogs), with 7-foot ceilings. Each has an outdoor run in front and a fully sheltered area in the back, plus a bench inside for owner visits. Cat kennels are about 5 by 10 feet and include platforms, a sheltered area, and a catwalk. Learn more about Choosing the Right Airline-Approved Kennel.
Daily care. Pets are fed three times a day by default (owners can give different instructions), housed separately so staff can monitor eating and elimination, and bathed as needed. A station veterinarian inspects every pet on arrival.
What you can bring. Owners are welcome to drop off beds, blankets, toys, and treats. Rawhide is not allowed. You can also provide your pet’s regular food if you don’t want them on the station’s default diet.
Complete Care option. If you want to take over daily feeding, cleaning, and grooming yourself, the station offers a “Complete Care” program, but you must commit to attending to your pet seven days a week for the duration of the stay.
When Can You Visit Your Pet in Quarantine?
Visitation is limited to registered owners and designated co-owners, with a station-issued visitor pass and photo ID required at every visit. Visits happen inside the kennel — pets cannot be removed.
Current visiting hours at the Halāwa station:
- Tuesday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: 12:00 noon – 3:30 p.m.
- Closed Mondays, Fridays, and state holidays
If you have more than one pet of the same species in quarantine, you can apply for the Multiple Pet Visitation (MPV) program to visit them together. This requires an orientation session and a submitted MPV form.
Can My Pet Be Quarantined on Maui, Kauaʻi, or the Big Island?
The main Animal Quarantine Station is on Oʻahu, but there are two satellite quarantine stations on neighboring islands. However, all pets arriving in Hawaiʻi must first clear inspection in Honolulu before being eligible for transfer or Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) release. The NIIP is now emailed (rather than mailed) once the Animal Quarantine Station receives the AQS-279 and supporting documents at least 30 days before arrival.
How to Avoid Hawaii Pet Quarantine Entirely
The 5-Day-Or-Less program, including same-day Direct Airport Release, requires every one of these steps, in the correct order:
- ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip implanted before any rabies vaccinations are given.
- Two rabies vaccinations, both administered after microchipping, at least 30 days apart, with the most recent given more than 30 days but less than 12 months before arrival.
- OIE-FAVN rabies antibody blood test with a result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher, processed by a Hawaii-approved lab such as Kansas State University’s Rabies Lab.
- 120-day waiting period after the date the blood sample was drawn (this is the step that catches most people).
- Form AQS-279 submitted, with payment, through the new HIPOP online portal at least 10 days before arrival. Hawaii now accepts online applications instead of mailed forms.
- Health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 14 days of arrival.
- Arrival during inspection hours (before 3:30 p.m. at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) on a direct flight, with the owner present.
Miss any one of these, and your pet will go into quarantine.
Our Client’s Story: Sebastian’s 28 Days in Quarantine
We’ve helped clients move pets to Hawaii under both Direct Airport Release and quarantine scenarios. One of those was Andrea, a busy professional who had to move to Hawaii before her dog Sebastian’s 120-day waiting period was complete. She chose to ship him to Hawaii early and have him serve the remaining 28 days at the main station so she could visit him regularly during the transition.
In Andrea’s words, after her first visit:
The kennels are outdoors ( I didn’t expect that at first, but it seemed to be okay). They are on a big slab of concrete, with a bed lifted off of the ground (the bed is made of ply wood and most people put blankets on the plywood. The dog has plenty of space to move around. The area is cleaned out daily with a hose.
They have a bench inside of the cage so the owner can sit and visit with their dog.
They feed the dogs 3 times a day, unless the owner instructs otherwise. The workers were giving some baths that needed them. The people working at the quarantine were very friendly. I believe they must play with the dogs, because the dogs seem to like the people (always a good sign).
You can bring your pet treats, dog beds, and toys (toys can’t have rawhide). They have a vet on staff that inspects your dog when he arrives to Hawaii. My dog has a bad leg and they left a note on his cage to tell me to come talk to the vet. The vet was just checking to make sure he didn’t get injured in his travels. I appreciated them checking.
Thanks again for all of your help,
Andrea
Sebastian arrived with a custom Hawaiian lei to welcome him to the islands. It’s a small thing, but it captured how Andrea approached the whole move: prepared, calm, and focused on making the transition as easy on Sebastian as possible.
How Animal Land Helps You Avoid (and Manage) Hawaii Quarantine
In every pet move to Hawaii, our relocation strategy is built around one goal: to get your pet on Direct Airport Release so they go home with you the same day. That means:
- Auditing your microchip timing against your rabies vaccination dates before anything else
- Coordinating with your vet on the OIE-FAVN test and the 120-day countdown
- Submitting the AQS-279 and supporting documents through the HIPOP portal well ahead of the 10-day deadline
- Booking flights that arrive within inspection hours
- Meeting your pet at the airport if you can’t be there yourself
If your timeline doesn’t allow Direct Release (e.g, military PCS orders, sudden job moves, family emergencies), we’ll get your pet to Hawaii safely and coordinate with the quarantine station so you can pick them up the moment they’re eligible.
Request a free Hawaii pet relocation quote →
Hawaii Pet Quarantine FAQs
How long is Hawaii’s pet quarantine? Up to 120 days at the Hālawa Animal Quarantine Station on Oʻahu. Pets that have completed most of the 5-Day-Or-Less requirements but arrived before their eligibility date are released as soon as the waiting period ends, often only a few days or weeks.
How much does Hawaii pet quarantine cost? $1,080 per pet for the full 120-day program. Pets arriving before their 5-Day-Or-Less eligibility date pay $14.30 per day plus a $244 program fee.
Are emotional support animals exempt from Hawaii quarantine? No. ESAs and service animals must meet every one of Hawaii’s import requirements. There are no exemptions, regardless of disability documentation.
Can I visit my pet in quarantine? Yes, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons and weekends. Only registered owners and approved visitors with photo ID may enter. Visits happen inside the kennel.
Can my pet be quarantined on Maui or the Big Island? Pets must clear inspection in Honolulu first. After that, neighbor island release is possible via a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, which must be requested at least 30 days before arrival.
How do I contact the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Station? Email is the fastest option: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov. The Halāwa station’s phone is (808) 483-7151. Mailing address: Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Hālawa Valley Street, ʻAiea, HI 96701.
