Hawaii - Bio Security

COVID-19:

• As of 26 March, 2022, procedures for intake of visiting vessels from foreign countries reverted to pre-Covid conditions.

Contacts:

• Kauai Island District Office - Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor
  Phone: (808) 241-3111
  E-mail: Jeremiah.G.Aguilera@hawaii.gov
• Maui District Office (Including the Islands of Lanai and Molokai)
  Maalaea Small Boat Harbor
  Phone: (808) 243-5824
  E-mail: Paul.K.Sensano@hawaii.gov
• Oahu District Office - Keehi Small Boat Harbor (most popular with transients)
  Phone: (808) 832-3520
  E-mail: Bruce.L.Swartz@hawaii.gov
• Oahu West Side - Ko Olina Marina
  Contact: Leilani and Malu in the office
  Phone: 808-679-1050.
  E-mail: leilani.gaspar@koolina.com

Our thanks to OCC Port Officer Harvey Zeidwerg for assistance with information.

Resources:

• Hawaii's Department of Health website.
• Hawaii's Government website.
• Consult the DOBOR website (scroll down) for arrival updates.
• https://www.hawaii-guide.com/hawaii-covid-testing
  Useful for following the COVID situation by island in Hawaii.
• Arrivals by air - see https://hidot.hawaii.gov/coronavirus/.

History: 

• Hawaii has remained open to foreign yachts throughout the pandemic.
• In March, 2020, an emergency order was set in place and all crew had to self-quarantine for 14 days before stepping off their vessel. A stay-at-home order was issued and a number of marinas closed.
• An approval process was implemented via the Harbor Master of most ports of entry - taking between 1-3 weeks.
• In April, all state beaches closed and recreational boating was still permitted but with a maximum of 2 people on board.
• In June, 2020, temporary mooring permit fees increased making it almost the same price to anchor as it is to moor in a marina (see fees below).
• In October arrival with a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure was introduced in place of quarantine.
• Sea time has always been taken into account to determine number of quarantine days for arriving vessels.
• 26 March, 2022, all Covid related restrictions were removed.

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Other Biosecurity Information:

Dept. of Agriculture

On arrival, the Dept. of Agriculture/quarantine must be notified if there are animals on board or if coming from any country outside the USA or Canada.

There are restrictions on importing plants and fresh produce. You will be asked if you have any fresh produce on board (meat and eggs) and certain food items may be confiscated and destroyed.

Officials may also ask for all rubbish on board to be given to them for disposal (anything deemed as foreign) and they will probably charge for this service.

Some cruisers have reported this to be very expensive (see fees further down).

The only rubbish guaranteed not to be deemed "foreign" and require expensive sterilization/incineration are clean beverage containers suitable for recycling that no animal or vegetable products had ever touched - i.e. soda and beer cans, water bottles, etc.

For additional information see:

• Agriculture Dept - Hawaii
• www.dontpackapest.com