By Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR, The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty. Updated November 14, 2026.
Every year, thousands of people move to Hawaii to chase the dream of island living. Life here can be wonderful, but the move itself can be a nightmare if you don't plan for it. You can't just pack a truck and drive. Your things go from a truck to a container ship, across 2,500 miles of ocean, onto another truck, and then to your new home. That can take weeks.
If you're still deciding, I wrote about why you should move to Hawaii, and our Hawaii cost of living guide breaks down the real numbers. This guide is about the logistics: what to bring, how to ship it, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Moving on military orders?
If you are PCSing to Hawaii, start with the Hawaii PCS Guide and the Hawaii PCS FAQ. Then use these planning guides for the official steps. Pets, cars, household goods, TLA, and housing are also linked in the steps below.
Shipping is priced by weight or volume, so every item you leave behind saves money. Your Hawaii home will probably be smaller than your mainland home, and you won't need your snowblower, tire chains, winter coats or heavy bedding. In the dead of winter, most of Oahu is around 70 degrees, even at night, and on a cold night it might drop to about 60. I've never seen an Oahu home with a heater. When it gets really cold, we turn on the oven.
Sell or donate what won't work in a warm, humid climate. Ask yourself whether each big piece of furniture will fit in a smaller home, and whether it's worth more than the cost to ship it. (And please don't call the mainland "the states." We're the 50th state.)
Get at least three written quotes, ask how the company handles damage claims, and check whether the price includes delivery to your neighborhood. Some Oahu streets, hillside lots and condo loading docks make big trucks hard, so mention that to the mover. If you are moving on government orders, use the Hawaii PCS household goods and NTS guide for the official shipment and storage process.
Ocean freight gets bounced around. Pad fragile items heavily, tape drawers shut, take apart anything that isn't sturdy, and box everything you can. Lamps, brooms, surfboards, clothes and anything smaller than your largest box should be boxed or wrapped. Small boxes beat big ones: 100 small boxes are easier to handle and less likely to crush than 25 huge ones. Label every box with its room and a short list of contents. That makes unpacking in a new home much faster.
Some items are restricted. Snakes are illegal in Hawaii, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture regulates plants, soil, seeds and some foods to keep invasive pests out. Clean outdoor furniture, bikes and garden tools so there's no soil on them, and check the department's rules before you pack plants.
Cars ship from West Coast ports to Honolulu on regular container and roll-on/roll-off vessels. Ships run on their own schedules, not yours, so plan for your car to arrive later than quoted. Many people ship the car a few weeks before they fly so they don't pay for a long rental. Carriers usually require a nearly empty gas tank and no personal belongings inside the car. After it arrives, your car will need a Hawaii safety inspection and registration. Check the City and County of Honolulu's motor vehicle pages for the current requirements and deadlines. If you have a government-paid privately owned vehicle entitlement, follow the official process in the PCS car-shipping guide.
Hawaii is rabies-free, and the state works to keep it that way. Dogs and cats that meet all of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's requirements, including a microchip, rabies vaccinations and a passed rabies blood test with the required waiting period, can qualify for the 5-Day-or-Less program, and many are released right at the Honolulu airport. Pets that don't qualify can be held in quarantine for up to 120 days. The process takes months, so talk to your vet and read the department's checklist as soon as you know you're moving. I walk through the official Hawaii steps in PCS to Hawaii with pets.
Many people rent first and buy after they've learned the island. Others buy before they arrive. Either way, it helps to know the numbers. HUD's fiscal 2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in urban Honolulu is $2,542 a month, including utilities (effective October 1, 2026). The Honolulu Board of REALTORS reported an October 2026 Oahu median of $1,150,000 for single-family homes and $499,000 for condos. For details, see our Oahu market report and what nobody tells you before you buy in Hawaii. If you're still choosing where to land, our neighborhood guides to Makiki, Aiea and Wahiawa show what each area offers in housing types and prices, and our Hawaii facts and history guide covers the island basics. If you are arriving on military orders, read TLA in Hawaii and on-base vs off-base housing.
Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2027 Fair Market Rents; Honolulu Board of REALTORS, October 2026 resale report (released November 6, 2026); Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine and Plant Quarantine branches.
A move across the ocean is a big change for everyone in your household. Let each person help choose things for the new home and set up their own space. Plan a few fun island outings in the first weeks, and think about flying in a close friend to visit early on. Positive first memories make the new place feel like home faster.
Under current federal law, the moving expense deduction is generally limited to active-duty members of the Armed Forces moving under military orders, with a narrow added category starting in 2026. Most civilian moves no longer qualify. Check IRS Publication 3 or ask a tax professional about your situation. If you're moving on orders, our PCS to Hawaii guide can help. If you're selling a mainland rental property to buy here, our Hawaii 1031 exchange guide explains how a like-kind exchange can defer capital gains tax, and why the deadlines start when your old property closes.
For the bigger picture, read our Hawaii relocation guide, which Hawaiian island should I live on and the best and worst of living in Hawaii.
It often takes several weeks from pickup to delivery, depending on the mover, the shipping method and the vessel schedule. Consolidated freight can take longer than a dedicated container.
It depends on the car's value and condition. Shipping can make sense for a newer car you plan to keep. Plan for it to arrive later than quoted, and budget for a Hawaii safety inspection and registration once it arrives.
Not always. Dogs and cats that meet all of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's requirements can qualify for the 5-Day-or-Less program, and many are released at the airport. Pets that don't qualify can be quarantined for up to 120 days.
Leave winter gear, heaters and oversized furniture behind. Snakes are illegal, and plants, soil, seeds and some foods are regulated by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
HUD's fiscal 2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in urban Honolulu is $2,542 a month, including utilities. Actual rents vary by neighborhood and building.
Under current federal law, the moving expense deduction is generally limited to active-duty military moving under orders, plus a narrow added category starting in 2026. Most civilian moves don't qualify. Check IRS Publication 3 or ask a tax professional.
Many people rent for a few months to learn the island before they buy, while others buy right away to lock in a home. A local agent can help you compare neighborhoods and commutes either way.
Planning a move to Oahu? Call me at (808) 201-3577 and I'll help you find the right neighborhood before your container lands.
Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR, The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty.