The vacation or relocation of your dreams is finally a reality. You're packed and ready for the tropical weather and beautiful beaches of Hawaii. But wait. Before you board the plane, be sure to have the following documents with you and not in your checked luggage. Without these your trip may be short lived.
United States Citizens
Citizens or permanent residents of the United States are required to have a government issued identification card such as a driver's license, and an Agricultural Declaration Form. This form will be given to you in-flight and Hawaii state law requires all passengers complete it. Upon arrival to Hawaii you must give the form to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the International Arrival Building. This area is divided for U.S. Residents and International Citizens. If claiming nothing you will not be required to go through additional inspection and/or possible quarantine of declared items.
Non-United States Citizens
Persons visiting Hawaii from another country must have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 -months beyond the date intended to stay, the name and address of the hotel or person you are staying with while in Hawaii, a return airline ticket or E-ticket receipt and itinerary, and a U.S. Customs Declaration form. This form will be given to you in-flight and must be given to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival. If traveling to Hawaii for an extended period of time, a U.S. Visa is also required.
Traveling with Children
Children under the age of 18 do not need to carry any documents, though if possible, bringing a state-issused driver's license or identification card may be a good idea. Parents of children under 18 must be able to verify their identity. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have a valid U.S. passport for each child.
Other Important Documents
In addition to the above documents, it may be a good idea to bring your travel itinerary, hotel reservation and address information, rental car reservation confirmation, confirmations of any preplanned activities, such as scuba diving or a helicopter tour, and emergency contact information with you during your trip. No one wants to have vacation plans ruined when a hotel loses your confirmation. Keeping these documents with you will allow the Aloha spirit to begin the minute you step off the plane.
Moving to Hawaii
If you are making your stay in Hawaii permanent, the list of must-have documents will grow exponentially. Entry into Hawaii is the same as visiting unless you are an International Citizen, in which a work permit, among other documents, will be required upon arrival. If you own pets you will need to complete an Import Form and each pet will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period. Plants will also be inspected and possibly quarantined. To be sure you covered all your bases, contact a travel agent and the Hawaii government for guidance.
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