BRINGING YOUR DOG MAINLAND > HAWAI'I Everything you need to know!

@thisisthays_

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SoundTikTok sound · original sound - thisisthays_

Why it worked

The video offers practical, step-by-step advice on a complex and emotionally charged topic (moving pets internationally), presented by a relatable creator sharing her personal experience. The clear breakdown of requirements and the positive outcome of her own move make it highly valuable and shareable for others in a similar situation.

Summary

This video provides a guide on how to bring dogs from the US mainland to Hawaii, detailing the necessary steps and requirements. It covers microchipping, vaccinations, the Favni test, airline arrangements, health certificates, and costs, emphasizing the importance of checking official guidelines due to potential rule changes.

Structure

1Introduction to moving dogs to Hawaii
2Pre-move preparations (microchip, vaccinations, Favni test)
3Airline and travel logistics
4Costs and crate acquisition
5Arrival and quarantine process
6Tips for dog comfort and future content

Product placement

SEA (airport name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Frontier (airline name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Sun Country (airline name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. American (airline name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. TAP AIR PORTUGAL (airline name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Alaska Airlines (airline name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Petmate (brand of dog crate) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Labbigo (brand of dog waste bag dispenser) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Favni Vet (veterinary clinic name) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Facebook Marketplace (platform) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video. Gucci (brand) - appears, does not act, removing it would not change the video.

Original caption

🐶🌺 HOW WE MOVED OUR 2 DOGS FROM MARYLAND TO HAWAII First, a disclaimer: this was OUR experience moving dogs to Hawaii in March 2026. Requirements can change, so always verify everything directly with Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine Program before making plans. Official website: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/ Here’s the simplified timeline we followed: 📅 4–6 MONTHS BEFORE MOVING ✅ Make sure your dog has a microchip. ✅ Make sure rabies vaccinations are current and properly documented. Hawaii generally requires two rabies vaccinations administered according to program requirements. ✅ Schedule the FAVN rabies antibody test with your veterinarian. The FAVN is a blood test that measures rabies antibodies and is one of the most important parts of the process. ⏳ AFTER THE FAVN TEST ✅ Wait the required period after the blood sample is received by the approved laboratory. This timeline requirement is what surprises most people, so start early. ✅ Gather all records and forms required by Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine Program. ✅ Pay the required fees. ✅ Mail the paperwork to Hawaii. Do NOT wait until the last minute. ✈️ AS SOON AS YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT Call your airline and reserve a pet spot immediately. Many airlines limit the number of pets allowed on each flight. Our dogs flew with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Other airlines may have different requirements. 🐾 IMPORTANT FOR SHORT-NOSED BREEDS If you have a brachycephalic (short-nosed) breed, contact airlines early. Some airlines restrict or refuse transportation for certain breeds. In some situations, you may need to use a professional pet shipper. 🏥 ABOUT 10 DAYS BEFORE THE FLIGHT Schedule your veterinary appointment. ✅ Health Certificate ✅ Final paperwork review ✅ Verify that all requirements have been completed correctly 🌺 ARRIVAL IN HAWAII If everything is completed correctly, your dog may qualify for Direct Airport Release and avoid quarantine. After landing in Honolulu, our paperwork was reviewed and we had both dogs with us approximately 30–40 minutes later. Hopefully this helps anyone planning a move to Hawaii with pets! And remember: always verify requirements directly through Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine Program because rules can change at any time. 🌺🐶

More from @thisisthays_

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Transcript

Everything you need to know about bringing dogs from the US mainland to Hawaii. Hi, my name is Thays and I'm a military spouse and I recently moved from Maryland to Hawaii with my family and of course, there was no way we were leaving our dogs behind. Also, this is NOT meant to be telling people to move here. It's to help people who NEED to move here anyway like locals coming back to their home with new pets or military families. This is a quick overview based on our experience. I'll leave more details in the caption but keep in mind that things change. The first thing that is Hawaii is rabies free. So bringing pets here is very different from moving between most states in the US mainland. About four to six months before you move, make sure your dog has a microchip and at least two rabies vaccinations documented correctly throughout their life. And the last vaccination of course needs to be recent. Then you need to do the Favni test, which is a blood test that checks your dog's antibodies. This is one of the most important steps for Hawaii because it requires a waiting period after the test before your dog can enter the state. After that, you submit all the paperwork through the mail, vaccination records and fees to the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Program. You will also need to coordinate everything with your dog's airline. If your dog is small enough, they may be able to fly in cabin with you. Larger dogs like mine usually checked or cargo depending on the airline. And if you have short nosed breeds, listen up, make sure to check airline restrictions early because some airlines won't transport them and you may need to use a pet shipper. And that's when people spend thousands of dollars to take their dogs somewhere. One thing that people forget is that you need to reserve your dog's airline spot when you buy your tickets because space for pets is often limited on aircraft. A few days before the flight, you will also need a health certificate from your veterinarian. Now let's talk about prices. For us, everything, crates, testing, veterinarians, blah blah blah, it was all around $1500 for both dogs and I don't think that was bad. I'll share more details in the caption. So make sure you read. One tip that I can give you is to buy your crates on Facebook Marketplace. We got both for $100 and the good news is that if everything correctly, your dog can qualify for direct airport release and avoid quarantine. So when we landed in Honolulu, the process was actually very easy. They checked our paperwork and we had both dogs with us about 30 minutes after landing. No need for quarantine if you do everything correctly. And if you're scared about sending your dogs in cargo like I was, make sure you do crate training so they feel more comfortable on their crate. Overall, my dogs didn't like the process, they were fine, and they love being here now. If you're planning a move here, don't forget to check the Hawaii Animal Quarantine website for the most up-to-date requirements and rules, since rules can change anytime. And if you wanna follow our new life in Hawaii, this is probably my last moving video and from now on I'll be sharing more about our fresh start here and so many cool things that I wanna do. Thank you for watching. Ciao.