Hawaii is the longest move on the American map from the UK, and the only one that involves two separate ocean legs. Everything about the planning follows from that.
We connect your enquiry with a vetted international moving company from our network able to handle the Hawaii route, including the second leg out from the mainland.
Goods cross to a West Coast port, clear customs there, and then travel on by sea to Honolulu. Expect a longer total journey than any mainland destination, and ask for both legs to be shown separately in the quote.
Quick answer: two ocean legs with a federal clearance in between, the longest chain of any US destination, so shipping less is often the better answer.
A Hawaii shipment crosses to the mainland first, clears US customs at that port, and then sails again to the islands. Two ocean legs and a clearance in between make this the longest chain of any American destination.
It is also why volume matters more here than anywhere else. Every cubic metre is paying for two sea journeys, so the question of what actually deserves to travel is worth asking properly before the survey.
Who qualifies
Clearance happens at the West Coast port before the second sailing, so the federal customs test is passed on the mainland. Effects enter free of duty where they were for your personal use, or used in a household where you were a resident, for a year, and are not intended for sale or for another person.
The declaration
CBP Form 3299 supports the claim on goods arriving without you, with newer items declared separately, and the ten year limit applies here as it does everywhere else. Hawaii then adds its own state level checks on plants, produce and animals once the goods reach the islands.
What catches people
Because two sets of rules apply on this route, confirm both the federal position with CBP and the state position with Hawaii before anything is packed.
Before the inventory is finalised
On this route the honest answer for many items is that replacing them locally costs less than moving them.
A moving company from the network confirms the mainland crossing, the clearance, the onward sailing to Honolulu and the island delivery.
Both legs appear in the written quote, and the delivery plan comes from them.
Longer than any mainland destination, because the goods cross to the West Coast, clear customs there and then sail again to the islands. Ask for both legs to be shown separately.
Hawaii is reached via the mainland. The first crossing brings your goods to a West Coast port, and a second sailing takes them on to Honolulu.
Often not. Every cubic metre pays for two sea journeys, so replacing bulky low value items locally is frequently cheaper than moving them.
Yes. The state applies its own checks on plants, produce and animals in addition to federal customs requirements, and the timescales can be long.
Pets are possible but Hawaii has its own animal rules on top of the federal ones. Check the state guidance early, because preparation can take months.
They qualify where they were for your personal use, or used in a household where you were a resident, for one year, and are not intended for sale or for another person.
At the West Coast port of arrival, before the onward sailing to the islands. It is worth confirming this at the survey stage of your Honolulu move.
Because the final stage depends on the onward sailing schedule rather than on road transport.
Nothing for the introduction. The moving company provides a written quote covering both legs. The company quoting your Honolulu move will set this out in the written quote.
Send the collection address, the Honolulu delivery address, your date, a rough inventory and details of any pets. A moving company from our network prices both sea legs and contacts you.
Send your move detailsA Working Member of AGM Group. Enquiries are connected with vetted FIDI FAIM certified and BAR Overseas accredited international moving companies from the network.
We are an enquiry service rather than a mover. Your Honolulu move is arranged and carried out by the moving company we connect you with.
Written by Darren Benjamin, Founder.