The bare minimum. Even if you have decided to get a container and ship your things to the Big Island, you simply don’t need everything you use on the Mainland. Do yourself a favor and downsize your inventory. A quick Netflix binge of Marie Kondo could probably help with this.
Relocating household items to Hawaii is a big process and can be expensive, so it will be important to thoroughly scrutinize which items to bring.
You will need to estimate how many things you want to move to the Big Island with to help determine what type of shipping method is necessary (freight forwarder, cargo, mail, or a container) in order to get an appropriate quote and timeline.
If you are trying to simplify, here are the key items to address:
- Pets | Relocating with Pets
- Valuables (photos, jewelry, etc.)
- Clothing items (minimized!)
- Documents, laptops, cameras, etc.
- Can’t live without items (ie. bicycle)
- Your car
*If you opt to use a shipping container, then you can bring furniture and a lot of things with you – which could either be a blessing or a curse.
Unlike shipping things on the mainland, there are only a few options to transport your things to Hawaii.
- Shipping Containers, Crates, Pods, and Barges
- FedEx, UPS, USPS
- Air Cargo Aloha Cargo (from limited airports)
Generally, a shipping company is the most cost-effective way to move most of your household items (big things like furniture, bikes, etc.).
If you’ve successfully downsized to the point where a container is not necessary, then shipping your items by mail will be the way to go. You can also supplement your container shipment by shipping important things via mail such that they arrive quickly.
$900 - $2,000, depending on vehicle size, where you are shipping it from, and how fast you need it to arrive by. You can choose between shipping your vehicle in a container, specific auto carriers, or in secure stowage on the vessel.
Note: You cannot pack your car with things you would like transported to Hawaii. Most shipping companies require the vehicle to be completely empty of any belongings (except for maybe a child seat).
Generally, 2-weeks. Depending on the company, the service you select, and a bit of luck – it could arrive in a week. Or sometimes, it may take 3-4 weeks. A lot of it depends on when your container arrives at the port relative to the vessels scheduled departure date and how busy they are.
Expect to pay anywhere from $4,500 - $9,000 for shipping household goods to Hawaii. Four main factors will influence the price: Location, Weight, Size, and Contents.
- 20-Foot Container – Generally fits the contents of a 2-BR condo
- 40-Foot Container – Generally fits the contents of a 3-BR house
Here is a helpful post providing details from Royal Hawaiian Movers
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