Customs And Hawaii: What To Expect When Touching Down In Paradise

When travelling to Hawaii, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding customs and what you can bring into the state. Firstly, all international visitors must present a valid passport or secure document when entering the United States, including Hawaii. Additionally, Hawaii has unique agricultural rules and inspections, even for travellers coming from other parts of the US. This is due to their efforts to maintain ecological balance and restrict the introduction of potentially harmful new species. As a result, travellers are subject to agricultural inspections similar to foreign border patrol.

International travellers must present a valid passport or secure document when entering Hawaiʻi

When travelling to Hawaiʻi, international travellers must carry a valid passport or secure document. This is mandatory for all international visitors, regardless of their country of origin. A visa may also be required for entry, depending on the traveller's destination.

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 38 countries to enter the United States, including Hawaiʻi, for tourism or business purposes for 90 days or less without a visa. However, travellers entering under this program must have valid authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before travelling.

Upon arrival in Hawaiʻi, all passengers and crew members must complete a Customs Declaration Form, even if they have nothing to declare. This form can cover multiple people as long as they are from the same household. Any dutiable goods, food, plants, or animal products must be declared. If travellers are carrying $10,000 or more in cash or other negotiable instruments, they must declare it upon arrival to avoid forfeiture. It is important to note that money is not subject to taxation or duty.

In addition to the Customs Declaration Form, non-U.S. citizens, except for permanent U.S. residents and Canadian citizens, must complete an Immigration Form. For Canadian citizens, providing proof of Canadian citizenship is crucial, and a Canadian passport is the best document for this purpose.

Hawaiʻi has unique agricultural and ecological considerations due to its remote location and diverse species. Therefore, travellers should be aware of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture's requirements and carefully declare any plants, seeds, animals, or other agricultural materials on the Agricultural Declaration Form.

Customs Declaration Form must be completed by all arriving passengers and crew

All arriving passengers and crew must complete a Customs Declaration Form when travelling to Hawaii. This is true even if you have nothing to declare, and one form can cover multiple people as long as they are from the same household. The form must be completed on both sides, in English, using black or blue ink.

The form will ask you to declare any dutiable goods, food, plant or animal products. Dutiable goods include any cash or other negotiable instruments, such as endorsed cheques, totalling $10,000 or more. These must be declared upon arrival, or they will be subject to forfeiture. It is important to note that your money is not subject to taxation or duty.

The form also asks you to declare any fresh fruit and vegetables, insects, live fish, amphibians, cut flowers and foliage, live seafood, soil, growing media or sand, rooted plants or plant cuttings, raw or propagative seeds or bulbs, cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa, and reptiles. If you are not carrying any of the above, be sure to mark the box that says "none of the above".

The penalty for failing to declare these items, or providing false information, is a maximum of $25,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment. If you intentionally smuggle in a snake or other prohibited or restricted article, the crime is classified as a felony and is punishable by a maximum penalty of $200,000 and/or up to five years of imprisonment.

In addition to the Customs Declaration Form, you may also be required to fill out an Immigration Form. This is only necessary for non-US citizens, with the exception of permanent US residents and Canadian citizens.

An immigration form is required from all non-U.S. citizens, except permanent U.S. residents and Canadian citizens

When travelling to Hawaii, there are different requirements for citizens and non-citizens of the United States. All international visitors must present a valid passport or secure document when entering the United States, including Hawaii. An immigration form is required from all non-U.S. citizens, except permanent U.S. residents and Canadian citizens. This form must be completed on both sides in English, using black or blue ink. It must be completed by all arriving passengers and crew, even if they have nothing to declare. One form can cover multiple persons, as long as they are from the same household.

Canadian citizens are required to provide proof of their citizenship. A Canadian passport is the best document for this, but other documents are also accepted, such as a NEXUS card, an enhanced driver's license, or a Secure Certificate of Indian Status. These documents must be valid for the duration of the individual's stay in the United States. Canadian citizens aged 15 and under need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport.

In addition to the immigration form, all travellers to Hawaii, including U.S. citizens, are subject to agricultural inspections by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. This is to maintain ecological balance and restrict the introduction of potentially harmful or disease-carrying new species. There are rules about what can and cannot be brought into the state, including certain plants, animals, and foods. For example, citrus fruits from Florida and Puerto Rico are prohibited due to the presence of the Caribbean fruit fly.

When leaving Hawaii, travellers are subject to another set of rules set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is important to be aware of these rules and regulations when travelling to Hawaii to ensure a smooth entry and exit from the state.

Hawaiʻi's plants, foods and products may not be accepted when returning home

Hawaiʻi is one of the most geographically remote places on Earth. Separated from the US mainland by nearly 2,400 miles of ocean, and by 3,850 miles from its nearest Asiatic landfall in Japan, the islands are home to unique plants and animals as well as several hundred years' worth of geographically isolated, introduced species.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture carefully monitors what comes into the state to maintain ecological balance and restrict the introduction of potentially harmful or disease-carrying new species. This means that even if you are coming from another part of the US, you will be subject to agricultural inspections not dissimilar to foreign border patrol.

When you leave Hawaiʻi, you are subject to another set of rules set forth by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits or restricts the movement of many agricultural products from Hawaiʻi into the US mainland, Alaska, and Guam. These include most fresh fruits and vegetables and certain plants, such as flowers. This is because these items could harbour an invasive pest or disease. Just one piece of fruit or a single plant carrying an invasive pest or disease could lead to millions of dollars in damage to agriculture and the environment, expensive eradication efforts, lost trade revenue, and higher food prices.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables, including berries of any kind, fresh coffee berries, sea grapes, kikania, fresh pandanus, swamp cabbage, cotton, and cotton bolls.
• Flowers, including fresh flowers of jade vine, Mauna Loa, citrus, and citrus-related plants and parts.
• Plants and seeds for planting, such as cactus plants, seeds with fruit clinging, fresh seed pods, live insects, and snails.

Before returning home from Hawaiʻi, be sure to check the relevant guidelines and restrictions to ensure that your plants, foods, and products are allowed.

Agricultural inspections are required for those travelling with pets

The State of Hawaii is known for its unique plants and animals, as well as its geographically isolated, introduced species. To maintain this ecological balance and restrict the introduction of potentially harmful or disease-carrying new species, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture carefully monitors what comes into the state.

All passengers arriving in Hawaii with plants, animals, and any agricultural materials must declare them on the Agricultural Declaration Form distributed in-flight and handed to the Plant Quarantine Inspectors stationed in the baggage claim area. This includes dogs and cats, which are subject to quarantine, and other pets, which require special permits.

If you are travelling with pets, it is important to note that Hawaii has strict rules regarding the import of animals due to the absence of rabies on the islands. All dogs and cats, regardless of their purpose or length of stay, must comply with these regulations. Guide dogs and service animals, for example, must have a "standard health certificate issued not more than 30 days prior to arrival in Hawaii" and must have passed rabies tests in advance.

Bringing pets into Hawaii involves paperwork, waiting periods, and quarantines. It is recommended that you schedule your flight to arrive by a certain time, as your pet may be held by inspection agents if you arrive outside of this window. For more information on the specific requirements and procedures, be sure to read the State of Hawaii's Animal Industry Division quarantine page and contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture directly.

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