Hawaiian Airlines Service Dog Policy

This article was last updated on December 11, 2024.

Want to take your service dog in the cabin to Hawaii? Here’s what you need to do to fly with your service dog on Hawaiian Airlines:

1. Book your flight and notify Hawaiian Airlines at least 48 hours before departure
2. Submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form
3. Get a health certificate from your vet within 14 days of arrival
4. For neighbor islands, obtain a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP)
5. Meet airline staff for quarantine or inspection upon arrival

Hawaiian Airlines will happily welcome your service dog or psychiatric service dog in the aircraft cabin free of charge. If you have an emotional support animal, you’ll fly under Hawaiian Airlines’ Pet Policy and have to pay pet fees. Now, let’s dig into all the details you’ll need for an easy, breezy trip to tropical paradise with your service dog.

Hawaiian Airlines Service Dog Documentation Requirements 

DOT Service Animal Form 

Hawaiian Airlines requires the Department of Transportation’s Service Animal form for all flights. Submit this form when you make your reservation if booking more than 48 hours ahead. For last-minute bookings, bring the form to the gate on your day of travel. 

Relief Attestation Form 

For flights over 8 hours, you’ll also need a Relief Attestation Form confirming your dog can handle the long flight without creating sanitation issues.

Health Certificate 

The State of Hawaii requires all animals entering Hawaii, including service dogs, to have a valid health certificate. The timing and requirements vary depending on your route.

For flights to Hawaii from North America, you must obtain a health certificate dated within 14 days of your arrival in Hawaii. The certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian. If you’re planning a round-trip journey and booked both flights on the same reservation (same confirmation code), Hawaiian Airlines offers a special exception for service dogs: your original health certificate remains valid for the return flight as long as it’s within 30 days of issuance. 

However, if your return flight to Hawaii is on a separate reservation, you’ll need a new health certificate dated within 14 days of that arrival. For flights solely within Hawaii (inter-island) or departing Hawaii to the mainland, no health certificate is required. The certificate should verify your dog’s overall health status and document all required vaccinations. Keep in mind that this requirement is separate from and in addition to any other documentation needed for Hawaii’s animal quarantine program.

Service Dog Accessories

You don’t need a service dog ID, tag, vest, or other accessory when flying with Hawaiian Airlines. However, most handlers use one or all of these items so that the airline staff knows you have a working animal. We also recommend doing this; it can help facilitate the boarding process when airline attendants know your dog’s status.

If you need a service dog for mental health reasons and you’re unsure about whether you meet ADA disability requirements, it can be helpful to get a PSD letter that has a healthcare professional’s opinion on whether you qualify. 

Get your PSD Letter

The Arrival Experience: What Really Happens

Here’s something many travelers don’t realize until they’re planning their trip: Hawaii is the only rabies-free state in the U.S., and they take this status seriously. This means getting your service dog into Hawaii involves more steps than other domestic flights, like to California or Florida.

Let’s say you’re flying from Los Angeles to Maui with your service dog Max. You’ll need different documentation and follow different procedures than you would for a mainland flight. Consider it more like an international trip because that’s almost how Hawaii treats arriving animals.

Let’s give you a realistic picture of what arrival looks like at different Hawaiian airports. It will not be what you usually expect upon arrival for domestic flights!

Landing in Honolulu (HNL)

Let’s say your flight from Seattle just landed at 11 AM in Honolulu. While other passengers rush to grab their bags and head to the beach, you’ll want to stay put. A Hawaiian Airlines agent will meet you at your seat — they’re your guide through the next part of your journey.

They’ll escort you to the Animal Quarantine Facility (AQF), which is right at the airport. Think of it as a special customs checkpoint just for animals. The timing of your arrival will affect your experience — you should avoid evening arrivals if you have a service dog:

If you land at 7 AM (early arrival):

• You and your service dog wait in a designated area
• The airline provides an escort to stay with you
• Once the facility opens at 8:30 AM, you’re first in line
• Total wait time: about 1-2 hours

Ideal time for landing (around 11 AM):

• Direct escort to the facility
• Documentation check
• Quick health inspection
• Usually done within an hour

Evening arrival (after 4:30 PM):

• Facility is closed
• Your service dog stays overnight
• They provide care, but it’s not ideal
• Pick-up next morning after 8:30 AM

Arriving on Neighbor Islands

When flying directly to Kauai, Maui, or the Big Island with your service dog, you’ll need to undergo a unique inspection process since these airports don’t have quarantine facilities. Let’s break down exactly what this means and how it works.

First, let’s talk about the Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP). This document is your golden ticket for direct flights to neighboring islands. Here’s how to get one:

1. Contact the Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Branch at (808) 483-7151
2. Do this at least 30 days before your flight
3. You’ll need to provide:
   • your flight information
   • your pet’s vaccination records
   • planned island of arrival
   • copy of your health certificate

They’ll then assign you a specific inspector for your arrival at the airport and give you an appointment time based on your flight arrival.

Let’s walk through a typical arrival scenario at Kahului Airport (Maui):

Your flight lands at 2 PM. While other passengers are grabbing their bags and heading to their resorts, your process looks like this:

1. Stay seated when the flight lands
2. A Hawaiian Airlines agent meets you at your seat
3. They escort you and your service dog to a designated inspection area
4. Your pre-assigned inspector will meet you there
5. The inspector will:
   • check your dog’s microchip
   • review health certificates
   • verify rabies vaccinations
   • complete final paperwork
6. Once cleared, you’re free to begin your vacation

The whole process usually takes 30-45 minutes if all your paperwork is in order.

Neighbor island arrivals can be tricky, and timing matters because inspectors aren’t airport employees. They come specifically for scheduled inspections and may have multiple appointments that day.

If your flight is delayed or changed, contact your inspector immediately, you may need to reschedule the inspection.

Pro Tips for Neighbor Island Arrivals

Here are some tips that will help you avoid headaches when traveling to neighbor islands in Hawaii: 

• Save your inspector’s contact information in multiple places
• Choose mid-day flights when possible
• Have a backup plan for accommodation if the inspection gets delayed
• Keep water and supplies handy — the inspection area may be basic
• Make sure your dog is comfortable being handled by strangers

Rules During Flight

Let’s now go over the actual flight experience. Your service dog needs to stay in your floor space, but here’s what that really means in practice. If you have a smaller dog (say, a 15-pound service dog), it can sit comfortably at your feet or fit on your lap if they’re small enough.

Keep in mind that larger service dogs cannot encroach on the aisle or your neighbor’s footspace. You can request a seat that has an empty seat next to it. As is the case with all airlines, your service dog must be under your control at all times and not cause a disturbance or safety hazard during the flight. 

FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered

1. Can my dog sit in an empty seat next to me?
   Nope, even if the plane’s half empty. Your service dog needs to stay in your floor space or on your lap if they’re small enough.

2. Does Honolulu Airport have dog relief areas?
   Yes! Click here for a map of relief areas at Honolulu Airport. 

3. Do I really need a NIIP if I’m flying directly to Maui?
   Yes, absolutely! Without an inspector scheduled through your NIIP, no one will be authorized to clear your dog for entry at Maui’s airport. 

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