Moving to or from Hawaii comes with its own unique set of complexities. After moving tens of thousands of individuals, families, and servicemembers to and from the Hawaiian Islands, we know them all. Plus, after thirty years’ experience as a leading military provider, we understand the unique challenges faced by our men and women in uniform. 

If your PCS orders mean relocating to or from Hawaii, we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect. We’ll also give you our insider tips for making your move as smooth and easy as possible for you and your family members. 

First Things First: CONUS vs. OCONUS 

As you may already know, a move to/from Hawaii is considered an OCONUS move (outside the continental United States). For CONUS moves, you’ll have the option for a Personally-Procured Move (PPM, also known as a Do-It-Yourself Move/DITY).  

OCONUS moves are most often Household Goods (HHG) moves, completed by an approved Transportation Service Provider (TSP), like Royal Hawaiian. Because an HHG move is the most common to and from Hawaii (and one we’re very  familiar with) that’s what we’ll walk you through in this article. Below, you’ll find the seven most important things you need to know. 

Calculate My Allowance

How to Calculate Your Moving Allowance

Your moving allowance is based on your rank, dependency status, and move type. To calculate yours, use the moving allowance calculator on the DOD Customer Moving Portal.
Calculate My Allowance

#1: How Much Can I Take with Me? 

Quick Tip

Moving allowances

Your moving allowance will determine exactly how much you can take with you to your new duty station.

If you’ve relocated before, you might already know all about moving allowances. If not: Your moving allowance is how much stuff you’re allowed to take, measured in pounds. If you go over this number, the extra cost will be charged back to you after the move.   

If you’re not in the moving business (like we are!), you might not think of your items in terms of their weight. In fact, figuring out how much your move will weigh can be tricky. Luckily, the DOD has a handy tool to help you estimate the weight of your move.  

Your moving company can also assist with a weight estimate during your pre-move survey. 

#2: How Should I Use My Unaccompanied Baggage Option? 

Quick Tip

What not to pack

Hang on to these items, and keep them close during your move. You’ll need them! 

Because your shipment for your OCONUS move will take several weeks to arrive, you’ll also be allowed to expedite a smaller number of items to get you through until the rest of your shipment arrives. These expedited shipments are called unaccompanied baggage. 

Consider your unaccompanied baggage shipment carefully. This shipment will count against your total weight allowance. Additionally, if you pack it thoughtfully, your unaccompanied baggage will help you get set up quickly in your new home. Some items you might consider include: 

  • Personal clothing and hangers 
  • A basic set of kitchen items that will allow you to prepare meals and essentials (like coffee!) 
  • Linens like bed sheets, towels, and blankets (yes, it can get chilly at night!) 
  • Bathroom basics like a shower curtain and a bath mat 
  • A tool box with a basic set of tools 

Your unaccompanied baggage will also have its own weight limit, so make sure you ask your TSP during the pre-move survey so you can plan accordingly. Note that furniture and major appliances are not permitted in your unaccompanied baggage shipment. 

#4: What Are My Mover’s Responsibilities? 

Quick Tip

What gets packed?

During a HHG move, your TSP will pack all of your belongings, transport them to your new location, and unpack as much as you’d like. 

To ensure a smooth, stress-free move, it’s important that you understand what your mover is supposed to handle. That way, everyone will be on the same page in terms of who’s doing what. 

Below, we’ll walk you through everything your mover is responsible for. 

Pre-Move

Your mover will perform a survey in advance so they know how much you plan to ship—and how much material they’ll need to pack all of your belongings.

Packing Day

During Packing Day, your mover will:

  • Bring everything they need to safely pack your items—including boxes, packing material, and tape.
  • Create an inventory list that accounts for everything you’re shipping.
  • Pack everything for you. Because the moving company will be responsible for all of your belongings, they will want to pack absolutely everything. That way, they can ensure your items get the proper protection for their journey to or from Hawaii.
  • Disassemble any furniture, as needed.
  • Disassemble any outdoor furniture that’s going with you.

Loading / Move-Out Day

Then, during Loading Day, your mover will:

  • Put down material to protect your floors.
  • Load everything into the truck or container, then arrange to ship it to your final destination.
  • Finalize the inventory sheet, which will require your signature. (Don’t sign it if something isn’t right; more on this below!)

Delivery / Move-In Day

Finally, at your new location, your mover will:

  • Put down material to protect your floors.
  • Unload your entire shipment from the truck or container.
  • Do a one-time placement of rugs and furniture. (Think carefully where you want to put that couch!)
  • Unpack as much as you request.
  • You can ask your movers for a full unpack, during which they’ll empty all of your boxes.
  • You can also request a partial unpack, in which your movers empty boxes only in certain areas. For example, some people prefer to unpack their kitchen themselves.
  • Finally, you can choose to do all the unpacking yourself.
  • Reassemble any furniture they took apart in your old home.
  • Verify on the inventory sheet that you’ve received everything, and note any damage.

#5: What Do I Need to Do to Prep for My Move? 

Quick Tip

Getting organized

A little prep in two areas can save you a lot of headache in the long run—and make your move run much more smoothly! 

Although your TSP will take care of the majority of the heavy lifting and logistics around your HHG move, there are two areas in which you might want to do a little prep work. 

Documentation

We’re not saying there’s going to be a problem with your move. In fact, the vast majority of military HHG moves go off without a hitch. However, if there is an issue, documentation will be your best friend. We suggest doing two things:

  • Inventory everything you own. We know, it sounds like a lot of work. But if you follow the Department of Defense’s advice, you could be done pretty quickly. Their suggestion? Take pictures of everything you own. Open cabinets, drawers, and closets and photograph everything. We agree; there’s no better evidence for an insurance claim than a photo (and it’s quicker than a paper list)!
  • Record a walk-through of your home on video. In addition to damage to your belongings, damage to walls, floors, etc. are also a headache to customers and movers alike. If you video a quick tour through your house, it will be easy to identify where that dent in the wall really came from.

Clean & Organize

Your movers will do a lot for you, but cleaning and organizing isn’t one of them (sadly). In fact, your movers will pack practically anything if you ask them to, and that includes a trash can full of trash. They’ll also pack everything just as you have it. The bottom line? Organizing your items now means receiving them in a more organized fashion on the other end.

In other words, to ease your transition to your new home:

  • Get rid of anything you don’t want to move. Donate or sell items you no longer use and, well, trash anything that’s no longer useful.
  • Disassemble any outdoor items, which are your responsibility. You should also take everything down from the walls that you want to pack.
  • Bring anything out from less obvious areas, like an attic or a crawl space. That way, nothing will get accidentally left behind.

#6: What Do I Need to Do on Packing and Loading Day? 

Quick Tip

What to know

You’ll have three major responsibilities that you need to be aware of. 

On both Packing and Loading Day, you’ll have three crucial tasks: 

Stay available

You’ll need to be present from 8:00 am–5:00 pm on both Packing and Loading Day. If you aren’t available, you must list someone else as your representative on your moving application. Choose carefully: Whatever decisions that person makes in your absence is what the movers will go by!

Clearly label items

Both days will be a flurry of activity, and things can get confusing fast. Make sure everything that you do NOT want packed is separated out into a different area so it doesn’t accidentally get moved.

Verify inventory list

Think of your inventory list like your moving bible. If your items aren’t documented on your inventory list, they practically don’t exist. Your moving company will also use your inventory list to verify that you’ve received everything at your destination and note any damages. Always verify this paperwork before signing it. If something isn’t correct, make sure to document it on the paperwork right there and then. Never sign anything you don’t understand or agree with.

#7: How Soon Should I Schedule My Move? 

Quick Tip

When to book

In order to get your preferred dates, get started as soon as you receive your orders. 

When it comes to changing duty stations, the Department of Defense recommends not making any permanent decisions until you officially receive your orders. Once you do, however, visit your Transportation Office as soon as possible. The earlier you get into the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) portal to schedule your move, the more likely you are to get the dates you’re looking for.  

Finally, if we have the honor of assisting you with your move to or from Hawaii, we look forward to delivering a safe and stress-free move. We hope this guide has given you a clear understanding how your HHG move will work—and answered any questions you might have about the process. If you have more questions, you’re always welcome to reach out to us. Aloha!  

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