January 31, 2018 pedalgoa

Do you need a passport to go to Hawaii? Here’s why you might.

Do you need a passport to go to Hawaii?

If you’re off to Hawaii for vacation with no plans to head to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, or some other international destination immediately following your trip to Hawaii…

For Americans, there’s really not a reason that you need to take a passport with you if you are flying to Hawaii. So, you don’t need to put a passport on the list of what to pack for Hawaii!

That’s a good thing when you’re trying to save money on your costs of a trip to Hawaii! You don’t need to think of the added expense of a passport for the whole family when you don’t have one.

The exception to this is that you might need a passport for a cruise to Hawaii. (More on that later.)

Why would you think you need a passport to go to Hawaii?! 😉

When you ask, do I need a passport to go to Hawaii, some people may find that question to be a silly question.

Some people would find it similar to asking… If you live in California, do you need a passport to go to Oregon?

Well of course you don’t need a passport to go to Hawaii because Hawaii is a part of the United States! 😉

But, in some ways, it does feel like you’re leaving the country. If you grew up on the continental United States, flying over an ocean pretty much meant you are going to another country.

And well, when you go to Hawaii, you are flying over an ocean! 😉

So while some people think it’s a crazy question to ask, even if you’re a US citizen, there are many people who ask this very question. Let’s face it, to mainlanders, Hawaii it a faraway land.



Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!


If you’re flying from the west coast to Hawaii…

You’re crossing half an ocean! When you’re flying and seeing nothing but ocean blue, it sure makes you feel like you’re off on an international trip! 😉

Or, if you’re flying from the east coast to Hawaii…

You are flying from the edge of one ocean (the Atlantic Ocean!) to the middle of another ocean (the Pacific Ocean!) that’s pretty much on the other side of the world! And, you’re crossing over an entire continent!

Especially when you think about the amount of time in transit, even compared to flying from California to Hawaii, it’s, well, enough to feel like you really are traveling internationally.

What else makes it feel like you’re entering another country?

Agricultural products you can bring into Hawaii is limited.

You have to pay an exit fee when leaving Hawaii! That is so international travel! (You probably won’t notice this as it’s included in your plane ticket.)

You have to fill out a customs declaration form as you would when entering another country. Customs forms are totally something that feels like international travel. 😉

For example, if you’re flying from New York to Los Angeles, if you want to pack a pineapple in your suitcase, you can do that. If you want to fly with a pineapple in Hawaii, well, you can’t do that.

You know, because you want to compare the taste between pineapples you find on the mainland United States vs true Hawaiian pineapples. 😉 (Okay, so you can probably buy a pineapple not grown in the Hawaiian islands at a grocery store in Hawaii, but you get the point. ;))

Because, pineapples in Hawaii really are different, actually! No other place in the world grows the variety of pineapple that’s grown in Hawaii. Not commercially, anyway.

But don’t worry, if you do want to do a side-by-side comparison at home, you can take a pineapple from Hawaii to the mainland U.S. with you.

There are other food items that are limited in terms of what can be brought into Hawaii, and what can be taken out of Hawaii.

For a list of commonly restricted items flying into Hawaii, have a look here.

Should you take your passport even if it’s not required?

Now, there are some vacations in which you don’t need a passport, but it would still be a good idea to take it with you. For example, it can be a good idea to take your passport with you on a Caribbean cruise even though you don’t need to.

But, the reason that it’s a good idea for a cruise to the Caribbean is because you actually are headed to foreign countries and with foreign authorities, and it can just makes things easier with less stress if you find yourself having to stay on an island for any reason.

For Hawaii, you’re still in the United States, so there really is no reason for you to take your passport with you if you’re flying there for vacation. Unless of course, you’ll be headed further west to another country after your trip to Hawaii!

Do you need a passport for a cruise to Hawaii?

There is one reason that you might need a passport to go to Hawaii though!

And that would be if you’re taking a cruise to Hawaii, depending on the type of cruise it is.

This is the official statement from the U.S. government:

“U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.”

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Check for updated information.)

BUT, that said, always check with your cruise line directly to confirm policies! Based on this language, it would seem as though if you are taking a one-way cruise from Los Angeles to Honolulu, you would need a passport. But ask your cruise line for confirmation. While you are sailing from a U.S. port to another U.S. port, you are also crossing international waters in doing so.

If your cruise will stop at any foreign ports like in Canada or Mexico, you’ll want to check if those countries require passports if you’re entering by sea. If your cruise to Hawaii starts in Canada, you will need a passport, since you’ll need it to enter Canada by land or air.

Documents required for flying to Hawaii

While you don’t need a passport to go to Hawaii, you do need to bring some other form of acceptable documentation. Documents required for flying are different for minors than they are for adults.

See the list of documents here from the TSA.

What you really might want for your trip to Hawaii

You’ll want this even more so if you’re going on a cruise to Hawaii, but even if you’re flying, this insurance can be a good idea!

HAPPY HAWAII PLANNING!

things to do in oahu | map >> hikes | beaches – snorkeling | hawaiian culture | driving – bus || what to pack for hawaii – what to wear hiking – what to wear snorkeling || where to stay || hawaii on a budget

 



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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!


I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.

Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.

There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.


see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling