Hawaii

Moving to Hawaii – Prohibited Animals and Pets that are Illegal to Own

So, you’re thinking of buying an exotic animal, or you are moving to Hawaii and want to bring your ferrets…which pets are legal?

Don’t let your loved ones get locked up…know the law!

Hawaii’s exotic animals laws and quarantine regulations are designed to protect and preserve our native plant and animal life. For a comprehensive list of restricted species and conditionally approved ones, visit this link to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. (They regulate all non-domesticated animals.)

The following are some of the more commonly owned non-domestic animals that are prohibited:

alligators
dragon lizards
ferrets
gerbils
geckos
hamsters
monk parakeets
piranhas
snakes
snapping turtles
toucans

For dogs and cats, refer to my earlier post about Hawaii’sÂ Animal Quarantine and Rabies Laws. Cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, and horses are the other domesticated animals that are common to Hawaii, and they have varying degrees of identification and permitting required for importation. (Refer to this link.)

Feel free to post your experiences with controlled animals here for discussion…Mahalo!

Posted on January 1, 2011 in Hawaii, Hawaii, Lifestyle

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Hawaii Life

You can email me at inquiry@hawaiilife.com or via phone at (808) 370-3848.

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Beth Robinson R(B)

January 1, 2011

Thanks for the informative information, Ron. By the way, I have information for anyone interested in shipping their horses to Hawaii!

Beth Robinson R(B)

January 1, 2011

Thanks for the informative information, Ron. By the way, I have information for anyone interested in shipping their horses to Hawaii!

online removal quotes

August 1, 2011

safe removals…

Moving to Hawaii – Prohibited Animals and Pets that are Illegal to Own « Hawaii Real Estate Market…

online removal quotes

August 1, 2011

safe removals…

Moving to Hawaii – Prohibited Animals and Pets that are Illegal to Own « Hawaii Real Estate Market…

Jonna Bether

May 1, 2012

Are sloths legal there?

Bryson

June 17, 2019

I live in Hawaii and I’m asking if emu birds are legal I’ve had this question for a while and never got an answer

Jonna Bether

May 1, 2012

Are sloths legal there?

Chandler Cameron

June 25, 2015

Is there a way to obtain a permit for a snake or a lizard? I am being stationed in Hawaii but want to keep my pets

Meghan

August 6, 2016

I would love to know that also. I have ball pythons and bearded dragons. I would love to move back to the island. But not at the cost of my pets.

Beth Thoma Robinson

August 8, 2016

Sorry, the rules are absolute.

Savanah

February 6, 2021

Not snakes. I think some species of lizard but they are super strict on snakes >

Chandler Cameron

June 25, 2015

Is there a way to obtain a permit for a snake or a lizard? I am being stationed in Hawaii but want to keep my pets

Meghan

August 6, 2016

I would love to know that also. I have ball pythons and bearded dragons. I would love to move back to the island. But not at the cost of my pets.

Beth Thoma Robinson

August 8, 2016

Sorry, the rules are absolute.

Christopher

June 18, 2016

Aloha,

I’ve been in the processing of moving back to Hawaii – especially Honolulu. I’ve always wanted either a cute ringed-tail lempur or a cute ferret as a pet, but I understand that having a ferret as a pet in Hawaii is illegal. How about a ringed-lempur? Of course, it would need to stay indoor as required by me, so that he or she wouldn’t expose to the native animals, plants, and environment there. If illegally. why is that? The USA, including Hawaii is a free country which means I can have a ringed-tail lempur as a pet anywhere, including Hawaii. They only eat fruits and vegetables where I can buy them at a grocery store. I WON’T bring any animal shown above to Hawaii. A ringed-tail lempur is very cute and cuddly. Well, I hope I can have it there one day. Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Mahalo!

Christopher

June 18, 2016

Aloha,

Sheena Karr

July 9, 2017

I was looking for information about moving FROM Hawaii to the mainland. I want to take my baby Jackson Chameleon with me, but now sure how. s it legal? I know people in Las Vegas have them too, but not sure if I need permissions or permits and such. 🙁 Confused.

September 12, 2017

Geckos are allowed to own here in hawaii, i currently live on the island of kauai and there are geckos everywhere, this information is fake such as not being able to own hamsters

Lynn

March 12, 2018

> Hamsters are actually illegal and as far as geckos go – just because they live all over the island it doesn’t mean they are ok to own. The website tells which are legal vs. illegal. This is the main page, then just click the category your are curious about. Hamsters are on the absolute “no” list and so are snakes…there are very few exceptions for movie sets, etc.

Lynn

March 12, 2018

> http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/pq/travel-shipping-information/importing-animals-to-hawai%CA%BBi-from-the-u-s-mainland/

Interested

June 2, 2018

*The following are some of the more commonly owned non-domestic animals that are prohibited:*

Except that ferrets have been domestic animals for over 2000 years!

Ryik

October 25, 2018

There is one snake species allowed in Hawaii – the Hawaiian snake, also known as the brahminy blind snake. It’s small, nonvenomous, and mostly eats termites or ant larvae. It’s pretty cute, though it might not make the best pet since it likes to go underground.