Kona to Kona: Part I

A year and a half ago when I moved, I left both my cats with friends. Moving a pet to Hawaii is a bureaucratic nightmare. I didn't have the energy to figure it out. Luckily, I have a lot of great friends.

My friend Whalecrone took my cat, Kona.

Whalecrone had Kona's litter mate, Bob. She also had an Old English Sheepdog, a Golden Retriever, and Tucker (a Maine Coon). I was concerned for her sanity. She assured me it would be great. It was also always our intention that Kona would move to Hawaii.

In December when I found an apartment I could afford that accepted pets, I began the dreaded pet import paperwork. In January, Whalecrone took Kona to get his rabies antibody test and to get microchipped. In April, the rabies antibody test results came back.

I mailed the results, two prior rabies vaccine certificates, and a $165 money order to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. I booked Kona's flight on Alaska Air Cargo. I bought an airline approved shipping crate and food dishes. Finally, on May 12, I received Kona's Agricultural Import Form! Last weekend Kona went to the vet to get a flea treatment and a health certificate required by the airlines.

This morning my friend "Mutha Russia" drove Kona to Alaska Air Cargo in Omaha to put him on his plane. Although Alaska told me Kona needed to be checked in 2.5 hours before his flight, they failed to mention he couldn't be checked in more than 3 hours before his flight. Luckily Mutha Russia didn't mind waiting at the cargo terminal an extra hour.

Mutha Russia filled out paperwork for Alaska which they then ripped up saying, "Nevermind, you don't need this!"

Next Kona was sniffed by the drug dog. Then the cops inspected his crate.

Then a woman from the airline opened Kona's kennel to... drill something? Kona jumped over her head and made a break for freedom. Luckily Mutha Russia had time to take a picture and catch him before he was able to climb a stack of boxes in the airplane hanger.

I breathed a sigh of relief when Kona's tracking status changed to DEPARTED and an even bigger one when he ARRIVED in Seattle. Hawaii doesn't admit pets in the evening, so I previously made arrangements for a $180 "pet layover" in Seattle. At 3:00 pm I got a text saying, "Your pet has been picked up and is resting at the pet resort." Whew.

Then I checked my email. The Hawaii vet that will check him at the airport tomorrow wrote, "Alaska has been having a lot of cancellations. Call us tomorrow if there is a delay." Forehead palm.

At $180/night, please let that plane take off tomorrow. I briefly deliberated the legal remedy I could use to sue for my damages. Then I went to Target and bought a litter box and the one bag of cat food left in the store.

Friday morning, Kona begins the final leg of his 3,700 mile journey. The pet resort will take Kona to SeaTac. Assuming the Alaska Cargo pilots don't strike, and the crew don't open his crate, Kona will land at the Kona International Airport at 2:42 HST/7:42 CST.

If you’re a praying person, send prayers. If you're a drinking person, send booze. Hawaiians send Aloha. Kona to Kona!