Moving to Hawaii: The Ultimate Guide to Shipping Your Belongings
After you’ve made the initial decision to move to Hawaii, you then have to start thinking about how to begin doing so. Moving to Hawaii is exciting, but at the same time can be slightly overwhelming. As long as you plan ahead and do a little research, your move will go smoothly and soon be a thing of the past. So before you pack up your things and book a one-way ticket to the Hawaiian islands, here are a few things you should know.
Aren’t you ready to call Hawaii home?
You have three main options when it comes to moving:
1. Get rid of most of your items, or keep most of your possessions in storage (cheapest option, highly recommended)
2. Plan the move yourself (affordable, quality control, most time-consuming option)
3. Hire a full-service moving company (easiest, most expensive option)
How to Move Your Belongings to Hawaii
Step 1: Go Through Your Items
Step 2: Decide on Your Plan of Action
Step 3: Start Packing
Step 4: Keep Your Important Household Goods Separate
Step 5: Shipping Your Car
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Shipping Your Belongings to Hawaii
1. What do I need to bring with me when I move to Hawaii?
2. What is the best way to ship things to Hawaii?
3. Is there anything that is illegal or can’t be shipped?
4. How realistic is it to share a shipping container?
5. How long does it take to get your belongings to Hawaii?
6. How much does it cost to ship your belongings to Hawaii? Car?
7. What’s the best time of year to move to Hawaii?
8. How can I save some money when it comes to shipping my belongings? Any way to cut costs?
9. What’s the fastest way to ship household goods to Hawaii?
Moving Your Household Goods to Hawaii: Recommended Shipping Companies
Tips for Making the Move to Hawaii as Easy as Possible
Come discover the Hawaii Life!
E Komo Mai! Welcome to Hawaii!
When all the moving and unpacking is done, and you’re finally able to call Hawaii home, you’ll agree that all of that work was worth the reward. Hawaii is a place many dream of moving to, but never experience. Come discover what it’s like to be able to wake up to a colorful Hawaiian sunrise, take a refreshing dip in the ocean after work, and enjoy all the perks of island living. Come discover the Hawaii Life.
tuck
February 3, 2016
I’M going to have $50,000 dollars to move to Hawaii big island. In your opinion will that be enough to get started.. There is three of 62,60, and 35 years old .
Randy
February 6, 2016
Way more than enough. Shipping our Durango was fast and easy, $900. And spot on with the delivery time.
As far as furniture…we went with a company (I won’t name them but they have the name of the red bird, like the baseball team out if St Louis) and those morons screwed up everything. $12k off from their estimate, shipped to the wrong island, and 3-1/2 months later…..I finally received my stuff. And a good portion of my good furniture damaged. Research the company you plan on using if shipping household goods.
Good luck and enjoy the move…..it’s a dream move for sure. Just don’t let it be a nightmare like what I went through.
Moana Britt
February 9, 2016
Thank you, Randy! Very helpful.
tuck
February 3, 2016
I’M going to have $50,000 dollars to move to Hawaii big island. In your opinion will that be enough to get started.. There is three of 62,60, and 35 years old .
Randy
February 6, 2016
Way more than enough. Shipping our Durango was fast and easy, $900. And spot on with the delivery time.
As far as furniture…we went with a company (I won’t name them but they have the name of the red bird, like the baseball team out if St Louis) and those morons screwed up everything. $12k off from their estimate, shipped to the wrong island, and 3-1/2 months later…..I finally received my stuff. And a good portion of my good furniture damaged. Research the company you plan on using if shipping household goods.
Good luck and enjoy the move…..it’s a dream move for sure. Just don’t let it be a nightmare like what I went through.
Moana Britt
February 9, 2016
Thank you, Randy! Very helpful.
Joy Franks
February 5, 2016
Here’s what we did. We sold our house furnished, right down to the linens, dishes, etc. We gave away most of our wardrobe. My husband shipped 13 flat rate boxes ahead of us. (we already had a private mailbox) We sent 2 UPS packages of fragile, sentimental pieces packed professionally. (that cost us $399.00, my husband said we could have bought its own seat on the airplane and saved money) 😉 We rented a furnished studio for 5 months and then an unfurnished 1 bedroom apartment. We bought local furniture, quite reasonable, and Hawaiian style! All other stuff came from Amazon Prime account. If it was breakable we bought locally. Easiest move we ever made. Buying the new apartment contents was less than $15,000 and everything was new and what we wanted. Sending all our stuff in post office boxes and UPS came in under $700.00. We’re a retired couple with no kids so that freed us up to simplify the entire process.
Moana Britt
February 5, 2016
Aloha Joy,
Great information! You are wise for making the move with very little. And mailing some things over is a great way to go. Thank you for sharing.
Joy Franks
February 5, 2016
Here’s what we did. We sold our house furnished, right down to the linens, dishes, etc. We gave away most of our wardrobe. My husband shipped 13 flat rate boxes ahead of us. (we already had a private mailbox) We sent 2 UPS packages of fragile, sentimental pieces packed professionally. (that cost us $399.00, my husband said we could have bought its own seat on the airplane and saved money) 😉 We rented a furnished studio for 5 months and then an unfurnished 1 bedroom apartment. We bought local furniture, quite reasonable, and Hawaiian style! All other stuff came from Amazon Prime account. If it was breakable we bought locally. Easiest move we ever made. Buying the new apartment contents was less than $15,000 and everything was new and what we wanted. Sending all our stuff in post office boxes and UPS came in under $700.00. We’re a retired couple with no kids so that freed us up to simplify the entire process.
Moana Britt
February 5, 2016
Aloha Joy,
Great information! You are wise for making the move with very little. And mailing some things over is a great way to go. Thank you for sharing.
Donna Byers
February 8, 2016
I moved my furniture, car and personal effects….big mistake especially if you are planning to rent for a few years before buying. I could not find anything decent to live in that was unfurnished. So I rented a furnished place and have all my “stuff” in storage. Three years so far!!!! Total spent to store the items is probably more than the total worth of the items in storage at this point. Still hoping for that unfurnished condo so I can use my “stuff”. Glad I shipped my new car however!
Moana Britt
February 9, 2016
Excellent points, Donna. Thanks for sharing.
Donna Byers
February 8, 2016
I moved my furniture, car and personal effects….big mistake especially if you are planning to rent for a few years before buying. I could not find anything decent to live in that was unfurnished. So I rented a furnished place and have all my “stuff” in storage. Three years so far!!!! Total spent to store the items is probably more than the total worth of the items in storage at this point. Still hoping for that unfurnished condo so I can use my “stuff”. Glad I shipped my new car however!
Moana Britt
February 9, 2016
Excellent points, Donna. Thanks for sharing.