Bringing Pets To Hawaii
Don’t forget your furry family members! Our pets are such a big part of our family that no matter where the military life takes us, they will tag along for the ride. Hawaii is a rabies-free state therefore the quarantine law gets taken seriously. The law is in place to protect people and pets from health problems that are associated with the spread of rabies. The law states that all dogs and cats must comply with all import requirements some which can be taken care of before arrival to Hawaii. If compliant with all requirements pets may qualify for a 5 day or less quarantine time or a direct release from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. If their requirements are not met pets will have to be quarantined for up to 120 days. All pets have to be 6 months or older in order to meet all requirements. This information can be found using the brochure below: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2019/08/aqsbrochure-08.2019.pdf Visiting hours at the quarantine station are: Tuesdays, Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Wednesdays: 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.Saturday, Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.(The station is closed for visitation on state holidays, Mondays and Fridays) Keep in mind that shipping your pets is at your own risk and the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture which oversees pet quarantine is not responsible for certain consequences due to shipment and confinement of pets including airline issues. The best thing to do once you receive PCS orders to Hawaii when you have a pet is planning and timing. While booking your flights through the transportation office affiliated with your Military branch please notify them that you will be traveling with pets. Check all pet policies with the airline you will be traveling with to including kennel requirements. Reach out to your Veterinarian or the closest Military Veterinary treatment facility and get started with the following: 1. Rabies vaccines. At least 2 rabies vaccines must have been administered to your pet in its lifetime. The latest vaccine being given no less than 30 days, and no more than 12 months prior to arrival in Hawaii. 2. Your pet must be microchipped. 3. A blood sample must be sent to an approved laboratory for the OIE-Fluorescent Antibody Serum Neutralization Test (OIE-FAVN), which tests for the adequate response to the rabies vaccine. 4. Health certificated by a veterinarian. Original copy will be submitted to inspector at arrival. Certificate should be done 10 days before arrival. 5. Your pet must complete the required waiting period from the date the lab receives the FAVN samples. For 5 days or less quarantine the wait period is 30 days. To check the laboratory tests results which will be sent to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture click the link below: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-microchip-search/ The checklist for all requirements to ship a pet to Honolulu are in the link below: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2019/08/aqsbrochure-08.2019.pdf Quarantine fees are as follows: The 120-day quarantine program costs $1,080 per pet.The 5 Day or Less quarantine program costs $244 per pet.The direct release program costs $185 per pet. *Military members should check with the commands to possibly receive reimbursement from the Department of Defense for up to $550 per family. If you have any questions you can contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture- Animal Quarantine Station: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov808-483-7151http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/ Here are some Pet shipping companies in case airlines are not able to ship our pets: Island Pet Movers https://islandpetmovers.com/ Starwood Animal transport services https://www.starwoodanimaltransport.com/ Pacific Air Cargo http://pacificaircargo.com/vip-pet-service/ Happy travels! Daniella Horne Freelance blogger, Military Spouse, Social Media Coordinator for Blue Star Families Hawaii, and Motherhood Blogger for Momma & Sprouts.
Shipping Your POV
Beep Beep! Hawaii here we come! Besides household goods shipping your privately owned vehicle (POV) is a major step in your PCS adventure and it is one step that might need extra attention since all PCS locations deal with it a bit differently. Let’s start with the basics and tell you that only ONE privately owned vehicle is allowed to be shipped at the Government’s expense. It does not matter if you own two cars or if you have four dependents and they all have their own… only ONE will be covered by the government. Now that we got that out of the way… Who is allowed to ship a POV at the government’s expense? 1. Military Service members with orders to PCS or PDS and Military Service members with a change in Ship’s home port. 2. Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian employee with transfer orders or trainee with PDS orders. 3. A Military Service member retiring or separating from the Military. If you are retiring or separating you have one year from the date of retirement/separation with severance pay or 180 days from the date of separation. Once you have orders to PCS and you have made the decision to ship your POV through the government you will need to proceed to your local transportation office. You will find these in the installation you are attached too. You can choose to do this without the government’s help however it will be up to you to find a shipping company. If a separate company is contracted the service member is responsible for all issues related to the shipping process. For example, the TMO for Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam personnel: Transportation Management Office (TMO) – 4825 BOUGAINVILLE DRIVEHONOLULU, HI 968188084737782 Keep in mind that you will need to know how much your vehicle weighs for shipping. A POV for shipment should not exceed 20 measurement tons. You can easily calculate this by multiplying the length, width and height of your POV in inches then dividing the total by 1728 which will give you the cubic ft of POV. You will then divide that by 40 and the total will be the POV MTON weight. POV transportation by air is NOT allowed. Once you have a shipment date you will need to take your vehicle to a shipment location in your area. Your POV will need to be at ¼ of a tank of fuel or less. Clean your POV inside out. Ensure there are no recalls or mechanical issues. Must meet federal emissions and safety standards for the Country or State you will be shipping it to. Have all paperwork for proof of ownership on hand to include vehicle registration or lien holder letter. Extra set of keys for you to keep after shipping. Your POV will be inspected and you will be given a DD Form 788 for your records. Keep it in case you need to file claims once you receive your vehicle. For more information on restrictions and prohibitions in POV shipment to Hawaii you can review the Personal Property Consignment Instruction Guide (PPCIG). https://www.move.mil/sites/default/files/inline-files/OCONUS%20State%20%28Alaska%20and%20Hawaii%29%20Country%20Instructions%20%28%20August%202019%20v1%29.pdf What are some items you can ship inside your POV? Vehicle tools. Do not exceed $200. Spare tire, jumper cables, first aid kits, road side assistance items Car seats, strollers, pack and plays Any audio or video equipment as long as it is permanent and bolted in the POV. Do NOT ship: Household items Flammables, pressurized items or hazardous substances POV pick up at destination You will be notified of your vehicle’s arrival at your final destination and it will be your responsibility to arrange pick up. Have all proper documentation on hand plus the set of spare keys and DD form 788. Inspect your vehicle for any possible damages and ensure that all items left inside the vehicle at time of shipment are still there. If any damages are found you will need to record these on the DD Form 788 for future claims and payouts. Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) Honolululocal: 808-670-3095phone Toll Free: 855-389-9499Fax: phone 808-439-6847Email: Honolulu.VPC@ialpov.usForrest Avenue Pier 1Honolulu, HI, 96813https://www.pcsmypov.com/Locations/Honolulu%20VPC Additional questions concerning POV entitlements or shipping rates should be addressed to the customer's respective Service as follows: Army: usarmy.ria.asc.list.oco-personal-property@mail.mil Air Force: ppahq.ppec.customerservice@us.af.mil Navy: householdgoods@navy.mil Marines: usmcpersonalproperty@usmc.mil Coast Guard: HQS-DG-LST-CG-1332-TRAVEL@uscg.mil You can also read the Defense Transportation Regulations Https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_app_k_3.pdf Once your Vehicle arrives to Hawaii make sure you check out the Honolulu Vehicle Registration DMV website for required paperwork to legally and safely drive in the state. Honolulu vehicle registration https://www.honolulu.gov/ If you have decided to ship your vehicle through a separate contracted company here are our top 5 vehicle shipping companies in Hawaii. 1. Coastal Auto Shipping toll Free: 1 888 207 3176Local: (786) 257-1504 (786) 257-150info@coastalautoshipping.com https://coastalautoshipping.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3s_4BRDPARIsAJsyoLOdLwojeOSsgPMplv4aiq6zAe2uDUgS-ECm5Wido68CysHaHwPXdnoaAjjIEALw_wcB 2.Hawaii Car Transport Quotes & Bookings: (808) 445-6695Customer Service: (808) 445-6541 https://www.hawaiicartransport.com/hawaii-motorcycle-shipping.php?r=hvycf4&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3s_4BRDPARIsAJsyoLNa19Ypbc_UvQiPLK9X_y75chB9Exs0Vy_ftkgKW0UZKi9nWcWp1AAaAkxkEALw_wcB 3. Pasha Hawaii Margaret Groth- Military LiaisonMargaret_Groth@pashanet.comOffice: (415) 927-6560Customer Service: (866) 363-7485https://www.pashahawaii.com/contact-us/military 4. Schumacher Cargo Toll Free: 800-599-0190Phone: 562-408-6677https://www.schumachercargo.com/ 5. Matson 1-800-4MATSON (800-462-8766)customerservice@matson.comhttps://www.matson.com/ship-your-car-with-matson-2.html Hope this information makes your PCS less stressful, we have all been there and understand how tough it can be to plan everything perfectly. Good Luck! Daniella Horne Freelance blogger, Military Spouse, Social Media Coordinator for Blue Star Families Hawaii, and Motherhood and lifestyle Blogger for Momma & Sprouts.
TLA & TLA Approved Hotels
Aloha and welcome to Hawaii! Now what? Well first things first, where will you and your family be staying while the search for housing starts? Thankfully, Military service members can receive Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) which helps service members partially pay for the expenses that will come up with finding lodging. TLA is available to service members before leaving or at arrival to an OCONUS location (outside contiguous United States). Remember: Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories are considered overseas. What is TLA Special? Military life shows us that not everything might go smoothly and that includes finding lodging within the TLA rate provided by the Defense Travel Management Office. When lodging rates in the area are higher due to seasonal fares or upcoming events TLA Special is allowed on a case by case basis to help with insufficient funding. TLA is allowed for a maximum of 60 days while actively seeking housing. Even though every Military Branch is different, it is highly suggested to check in with your Command every 15 days while house hunting, this helps verify that you are actively looking for housing and also allows payments and paperwork to be updated. Here is a quick link with TLA rates according to the Service members status and household. https://home.army.mil/hawaii/application/files/1615/9495/2436/TLARates-Oahu.pdf For any other questions you can check out this link for the DOD Defense Travel Management Office. https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqtla.cfm So now that you know what TLA is and what it is used for, where do you stay? Great question! Finding lodging while using TLA is more than just using Yelp to find the next hotel downtown. It comes down to finding a hotel that approves TLA. Keep in mind that some hotels might not call it TLA so when booking you can also mention “military rates”. Here are some of the latest links on TLA approved lodging on Oahu. https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrh/installations/jb_pearl_harbor_hickam/ffr/housing_and_lodging/family_and_unaccompanied_housing/housing_services/temporary_lodging_allowance.html https://home.army.mil/hawaii/application/files/7215/9495/0298/TLA_Approved_Hotels_June_2020.pdf There are also Military hotels which are on the installations which you can make reservations for your stay. These are convenient if you are still waiting on your transportation to be shipped or you would like easier access to the on base privileges such as commissary, libraries, gyms, food courts and of course your new command. https://www.navy-lodge.com/Hawaii https://ngis.dodlodging.net/propertys/Pearl-Harbor-JB-Hickam(Hickam-Side) http://mccshawaii.com/lodge/ Here is a list of our Top 10 TLA approved hotels on Oahu just for you! 1. The Airport Hotel Honolulu https://www.theairporthonoluluhotel.com/military3401 N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819808-836-0661Military Liaison: Les Nishimura(808) 372-0587Les.nishimura@outrigger.com Amenities at the Airport hotel include complimentary wi-fi, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, pet friendly rooms and outdoor areas, guest laundry, ATM machines, Dry cleaning services, picnic areas and more. 2. Navy Lodge- Hawaii https://www.navy-lodge.com/Hawaii1275 Saratoga Blvd. Bldg. 78Pearl Harbor, HI 96818808-440-2290 Amenities include free wi-fi, complimentary breakfast, laundry and vending machines, swimming pool, playground and pet friendly. 3. Hale Koa https://www.halekoa.com/2055 Kalia RoadHonolulu, Hawaii 96815808-955-0555 Amenities at the Hale Koa include swimming pools, beach access, dinning areas, spa, fitness center, snack bar, complimentary wi-fi, vending machines and experiences such as their Hale Koa Luau and Sunday brunch. 4. Embassy Suites by Hilton, Kapolei https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/jrfokes-embassy-suites-oahu-kapolei/725 Manawai St.Kapolei, HI 96707808-674-8222 Amenities include free wi-fi, complimentary evening reception, on site restaurant, fitness center, free breakfast and more. 5. Navy Gateway Inns and Suites https://ngis.dodlodging.net/propertys/Pearl-Harbor-JB-HickamJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Pearl Harbor Side)Arizona Hall Front Desk1623 Battleship DriveJBPHH, Hawaii, 96860808-800-2337 Amenities include laundry facilities, pet friendly rooms, access to base amenities, in room safe and business center. 6. Aqua Skyline https://www.aquaaston.com/445 Seaside AvenueHonolulu, HI 96815866-970-4163 Amenities include activities desk, sauna, vending machines, convenience store and café, weekly manager reception, pool and sun deck, dry cleaning services and more. They also have extra amenities for an extra charge which include Waikiki shuttle services, beach towels and chairs, admissions to the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Art for two and more. 7. Paradise Bay Resort https://www.paradisebayresort.com/47-039 Lihikai DriveKaneohe, Hawaii 96744808-239-5711 All rooms include a kitchen or kitchenette, private lanais, Friday’s Pau Hana, Live entertainment on Wednesdays, free kayak and snorkel equipment rental, outdoor pool and hot tub, paddleboards and pet friendly rooms available upon request. 8. Schofield Inn https://innatschofield.com/563 Kolekole Ave.Wahiawa, HI 96786808-624-9650 Amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, outdoor grills, roll away beds and cribs, café, convenience store and mail services. 9. Hampton by Hilton Kapolei https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/jrfhxhx-hampton-suites-oahu-kapolei/91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 900Kapolei, HI 96707808-628-4900 Amenities include free breakfast, complimentary wi-fi, indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center and are located in the Ka Makana Ali'i shopping center which has many eateries, restaurants and shops. 10. Surfjack Hotel https://surfjack.com/offer/tla-rate/412 Lewers St.Honolulu, HI 96815833-330-0130 Amenities include no pet charges for TLA rates, refrigerator, pool, daily housekeeping, complimentary Wi-Fi, restaurant on site, weekly night live experiences, private lanai and more. *********Due to Covid-19 the current state of Hawaii guideline is 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers to include residents. Some hotels are currently not open due to the Pandemic however the ones that are such as the Hale Koa are taking all proper precautions and working at 50% capacity to help you enjoy your stay. Hope this makes your travels a bit easier. Keep in mind that when you find housing all your travel related receipts should be kept in case mistakes in pay are made so that you have proof of expenses.
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