HONOLULU -- For the first time in nearly a century, it will be easier for Hawaii residents to vacation on the mainland with their pets.

The State Agriculture Board Tuesday approved rules to allow Hawaii pets to travel in and out of the state without quarantine if they follow a strict set of procedures.

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Until now, residents traveling with their pets were required to put them into quarantine upon return to Hawaii. Under the new rules, for the first time in 91 years when quarantine started, pets will be allowed to go in and out of the state with their owners.

To qualify, pet owners have to go through a number of steps, including making sure their dogs and cats have two rabies shots, are microchip tagged, and have a blood test.

Ewa Beach resident Leonard Antonio owns champion show dogs. Until now, he has not been able to take them to mainland dog shows. They had to go into quarantine whenever they returned.

"I have dogs like show dogs I want to take to the mainland," Antonio said.

Antonio was among those testifying before the State Agriculture Board, asking for modified quarantine rules to allow new freedoms for Hawaii pets.

"I am really excited and now the planning can start, which pretty much everything will work out just fine," he said.

Antonio's 17-month-old Doberman is already a champion in local shows.

"She's the first Australian-bred Doberman to be an American champion," Antonio said.

Now he's planning to get a new puppy to show, too. Antonio hopes that under the new rules, his dogs will be the first Doberman pinchers from Hawaii to enter a major mainland dog show.

All paper work must be in order and submitted before any resident cat or dog can get back into Hawaii without quarantine.