MOVING TO HAWAII
Tips for Moving to Hawaii (Updated 2025)

First Things First -- Finding Your Dream Home
If you're planning to move someplace, naturally you should find a place to live first. Generally there are two ways to go about it. One way is demonstrated by a family we hosted in one of our vacation rentals. They bought one-way tickets from their home in Chicago and stayed with us for six months while they found a house to buy.

The other way is our own approach to finding our dream home. We planned a 10 day vacation/house buying adventure. We searched the local MLS listings and found about 10 homes we wanted to look at during our visit. We contacted a local Real Estate agent, told her what we were looking for and gave her the MLS numbers we wanted to look at. It's important to tell the agent you're working with what you are looking for in a home because they might show you something that you missed online. That's what happened to us. The house we ended up buying was found by our agent. It wasn't on our list because it was 4 square feet smaller than the criteria we were searching on in the MLS listings. A good agent is imperative!

Finding a Good Real Estate Agent
If possible use a Real Estate agent referred by someone you trust. Your agent will be your eyes and ears in the buying process, especially important if you still live off-island. We used Denise Nakanishi and we recommend her highly. Mention our name and she will send you a relocation pack if you are thinking of moving to the Big Island.
Looking for a rental? Check out the
​availability of our Canoe Houses here!

The seller has accepted your offer, now what do you do?
Here is where good planning becomes critical. First of all, what is your time-line for moving to Hawaii? For us, our home closed escrow in early July but we didn't make the move until late August. We could have moved in July but decided to wait until August because that was when our dogs were allowed into the State. Knowing your move date affects all your other planning so make sure you have a good idea when that will be.

If you have pets and you want to bring them with you, you have to deal with Hawaii's Animal Quarantine Laws. Of all the things we had to do to get ready for our move, dealing with the quarantine regulations was the biggest headache. I'll get more into this subject below.

On one of our first visits to Hawaii we received this advice from someone who had just moved there: "Sell everything you have before your move because you always bring too much." Let me echo that advice. You can buy everything you'll need here so there's no need to ship all your belongings. Before we moved we got rid of 95% of all that we had. The biggest thing we shipped was our car, but we did that only because it was less than two years old. The rest I shipped Parcel Post in 35 boxes. Remember that Parcel Post is the cheapest way, but also takes the longest. About 4-6 weeks. So what I did was first rent a PO Box at the Airport Branch Post Office (808) 933-3019. Give them a call and they will send you an application for a PO Box. The Keaau branch was closer to our new home but they didn't have any boxes available. 

Once we were assigned a PO Box, I started shipping boxes to my new address. The Post Office will hold onto your packages for several weeks, so don't start mailing your boxes more than 2 months before your move. I would ship 2 or 3 boxes at a time so it was easier for me to manage getting them to the post office by myself. When we arrived I made sure to rent a van because I knew I had a lot of boxes waiting for me at the Post Office.

Also check out the Moving Q&A section
for answers to our readers' questions

Shipping Your Car

When we shipped our car back in 2003 there was only Matson, and it cost $995 to get it from Long Beach to Hilo. These days (2025), both Matson and Pasha Hawaii handle vehicle shipping, and the price has crept up. Matson’s published rates now start around $1,597 for a standard vehicle from the West Coast to Honolulu, while Pasha’s quotes begin at about $1,070 for the same route. If you’re shipping to a neighbor island like Hilo, Maui, or Kaua‘i, expect to pay a bit more.

We shipped a mid-size SUV recently and found that the same old rule still applies — you can’t pack the car full of boxes. Liability and customs regulations mean it has to be basically empty except for factory-installed equipment.

​The process is a little smoother now. Matson offers online tracking so you can watch your car make its way across the Pacific, and Pasha has rolled out tracking features too. That said, don’t expect Amazon-style precision. Our vehicle took about three weeks door-to-port, and the toughest part was pinning down the exact arrival date. Cars don’t always get on the first available ship, and sometimes they’re delayed by congestion in Honolulu before being forwarded to the outer islands.

​It was still a happy day when the car showed up at Hilo Harbor — dusty from the trip, but otherwise in perfect shape.

A Few Tips We Learned Along the Way
  • Book early. Ships fill up, especially around summer and the holidays. We made the mistake of waiting once and lost our preferred sailing date.
  • Clean your car. The inspectors are picky. We had to run ours through a car wash before they’d accept it, and they’ll check for things like mud in the wheel wells (to prevent invasive pests).
  • Check insurance coverage. Our auto insurance didn’t cover the car during shipping, but Matson offered supplemental coverage. It’s worth asking before you hand over the keys.
  • Think twice about the car itself. Gas is consistently more expensive in Hawaii, and parts for certain makes can be harder to find. Sometimes it really does make more sense to sell on the mainland and buy a used car here.
  • Expect hidden costs. Port fees, neighbor island transfers, and storage charges if you can’t pick up right away can all add up.
  • Bring a spare key. Sounds obvious, but we almost shipped the car with our only key in the ignition — that would’ve been a nightmare.
If you don’t live near the West Coast ports (Long Beach, Oakland, or Seattle), you may want to do a search for ship auto from (your location) to hawaii for the latest list of shippers who can arrange inland trucking to get your vehicle to the port. It’s not cheap, but for many people it’s the simplest way to make the move.

Bringing Rover on Over - Hawaii's Pet Quarantine Laws
Give yourself plenty of time — at least 4 to 6 months — to comply with Hawaii’s strict animal quarantine rules. Hawaii is still the only rabies-free state, so they don’t mess around when it comes to pets coming in from the mainland.

Back in the day, every dog or cat had to spend 30 days (or even 120 days) in quarantine. Now, if all of Rover’s paperwork is in perfect order, you can actually take your pet straight home from the airport under what they call Direct Airport Release. It’s a huge relief compared to the old system. If something’s missing — even one little detail — your pet can still end up in quarantine for weeks or months, so it’s not something you want to cut corners on.

The requirements haven’t really gotten simpler, but they’re clearer now: two rabies shots, a microchip, a blood test from an approved lab, and all the forms submitted at least 10 days before you arrive. There’s also a fee (around $185–$244 depending on timing), and you’ll need a fresh health certificate from your vet. They’re also picky about flea and tick treatments, so double-check that box before you fly.

We did the process recently and the hardest part wasn’t the paperwork, it was the waiting period after the blood test — you can’t just rush it, and if you arrive too soon your pet won’t qualify for the quick release. The good news is that once everything lines up, you walk off the plane, meet the inspector, and head home together. Seeing your pet trot out of the airport instead of disappearing into quarantine is worth every ounce of hassle.

Full and current instructions (and all the forms you’ll need) are posted on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture site.

Here's a summary of what you need to know:

Bringing Pets — Hawaii’s Quarantine Rules in 2025

Because Hawaii is rabies-free, entry of dogs and cats is tightly regulated. (dab.hawaii.gov)

Quarantine Programs
  • 5-Day-Or-Less / Direct Airport Release (DAR): If your pet meets all requirements in advance, it can be released within 5 days (or even same day) rather than undergo long quarantine. (dab.hawaii.gov)
  • 120-Day Quarantine: Pets that don’t meet the stringent pre-arrival criteria must remain in quarantine for up to 120 days. (dab.hawaii.gov)
What You Must Do in Advance
To qualify for the 5-Day-Or-Less / DAR option:
  1. Rabies vaccinations: Two rabies shots, given at least 30 days apart. The most recent must be done at least 30 days (and not more than the vaccine’s allowed duration) before arrival. (dab.hawaii.gov)
  2. Microchip: Implant a microchip so the pet’s records and test results can be tied to the animal. (Hawaii.com)
  3. OIE-FAVN rabies antibody blood test: Pet must pass a test showing an antibody level ≥ 0.5 IU/ml (or as required) at an approved lab. (dab.hawaii.gov)
  4. Health certificate: Issued by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of travel. Must detail treatments (especially for ticks) and vaccination dates. (hdoa.hawaii.gov)
  5. Submit documents early (at least 10 days before arrival): Under the newer Akamai Arrival system (effective March 2025), many of these documents can now be submitted digitally. (Hawaii.com)
  6. Fees:
     - Honolulu DAR / airport release: ~$244 (or reduced $185 if documents arrive early) (dab.hawaii.gov)
     - Neighbor Island inspection permit (for direct release at islands like Kona, Maui, Kaua‘i): ~$165 (dab.hawaii.gov)
     - If animals arrive prematurely or documents are late, additional daily quarantine fees ~$14.30/day may apply. (dab.hawaii.gov)

Other Notes & Warnings
  • Pets arriving too early or with incomplete paperwork may be disqualified from DAR and placed into full quarantine. (dab.hawaii.gov)
  • Revaccination, proper tick treatment (a long-acting product, not Revolution®) and documentation are mandatory. (hdoa.hawaii.gov)
  • The OIE-FAVN test result is valid up to 36 months. (hdoa.hawaii.gov)
  • Guide dogs and service animals may have modified or expedited procedures. (Go Hawaii)
  • If bringing other animals (birds, reptiles, etc.), check the Plant Quarantine Branch; many are restricted or require special permits. (hdoa.hawaii.gov)

​Which Ports Are Easiest for Vehicle Pickup?
When we first shipped a car over, we didn’t give much thought to which port we’d pick it up from — we just assumed it would be simple. Turns out, the experience can be very different depending on which island you’re headed to.

Honolulu (O‘ahu) is hands-down the easiest. Almost every ship comes into Honolulu first, so the cars get unloaded there quickly. The port is big, well organized, and the paperwork is pretty straightforward. The downside is that if you’re not living on O‘ahu, you’ve got to wait for your car to be forwarded to another island, which can add extra time and fees.

Hilo (Big Island) is convenient if that’s where you’re moving, but don’t expect the same level of efficiency. Our SUV sat in Honolulu for nearly a week before it finally got put on a barge over to Hilo. Once it arrived, the pickup was actually easy — just a smaller port and less traffic — but you’ve got to be patient about that Honolulu bottleneck.

Kahului (Maui) is kind of a middle ground. The port is busier than Hilo but smaller than Honolulu. We heard from friends who picked up there that scheduling can be unpredictable. Sometimes the cars come right over on the same ship, other times they’re held back in Honolulu for days.

We haven’t personally shipped to Kaua‘i, but the word is similar: everything passes through Honolulu first, so you’re at the mercy of inter-island shipping schedules.

Our lesson learned? If you’re moving to O‘ahu, you’ve got it easy. If you’re heading to a neighbor island, build in an extra week or two of flexibility before you’ll actually see your car. And don’t forget — once you finally get it, it’ll be covered in a layer of salty sea dust. We drove straight from the port to the car wash.

​Is It Cheaper to Ship a Car or Buy One Locally?
We wrestled with this question before our move, and the short answer is: it depends. When we shipped our first car years ago, the math was pretty simple — the car was paid off, in good shape, and worth a lot more than the $995 it cost to send it over. These days, with prices in the $1,000–$1,600 range depending on the shipper and the island, it’s worth pulling out a calculator. 

​If your car is newer, reliable, and something you know you’ll keep for a while, shipping usually makes sense. A well-maintained SUV or truck that would cost you $25,000 to replace on the islands is almost always worth the shipping bill. On the other hand, if you’re driving an older sedan that’s only worth a few thousand, the shipping cost can eat up half the value of the car before it even rolls off the boat.

Buying local isn’t necessarily cheaper, though. Used car prices in Hawaii tend to run higher than the mainland — sometimes much higher, especially for trucks and 4x4s. Salt air and sun are tough on vehicles, too, so you’ll want to look carefully for rust and fading paint. We once went to look at a used pickup in Kona that cost more than it would have on the mainland, even though it already had plenty of beach rust.

In the end, we decided to ship our car because we trusted it and knew its history. Friends of ours sold theirs before moving and bought local, only to spend more than they expected on repairs. If you’re on the fence, compare the Kelley Blue Book value of your car to the shipping quotes, and don’t forget to factor in the cost (and hassle) of buying something new when you arrive.




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