Moving to the Big Island With a Dog or Cat? Start the Paperwork Early.

Hawaiʻi is the only rabies-free state,⁶ and it protects that status with some of the strictest pet import rules in the country. If you're moving to the Big Island with a dog or cat, the paperwork is very doable. The timeline is what catches people.

Every dog and cat entering Hawaiʻi, puppies and kittens included, has to meet the state's rabies requirements. Pets that qualify for the 5 Day Or Less program can be released at the airport. Pets that don't can be held in quarantine for up to 120 days.¹

What your pet needs before the flight

Here's the core list from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity:¹²

• A working microchip, implanted before the blood test.
• At least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime, given more than 30 days apart. The most recent one has to be more than 30 days old and still current on arrival day.
• A passing FAVN rabies antibody test (0.5 IU/ml or higher) from an approved lab: Kansas State, Auburn, Missouri, or the DOD lab. Make sure "HAWAII" is listed as the destination on the lab form. Don't let your vet substitute a RFFIT or other screening test.
• A 30-day wait that starts the day after the lab receives the blood sample. Arrive early and your pet doesn't qualify. The test also has to be no more than 36 months old on arrival day.
• A health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival, plus a vet-applied tick treatment within that same window, recorded on the certificate. Some airlines want the health certificate within 10 days, so check yours. Since New World screwworm was detected on the mainland in June 2026, the certificate also needs a statement that your pet was inspected and found free of screwworm.¹³

The state is warning that FAVN results are running one to two months behind.¹ That's the step to start first.

Flying straight into Kona

You can skip Honolulu and fly your pet directly into Kona, but it takes one more layer. You need a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, which costs $165. The state has to receive your documents, including the Dog & Cat Import Form (AQS-279), 30 days or more before arrival, and it won't issue the permit until you have a passing FAVN result.¹³

You also have to book an approved private vet to meet your flight at KOA, and that vet has to confirm with the state before your permit is issued. The state's lists name Aliʻi Veterinary Hospital and Keauhou Veterinary Hospital, plus Kona Direct Release on the Kona checklist and Kona Veterinary Service on the state's facilities page.³⁴ Confirm the current list with the state before you call around. Their inspection fee is separate from the state's, so get a quote before you book your flight. Some airlines don't participate in direct neighbor island pet arrivals, so confirm that too.¹

If you land in Honolulu instead, Direct Airport Release is $185 when your documents arrive 10 or more days ahead, and $244 if they don't.¹² Then you still need to get your pet to the Big Island. My Kona area guide covers what's on the west side once you're here.

A realistic timeline

If your pet already has two rabies vaccines on record, I'd plan on about three months from the blood draw to a Kona arrival. Lab delays plus the 30-day document deadline add up fast. For a young puppy or kitten, the state says to expect the pet to be about 6 months old before it can qualify.¹

One thing that helps: since March 2026, you can apply online through the state's Hawaiʻi Pet Owner Portal and upload vaccine records, test results and fees in one place.⁵ Rules and fees can change, so always confirm with the Animal Quarantine Branch at dab.hawaii.gov or [email protected] before you book anything.

When a move includes a pet, the pet plan often decides the closing and move-in date, not the other way around. It's worth sorting out early. If you're still choosing where to land, my moving guide, area comparisons and neighborhood quiz are good places to start, and my buying page walks through the process from offer to keys.

General information, not veterinary or legal advice. Pet import rules are set by the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and can change without notice. Confirm every requirement with the Animal Quarantine Branch and your veterinarian.

A shorter version first went out in my Monday note on Substack on Nov 2, 2026 (original ↗). This page is the updated, sourced version, last reviewed November 2, 2026.

General information only, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Facts reviewed against the cited sources on November 2, 2026; rules and rates change. Hayden Fennoy is a REALTOR® (S) with eXp Realty, not an attorney or tax professional. Verify any specific property with the appropriate County or State office and your own advisors.