HI SB2709

Requires the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to adopt rules strengthening enforcement of the State of Hawaii biosecurity declaration and the Akamai arrival program, including establishing implementation and compliance mechanisms.

Mandates the biosecurity declaration be administered digitally through the Akamai arrival program for all passengers, officers, and crew arriving from the continental United States or other areas not under federal jurisdiction.

Changes multiple provisions from permissive "may" to mandatory "shall," requiring the department to adopt rules for restricted article identification, regulate or prohibit sale of restricted plants, and penalize importers who violate biosecurity requirements.

Requires inspectors to open containers for inspection when they have good cause to believe violations are occurring, and mandates the department confiscate or capture any escaped restricted living creatures at the owner's expense.

Strengthens interisland biosecurity by requiring the department to adopt rules defining inspectional requirements for articles transported between Hawaiian islands.