Taking Jacksons from Hawaii
I was not able to find anything about this statement however since I am planning a trip to maui in June, I am doing the foot work on finding out what is required, Today these are the questions I asked and the responses.
First off I called and talked to DLNR and they immediatly transferred me to dept of wildlife, that leads me to believe that the permits are now handled through wildlife, which really is where one would expect them to be handled...
Q: I'm trying to find out some information on the current restrictions and regulations on export of chameleons off the islands.
A: OK, you'd like to know the regulations on taking jackson chameleons out of the state, for personal use. You must obtain a permit and let us know when you plan on leaving, and you need to allow at least 2 weeks before you are leaving, You can take a maximum of 4 per household, and you must check with your airline to be sure they will allow you to take them.
Q: If my airline won't allow me to take them, can I ship them overnight?
A: The animals are not allowed to be shipped.
Q: American Airlines will not allow them in my checked baggage or in the cabin, however they will accept them as air freight, is that acceptable?
A: They must leave the island on the same plane as you, so freight is not allowed
Q: If I'm not going to be in hawaii for two weeks, is it possible to start the paperwork before I arrive?
A: If you can start the process about a month in advance of your departure, then you can start the process over the phone.
I think thats about all I covered on the phone with her, if anyone has any other questions the number to call is 808-587-0166 they are open I think from 7:45am till 5 or so.
Hope this info helps.
It hasnt been updated in 8 years apparently, but maybe still helpful?
Legality & restrictions on exporting
(THIS INFO WAS CURRENT AS OF 10/17/2000)
It is illegal to transport Jackson's from the Hawaiian Islands to the continental US without a permit from the (Hawaii) Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR). Doing so is a (class C) felony with a fine of $50,000 to $200,000. Also, it is a petty misdemeanor to transport Jackson's from island to island, and if caught this could result in a fine of up to $5,000. The DLNR will give a one-time permit (there are no fees involved) for up to four (4) animals per household for personal use. Permits are also given for an indefinite number of Jackson's for valid scientific research or educational purposes. There are no restrictions on the age, size or sex of the animals you take. These permits are only issued from the DLNR's main office in Honolulu, regardless of where the chameleons are purchased or collected. The requestor of the permit must be physically in the state of Hawaii, and can be obtained by calling or visiting the DLNR office at:
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFW)
1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 587-0166
Contact person: Nancy Lisignioli
Again, do not request a permit until you are actually in the state of Hawaii. Although the office is in Honolulu, if you are on another island you can still request a permit and it will be faxed to you. According to the DLNR, scores of people have done/are doing this. However the airline you are traveling may have restrictions - some will not allow reptiles on board in the cabin or as luggage, so you may have to ship them as cargo. Make sure you check with the individual airline first.
UPDATE 2/7/01: You may have noticed lately that many stores are advertising Jackson's for sale from Hawaii, and they state that they were obtained legally. I recently read a post from a store stating that they obtained a shipment of Jackson's from "someone that was given a permit to remove the Jackson's from their property". Although this may have been said by the seller this is still illegal.