Hawaii luggage search?

[psimon]

Is there any truth that upon arriving in Hawaii, it isn't customs, but locals that search your luggage to ensure no live plans are brought in?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[kaytieeldr]

Apparently; http://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/visitor/

 

[lurkernj]

I've been to Hawaii twice, and did not experience this, and I didn't notice this happening to anyone else either, though I'll admit I'm not that observant. I'm guessing its random.

 

[seashoreCM]

Going to Hawaii: You declare (using a form they pass out) what you are bringing in and what you are not bringing in, mostly multiple choice. It is possible for your bags to get randomly spot checked (secondary screening) and it is a crime to misrepresent things on the form you filled out.

Leaving Hawaii: Going to other states and a few other countries you must have bags inspected for possible unwanted plants and animals. Most fruits will be confiscated, one notable exception is pineapples purchased from approved stores.

Hint: The form asks, "how many times have you visited Hawaii?" I have lost track and don't brainstorm over things like this but rather write in a short answer saying so (for me it's "more than 10") instead of select a multiple choice.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, you fill out a form in the airplane. These are collected by the flight attendants before you land. One side is mandatory. It's the Agricultural Declaration Form. The other side is optional. It collects Hawaii tourism data.

There are "amnesty bins" at the airport to discard materials that violate the rules.

It's best to know the rules ahead of time and not to bring anything that's not allowed. And, when departing from Hawaii, it's also good to know the rules.

Two useful links related to the rules and the form:

http://hawaii.gov/hnl/baggage-claim/agriculture-declaration-forms

http://www.hawaiiguideme.com/2011/03/10/hawaii-agricultural-restrictions--do-your-part/

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there any truth that upon arriving in Hawaii, it isn't customs, but locals that search your luggage to ensure no live plans are brought in?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

Is the question about the actual search or about who does it?

The link given says "Plant quarantine inspectors will be stationed in the baggage claim area to examine all agricultural items" so if its a question of who does it I suppose that is the answer. Plant quarantine inspectors.

(Eta: ugh at autocorrect and me not rechecking to see if I made sense)

 

[msjprincess]

Is the question about the actual seat h or about who does it?

The link given says "Plant quarantine inspectors will be stationed in the baggage claim area to examine all agricultural items" so if its a question of who does it I suppose that is the answer. Plant quarantine inspectors.

I was going to ask the same thing

 

[Jestocost]

Is the question about the actual seat h or about who does it?

The link given says "Plant quarantine inspectors will be stationed in the baggage claim area to examine all agricultural items" so if its a question of who does it I suppose that is the answer. Plant quarantine inspectors.

Yes, and since it's the state Department of Agriculture's requirements that they are enforcing I assume they are state government plant quarantine inspectors; not federal.

 

[taaren]

I lived in Hawaii for most of my life, so fly in and out of there frequently. Yes, state employees may check your bags on the way in but it is rare. They will inspect your carry-ons and checked luggage on the way out (its just another belt to put your bags through just like security).

The reason for this is very important ... there are a lot of native species in Hawaii that will be destroyed if outside plants or animals are brought in. One of my favorite things about growing up there was that there are no snakes in the entire state. The brown tree snake got introduced to Guam and decimated its wildlife, which is one of the many things they're trying to avoid happening to Hawaii. In the 80's the African snail got introduced to Hawaii and destroyed a tremendous amount of plant species that can't be found elsewhere and threw off the whole ecosystem.

So the moral of the story is, don't bring anything alive other than people to Hawaii. (Pets can go through a quarantine if you're moving there.) That's my version of the "save the a'ina" speech.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If you're not bringing in forbidden items, your arrival experience in Hawaii (when flying in from the U.S. Mainland) is no different than at other U.S. airports when arriving on a domestic flight. You go to baggage claim, take your bags, and proceed to your shuttle, taxi, or rental car. There's nothing that's similar to a U.S. Customs and Immigration clearance.

If, when filling out the Agricultural Declaration Form, you discover that you have something you shouldn't have (such as live plants) in your checked or carry-on bags, you take these items to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in the arrival area (or discard them in an amnesty bin).

On departure from Hawaii back to the mainland, there's one extra step. Before you check your bags with your airline, your bags need to go through a U. S. Department of Agriculture x-ray conveyor belt and have stickers applied.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, Customs Agents never search for plants. At international arrivals ports in the US that duty belongs to agents of the US Dept. of Agriculture (and sometimes those cute but devious little beagles of theirs).

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/