E Komo Mai: Welcome

Your resource for veterinary medicine in Hawaii

Whether you are a seasoned Kama’aina (long term resident), new to our beautiful islands, a veterinarian, veterinary support staff or a pet owner, we can connect you with the information you need. Learn more about who we are.

Veterinarians Moving to Hawaii

Find out what you need to do to get your license and start practicing.

Moving Pets to Hawaii?

It is possible to avoid having your pets spend time in quarantine with proper planning and preparation. Get started now.

HVMA Members, Hawaii Veterinarians, and Visitors

Latest News from HVMA

  • Pet Expo 2024 February 19, 2024
    HVMA’s Pet Expo 2024 will be held on May 4-5, 2024 from 10am-4pm each day at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Join us for a wide range of informative booths and pet merchandise, keiki crafts, contests, and more! Please bring a few canned goods for donation to the Hawaii Food Bank in lieu … Continue reading "Pet Expo 2024" The post Pet […]
  • 2024 HVMA Scholarship January 31, 2024
    Applications are currently being accepted for the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association 2024 Scholarship. Full-time students enrolled in any AVMA-accredited doctoral program of veterinary medicine that have graduated from a high school in Hawaii are eligible for the $1000 scholarship. Applications due by March 15, 2024. Download the application here. The pos […]
  • Notice of 70th Annual Business Meeting October 9, 2023
    The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association’s Annual Business Meeting (HVMA Hui) will be held on Saturday November 11, 2023 from 12-1pm at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel Prince Jonah Room. All veterinarians are welcome to attend, though only active members are permitted to vote. You do not need to be a conference attendee to come to the Hui. … Continue reading […]

Legislative Alerts

  • 2024 Hawaii Legislative Update January 31, 2024
    The 2024 legislative session is up and running! Several introduced bills may have direct impacts on veterinary practice in Hawaii. Here are the bills we are watching: Please keep an eye out for calls to submit testimony on these bills in the near future. We will send out an alert once any of the bills … Continue reading "2024 Hawaii Legislative Update […]
  • Combat illegal xylazine while protecting veterinary access May 13, 2023
    Xylazine is an important animal sedative used to facilitate the safe handling and treatment of many species. Recently, illicit xylazine is increasingly showing up in street drugs as traffickers have begun mixing xylazine with fentanyl and other narcotics. Collaborative efforts among congressional offices, the AVMA, stakeholders, and federal agencies to addre […]
  • One Health Month January 30, 2023
    Governor Green has declared January 2023 as Hawai’i One Health Month! #OneHealth represents the intersection of human health, animal health, and environmental health, and helps us address complex health problems in Hawaii and beyond. See the proclamation here. Awareness of the One Health approach helps to inform our decision-making, particularly for policy m […]

From Hawaii State Legislature: Measures of Interest to Veterinary Professionals

HB1580 RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY. Amends the criminal penalties for various animal cruelty offenses by increasing the category of offense

SB2114 RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS. Prohibits the feeding of feral animals within a certain distance from Department of Education public school campuses; establishes fines. Hearing scheduled for 2/5.

HB1527 / SB2562 RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE. Prohibits animal owners and their employees from performing any surgical procedures on the owner’s animal or animals. Prohibits the elastration, or castration via banding, of a pet animal. Provides that a violation of the prohibitions is a class C felony. Clarifies that the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree does not apply to accepted veterinary practices and cropping or docking as customarily practiced when the procedures are performed by a licensed veterinarian.

HB2086 / SB2749 RELATING TO HEALTH. Requires the administrator of the narcotics enforcement administration to make an emergency scheduling by placing xylazine into schedule III on an emergency basis. [HVMA working to include exemption for veterinary use]

SB2564 RELATING TO PET ANIMALS. Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue, refusing to renew, canceling, or establishing higher rates for a homeowners insurance policy or dwelling fire insurance policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the premises. Requires any pet animal found on the premises during an eviction to be given to the owner or taken in by an animal control agency. Limits the monetary amount of pet deposits and pet rent. Clarifies that a provision allowing a lien on an animal to secure payment for caring for or feeding the animal does not apply to pet animals.

SB2692 RELATING TO DANGEROUS DOGS. Establishes requirements and penalties for owners of dangerous dogs. Allows for impounding of dangerous dogs under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2025.