Direct release vs 5 day wait for pets

[Brav989]

Originally Posted by Sweetbeet

I don't think that's right; I just checked the official checklist (http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/aqs-checklist-5.pdf), and it says the blood test must be a *minimum* of 120 days, and a *maximum* of three years, before the animal's entry into Hawaii. Please, if anyone knows otherwise from actual experience, let me know - this is critical for a lot of us!

As far as I'm aware the information you have is correct

[jessiesma]

is hard for me so thanks for catching my error. It's pretty critical for all of us even if we have time to plan. I wouldn't want to wait until 119 days before my flight to take care of it

[wendyfish]

I did get Molly over here in May, we did have to wait on the mainland the full 120 days, no way around that, there are some kennels and pet care centers here on the Big Island, and you can visit them there while you wait for 120 days. Or maybe you can arrange a friend to flight the animals over after the 120 days
lol
Wendy

[apecoff]

Originally Posted by Genxor

I am a little late posting , but if you haven't found out your info ....

All pets have to go to Honolulu, as that is where the quarantine station/ pets are checked is located .

We were moving to Hilo, so were in the same boat as you Wendyfish.

It is all but impossible for you to be with your dog, check your dog in at the interisland terminal etc., even after your pet has being checked and released from the quarantine dept.

Your airline will take your pet upon arrival in Honolulu to the quarantine facility , this is near the airport , but off airport property. It will take approx. 2 hrs. for the pet to be checked out and authorized for direct release ( if that is what you are doing. This 2 hrs. is all hypothetical, maybe- maybe not.

Pets of any size crate in cargo on Hawaiian or Aloha are not guaranteed for YOUR flight, depends on how packed your flight is.

So thus, you would have to get a taxi at Honolulu to the quarantine facility, wait for your pets, take a taxi back with your pets to the airport, check-in with your pets at Hawaiian or Aloha and hope your pets make your flight.

We chose to go with a handler , who picked the pets up at quarantine, did all of the footwork, paperwork, booked the flights for the pets. The handler charged $85. I have their name and number if anyone wishes to use them.

Your pet will be in a "run" at the airport, they are not left in the crate.

If your pet is larger ( we had a German Shepard) in a series 500 ( or 700) I forget, crate - they can only travel to HILO on the specific cargo plane that arrives in Hilo at 10:30 ( plus or minus).

Those of you traveling from the east coast to Hawaii, have your "ducks in a row" , because if you have a larger pet that can only travel "cargo" , allow time for screw-ups by the airlines - meaning allow a yourself a le-way with your health certificates / documents. We lost a day due to this.

Great information! I am moving to Kauai from Australia and no-one can give information on what will happen when I arrive in Honolulu. How do I get them booked on my flight to Kauai so we can arrive together!? Do I go to the ticket counter and hope they get on or somehow do it before I arrive in Hawaii? Also I think a Pet Handler would be great. I'm travelling alone so would like the number. Thanks!

[Sweetbeet]

It depends on when your flight will arrive in Honolulu. We sent our kitties ahead of us (we drove cross country), and my sister flew over from Kauai to get them. Their plane wasn't scheduled to arrive until 6:30 p.m., so by the time they cleared agriculture (quarantine), it was too late to get a flight out to Kauai. So, sis stayed with them overnight in Honolulu. If that is necessary for you, be aware that pet-friendly accommodations are very scarce (they're there, but there aren't a lot of choices). One other option is to arrange with the SPCA to have your pets stay there overnight while you stay in a hotel. But then you can't leave too early, I don't think the SPCA/Humane Society opens until 9.

I booked sis's flight (with the cats - 2 of them - sis had to take her daughter, as Hawaiian has a "one pet per person" policy) on Hawaiian from NY, about a month or two ahead of time (maybe 3 months, not sure). You have to CALL, you can't do it online, because there is no way to specify that you will have a pet or check if they have space. I actually booked flights online (MISTAKE!), then called to make sure it'd be OK for the cats, and found out that there WASN'T room on the flight. So I had to change it to a different flight (very early in the morning - pet space fills up quickly, at least in July), and pay for the change. When I called the agent was able to check on which flights had room and reserve spaces for the kitties (they got their own reservation codes).

When the day came all went smoothly (at least, the Kauai leg). The flight from Newark to Honolulu (the only east coast-HI nonstop) was delayed, and it was 'touch and go' as to whether they'd get in before quarantine closed at 8 p.m. As it was, the pilot made up some time, and they just made it. Also, the ag guys were very nice, they were expecting sis when she showed up and didn't seem to mind being there a little past 8. BUT, don't count on it!

Good luck and if there are any other questions I can answer let me know. Our kitties (Booger and Elvis) are now lounging quite comfortably on the lanai (after a few little fish treats after dinner), right here in Kauai. It was SO good to see them after our long road trip from NY to California!

[HankDfrmSD]

Here is the Hawaii Dept of Agriculture web-site.

Animal Quarantine Information — Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Read the "Checklist for five day or less program".

http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/aqs-checklist-5.pdf

[Koale]

Aloha, Well, we made the journey from Seattle to The Big Island in two trips.
1 adult, 1 car and 1 dog each trip. Absolutely smooth sailing both times.

I was in the 2nd installment and had a 4 hour departure delay due to computer problems, and was assured my 'little guy' was comfortable and in climate controlled environment. Whew... cuz I wasn't... anyway.

Even though we missed our original flight we were re-booked on the next flight out...45 minutes later. By the time I stepped off our flight and got to
Quarantine, which is only a 5 minute walk from the Hawaiian Airlines terminal, my dog was being brought in the back door. I was out of there in 10 minutes.
Due to him and his carrier meeting the 25 -lb limit I was able to carry him on with me in the cabin from Honolulu to Kona. He was required to fly as baggage from Seattle to Honolulu.

I used his soft-sided kennel as one of my 'carry-on' bags and simply transfered the stuff I packed in that to the hard-sided kennel he originally left Seattle in.

Lickity-Split... worked it the same both times around. Simply shipped both kennels back to the mainland, one packed inside the other, so we didn't need to make a second purchase. I thought that was pretty good thinking on our part.

Did I mention we flew Hawaiian Airlines? Wouldn't fly any other way.

A hui hou and happy landing
Koale