Whether you're relocating for a new job, to be closer to family, or to find a better fit, a Hawai'i interisland move offers a fresh start. But an interisland move can also come with challenges that can catch even longtime Hawai'i residents off guard.
You may already know that interisland barge shipping plays a central role in these moves. What you might not realize is just how much timing and logistics count when transporting your belongings between islands. That's why many Hawai'i residents turn to a local moving company to coordinate all the logistics of an interisland move for them.
In this guide, we'll walk you through what you need to know about interisland residential moves, how to plan for them, and what you can expect along the way.
Your Guide to Hawai‘i Interisland Moves:
- Must-Knows About Hawai‘i Interisland Moves
Must-Knows About Hawai'i Interisland Moves
If you've lived in Hawai'i long enough to remember the end of the Hawai'i Superferry, you already know there aren't any vehicle ferries or personal drive-on options for interisland moves. What you can't check as airplane luggage has to travel either by air freight or ocean freight to get to your new home.
Understanding Interisland Air Freight
Air freight can move significantly faster than interisland ocean freight. However, it's also more expensive, and it's not well-suited for heavy or large items. Air freight also comes with tighter restrictions around hazardous items.
If you're looking to maximize your moving budget, we suggest sending either all or the majority of your items via ocean freight. (More on that in a moment.) For items you need immediately at your new home, try to check them as luggage on your interisland flight, or consider a small air freight shipment.
For more assistance understanding all your interisland moving options, reach out to the Royal Hawaiian Movers team. We'd be happy to help.
If you're moving your entire household to another island, your shipment is probably best suited for ocean freight.
All interisland ocean freight travels on barges operated by Young Brothers. With Honolulu Harbor on O'ahu as their hub, they offer 12 weekly roundtrip sailings to:
- Kahului (Maui) – 3 roundtrip sailings/week
- Nāwiliwili (Kauaʻi) – 2 roundtrip sailings/week
- Hilo (Hawai'i Island) – 2 roundtrip sailings/week
- Kawaihae (Hawaiʻi Island, Kona side) – 2 roundtrip sailings/week
- Kaunakakai (Molokaʻi) – 2 roundtrip sailings/week
- Kaumālapaʻu Bay (Lānaʻi) 1 roundtrip sailing/week
Two things to know about the interisland barge schedule:
- Shipments must be scheduled in advance. During peak times, your household items may have to wait for space on the barge to travel between islands.
- Neighbor-island-to-neighbor-island freight routes through Honolulu. In other words, if you're moving from Kaua'i to Maui, your shipment will first travel from Nāwiliwili Harbor to Honolulu Harbor, where it will be off-loaded and then loaded onto a vessel that's headed to Kahului Harbor. The bottom line: If you're moving between neighbor islands, schedule your move as soon as possible. This will give you the best chance of securing space on both vessels.
An experienced Hawai'i-based moving company can manage all of these logistics for you—including pick-up and delivery to and from the port. However, knowing how the system works helps you plan smarter and avoid surprises.
What About Shipping Vehicles Interisland?
Young Brothers also offers vehicle shipping within Hawai'i. Their vessels have ro-ro capacity (roll on-roll off), meaning vehicles get driven directly onto the ship, secured, and then driven off the ship at the destination port. You can either arrange for this service directly through Young Brothers, or your moving company can handle it for you as part of a larger household move. If you arrange service yourself, you'll be responsible for driving your vehicle to and from the port.
Documentation for Shipping Your Vehicle Interisland
Whether you're shipping your vehicle yourself or a moving company is handling the logistics, you'll need to provide the following documentation to ship your vehicle interisland:
If you're the legal or registered owner, you'll need to provide:
- Identification
- Current registration or certificate of ownership
- Proof of insurance
If you're not the legal or registered owner, you'll need to show:
- Identification
- Current registration or certificate of ownership
- Proof of insurance
- A notarized letter, dated within 30 days, from the registered owner, legal owner, or lien holder authorizing you to ship the vehicle with the following information:
- Vehicle year
- Make
- Model
- Vehicle Identification Number
- Weight
- Name of person authorized to ship vehicle
If your moving company is handling the shipment, they'll help you prepare the necessary documentation to ship your vehicle interisland
Moving to Lānaʻi or Molokaʻi?
Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi offer a quieter pace of life, but they also offer their own unique set of logistics. As you can see from the schedule above, Young Brothers does operate barges to both islands from Honolulu, although Lānaʻi sailings only happen once a week.
Availability can be tight, so book your move as early as possible. Planning ahead and working with the right partner will ensure your move to one of Hawaiʻi's more remote islands goes smoothly.
The Cost of an Interisland Move
The total cost of your interisland household move depends on several factors. So you can start budgeting, here's a look inside the factors a moving company considers when calculating the cost of your move.
1. The Weight of Your Shipment
For a standard interisland move, moving companies use the weight of your shipment to price your move. Why? Because weight is a simple standard measurement everyone can trust. It's simple: The more you move, the more it will cost. (This is why downsizing can save you big on your interisland move!)
2. The Services You Choose
For example, whether or not you choose professional packing and unpacking services will factor into the cost of your move. But before you decide this is an area in which you want to economize, keep in mind the following:
- Professional packing crews are just that—real pros. They'll get the job done quickly, saving you significant time, and they'll get the job done right, helping to protect your items from damage in transit.
- Additionally, if you're short on time, professional packing services can be critical for getting your move executed on a tight timeline.
Additional services that could factor into the cost of your move include:
- Temporary storage (more on that in a moment!)
- Special handling or packaging for fragile, oversized, heavy or high-value items, including things like musical instruments, fine art, etc.
3. Access Issues
If your home on either end presents access challenges, it can mean a higher quote for your interisland move.
For example, moving companies may charge more for:
- Navigating stairs or long carries
- Narrow roads or steep driveways that require using a smaller van to ferry loads back and forth to a larger truck
- Restricted parking that prevents a larger truck from stopping close to your home
All of these add time and effort to your move, so they can also add to your quote.
Interisland Moving Tip: When you do receive your quote, ask if everything is included or whether there might be the possibility for additional charges like port fees, extra packing materials, or final delivery. This will help you more compare quotes more accurately.
Storage for Interisland Moves
Not every interisland move follows a perfect timeline. Sometimes, your new home isn't ready on your expected timeline—or you need to move out of your old home faster than expected.
That's where storage comes into play. It can be especially useful when interisland barge schedules and housing logistics don't align.
Common Reasons to Use Storage During an Interisland Move
- There's a big gap between your move-out and move-in dates.
- Your move-out date doesn't line up with barge availability, so your household belongings need to go into storage until they can be shipped.
- Renovation or construction delays mean your new house isn't available.
- You're moving into temporary housing for a few weeks, and you don't want to have to move everything twice.
What to Ask About Storage Services
If you think you may need storage as part of your interisland move, be sure to ask your moving company:
- Do you offer storage for moves from [your current island] to [your future island]? (Not all providers have storage facilities on all islands!)
- If I need storage unexpectedly, can you assist, or do I need to book it in advance?
- Where will my items be stored, and can I access them if needed?
- How do you calculate storage charges?
A mover with multiple facilities across the state can offer more flexibility with storage, especially if your needs change at the last minute.
Planning Your Interisland Move: A Sample Timeline
Timing is everything when it comes to interisland moves. To help you plan, we've created a sample timeline that will give you a good sense of what to expect.
As Soon as You Know You're Moving
- Request quotes from local Hawai'i moving companies. Your interisland move relies on the availability of both local movers and barge space. The earlier you plan, the more likely you are to get your preferred moving dates. We suggest getting three quotes so you can get a good lay of the land.
- Don't forget to ask about shipping your vehicle. Capacity on interisland barges can be limited. It's in your best interest to get your vehicle shipping scheduled ASAP.
Interisland Moving Tip: Booking early is especially important during the summer months, when moving companies are at their busiest.
6–8 Weeks Before Your Interisland Move
- Decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Downsizing will save you money on your move.
- Schedule visual surveys with the moving companies preparing quotes. Make sure to show their team members what will move with you—and what won't.
- Ask about storage options and packing services, so you're clear on what each company offers.
- Ideally, lock in your preferred move dates with your chosen provider.
4 Weeks Before Your Interisland Move
- Notify the Postal Service of your new address. An online Change of Address form is available on the USPS website.
- Prepare a notification list of friends, relatives, business firms, and utilities, including:
- Electric, gas, and water providers
- Cable TV/satellite/Internet providers
- Banks and credit card companies
- Auto insurance companies (Don't worry about the DMV yet; you'll file the paperwork to transfer your vehicle to your new county of residence once your vehicle arrives)
- Have a garage sale or sell your unwanted items online.
2–3 Weeks Before Your Interisland Move
- Begin packing non-essentials and label boxes by room and priority. (You can skip this step if you've chosen professional packing services.)
- Set aside essentials to carry with you: must-have clothes, critical documents, and valuables.
- If you have non-perishable goods you don't plan on moving, ask your moving company about a donation. Royal Hawaiian Movers works with Move for Hunger to donate non-perishables to local food banks.
- Confirm access for your move. Ensure your movers can reach your home as planned. If elevators are involved, make sure access has been secured.
- Ask about prohibited items (e.g., flammables, batteries, aerosols) that need to be disposed of.
The Day Before Your Interisland Move
- If you have kids, make arrangements for them to be out of the house so you can focus on the move.
- If you have pets, plan to secure them. Find a safe, out-of-the-way place where they can't accidentally escape or interfere with the move.
- If you've chosen packing services: Identify any extra-fragile items needing special attention. Properly mark any items you do not want packed or moved, as well as cartons you will want first when the shipment arrives at destination.
- Check closets, cabinets, storage spaces, and storage lockers for any articles you may have overlooked.
The Day of the Move
- Plan to remain on the premises for the entire move. If you've hired professional packers, review the inventory list before you sign it, and make sure to get a copy.
- Take a final look around:
- Did anything get left behind accidentally?
- Is the water shut off?
- Are the light switches turned off?
- Are all utilities arranged for disconnection?
- Are all the windows shut and locked?
- Do you have a plan for returning the keys, or are you supposed to leave them behind?
Receiving Your Shipment at Your New Home
- Your moving company will contact you to schedule a specific date for your household goods to be delivered.
- Be on hand to accept delivery. If you cannot be there personally, authorize an adult to be your representative to accept delivery and pay the charges.
- Check your items as they are unloaded. If there is a change in the condition of the property or if any items are missing, ask to note these on the crew chief's copy of the inventory sheet.
- Personally report any loss or damage to your move coordinator.
- Settle in and enjoy your new home!
FAQs: Real Questions About Interisland Moves
We've handled Hawai'i moves for decades, and we hear a lot of the same questions from people preparing for theirs. Here are the most common ones we hear about interisland moves. (With answers to help you plan more confidently!)
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Interisland Move
Moving between Hawaiian islands may feel simpler than a mainland move. But as you've seen, interisland household moves still require careful planning and coordination.
In addition to decades of experience with Hawai'i moves, Royal Hawaiian Movers has experienced teams and warehouses on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and both sides of the Big Island (Kona and Hilo) to assist you with a smooth, seamless interisland move.
Reach out today for a complimentary quote for your interisland move. We'll work with you every step of the way to make your interisland move safe, easy, and affordable.
