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HONOLULU — State leaders Monday announced the launch of Akamai Arrival, a pilot program that will digitize Hawaii’s Plants and Animals Declaration Form, streamlining the process for travelers arriving in the islands.

The initiative, authorized under Act 196 (2024), “marks a significant step toward modernizing Hawaii’’s biosecurity efforts, by improving form completion rates and strengthening protections against invasive species,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.

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Beginning March 1, the pilot program under the state Department of Agriculture will roll out on select domestic flights in partnership with major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

Participating airlines will integrate the digital form into their arrival processes, giving passengers a more efficient way to submit required agricultural declarations before landing in Hawaii.

“Protecting Hawaii’s unique environment from invasive species is critical to our way of life, our economy, and our future,” Gov. Josh Green said in the press release. “The Akamai Arrival program is a forward-thinking approach that modernizes our biosecurity efforts while making it easier for travelers to comply with our agricultural protections. This initiative is another step toward preserving our islands for generations to come.”

This concerted effort to modernize and adapt technology is an important step to further protect Hawaii’s natural heritage. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, together with legislators, DOA, airline partners and stakeholders developed the digital agriculture form pilot program.

“This is what government should be doing — utilizing technology to improve our state processes and better serve the public. Every one of us, whether coming home or traveling to Hawaii, is very familiar with filling out the paper agriculture form. By digitizing this form, we’re making compliance easier for travelers while using technology to protect what makes Hawaii so special,” Luke said.

Airlines participating in the pilot program have discretion over flight selection and implementation methods. The Akamai Arrival website will serve as a hub for passengers, providing access to the digital form, flight information and an FAQ page to assist travelers.

The pilot program will run from March 1 through May 31. Monthly progress updates will be shared with participating airlines, and data collected will help determine potential expansions of the program in the future.

For more information about the digital declaration form and the Akamai Arrival initiative, visit https://akamaiarrival.hawaii.gov/ .