Bringing Seeds from Hawaii

[bgifford]

Hello everybody.

I'll be heading to the Big Island in October with my wife for our 10th anniversary and was wondering what the possibilities are or if anyone had any previous experience with bringing seeds or so to the mainland (luggage or Mail).

I have read the USPS sheet but it wasn't really clear to me because it said it was OK to mail Seeds but then it also said it was not. So...... really confused about this.

Thank you for the help.

 

Brian

[Hferrell87]

They will scan your luggage and items for the seeds and confiscate them, if found. I assume they do the same with USPS... Not worth the risk in my opinion.

[aztropic]

If taking plant material through the airport,there is an inspection station you can visit where an inspector will take a look at what you have and if it's clean of pests,will seal your container with "official" tape and you're good to bring it on the plane.I found the easiest way is to just mail your treasures back in a usps flat rate box.Never had a problem...I've done it both ways.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[PalmatierMeg]

I would mail them. Be sure to clean them.

[quaman58]

What the technical laws are, I can’t say for sure. I’m guessing that each state has their own ag laws for importation. I’ve brought seed back(fully cleaned) & just checked them in with luggage & I’ve never had a problem. Technically legal? As you’ve said, the laws are not exactly crystal clear. 

[Matt in OC]

I haven’t had a problem but this was a few years ago. I brought a sprouted, unpotted coconut and bromeliad. All they cared about was if there was soil. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

1 hour ago, Matt in OC said:

I haven’t had a problem but this was a few years ago. I brought a sprouted, unpotted coconut and bromeliad. All they cared about was if there was soil. 

Same here. I had a sprouted coconut and a few plumeria cuttings from Maui and they passed inspection without a hitch. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Seeds are easiest put in a flat rate box and shipped. 

[ParkerK]

I took some seeds back from Oahu in December last year. Took them on the plane with me in a bag of trail mix. Hard for them to tell seeds from seeds lol! Sneaky sneaky.

[msporty]

I brought 5-10 ziplock bags filled with cleaned seeds in 2014 without an issue. There is an Ag inspector, but they are looking for fruit and soil, so I was told. I am not sure if mailing things is any safer, as I assume it goes through an inspector as well. 

 

Has anyone had plant material confiscated, excluding soil and fresh fruit?