Incoming Personnel

Aloha, and Welcome to Tripler Army Medical Center

Everything You Need To Know is Here!	Your Military in Hawaii
Want To Know More About The Region?	Quality of Life Information
General Info	Household Goods
Military Personnel	Auto Shipment
Sponsorship	Pets
Temporary Lodging	Education
Post Housing	Inbound/Outbound Property Information

General Information

Wonderful greens, blues and different hues surround you daily in America's paradise. Smoky volcanoes, and clear, blue seas. Rainbows of indescribable, breathtaking colors.  You'll surely want to have your camera 'on the ready' to capture each breathtaking moment.  Join in on luau's (Pronounced: Lou-Ows), and share in the rich culture that is Hawaii.  Walk on the beautiful beaches and see the inviting ocean catch fire as the sun sinks below the horizon. View crystal clear stars, shining proudly at night, guiding your way.  Did you say you have Smog where you come from?  Not here, we have fresh and clean island breezes that wash away those impurities.  Have I enticed you enough?  Below are a few pictures of Beautiful Hawaii (Pronounced: Ha Vie Ee).

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Sponsorship

Every inbound soldier needs a sponsor.  Moving to another duty station can be a fairly confusing process, and a sponsor can help alleviate a lot of concerns you might have.  When you go to your initial out-processing briefing, the Personnel Center should ask you to fill out a Request for Sponsorship Card.  If they do not, you should mention it to them.  We receive Requests for Sponsorship cards constantly, and with them we are able to also assign sponsors based on the CAP cycle (A roster of incoming and outgoing personnel).

Once we're notified that you will be coming to Tripler AMC, we will send out a notice to the appropriate department requesting a sponsor.  They will reply back, and the official correspondence begins.  You should receive a letter from your sponsor with a phone number to contact him or her.  Use it!  You should also receive a Welcome Packet that contains very useful information, such as maps, housing information, and a lot of what you are seeing on these web pages.  Plan accordingly, and keep in constant touch with your sponsor since he/she will be the one at the airport to give you a ride to Tripler.  Tripler Army Medical Center prides itself on its Sponsorship Program, and we know that you will too.

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Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)

Upon arrival at the Honolulu National Airport you will need to collect your bags and hopefully (If you and your sponsor have kept in contact), your sponsor will be waiting for you to take you to sign in at Tripler.  If, for any reason,  your sponsor isn't there for you, you should go directly to the USO located in the baggage claim area.   There you will find information on how to contact the Staff Duty NCO and/or the Sponsorship Coordinator. The Staff Duty may be reached at (808) 433-6661/6662. If it's during the duty hours of 0800 hours to 1530 hours, you will need to contact the Sponsorship Coordinator at Troop Command Headquarters at (808) 433-9160/9187. He or she will get ahold of your sponsor or quickly assign one for you and send them out your way to get you started.

IMPORTANT! IF YOU ARE BRINGING FAMILY MEMBERS WITH YOU, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING TEMPORARY LODGINGS UPON YOUR ARRIVAL HERE IN HAWAII. 

TLA will NOT be approved for any commercial hotel if there are rooms available in any of the Guest Houses at Tripler or Schofield Inn.

TLA has been approved for the following hotels:

Tripler Guest House: (808) 839-2336

Inn at Schofield Barracks: Toll Free 1-800-490-9638, DSN 315-455-5036, Comm:(808) 624-9650

Take a "Virtual Tour" of the Inn at Schofield Barracks.

Hale Koa Hotel: (808) 955-0555 or 1-800-367-6027 (between 8 am and 4 pm Hawaii time, daily except for Federal holidays)

Honolulu Airport Holiday Inn: (800) 800-3477 toll free or (808) 836-0661

The Plaza Hotel: (800) 800-4683 toll free or (808) 836-3636

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Housing Information

Housing is difficult to find sometimes. We all go through the hassles of finding a suitable place to live. However, you're taking an important first step here. You might want to print this information for future reference.

If you're a single soldier, this information will not apply to you.

Once you've arrived, with or without your family, and after you've signed in, your next important step is lodging.  You will need to report to the Fort Shafter Housing Office, (808) 275-3800, within three working days of your arrival to have your name placed on a housing list or to be able to get authorization for off-base housing. Be warned that housing lists are sometimes six months or more of waiting.  Other times, it is possible to get lucky and snag a house that someone else has turned down for whatever reason.  Housing availability is based on a number of factors, such as your rank, family size, and when you were placed on the housing waiting list.  You will also need to make arrangements for temporary lodging at either the to go to the Tripler Guest House (808 839-2336) or the Schofield Inn (808 624-9650).  If neither of these have any availabilities you will be issued a statement of non-availability to stay at a commercial (TLA Approved) hotel and to start receiving your TLA (Travel and Lodging Allowance). TLA amount is based on a few factors. You're eligible for TLA if:

A) You're Active Duty arriving without your family and you cannot get a room in the BEQ/BOQ.

B) You're Active Duty and you report with your family.

NOTE:  TLA will NOT be approved for any commercial hotel if there are rooms available in any of the Guest Houses at Tripler or Schofield Inn.

Typically, TLA is authorized for the first ten days, and it can be renewed in ten day increments up to 60 days with proof that you're looking for a place to live.   You must show that you have looked at a minimum of five places each week.

If you arrive without your family and qualify for TLA,  you will receive TLA at a rate of 60 percent.  With one family member that amount goes up to 100 percent, with an additional 25 percent per additional family member (ie; a service member with 5 family members would receive 175 percent of TLA).  Some hotel's require that you pay up front, so make sure you have adequate funding (ie; credit card or travelers checks).   It can be pretty expensive to have to pay for a rental car AND ten days of living at a hotel BEFORE you can receive TLA money from the local Finance office.   You will not receive the first ten days of TLA until AFTER the first ten days, so plan accordingly.   You will need to have a bill from the hotel before Finance will pay you, however you will not need to show any receipts for food costs.  Another good thing to do while you're looking for a place to live is to stay in contact with the port where your automobile is coming in.

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Household Goods

How Long Will It Take My Household Goods To Arrive?

As soon as you've found a place to live, either on-base or off-base, you are going to want to claim your household goods. Be aware that your Hold Baggage will arrive earlier, typically 1 to 2 weeks earlier than your household goods.

You will want to contact the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor. They maintain a 24 hour Voice Response System to help you claim your property. Their number is: (808) 473-7760. If your property is in, this system will connect you to a Shipping Specialist who will give you a briefing, and arrange for a delivery date. Of particular note: The movers are required, if desired, to unpack and setup your household goods. This is important to remember. Also, during the briefing, ensure you have the number to the shipping manager, who will drive out to your site and supervise the movers if there are any problems.

Keep in mind the following average time-frames for shipping and receiving your household goods:

If shipping from the West Coast, your property should arrive in Hawaii within 45 days.

If shipping from Central U.S., your property should arrive in Hawaii within 50 days.

If shipping from the East Coast, your property should arrive within 55 to 60 days.

These are averages and not absolutes, but they are a generally good guideline to follow when planning your move.

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Automobile Information

Where Do I Pick Up My Auto?

Your auto will be sent to Sand Island (Off Nimitz Highway). You should call the 24 hour line: (808) 848-8383 to get information on whether your auto has arrived. Have your DD Form 788 (Shipping Documents) when you call and when you go to pick it up.

The type of auto insurance over here is called "No-Fault", and is required for everyone operating their auto. No vehicle can be driven on the roads of Hawaii without it. It's best to get this insurance immediately.

All vehicles have to be registered on Base within 72 hours of arrival. You must have your registration, ID Card, a safety inspection, and proof of Hawaii's No-Fault Insurance. Your auto has to be registered with the Hawaii DMV within 10 days from the time you picked up your vehicle.

If you are a resident of another state, you do not have to pay the weight tax. You will need to get a waiver form from either the Military Personnel Division or the S-1 Office. This form is called a DF-L-50. Most times, it only costs about $10 dollars to register your car with the DMV.

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Pets  

Dogs and cats that are brought into Hawaii are subject to rabies quarantine.

Hawaii is a rabies free state. Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the presence and spread of rabies. Success of the quarantine program is dependent on maintaining isolation of your pet from other animals for the required quarantine period.

Importation of dogs, cats and other carnivores into Hawaii is governed by Chapter 4-29 of the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture Administrative Rules. This law says that these animals are required to complete a 120-day confinement in the State Animal Quarantine Station. If specific pre-arrival and post-arrival requirements are met, animals may qualify for a 30-day quarantine or a new 5-day-or-less quarantine that became effective on June 30, 2003.

Animal Quarantine Station Rabies Information Brochure [aqsbrochure.pdf, Rev. 02/24/04] This brochure contains important information about pre-arrival requirements, quarantine station procedures, policies, rules, operations and fees.

For active duty personnel, the DOD now provides $550 for quarantine fees per family. Please check with your command on how to obtain this allowance.

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What Are My Opportunities For Education?

College

There are numerous opportunities for furthering your education here in Hawaii. Tripler Army Education Center offers classes to further your degree or area of interest. Leadership classes are also available here. In addition, Ft. Shafter and Schofield Barracks are the other Army Education Centers.

Public Schools

If you have school-aged children, there are some things you need to know. If your child will be starting school for the first time in Hawaii, the following documents must be provided to the applicable school:

1. A complete health examination record (State of Hawaii Form 41, Pupil's Medical Report) or a Doctor's physical exam statement to prove that (a) a physical examination, (b) a TB Tine Test, and (c) all required immunizations have been completed within the last 12 months;

OR

2. A signed statement from your Doctor or medical clinic to prove that your child is receiving this medical care, or has an appointment to start receiving this care. Except for the TB Clearance, the law allows you 90 days (three months) to complete all medical requirements. After that time, you will receive official notice on whether your child is qualified to attend school.

The following immunizations are required for entry into school:

1. Diptheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)
2. Polio
3. Measles
4. Mumps
5. Rubella
6. T.B. Tine Test

To avoid unnecessary delays, please carry your children's immunization health records in your personal baggage when you travel.

Private Schools

Many good private schools are available in Hawaii, most with a religious affiliation. Tuition rates range from $900 to $7,500+ per year. Some schools with very good reputations are normally filled to capacity for the coming year by the early summer months. If you plan to enroll your child(ren) in a private school, contact should be made with the school(s) as soon as possible upon arrival in Hawaii. Call 655-4444 for a current list of public and private schools on Oahu.

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Sponsorship Coordinator: (808)433-9160