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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
2 permits are required
to bring birds to islesQuestion: My family and I are moving to Kauai, and I was wondering how much it costs to get an import permit from Montana. I also read somewhere that once in Hawaii, parakeets had to be caged at all times, or can they come inside your home?
Answer: There are several requirements you have to meet before bringing your bird to Kauai or anywhere in Hawaii, including obtaining two permits.
The first one is the West Nile Virus Permit, which is free. Your veterinarian needs to call the state Department of Agriculture's Animal Industry Division at (808) 837-8092 -- he can't just write -- to ask for an application.
"Without that permit, the bird will not be allowed into the state," explained Lisa Yasunaga, a land vertebrate specialist with the Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Division. Despite its title, the division also oversees the importation of microorganisms and animals into the state.
It's very important that you obtain that permit, because without it the parakeet -- or any feathered animal -- will be sent back.
Even hatching eggs, brought in by egg farmers, need to obtain that permit, Yasunaga said.
The second required permit is the Plant Quarantine Import Permit, obtained from the Plant Quarantine Division.
This permit is required of anyone who wants to bring in non-domesticated animals, which the Department of Agriculture defines as anything other than cats, dogs and farm animals. Even though a parakeet is not considered a wild animal, it's classified as non-domesticated.
The fee for this permit is $5 per application, whether you bring in one animal or 100. The permit is good for one year. (There's also a $50 fee for a "blanket permit," for someone who brings in more than 10 shipments per year.)
Yasunaga said that people who want to bring in their pet fish -- goldfish and guppies, for example -- also need to get the $5 permit.
As for your parakeet, there is a 30-day in-house quarantine for all birds coming into the state. That means it can't leave your house during that period. The idea is to keep it from getting into contact with any local birds, Yasunaga said.
Meanwhile, the rule is they need to be caged at all times, but if the bird is secure within your house, it can be let out of its cage. You just aren't allowed to be walking around outside with the bird on your shoulder or otherwise uncaged, Yasunaga said.
She also pointed out that not all animals are allowed into the state, so it's best to check with the Plant Quarantine Division before bringing any plants or animals into Hawaii.
You can get more information about importing plants and animals to Hawaii by checking the Web site www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa; calling (808) 832-0566; writing to Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Office, 1849 Auiki St., Honolulu, HI 96819; or e-mailing hdoa.info@hawaii.gov.
Q: Like many people who travel extensively, we tend to "lose" items once in a while. Take me, for instance -- I lost my Social Security card. How would one go about replacing one without standing in some governmental line? Do I actually have to go to the Social Security Administration? Can I obtain one through the mail? Over the Internet? Can you take me through the motions on obtaining a new card?
A: You can obtain a duplicate for lost or stolen cards (or a replacement because of a name change), through the mail by calling the Social Security Administration and asking that an application be mailed to you, or by going to its Web site and downloading an application (Form SS-5) at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html.
You can also get the form by calling (800) 772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office.
You will need to show evidence of your identity with either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, such as a driver's license, marriage or divorce record, military records, adoption record, life insurance policy, passport, health insurance card (not a Medicare card) or school ID card.
For corrected cards, you need to show a document identifying you by your old name, as well as one with your new name. Your Social Security numbers will remain the same.
The Social Security Administration says it will not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies of documents.
You can either mail or take in the application and documents to the nearest Social Security office. On Oahu, they are: Prince Kuhio Federal Building, Room 1-114, 300 Ala Moana, (800) 772-1213; or Halekua Center, Suite 201, 563 Farrington Highway, Kapolei. For either office, call (800) 772-1213 or TTY (800) 325-0778.
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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
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