Keauhou Veterinary Hospital Direct Release Program details:

  • Airlines serviced: Alaska, American, and United ONLY.
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm.

WE CANNOT PERFORM DIRECT RELEASE INSPECTIONS:

  • AFTER 5PM OR ON THE WEEKENDS
  • FOR DELTA AIR LINES, SOUTHWEST OR HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.
  • MAJOR HOLIDAYS: NEW YEARS EVE, NEW YEARS DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, FOURTH OF JULY, LABOR DAY, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS EVE and CHRISTMAS DAY, or JUNETEENTH
  • If your flight gets canceled, rescheduled or diverted prior to your arrival contact us immediately BEFORE accepting airline changes. We are not always available for airline delays and may need them to transfer arrival to following day

Our fees for the direct release inspection at the Kona International Airport are as follows:

  • Permit processing fee of $50.00 + tax per request (non-refundable). You will be charged this fee separately for each arrival if you have pets arriving on multiple flights or different days.
  • $275 for first time direct release clients
  • $100 Additional pets on the same flight are per pet.
  • $175 for established direct release clients.
  • $100 Additional pets on the same flight are per pet.
  • Private aircraft please contact us for pricing and availability.

*Please note: we charge a $50 fee for all voluntary changes made to your arrival plans.

Are you ready to get started? Here’s what you need to do:

Prepare your pet(s) for travel.

  • Have history of two rabies vaccinations, one current and one previous.
  • Have FAVN (rabies titer) finalized and submitted to the State of Hawaii at least 30 days prior to the arrival.

Applying for permit (NIIP). The state’s paperwork is required and is the client’s responsibility and is submitted separately from Keauhou Veterinary Hospital paperwork.

  • You must send a packet of paperwork to the Department of Agriculture at least 30 days prior to your arrival in Hawaii (per pet).
  • The packet must include the following and be mailed to 99-951 Halawa Valley St, Aiea, HI 96701:
    • Dog & Cat Import Form (AQS279).
    • Original certificates for TWO most recent rabies vaccinations (per pet).
    • A cashier’s check or money order for $165 (per pet), made out to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. (Personal check are not accepted)
    • A letter stating that Keauhou Veterinary Hospital has been contracted to perform the agricultural inspection at the Kona International Airport.

Applying for inspection at Kona International Airport with Keauhou Veterinary Hospital.

  • You need to contact us at least 30 days prior to your arrival. Requests submitted less that 30 days notice will not be processed. And we DO NOT offer expediting.
  • Please do not book your flight prior to confirming our availability. If you’d like to look at flights to get an idea and then let us know, that would be great.
  • After confirming availability, you must fill out and return our inspection request form.
  • Please fill it out completely (even if you are a returning client).
  • Return it via email or fax.
  • DO NOT mail the form. We are not responsible for request forms that get lost and/or arrive late.
  • Once we have received your completed request form, we will contact you to finalize the inspection and take payment over the phone.
  • We accept all major credit cards (AmEx, Visa, Mastercard, Discover).
  • WE DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS (personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders). Any checks sent via USPS mail won’t be accepted and will be returned.

Obtain a health certificate.

  • See your veterinarian for a final health check within 10 days of your flight.
  • Make sure your health certificate has:
  • Pet’s microchip number.
  • Rabies information.
  • Statement of flea/tick medication application by veterinarian (at time of health certificate appointment).
  • Receipts or invoices showing the purchase of flea/tick medication are not acceptable per AQS guidelines.
  • If flea/tick medication is not given and/or not listed on the health certificate, you are susceptible to having one applied by the technician conducting your inspection which is an additional fee.

Day of departure/arrival.

  • Make sure you have the permit (NIIP) and health certificate prior to departure.
  • You will need a physical copy of each document to get on the aircraft. Both will be handed to the technician doing your inspection.
  • For more information, please contact us.

Please be advised, if you arrive at the Kona Airport without the NIIP and/or the health certificate, you are in violation with the state. Because of that, you will be redirected to Honolulu or back to the mainland.