The shipping process
Your belongings are packed, loaded into a shipping container (or consolidated with others), trucked to the Port of LA or Long Beach, and then shipped to Honolulu (Oahu), Kahului (Maui), Hilo or Kona (Big Island), or Nawiliwili (Kauai). Ocean transit is 7–10 days. Add 3–5 days for port clearance and delivery on the island side. Plan for a 2–3 week gap between when goods leave your LA address and when you can unpack in Hawaii.
Moving out of LA? One flat, binding price by home size, on a dedicated truck with one crew — confirmed after a free video survey.
Container vs consolidation
Consolidation (LCL — Less than Container Load): Your items share space with others. More affordable for small loads. Slightly longer processing time as the container fills. Good for studios and 1-bedrooms.
Full container (FCL — Full Container Load): The container is yours alone. More predictable timeline. Usually the better fit for a 2-bedroom or larger household.
Major carriers for LA-to-Hawaii: Matson Navigation (matson.com) and Pasha Hawaii (pashahawaii.com) are the two primary lines. Get quotes from both.
What to ship vs buy new
Price it both ways: cheap, bulky furniture often costs more to ship than to replace. Furniture that's difficult to find on the islands (large sofas, specific pieces) is worth shipping. Furniture that's commonly available in Hawaii (basic IKEA-style pieces) is often cheaper to buy locally than to ship. Electronics, instruments, art, and irreplaceable items: always ship.
Agriculture and pet rules
Hawaii enforces agricultural quarantine more strictly than any other US state — it's an island ecosystem that has already lost hundreds of native species to introduced pests. Fresh produce, soil, live plants without certification, and many insects are prohibited. Dogs and cats fall under Hawaii's rabies quarantine law. Pets that qualify for the 5-day-or-less program can be released at the airport, but qualifying takes rabies vaccinations, a microchip and a FAVN blood test with a waiting period before arrival, and the paperwork must reach the state in advance. Start at least four months ahead and follow the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's checklist exactly.
Call (213) 679-6844 for LA-side packing, inventory, and port delivery coordination for your Hawaii move.
Related questions
How does Best Movers LA move to Hawaii from Los Angeles?
All household goods must go by ocean freight — typically container shipping from the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach. Two options: a full container (you fill it entirely) or consolidation (your items share a container with others). Transit time is 7–10 days ocean crossing plus port processing.
How much does it cost to ship belongings from LA to Hawaii?
Ocean freight is quoted by the shipping line — Matson and Pasha Hawaii are the two main ones — and depends on volume and on whether you take a full container or share space in a consolidated one. Get quotes from both for the same inventory. The LA side (packing, inventory and loading) is billed by Best Movers LA at its normal hourly rates: $88/hr for 2 movers, $128/hr for 3, and $40/hr per packer.
What can't I bring to Hawaii when moving?
Hawaii has strict agricultural quarantine rules: fresh fruit and vegetables, soil and many plants are prohibited or need inspection. Dogs and cats must meet Hawaii's rabies quarantine requirements — the 5-day-or-less program if every step is done in time, or a longer quarantine if not. Check hdoa.hawaii.gov before moving anything living.
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