Traveling to Kaua’i with Your Pet? KNSAC CAN HELP WITH DIRECT RELEASE

Step 1: Planning — Double check your timeline!

This process takes a minimum of 30 days to 4 months or more!

It is essential that you plan enough time to complete the preparation process for Direct Release. Depending on your pet’s vaccination status this process may take up to 4 months or more.

Every dog or cat must meet the requirements listed on this Checklist and all required documents must be submitted earlier than for Direct Airport Release (DAR) in Honolulu; 30 days or more before the intended date of arrival. A passing FAVN test (Step 4) is needed before requesting a NIIP.

• YesNo Have you confirmed that your airline is participating? Check with your airline.
• YesNo Have you confirmed your flight is arriving directly from the mainland into Kaua’i?

  Make 1 of the following adjustments:

  1. Change your flight to arrive directly form the mainland into Lihue Airport (LIH)
  2. If you are arriving on one of the other neighbor islands, arrange Direct Release through an approved provider there.
  3. If you are arriving into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) follow Checklist 1. Your pet will be inspected on Oahu and will be free to travel within the state after inspection.
• YesNo Have you reviewed the list of requirements and confirmed your timeline? Check the list of requirements and proceed.
• YesNo Has your pet(s) traveled to Hawaii before?

Step 2: Microchipping — Make sure the microchip is working!

Pets must have a working microchip implanted prior to rabies vaccinations and FAVN titer testing. This unique number will identify the pet in the qualification process for a permit.

• YesNo Are all traveling pets microchipped? Get your pet microchipped. The pet must be microchipped prior to vaccination for rabies.
• YesNo Are all microchips working? Confirm with veterinarian.
• YesNo Do you have all the microchip numbers? Get microchip number(s) and continue to next question.

Step 3: Rabies Vaccinations — Make sure your pet is fully vaccinated!

Rabies booster or full vaccination may add 30 to 60 days to your timeline.

Your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies at least two times in their lifetime in order to travel to Hawaii. Your dog or cat can start the rabies vaccination process once they are 12 weeks old. In order to be fully vaccinated they must have received at least two rabies vaccinations more than 30 days apart.

Reminder: Your pet must have a working microchip implanted prior to rabies vaccinations and FAVN titer testing. This microchip number is needed for identification during the permit qualification process.

• YesNoHas your pet had at least 1 rabies vaccination? Once your pet is 12 weeks old you can start vaccination process. They will need 2 shots more than 30 days apart. Once complete, continue to next question.
• YesNoHas your pet had 2 rabies vaccines at least 30 days apart? Your pet needs a 2nd rabies vaccine. Make sure this is administered more than 30 days after the first shot. Complete vaccination schedule and continue.

• YesNo Is your pet's last rabies shot still valid?( i.e. within the expiration period of the booster/most recent shot.) Your pet needs another rabies vaccine/booster. Complete vaccination and continue to next question.
• YesNo Did your pet receive their most recent rabies vaccine/booster more than 30 days ago? You need to wait 30 days after your pet's last rabies vaccine before you can get the FAVN Rabies Antibody Titer Test. Complete 30 days waiting period and then get blood drawn by your veterinarian for your pet's FAVN, then continue to next step.

Step 4: FAVN Rabies Antibody Titer Test & Waiting Period

Your pet must complete a 30 day FAVN waiting period to qualify for Direct Release.

30 days after your pet's second (or most recent) rabies vaccination, have your veterinarian draw blood for the OIE-FAVN rabies test. Your pet’s bloodwork will be sent to Kansas State University, and then you can check your pet’s bloodwork status using his or her microchip number.

FAVN Waiting Period

The results may come back in less than 30 days, however there is a mandatory 30 day waiting period imposed by the state of Hawaii. This waiting period starts the day the Kansas State University lab receives the blood sample (use of intermediate labs such as Idexx, Antech, etc may delay this date and the start of your waiting period).

Note: If your pet has a passing FAVN Antibody Test result you can complete steps 5 and 6 during the waiting period to help expedite the process slightly.

Check Pet’s FAVN Status

• YesNo Has your pet had a successful (equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml) FAVN Rabies Antibody Titer Test? Get a FAVN Titer test, results may take 30 days. Once results are received go to next question.

• YesNo Have you completed the 30 day FAVN waiting period? You need to complete the FAVN waiting period. You can complete your paperwork in the meantime. Continue to next section.
• YesNo Is your pet's FAVN test still valid, i.e. received by lab less than 36 months ago? If your pet's FAVN test was received more than 36 months ago they need a new FAVN Rabies Antibody Test.

Step 5: KNSAC Direct Release Request Form

Submit this form more than 30 days before your planned arrival date. The Animal Quarantine takes up to 30 days to issue a NIIP once they consider a pet to be "qualified for entry".

Whether this is your first time working with Kaua’i North Shore Animal Clinic on Direct Release for your pet or we have been working together for years you must submit our Direct Release Request Form in order to initiate the process. Once your form is processed and your inspection confirmed we will send a confirmation to the Animal Quarantine Station. This confirmation must be received by the Animal Quarantine Station 30 days or more prior to your arrival in Hawaii.

Direct Release Request Form

• YesNo Have you filled out and submitted the direct release request form? Fill out form, and continue to next question.

Step 6: Documentation Required

Submit this form more than 30 days before your planned arrival date.

You need to apply for a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) every time your pet travels to Kaua’i. The required documentation must be received by the Animal Quarantine Station at least 30 days before your planned date of arrival in Kaua’i.

All documentation should be sent to:

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Animal Quarantine Station
99-951 Halawa Valley Street
Aiea, Hawaii 96701-5602

Have you filled out and submitted your paperwork and payment to the Animal Quarantine Station:
• YesNo Completed and signed Dog & Cat Import Form (AQS-279) AQS requires a new signed Dog & Cat Import Form for each entry to Hawaii. Complete the form and proceed.
• YesNo “Neighbor Island Inspection Permit $165” is checked on the program applying for section of the Dog and Cat Import Form AQS-279. Check Neighbor Island Inspection Permit $165 and proceed.
• YesNo Original rabies vaccine certificates (with vet signatures and microchip numbers) for the 2 most recent vaccinations. AQS requires original rabies vaccine certificates for your pet's last 2 rabies vaccinations. Get certificates with vet signature and proceed.
• YesNo Payment of $165 by cashier’s check or money order (made payable to: Hawaii Department of Agriculture) Payment is required for each entry to Hawaii. Get cashier’s check or money order and proceed.
• YesNo Flight information (i.e. Airlines, flight number, date and time of arrival). AQS requires your flight information to issue an NIIP. Confirm details and proceed.
Submit all paperwork and go to next question. **This can take 30+ days to be processed and for you to receive your. You cannot travel w/o your NIIP.

Step 7: Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP)

It may take 30 days for your NIIP to be issued.

Once the Animal Quarantine Station confirms that they have received all required documents, information, and payment (see steps 1-6) your Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) will be emailed to the primary owner listed on the AQS 279 form. You are required to print a copy of the NIIP to present it to the airline for your flight.

• YesNo Have you received your Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) for your pet(s)? You need your NIIP to travel. It can take up to 30 days for AQS to issue your NIIP.
• YesNo Have you printed your NIIP to present a copy to the airline? Warning: You must print a copy of your NIIP to present to the airline.

Step 8: Health Certificate & Long Acting Tick Treatment

The Health Certificate and Tick treatment must be done within 14 days of arrival. However most airlines require the health certificate to be dated within 10 days of travel. So, please check with your airline for guidance.

This original health certificate must also show that a veterinarian treated your pet with a long-acting product labeled to kill ticks (Revolution® is not acceptable) within 14 days of arrival. The name of the product applied in the hospital and date of treatment must be recorded on the pet’s health certificate.

Approved Tick Treatment Products

Health Certificate Checklist for Veterinarians

Sample Health Certificate

• YesNo Was your pet treated with a long acting product labled to kill ticks within within 14 days of arrival? Have your veterinarian apply an approved product and document it on the health certificate and continue to next question.
• YesNo Do you have a health certificate (must indicate the product name and that the veterinarian applied/administered the tick treatment) dated within 14 days of your arrival? Get required treatment and certificate.

Step 9: Airport Inspection & Welcome

A representative from Kaua’i North Snore Animal Clinic will greet you at Lihue airport. We will conduct a brief (10 minutes or so) inspection, collect your health certificate and permit, and scan your pet’s microchip.

We are pleased to have helped make your travel to Kaua'i with your pet as seamless as possible. If your pet needs any medical attention on Kaua’i, please give us a call. Aloha!