Tinkerdreams
Bringing back coffee etc.
If you buy coffee, nuts (macadamia nuts) grown in Hawaii they can be brought back. Dole has pre packed pineapples that can be brought back. We brought back an orchid that we bought at an orchid farm on the Big Island and the U.S. Agriculture Dept. said that wa shine because it was purchased from a nursery that is approved to ship to the mainland. I think the issue with produce comes from items you may in yourself or get from someone's yard. Remember they are just as protective of items that may be brought into Hawaii as what is going out to the mainland. It is an issue of plant pests and diseases being brought from one area to another.
If for example you have a dog, cat or carnivore and are bringing it to the island, it must be quarantined for 120 days. There is a 5 day quarantine for pets who meet certain guidelines. As for Guide/Service dogs they have guidelines for them too. Hawaii is rabies free and they want to keep it that way to protect not only the animals but the people.