Honolulu Airport Service Animal Policies

Assistance animals are welcome to travel with passengers who have disabilities. Certain exemptions are provided to these animals, but some rules and restrictions still apply. To determine if your dog qualifies to be certified as a Psychiatric Service Dog and can be accepted as such for air travel, you can visit Pettable’s PSD service.

Honolulu International Airport Pet Relief Areas

The Honolulu Airport provides its passengers with four pet relief areas. All four are located outside and pre-security. The first station is between the International and Overseas Public Parking structures, whereas the other areas are outside Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Per Honolulu International Airport pet policy, each of the pet relief stations provide fresh water, plastic bags, and trash receptacles for handlers and owners. 


HNL Airport Pet Cargo Guide

Hawaii is a rabies-free state and takes that designation very seriously. Therefore, the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture requires that dogs and cats be quarantined when entering the country and that special permits be obtained for other pets. Quarantine can last up for 120 days and can be applied to pets residing in Hawaii if they do not complete the “5-Day-or-Less Program” while traveling. Therefore, traveling to Honolulu with your furry friend is discouraged—if not impossible—for short-term trips. Service dogs and those traveling between the Hawaiian Islands are the only exception to this rule. For more information, we recommend reading through the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Quarantine Information Page 

The Honolulu Airport pet policy does not explicitly state these limitations, and a cargo guide is still necessary for Hawaiian residents wanting to travel with their animals. Animals too large to fly within the cabin have two options: traveling as checked baggage and as cargo. The former is the easier but riskier option. simply process your pet at the flight check-in counter and pick him up at baggage claim upon arrival. If your pet is traveling as cargo, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport pet policy requires that you pick up and drop him off at an airline-specific facility. We have listed the essential location and contact information below.  

United Airlines Cargo
3033 Aolele Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
808-831-5454 

Alaska Air Cargo
111 Keehi Place
Honolulu, HI 96819
800-225-2752 

Aloha Air Cargo
50 Elliott Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
888-942-5642 

Hawaiian Air Cargo
1 Elliott Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
808-835-3300 

If your animal arrives at Honolulu International Airport without the proper preparation, forms, and identification, he will be inspected and transported out-of-State at your, the owner’s, expense. Direct release is only available for animals who travel from other Hawaiian Islands and for Hawaiian pets who qualify for the 5-day-or-less program. 

More Honolulu International Airport Pet Policies

Despite the State’s rigorous pet transport regulations, the HNL pet policy is relatively standard. Non-service animals may not be out of their crates or carriers while in the airport. The only exceptions exist for when dogs are using any of the two Service and Transit Animal Relief Stations within secured areas. If your animal is using one of these areas, he must be leashed.  

Though not explicitly mentioned in the Daniel Inouye Airport pet policy, pet parents should take the necessary precautions to avoid this airport at certain times of year. If the temperature rises above 85 degrees, your airline may deem the conditions too dangerous for your animal. 

Traveling with an animal into or out of Hawaii is incredibly stressful—more so than with other airports. If you have any questions or run into trouble with transporting your animal, the following phone numbers may be helpful.

Hawaiian Humane Society
808-833-2049 

State Airport Animal Quarantine
808-837-8092 

State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture 
808-483-7151 

 If you’re looking for a different airport, check out our airport directory.