Information for Travelers From Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, or Guam

Last Modified: August 08, 2024

APHIS prohibits or restricts the movement of many agricultural products from Hawaii into the U.S. mainland, Alaska, and Guam. These include most fresh fruits and vegetables and certain plants, such as 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 lead to millions of dollars in damage to agriculture and the environment, expensive eradication efforts, lost trade revenue, and higher food prices.

What To Expect at the Airport

You must present all food, plants, and other agricultural items to the USDA inspector at the airport before you leave Hawaii. If your items are generally allowed, the inspector will examine them to make sure they are free from pests and disease before you begin your trip. 

Hear more about the process to check for and inspect agricultural items:

Agricultural Items From Hawaii NOT ALLOWED into the U.S. Mainland or Alaska

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  • Fresh fruits and vegetables (see exceptions listed below)
  • Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes
  • Kikania and fresh pandanus
  • Swamp cabbage (unchoy)

  • Cotton and cotton bolls
  • Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa

  • Any plants in soil
  • Cactus plants or cactus plant parts
  • Mock orange
  • Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods
  • Sugarcane

  • Live insects and snails

  • Soil

Agricultural Items From Hawaii ALLOWED into the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam (after passing USDA inspection)

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  • Coconut
  • Coffee
    • Travelers are permitted to bring unlimited quantities of roasted coffee or green (unroasted) coffee beans without restriction through any continental U.S. port of entry.
  • Commercially canned or processed foods, including processed fruits and vegetables
    • Accepted 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.
  • Fresh pineapple
  • Irish or white potatoes
  • Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato
    • These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and packed in sealed boxes that are properly marked and stamped.

  • Certain plants and cuttings
    • Some States may require rooted plants to be certified by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture before they may be moved to the U.S. mainland. Please contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for more information. Contact numbers are provided at the bottom of this page.
  • Hinahina (Spanish moss)

  • Beach sand
  • Dried seeds and decorative arrangements
  • Rocks and stones
  • Seashells, not land snail shells
  • Seed leis and seed jewelry
  • Wood (including driftwood and sticks) and wood roses (dried)

Additional Agricultural Items From Hawaii ALLOWED into Guam or Alaska (after passing USDA inspection)

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The following additional items from Hawaii are allowed into Guam after passing USDA inspection:

  • Beets
  • Rutabagas
  • Turnips (without tops)

The following additional items from Hawaii are allowed into Alaska* after passing USDA inspection:

  • Chayote
  • Green banana
  • Green onion
  • Lima bean
  • Okra
  • Pea
  • Pumpkin
  • Snow pea
  • String bean
  • Watermelon
  • Winged bean
  • Winter melon
  • Yard long bean
  • Zucchini

* Distribution of these items from Alaska to the contiguous United States is prohibited.

Need More Information?

The information provided on this page is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, contact your local APHIS office. For information on how to certify plants and cuttings, call your local Hawaii Department of Agriculture office.

APHIS Offices (for general questions)

  • Hilo: 808-933-6930
  • Honolulu: 808-834-3220
  • Kauai: 808-632-2511
  • Kona: 808-326-1252
  • Maui: 808-877-5261

Hawaii Department of Agriculture Offices (for certifying plants and cuttings)

  • Hilo: 808-974-4141
  • Honolulu: 808-832-0566
  • Kauai: 808-241-7135
  • Kona: 808-326-1077
  • Maui: 808-872-3848
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