Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going From Hawaii to

Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going From

Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

United States Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits

or restricts the movement of many agricultural products

from Hawaii into the U.S. mainland, including most

fresh fruits and vegetables and certain types of plants

and owers. That’s because these items could harbor

a dangerous stowaway—an invasive pest or disease.

Just one piece of fruit or a single plant that is carrying an

invasive pest or disease could cause millions of dollars

in damage and lead to expensive eradication efforts, lost

trade revenue, and higher food prices.

To prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases,

APHIS inspects all passenger bags moving from Hawaii

to the U.S. mainland, Alaska, and Guam. APHIS ofcials

perform the inspection at the airport prior to your

departure.

Please be prepared to open and close your own

bags. Do not tape coolers and boxes closed until after

inspection. If you have any fresh fruits or vegetables,

plants, owers, souvenirs made from plants or wood,

or other agricultural products with you, please tell the

inspector. Failure to declare these items can result in

delays and possible issuance of civil penalties ranging

from $100 to $1,000 per violation.

If you wish to ship or mail agricultural items to the U.S.

mainland and Alaska, they must be inspected and/or

certied by APHIS before you take them to an airline

cargo ofce, the post ofce, or other courier service.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Shipping or mailing most fresh fruits and vegetables

from Hawaii directly or through Alaska or Guam to the

continental United States is prohibited due to the risk of

introducing certain invasive plant pests and diseases.

However, there are a few exceptions. Fresh pineapple

and coconut are permitted after inspection. Fresh

papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit,

longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and

sweet potato are permitted, but must be treated at a

USDA-approved facility and packed in boxes that are

properly marked and stamped.

Shipping or mailing processed fruits and vegetables is

allowed. Processing methods include cooking, drying,

or freezing. If freezing, all fruits must be frozen solid at

the time of inspection. Frozen mango must be without

seeds.

Please contact APHIS for more information about

approved processing methods. Telephone numbers for

local APHIS ofces in Hawaii are provided on the next

page.

Common Items From Hawaii Allowed into

the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam After

Inspection

n Beach sand

n Coconuts

n Commercially canned foods

n Dried seeds and decorative arrangements

n Fresh owers, leis, and foliage

(except any citrus or citrus-

related owers, leaves, or other

plant parts, as well as jade

vine or Mauna Loa)

n Hinahina (Spanish moss)

n Irish or white potatoes

n Fresh pineapple

n Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya,

banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee,

mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato

n Plants and cuttings

n Rocks and stones

n Seashells, not land snail shells

n Seed leis and seed jewelry

n Wood (including driftwood and sticks) and wood

roses (dried)

Additional Items From Hawaii Allowed

into Guam

n Beets

n Rutabagas

n Turnips (without tops)

Additional Items From Hawaii Allowed into

Alaska (but may not be re-transported to the

contiguous United States)

n Chayote

n Green banana

n Green onion

n Lima bean

n Okra

n Pea

n Pumpkin

n Snow pea

n String bean

n Watermelon

n Winged bean

n Winter melon

n Yard long bean

n Zucchini

Common Items From Hawaii Not Allowed into

the U.S. Mainland and Alaska

n Fresh fruits and vegetables, except for those listed as

permitted

n Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and

sea grapes

n Cactus plants or cactus plant parts

n Cotton plant parts, including cotton bolls

n Fresh owers of jade vine and Mauna Loa

n Kikania and fresh screwpine (pandanus) fruit

n Live insects and snails

n Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods

n Soil or any plants in soil

n Sugarcane

n Swamp cabbage (unchoy)

n Sweet potato (raw)

n Mock orange

This information is subject to change. For the most up-

to-date information, contact your local APHIS ofce:

Honolulu (808) 834-3220

Kona (808) 326-1252

Kauai (808) 632-2511

Hilo (808) 933-6930

Maui (808) 877-5261

For information on how to certify plants and cuttings,

contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture:

Honolulu (808) 832-0566

Hilo (808) 974-4141

Kauai (808) 241-7135

Maui (808) 872-3848

Kona (808) 326-1077

For more information, please visit APHIS’ website at

www.aphis.usda.gov/travel.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Issued July 2017

PPQ-20-003 Slightly revised February 2020

These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and

packed in boxes that are properly marked and stamped.

For certifying rooted plant material, contact the Hawaii Department

of Agriculture.