A few years ago we arrived in Cairns, Australia, off a flight from Guam. Our backpacks alerted a friendly customs official we might be carrying hiking boots.
We proudly showed our squeaky-clean boots (thanks, Dwight), but in the process she spotted our trail mix, which contained dried banana pieces. Dried bananas carry a pathogen that is unwelcome in Australia.
These days we don’t carry any food across international borders.
When we entered New Zealand a few weeks ago, we declared we had hiking gear.
It only makes sense to make this declaration to avoid unpleasantness and fines.
We were directed to secondary inspection, as we have been directed on many international trips. The officer inspected our boots, sent our backpacks through an X-ray machine, and we were on our way.
The picture at the top of this post shows Dwight preparing our boots for an upcoming flight from Auckland AKL to Honolulu HNL. On the deck, to his right, you can see a fingernail brush we’ve carried for decades to get into the grooves.
Hawaii is particularly strict when it comes to preventing transmission of pathogens. The rules are unyielding, even for travelers from the US mainland.
Resistance is futile. Once my mother-in-law saved an apple that had been supplied by the airline, in flight from Minneapolis MSP to Honolulu HNL. At Baggage Claim we witnessed an eager beagle making a beeline for her carry-on. The Department of Agriculture official was delightful as she confiscated the offending item.
The US customs declaration is usually completed electronically at kiosks at the arriving airport. It has some unambiguous questions.
I always answer these questions honestly, which means having to spend a few minutes at secondary inspection. The alternative is to be found out, pay a fine, and lose my Global Entry privileges.
