All Soldiers assigned to any unit in U.S. Army Hawaii will in-process through U.S. Army Hawaii (USARHAW) Replacement Company located at the Soldier Support Center, Ayers Ave, Bldg 705, Rm. 102, Schofield Barracks, HI.

Upon arrival at the Honolulu International Airport collect your bags and meet your sponsor who will be waiting for you. Once you have made contact with your sponsor, you must sign in at the USARHAW sign in desk located in the baggage claim area. If, for any reason, your sponsor is not there for you, you should go directly to the USARHAW desk to sign in and then contact the HHBn, USARPAC Staff Duty Desk at (808)438-3522.

The USARHAW sign in desk will provide further instructions for reporting to Schofield Barracks for in-processing.

All SSG and above or personnel traveling with dependents are responsible for arranging temporary lodging upon arrival in Hawaii. Your sponsor can assist you in obtaining temporary lodging. Single Soldiers SGT and below are provided barracks housing.

If authorized you will be allowed Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), at varying rates depending on the number of family members, if any, arriving with you. Some hotels require that you pay up front, so make sure you have adequate funds available (ie. Government Travel Card). You will not receive the first ten days of TLA until AFTER the first ten days has elapsed, so plan accordingly. You must submit a receipt from the hotel to the local finance office.

TLA will NOT be approved for any commercial hotel if there are rooms available in any of the Guest Houses at Tripler or Schofield Inn unless you have a statement of non-availability from the USARAW sign-in desk at the airport.

TLA has been approved for the following hotels:
Tripler Guest House: (808) 839-2336
Inn at Schofield Barracks: Toll Free 1-800-490-9638, DSN 315-455-5036, Comm:(808) 624-9650
Hale Koa Hotel: (808) 955-0555 or 1-800-367-6027 (between 8 am and 4 pm Hawaii time, daily except for Federal holidays)
Honolulu Airport Holiday Inn: (800) 800-3477 toll free or (808) 836-0661
The Plaza Hotel: (800) 800-4683 toll free or (808) 836-3636

You must report to the Fort Shafter Housing Office (808- 438-5063) within three working days of your arrival on island to place your name on a housing list or apply for off-base housing.

Housing waitlists can take six months or longer. Housing availability is based on a number of factors, such as rank; family size, and when you were placed on the housing wait list.

Housing on Fort Shafter is thru Island Palm Communities. You may also request housing thru Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam housing offices: Hickam Communities and Ohana Navy Communities.

As soon as you've found a place to live, contact the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor at (808) 477-4497. They maintain a 24 hour Voice Response System to help you claim your property. If your property has arrived, the system will connect you to a Shipping Specialist who will give you a briefing, and arrange for a delivery date. Ensure you have the number to the shipping manager, who will drive out to your site and supervise the movers if there are any problems.

Keep in mind the following average time-frames for shipping and receiving your household goods:

-If shipping from the West Coast, your property should arrive in Hawaii within 45 days.
-If shipping from Central U.S., your property should arrive in Hawaii within 50 days.
-If shipping from the East Coast, your property should arrive within 55 to 60 days.
-These are averages and not absolutes, but they are a generally good guideline to follow when planning your move.

The government will pay to ship one privately owned vehicle per service member when you PCS to Hawaii. If you need to ship more than one vehicle and your spouse is not also a service member who is on orders to PCS here as well, inquire at your transportation office about alternate means of shipping a second vehicle such as "Space A" or using a commercial shipper at your own expense.

"Space A" shipping usually requires you to drive your vehicle to a port on the West Coast of the continental United States.

Rather than purchasing a vehicle in Hawaii (which can be costly) you may also find it less expensive to pay the approximate $1500 to ship a second vehicle to Hawaii through a commercial vehicle shipper. When using a commercial shipper, also keep in mind that it may also save you money to drop the vehicle off at a shipping center rather than having the shipping company come and pick the vehicle up from you.

Again, inquire with your transportation office about the options available to you locally.

Where Do I Pick Up My vehicle? Your vehicle will be sent to Sand Island (Pier 51-B). You should call the 24 hour line: (808) 848-8383 to get information on whether your auto has arrived. Have your DD Form 788 (Shipping Documents) when you call and when you go to pick it up. You can also check the status of your vehicle's whereabouts at www.whereismyPOV.com.

The State of Hawaii requires "No-Fault" insurance on all vehicles. It is best to get this insurance immediately.

If you are a resident of another state, you do not have to pay the weight tax. You will need to get a waiver form from either the Military Personnel Division or the S-1 Office.

Hawaii is a rabies free state. Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the presence and spread of rabies. Success of the quarantine program is dependent on maintaining isolation of your pet from other animals for the required quarantine period. Importation of dogs, cats and other carnivores into Hawaii is governed by Chapter 4-29 of the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture Administrative Rules. This law says that these animals are required to complete a 120-day confinement in the State Animal Quarantine Station. If specific pre-arrival and post-arrival requirements are met, animals may qualify for a 30-day quarantine or a 5-day-or-less quarantine that became effective on June 30, 2003.

Do not delay in preparing your family pets for movement to Hawaii as it could mean the difference between them having to be up to 120 days.

Hawaii has three quarantine programs available: a five day or less program, a one month (30 days) and a four month (120 days).

Your pets must pre-qualify for the 5-day or less and 30-day quarantine programs. The cost of quarantine is approximately $224 per pet for the 5-day or less program, $655 per pet for the 30-day quarantine and $1,080 per pet for the 120-day quarantine. The full amount must be paid 30 days after the pet has arrived. For active duty personnel, the DOD now provides $550 for quarantine fees per family which you can claim as an expense on your travel voucher when you in-process finance.

At the time of travel, your dog or cat must also be accompanied by a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 14 days prior to arrival in Honolulu.

Also, it is advantageous to have the animal checked for heartworms, and start a prophylactic treatment. Be sure to include any medication and instructions with the cage of the animal.

For more information on animal quarantine or importation of other pets, please go to the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture website or you may e-mail at: hdoa.info@hawaii.gov.

For information on importing dogs and cats, you may call (808) 483-7151. For information on importing other types of pets, please call (808) 832-0566.

College

There are numerous opportunities for furthering your education in Hawaii. The Fort Shafter Education Center offers classes to further your degree or area of interest. Leadership classes are also available here. In addition, Tripler Army Medical Center and Schofield Barracks are other Army Education Centers available to assist in furthering your education.

Public Schools

If you have school-aged children, there are some things you need to know. If your child will be starting school for the first time in Hawaii, the following documents must be provided to the applicable school:

1. A complete health examination record (State of Hawaii Form 41, Pupil's Medical Report) or a Doctor's physical exam statement to prove that (a) a physical examination, (b) a TB Tine Test, and (c) all required immunizations have been completed within the last 12 months;

OR

2. A signed statement from your Doctor or medical clinic to prove that your child is receiving this medical care, or has an appointment to start receiving this care. Except for the TB Clearance, the law allows you 90 days (three months) to complete all medical requirements. After that time, you will receive official notice on whether your child is qualified to attend school. The following immunizations are required for entry into school:

-Diptheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)
-Polio
-Measles
-Mumps
-Rubella
-T.B. Tine Test

To avoid unnecessary delays, please carry your children's immunization health records in your personal baggage when you travel.

Private Schools

Many good private schools are available in Hawaii, most with a religious affiliation. Tuition rates range from $900 to $7,500+ per year. Some schools with very good reputations are normally filled to capacity for the coming year by the early summer months. If you plan to enroll your child(ren) in a private school, contact should be made with the school(s) as soon as possible upon arrival in Hawaii. Call (808)655-4444 for a current list of public and private schools on Oahu.