By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Moving to Maui means clearing Hawaiʻi’s agricultural inspection. The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity requires travelers from the mainland to declare plants, plant parts, soil and animals on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form, and moving companies must notify inspectors of agricultural items. Possessing an illegal animal, such as a snake, can bring fines of up to $200,000 (as of October 2026).

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and here’s what the Hawaiʻi agricultural inspection rules mean when you’re moving to Maui. Most people plan the flight, the car and the closing date. Fewer plan for the houseplants, garden tools and food in the moving container, and those are the items that can slow a move down.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity or a Hawaiʻi attorney.

Who inspects what you bring when moving to Maui?

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB). Act 236, signed by Gov. Josh Green on June 27, 2025, renamed the former Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2025, according to Maui Now. Its Plant Quarantine Branch inspects agricultural items arriving from the mainland.

According to DAB, inspectors prioritize snakes, red imported fire ants, and pests or plant diseases not yet established in Hawaiʻi. The USDA separately regulates foreign plants, animal products and meats, so some items may need both inspections.

What must I declare when I fly to Maui?

Agricultural items. DAB says travelers from the mainland must declare them on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form, which flight attendants hand out and collect before landing, and present them at the Agricultural Inspection Counter near baggage claim. DAB lists agricultural items as:

• Plants and plant parts, including fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers or foliage
• Animals, including dogs, cats, live fish and live seafood
• Microorganism cultures
• Soil
• Containers and packing materials holding any of these

Most plants are allowed after inspection if they’re free of insects, disease, soil and other pests.

Which plants are restricted in Hawaiʻi?

Some need advance permits, quarantine, treatment or certification. DAB’s list of restricted plants includes:

Category	Examples on DAB’s list
Fruit and food plants	Pineapple, passion fruit, taro and dasheen, corn (including corn on the cob), citrus and pulpy fruits from Florida and Puerto Rico
Tropical plants	Bromeliads, coconut (all parts), banana plants and parts (not the fruit), orchids, palms, coffee plants and green coffee beans
Grasses	Sugar cane, bamboo, sorghum, broomcorn, sudan grass
Flowers	Aster, chrysanthemum, hollyhock, dahlia, gladiolus
Other	Myrtle family (eucalyptus, guava, bottlebrush), cruciferous root vegetables such as radish and daikon

One timely note: DAB lists pine plants and parts as restricted, but allows cut pine branches from October 20 to December 31. If you’re moving during the holidays, that window applies.

Can I pack plants or garden items in my household goods?

Only if you plan for inspection. DAB requires moving companies and other carriers to notify an inspector about agricultural items, and cargo must stay available until inspection is complete. For parcels, DAB asks shippers to mark the outside “Contains Agricultural Material – May Be Opened for Inspection” and include a list of the plant material inside, which must be free of soil, pests and signs of disease.

Since soil is itself an agricultural item, I suggest cleaning soil off garden tools, pots, outdoor furniture and gear before they’re packed. It’s a small step that can keep a container from waiting on an inspection.

What food can I bring when moving to Maui?

Most packaged food is fine. According to DAB, cooked, canned, frozen or commercially processed and packaged foods from within the U.S. may be brought in, as can frozen or chilled U.S. meat, and manufactured food products don’t need to be declared. Fresh produce is a different story, so check the restricted list above.

What about pets and prohibited animals?

Dogs and cats have their own rules and fees, covered in my guide to moving to Maui with pets.

For illegal animals, the stakes are high. DAB says possession can be charged as a class C felony, with fines of up to $200,000 and up to three years in prison. Under DAB’s amnesty program, illegal animals turned in to any DAB office, a municipal zoo or aquarium, or the Humane Society before an investigation begins bring no criminal charges or fines. The state’s pest hotline is 643-PEST (7378).

My Take: What I’m Telling People Moving to Maui

Build the agricultural rules into your moving plan the same way you build in the car and the closing. Decide early which plants you’ll give away rather than ship, check anything tropical against the restricted list, and clean soil off outdoor items before the movers arrive. If you’re shipping a container, ask your moving company how they handle the inspector notification.

If you’re buying a home here, I like to line up the closing date, the container arrival and any pet paperwork so they don’t collide. My post on timing your car, pets and closing walks through that sequence, and my new Maui resident checklist covers what comes after you land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fill out an agriculture form flying to Maui?

Yes. Travelers from the mainland declare agricultural items on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form, which flight attendants collect before landing.

Can I bring houseplants when I move to Maui?

Most plants are allowed after inspection if they’re free of soil, pests and disease. Some, such as palms, orchids, bromeliads and coffee plants, are restricted and need advance permits or treatment.

Can I bring a Christmas tree or pine branches to Maui?

DAB allows cut pine branches from October 20 to December 31; other pine plants and parts are restricted.

Who do I call with questions?

DAB’s Plant Quarantine Branch at (808) 832-0566.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re planning a move to Maui and want help timing your home search and closing around everything else, I’m glad to help. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Maui in Kīhei. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Plant Industry Division (Traveling and Shipping from the U.S. Mainland; Import Program) and amnesty program news releases; Maui Now (July 8, 2025).