Lizards, papayas, lithium batteries: Can you bring these aboard your Hawaiian Airlines flight? You may be surprised at the answers.

To comply with federal and industry regulations and to ensure the safety of our guests and crew, Hawaiian Airlines has rules as to which item can and cannot be brought aboard our aircraft.

So what’s accepted and what’s not? See the lists below. Keep in mind; this is not a comprehensive list of restricted items. Visit Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for the most up-to-date information on prohibited items as well as detailed descriptions of restricted items.

As for lizards, papayas and lithium batteries: The answers are no, yes and sometimes (with conditions).


These items are NOT ACCEPTED as checked baggage, carry-on baggage or on your person:

  1. Acids, alkalis and wet-cell batteries except as provided in Hawaiian Airlines’ Rule 195
  2. Briefcases and attaché cases installed with alarm devices
  3. Camping stoves and gasoline-powered items, including new, used or partially used camping stoves or any camping device that may have contained a flammable liquid fuel or other dangerous material
  4. Powder-actuated cartridges
  5. Corrosive substances or ones that, in the opinion of Hawaiian Airlines, may damage the aircraft
  6. Electro shock weapons (such as Tasers) that contain dangerous goods such as explosives, compressed gases and lithium batteries
  7. Explosives, munitions, fireworks and flares
  8. Fermented fish sauces of all types, regardless of packaging
  9. Flammable solids (such as strike-anywhere matches and items that are easily ignited); torch lighters, grill/fireplace lighters, micro-torches and lighters with unabsorbed liquid. No matches and lighters are allowed in checked baggage—unless the lighter complies with the special exception for specific, approved containers

    Exception: One book of safety matches (book matches) OR one lighter (gas or absorbed liquid) may be carried in the aircraft cabin (either on your person or in your carry-on baggage).

  10. Hermetically sealed, vacuum-packed individual food heater pouches containing potassium permanganate
  11. New, used or partially used fuel or gasoline canisters, whether cleaned or not
  12. Gases such as camping gas—including flammable, non-flammable and poisonous flammable liquids such as lighter or heating fuels, lighter refills and lighter fluid
  13. Hand and toe warmers
  14. Items with an internal combustion engine, such as chainsaws
  15. Items that interfere with equipment*
  16. Light bulbs—all types
  17. Magnetized materials
  18. Oxidizing substances, such as mercury
  19. Personal compressed oxygen canisters, canned oxygen, recreational oxygen, and flavored oxygen
  20. Paints, including water- or oil-based paints
  21. Segway Human Transporters (HT), except when used as an assistive device
  22. Self-defense spray, including but not limited to pepper spray and mace.

    Exception: Law enforcement officers who present proper identification and declare the spray may pack it in their checked baggage only. The spray cannot exceed DOT legal quantities (118 ml or 4 fl oz by volume) and must be in a protective case or other packaging to prevent accidental discharge.

  23. Self-heating beverage containers
  24. Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
  25. Substances that emit flammable gases upon contact with water
  26. Styrofoam containers restricted as checked baggage only (unless packed inside an outer container or box)
  27. Swingless golf clubs
  28. Tires—any type designed to be installed on a road, recreational or terrain vehicle
  29. Vaccinations of any kind for medical or research facility use

*Items that interfere with equipment: For the safety of everyone aboard your flight, Hawaiian Airlines does not permit any device or object that may interfere with the normal operations of its equipment on board the aircraft. Our Airport Customer Service Agents and/or Flight Attendants reserve the right to:

  1. Require that you refrain from using the device or object, OR
  2. Remove it from your possession during the flight

Hawaiian Airlines will not allow any item the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) deems unacceptable, either as carry-on or checked baggage. Items that may violate federal or state regulations will not be permitted. For more info, please go to TSA.gov

In addition, Hawaiian Airlines will not allow any item listed in the DOT hazardous materials regulations (49CFR 171-177), the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instruction for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by air, and/or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (See Rule 190 (A)(3) for exception for dry ice) as carry-on or checked baggage.

For more information, please visit the Domestic Contract of Carriage or International Contract of Carriage for additional guidelines on what you can and cannot bring on your journey.


These items are ACCEPTED only under the following conditions and restrictions:

Boxed pineapple or papaya are accepted if the pre-packaged box weighs no more than 10 lbs and has passed agricultural inspection. In fact, each paid passenger can transport one pre-packaged box of papayas or pineapples free of charge (subject to space availability) on flights departing from Hawaii to North America.

For more information, visit Pre-Packaged Box of Fruit.

Use of Electronic smoking devices such as electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes are prohibited onboard the aircraft. These devices may not be packed in checked baggage and will only be accepted in your carry-on baggage.

Electronically powered heat-producing articles (battery-operated equipment such as diving lamps and soldering equipment) are accepted as carry-on baggage only. The heat-producing component, or the energy source, must be removed to prevent unintentional functioning during transport.

Personal air purifiers and powered air filtration systems are accepted carry-on or checked baggage items if they are not used on board the aircraft.

Portable humidifiers are accepted carry-on or checked baggage items if they are not powered by the in-flight entertainment systems’ USB port.

Rodents (including guinea pigs, mice, rats, etc.), rabbits, chickens, roosters, reptiles (including snakes, turtles, etc.) or fish may be accepted only if Hawaiian Airlines agents determine, in advance and on a case-by-case basis, that they qualify as service and/or emotional support or psychiatric service animals. Otherwise, we cannot accept these animals as carryon or checked baggage.

Spare lithium or lithium-ion batteries may be accepted if they’re transported in carry-on baggage only and are packed so that loose batteries are kept away from metal objects such as coins, keys and jewelry. Spare batteries should be in their original store packaging. If original packaging is not available, you’ll need to place tape across the terminals or pack the batteries in their own protective case, plastic bag or package.

Tool boxes may be accepted as carry-on baggage only if they are empty. You can check them in as baggage as long as they do not contain items listed as hazardous material. Check-in baggage rules and restrictions will apply.

Wrapped gifts are accepted if they have cleared X-ray inspection to make sure they don’t contain weapons or explosive devices.

For more information, please visit the Domestic Contract of Carriage or International Contract of Carriage for additional guidelines on what you can and cannot bring on your journey.


Confiscated Items

Sometimes the unforeseen happens. If TSA has to confiscate items from you, if those items get damaged, or if our agents must remove items from your baggage because of TSA rules, Hawaiian Airlines will not be liable or responsible. The good news is that TSA does have claim procedures for things it confiscates. Please contact TSA directly for information about claim procedures.