Last reviewed: October 17, 2026 · Checked against airline, USDA and State of Hawaii sources listed at the end
Here’s some good news to start: leaving Hawaii with a pet is far easier than arriving with one. Hawaii’s strict quarantine rules apply to animals coming in. Going out, the rules that matter belong to your airline and your destination state. Plan them early, and your pet’s trip can be the least stressful part of the move.
Key takeaways
- Hawaii’s import quarantine doesn’t apply to pets leaving the islands.
- Small pets can fly in the cabin under the seat. Larger pets fly in a climate-controlled baggage compartment, or as cargo if they travel without you.
- Since October 1, 2026, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines no longer accept snub-nosed dog and cat breeds in the cargo hold.
- Pets in the hold can be refused when it’s forecast to be above 85°F or below 45°F anywhere on the route, so summer moves need extra planning.
- Your destination state sets the entry requirements. Check them, and book a vet visit as soon as you know your dates.
Why leaving is easier than arriving
Hawaii is the only rabies-free state, which is why it strictly controls animals coming in. The state’s quarantine program covers arriving pets. Its departure rules matter mainly if your pet might come back to Hawaii later without a long quarantine. If there’s any chance you’ll return with your pet, read the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s guidance before you go.
Three ways your pet can fly
| In the cabin | Checked (baggage compartment) | Cargo (Pet Connect) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small dogs and cats | Larger pets flying on your flight | Pets flying without you |
| How | Soft carrier under the seat in front of you | Hard kennel in a climate-controlled hold | Booked through Alaska/Hawaiian Air Cargo |
| Fee (Alaska Airlines, Aug 2026) | $100 each way | $200 each way | Quoted by cargo |
| Snub-nosed breeds | Allowed if the carrier fits | No longer accepted | Not accepted |
Book your own seat first, then reserve your pet’s space. Space for pets is limited on each flight.
Snub-nosed breeds
Short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats have a harder time breathing under stress and heat. Since October 1, 2026, Alaska, Hawaiian and Horizon aircraft no longer carry them in the cargo hold, including mixes. The list includes Boston Terriers, Boxers, Bulldogs, Brussels Griffons, Chow Chows, English Toy Spaniels, Japanese Chins, Mastiffs, Pekingese, Pugs and Shih Tzus, plus Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian cats. They can still fly in the cabin if their carrier fits under the seat. If yours is too big for the cabin, look into a specialist pet transport company early.
Heat, cold and the time of year
Pets in the hold or in cargo can be refused when the forecast is above 85°F or below 45°F anywhere on the route. Below 45°F, a vet’s acclimation certificate issued within 10 days of travel is required. Hawaiian’s contract of carriage has also barred checked pets on routes to Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Sacramento from April 15 to October 15. If you’re moving to a hot city in summer, ask your airline about current embargoes before you set your move date, or plan an early-morning flight.
Paperwork
- Your destination state’s rules. USDA says each state or territory sets its own requirements for pets arriving, which may include a health certificate, vaccines or tests. Use USDA’s pet travel page to look up your state.
- A health certificate from your vet. Hawaiian’s contract of carriage has required one dated within 14 days of travel for pets flying to or from Hawaii. Ask your airline for its current timing, then book the vet visit to match.
- Vaccination records, in your carry-on, not in your checked bag.
- Driving on through Canada? Canada requires proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats 3 months and older. Many Hawaii pets have never had a rabies shot, so plan time for it.
Make the flight easier on your pet
- Get the crate or carrier weeks ahead and let your pet sleep in it.
- Choose nonstop flights where you can. Pets in the baggage compartment aren’t transferred to other airlines; you claim and recheck them yourself.
- Remember that all baggage leaving Hawaii goes through USDA agricultural inspection. Pack pet supplies so they’re easy to inspect.
Frequently asked questions
Does my pet need to quarantine when leaving Hawaii?
Hawaii’s quarantine applies to animals arriving in the state, not to pets leaving. Your destination state may still have entry requirements.
Can my French Bulldog fly from Hawaii?
Bulldogs and their mixes are on the snub-nosed list, so they can’t fly in the hold on Alaska or Hawaiian. In the cabin, the carrier has to fit under the seat.
What’s the best month to fly a pet from Hawaii?
Whichever month keeps your route between 45°F and 85°F. For hot destinations, that usually means avoiding mid-summer, or flying very early in the day.
Keep planning
Sources
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture: Animal quarantine FAQs
- Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines: Traveling with pets
- Alaska Airlines newsroom: Pet travel (August 2026)
- Alaska Air Cargo: Pet Connect restrictions
- Alaska Air Cargo: Short-nosed breed restrictions (October 2026)
- Hawaiian Airlines: Contract of carriage, Rule 19 (animals)
- USDA APHIS: Pet travel between states
- Alaska Airlines newsroom: Single operating certificate
Airline pet rules change often, especially after the Alaska–Hawaiian merger. Always confirm with your airline before you book.
