Connect with us

Hawaii

What You Need to Know About Hawaiʻi’s Agriculture Form – Hawaii Magazine

Published

on

What You Need to Know About Hawaiʻi’s Agriculture Form – Hawaii Magazine


All passengers on flights arriving in the Islands are required to fill out this document.
Photo: Getty Images/FanPro

As one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world, the Hawaiian Islands are home to diverse ecosystems and an agricultural industry that produces a unique variety of crops. It’s this one-of-a-kind environment that lures millions of travelers to Hawaiʻi every year.

But the Islands’ native forests and farmlands are also extremely susceptible to diseases and pests carried by plants and animals brought into the state. Hawaiʻi is considered an epicenter of extinction, with the introduction of invasive species wreaking havoc on native plants and animals.

This is why passengers arriving to any Hawaiian island, whether on a flight from Dallas or Tokyo or anywhere else, are required to fill out the state’s Agricultural Declaration Form. The forms are distributed during flights and one person in each traveling party must complete and return the form to the airline.

Advertisement

The single page questionnaire asks passengers to list if they’re carrying any plants, undeclared animals or agricultural materials to the Islands. On the other side of the form is an optional survey from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

The form is intended to protect the state from invasive species and pests. By educating travelers before they even board flights to the Islands, the state can better prevent agricultural materials and potential biohazards from arriving in the first place.

The Hawaiʻi Legislature is working to digitize the declaration form. While there is no confirmed date for when that will be complete, one proposal includes sending electronic versions to passengers when they check in to their flights. And in an August 2024 interview, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Director Sharon Hurd said the state is working on building an app that would allow passengers to complete the digital survey.

Until the state creates a digital version, all passengers will still be required to fill out paper forms on their flights.

What to Do if You’re Traveling with Agricultural Materials like Plants, Produce and Seeds:

  • If travelers realize they’re carrying fresh produce on them, there’s an amnesty bin at all airports. You can deposit any produce and agricultural products in the designated containers.
  • Plant quarantine inspectors are stationed in the baggage claim area to examine all agricultural items.
  • The Department of Agriculture also requires dogs, cats and all pets to be quarantined. You can request special permits for service animals. Additional information can be found at the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine page.

When You Depart the Islands:

Travelers are not allowed to take agricultural products like fruits, vegetables and seeds from Hawaiʻi to the U.S. mainland. Bags are screened for agricultural products to prevent the spread of fruit flies and other hazardous plant and insect diseases.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn

Published

on

Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for the public’s assistance in locating 82-year-old Jacquelyn Glenn of Kailua-Kona, who was reported missing by her family.

Police said she is considered endangered due to her age.

Glenn was last seen on Friday, Dec. 5, around 6:37 a.m., on the 75-200 block of Nani Kailua Dr. in Kailua-Kona.

She was wearing a peach-colored shirt, blue denim jeans, and black tennis shoes. She reportedly mentioned going to Hilo with friends, but did not say when she planned to return.

Advertisement

She is described as 5′6″, 125 Ibs, with curly grey hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jacquelyn Glenn to call the Hawaii Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Hawaii

Hawaii gets nearly $190 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

on

Hawaii gets nearly 0 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser




Source link

Continue Reading

Hawaii

Hawaiian announces $600 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

on

Hawaiian announces 0 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


COURTESY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

Advertisement

Hawaiian Airlines today announced an investment of more than $600 million over five years to improve airport passenger areas across the state and interior upgrades to widebody aircraft.

Advertisement

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ahead of today’s announcement at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport that other improvements will include better apps, a better website that will make it easier for passengers to change flights, among other things that also include better integration with Alaska Airlines, which acquired Hawaiian in 2024, making it a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group.

“We have pushed a lot of change through the system for the last couple of months,” Rakow said. “We’re working on integrating our ticketing systems because right now we’re on two separate ticketing systems that don’t talk to each other.”

After late April, she said, booking on the shared Alaska Air and Hawaiian Air ticketing system “will be much more seamless.”

In announcing the renovations and changes, Hawaiian pledged “a significantly smoother guest experience … once Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines share the same passenger service system and Hawaiian Airlines joins the oneworld alliance, both scheduled for late April.”

Right now, Rakow acknowledged, “unfortunately there is some friction.”

Advertisement

“There’s been so many changes and all of that friction is really painful,” she said. “We are committed to making sure we are addressing the issues. … We are certainly not perfect, but we are committed to working together. … Really, after April, it is going to improve significantly.”

Each island airport also will see renovated lobbies and gates designed to increase comfort, provide better seating and amenities such as improved power charging.

Advertisement

Daniel K. Inouye International also will get a new 10,600-square-foot lounge at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1.

And starting in 2028, Hawaiian’s wide-body Airbus A330s will get new seats, carpets, lighting, business class suites, a Bluetooth-enabled in-flight entertainment system with high-definition screens and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

Gov. Josh Green said in a statement ahead of today’s announcement that, “Hawaiian Airlines’ investment is exactly the kind of long-term commitment Hawaiʻi needs. Modern, welcoming airports improve the experience for residents and visitors alike, strengthen our economy and keep Hawaiʻi competitive as a global destination. We appreciate Hawaiian Airlines’ partnership in advancing workforce development, regenerative tourism, clean energy, and community programs that reflect the values of our islands.”

The New Year began with a .75% increase in Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax that will help the state fight climate change.

Rakow said that Hawaiian is working to better inform inbound passengers about how to respect Hawaii’s culture and environment.

Advertisement

Hawaiian said it will continue to support “programs promoting regenerative tourism, culture and conservation.”

The airline also said it will fund grants to nonprofit organizations “promoting cultural programs, environmental preservation, and perpetuation of native Hawaiian art and language through the Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation.”




Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending