Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going From 

Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

United States Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits 

or restricts the movement of many agricultural products 

from Hawaii into the U.S. mainland, including most 

fresh fruits and vegetables and certain types of plants 

and flowers. That’s because these items could harbor 

a dangerous stowaway—an invasive pest or disease. 

Just one piece of fruit or a single plant that is carrying an 

invasive pest or disease could cause millions of dollars 

in damage and lead to expensive eradication efforts, lost 

trade revenue, and higher food prices. 

To prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases, 

APHIS inspects all passenger bags moving from Hawaii 

to the U.S. mainland, Alaska, and Guam. APHIS officials 

perform the inspection at the airport prior to your 

departure. 

Please be prepared to open and close your own 

bags. Do not tape coolers and boxes closed until after 

inspection. If you have any fresh fruits or vegetables, 

plants, flowers, souvenirs made from plants or wood, 

or other agricultural products with you, please tell the 

inspector. Failure to declare these items can result in 

delays and possible issuance of civil penalties ranging 

from $100 to $1,000 per violation.

If you wish to ship or mail agricultural items to the U.S. 

mainland and Alaska, they must be inspected and/or 

certified by APHIS before you take them to an airline 

cargo office, the post office, or other courier service. 

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Shipping or mailing most fresh fruits and vegetables 

from Hawaii directly or through Alaska or Guam to the 

continental United States is prohibited due to the risk of 

introducing certain invasive plant pests and diseases. 

However, there are a few exceptions. Fresh pineapple 

and coconut are permitted after inspection. Fresh 

papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, 

longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and 

sweet potato are permitted, but must be treated at a 

USDA-approved facility and packed in boxes that are 

properly marked and stamped. 

Shipping or mailing processed fruits and vegetables is 

allowed. Processing methods include cooking, drying, 

or freezing. If freezing, all fruits must be frozen solid at 

the time of inspection. Frozen mango must be without 

seeds. 

Please contact APHIS for more information about 

approved processing methods. Telephone numbers for 

local APHIS offices in Hawaii are provided on the next 

page.

Common Items From Hawaii Allowed into 

the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam After 

Inspection

n Beach sand

n Coconuts

n Commercially canned foods 

n Dried seeds and decorative arrangements

n Fresh flowers, leis, and foliage 

(except any citrus or citrusrelated flowers, leaves, or other 

plant parts, as well as jade 

vine or Mauna Loa)
n Hinahina (Spanish moss)

n Irish or white potatoes

n Fresh pineapple

n Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya, 

banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, 

mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato1

n Plants and cuttings2 

n Rocks and stones

n Seashells, not land snail shells

n Seed leis and seed jewelry

n Wood (including driftwood and sticks) and wood 

roses (dried)

Additional Items From Hawaii Allowed 

into Guam

n Beets

n Rutabagas

n Turnips (without tops)

Additional Items From Hawaii Allowed into 

Alaska (but may not be re-transported to the 

contiguous United States)

n Chayote

n Green banana

n Green onion 

n Lima bean

n Okra

n Pea

n Pumpkin

n Snow pea

n String bean

n Watermelon

n Winged bean 

n Winter melon

n Yard long bean

n Zucchini

Common Items From Hawaii Not Allowed into 

the U.S. Mainland and Alaska

n Fresh fruits and vegetables, except for those listed as 

permitted

n Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and 

sea grapes

n Cactus plants or cactus plant parts

n Cotton plant parts, including cotton bolls 

n Fresh flowers of jade vine and Mauna Loa

n Kikania and fresh screwpine (pandanus) fruit

n Live insects and snails

n Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods

n Soil or any plants in soil 

n Sugarcane

n Swamp cabbage (unchoy)

n Sweet potato (raw)

n Mock orange 

This information is subject to change. For the most upto-date information, contact your local APHIS office: 

Honolulu (808) 834-3220 

Kona (808) 326-1252

Kauai (808) 632-2511 

Hilo (808) 933-6930

Maui (808) 877-5261 

For information on how to certify plants and cuttings, 

contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture: 

Honolulu (808) 832-0566

Hilo (808) 974-4141

Kauai (808) 241-7135

Maui (808) 872-3848

Kona (808) 326-1077

For more information, please visit APHIS’ website at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/travel. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Issued July 2017 

PPQ-20-003 Slightly revised February 2020

1 These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and 

packed in boxes that are properly marked and stamped.

2 For certifying rooted plant material, contact the Hawaii Department 

of Agriculture.