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Life After Hawaii

Phase: Ship

Shipping Your Life From Hawaii to the Mainland

This is the island-specific core of your move: how your belongings, car and pets actually get across the Pacific, and how to protect them along the way.

Guides in this section

  1. 01

    How moving from Hawaii actually works

    How moving from Hawaii to the mainland works: full-service vs. containers vs. shipping it yourself, door-to-door vs. port-to-port, and transit times.

  2. 02

    Container moves explained

    Self-pack container moves from Hawaii: 20 ft vs. 40 ft sizes, what fits, how loading works, port deadlines and fees to plan for.

  3. 03

    Neighbor-island moves

    Moving from Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Molokai or Lanai: how the inter-island barge to Honolulu works, timing and what it adds.

  4. 04

    USDA agricultural inspection when leaving Hawaii

    What USDA inspects when you leave Hawaii: fruit, plants, flowers and soil, how luggage is screened and what to do with household goods.

  5. 05

    Shipping your car from Hawaii

    Shipping a car from Hawaii to the mainland: carriers and ports, documents, lienholder letters, cleaning, timing and ship-vs-sell.

  6. 06

    Moving pets from Hawaii

    Moving pets from Hawaii: airline rules, health certificates, summer heat embargoes, destination-state rules and pet shippers.

  7. 07

    Packing for humidity, mold and ocean transit

    Pack for weeks at sea: how to protect belongings from Hawaii humidity, mold and ocean transit, with materials and moisture tips.

  8. 08

    Valuation & insurance

    Released value vs. full value protection for interstate moves from Hawaii, how marine/ocean coverage fits in, and what to ask before you sign.

  9. 09

    Moving documents explained

    The paperwork of a Hawaii move explained: estimates, the bill of lading, inventory and what to check before you sign.

  10. 10

    Claims & complaints

    How to file a moving damage claim after leaving Hawaii, deadlines, arbitration, and where to complain if a mover won't cooperate.

  11. 11

    Flying out: one-way flights & luggage

    One-way flights out of Hawaii: luggage strategy, what to carry on, ag screening at the airport and timing with your shipment.

  12. 12

    Shipping household goods: your options compared

    Full-service mover vs. self-pack ocean container vs. freight forwarder for shipping household goods from Hawaii: who packs, risk, best fit.

  13. 13

    Cost to move from Hawaii to the mainland

    What drives the cost to move from Hawaii to the mainland: volume, method, island, destination, car, storage and season.

  14. 14

    Choosing moving companies from Hawaii to the mainland

    How to choose moving companies from Hawaii to the mainland: verify USDOT, movers vs. brokers, questions to ask and a quote worksheet.

  15. 15

    Moving PODS and containers from Hawaii

    Can you use PODS from Hawaii? Portable storage containers vs. 20 ft and 40 ft ocean containers, and what to check before booking.

  16. 16

    Moving a dog or cat from Hawaii

    How to move your dog or cat from Hawaii to the mainland: airline options, health certificates, heat embargoes, crate training and destination-state rules.

  17. 17

    Moving your car from Hawaii: ship or sell?

    Should you ship your car from Hawaii to the mainland or sell it and buy there? Weigh shipping cost, car value, island wear, timing and destination needs.

Decide →Plan →Money, Legal & Taxes →Military PCS →Arrive & Settle →

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