Taking fruit, flowers and plants home: airport agriculture inspection

Before flying from Hawaiʻi to the mainland, all food, plants and flowers must go through USDA agriculture inspection at the airport. Fresh pineapple, coconut, coffee and most lei are fine; most other fresh fruit, berries, soil and plants in soil are not.

• Present all food, plants and other agricultural items at the airport inspection before you check in.
• Allowed after inspection: fresh pineapple, coconut, coffee (roasted or green), commercially canned, dried or frozen foods, white potatoes.
• Allowed only if commercially treated and boxed with a USDA stamp: papaya, banana, lychee, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, starfruit, sweet potato and a few others.
• Fresh flowers and most lei are allowed, except jade vine, Mauna Loa flowers and citrus parts.
• Not allowed: most fresh fruits and vegetables, berries of any kind (including fresh coffee berries), plants in soil, soil, cactus, sugarcane, live insects and snails.
• Allowed by USDA: seashells (not land snail shells), driftwood, seed lei. Note that taking sand and rocks from Hawaiʻi beaches is limited by state law; see the sand rule.

Source: USDA APHIS: Travelers from Hawaiʻi to the U.S. mainland

Last checked Oct. 29, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.