ESA Letters for Hawaii Residents

ESA Laws in Hawaii

Airline flights (under the Air Carrier Access Act), workplaces, and most other public places are legally required to accommodate service animals. When it comes to emotional support animals, however, these facilities are under no such obligations. If you'd like your ESA to accompany you, you'll want to provide your ESA letter and ask the airline, employer, or other establishment owners ahead of time if they might be willing to admit your furry companion. Should they refuse, you'll need to leave your support animal at home or perhaps seek out a pet-friendly establishment instead. 

If an airline refuses you, your ESA could fly with you as a regular pet would – adhering to any fees and policies the airline has in place for this. Or you could consider having your emotional support animal trained as a psychiatric service animal so that they can be allowed on any flight. 

In addition, ESAs entering Hawaii must quarantine, like any other pet, as is the state's policy. This is not so for service animals, as long as they meet stringent requirements for vaccination and previous health inspections, as well as a brief inspection upon arrival in Hawaii. 

In accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Hawaii requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodation for tenants with service animals or emotional support animals to live with their animal companions. This is true no matter what the landlord's typical pet policy is. They also cannot impose any further fees or breed or weight restrictions on you or the animal. For an ESA, you must provide your landlord with a valid ESA letter to claim these benefits. 

In Hawaii, knowingly misrepresenting an emotional support animal, service animal, or other assistance animal is punishable by a fine between $250 and $2,000, or possibly even imprisonment for less than six months.