State guide
Hawaii
Hawaiʻi is different from Florida and Georgia: counties handle most domestic-animal control locally, while the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife directs help for downed native birds and other native wildlife. Hawaiʻi is rabies-free, and the state Department of Health routes rabies case reporting through its Disease Reporting Line rather than a mainland-style state rabies-control network.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually county government or county-contracted local animal-control programs handle domestic-animal issues; examples include Hawaiʻi County’s Animal Control & Protection Agency, Maui County’s animal-control reporting pathway, and Kauaʻi Police dispatch for reports.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Report a rabies case or concern through the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Disease Reporting Line at (808) 586-4586; the rabies page also says to seek advice from a doctor, the Department of Health, or the local health authority.
- State rabies contact
- Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Disease Outbreak Control Division
Official resources in Hawaii
Official downed-wildlife help page with island-by-island contacts and named rehab resources for native seabirds and other native birds.
Official DOFAW contact page that directs people to the downed wildlife contact page for injured birds.
Official state page explaining Hawaiʻi’s injurious wildlife rules and what species are regulated as nuisance or health-hazard wildlife.
Official rabies page with Hawaiʻi-specific reporting information and the Disease Reporting Line.
State fact-sheet index that lists the Disease Reporting Line and links the rabies fact sheet.
Key facts for Hawaii
- DOFAW’s downed-wildlife page lists island-specific contacts for native wildlife response.
- On Oʻahu, the downed-wildlife page lists Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center as a licensed rehabber for all native species.
- Maui County’s official emergency page sends immediate animal-related issues to Maui Humane Society through the county link.
- Hawaiʻi DOH says the state is rabies-free and cases in Hawaiʻi have been infected through exposures outside the state.
- The Hawaiʻi DOH Disease Reporting Line is (808) 586-4586.
Local animal control offices in Hawaii
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| County of Hawaiʻi Animal Control & Protection Agency Hawaiʻi | null | Not published* | County animal-control dispatch for daytime service; after hours it routes through HPD non-emergency dispatch. |
| County of Maui Emergency & Safety - Animal Control Maui | Wailuku | 808-270-8276 | County Department of Agriculture page for immediate animal-related issues and dangerous-dog appeals resources. |
| Kauaʻi Police Department Dispatch Center Kauaʻi | Lihue | Not published* | County police non-emergency dispatch contact for making a report; Kauaʻi official page says these lines are not monitored 24/7 except dispatch. |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services Honolulu | Honolulu | Not published* | Official city department page offering dog registration, feral chicken information, report-a-concern tools, and related resident services; specific animal-control phone not found on the official page searched. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- For native injured or downed wildlife, use the DOFAW island contact page first because Hawaiʻi routes wildlife response by island and species.
- For domestic-animal problems, start with your county animal-control pathway rather than DLNR.
- After any bite or suspected rabies exposure, wash the wound and contact a doctor and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Hawaii's population center, for comparison only):
- City of San José Animal Care Services, California · about 2415 miles
- Front Street Animal Shelter, California · about 2460 miles
- City of Eugene Animal Services, Oregon · about 2530 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Seabird Fallout / Downed Wildlife Contacts
Website →Phone: (808) 379-7555 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Hawaii page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.