Moving to a new state in the continental U.S.? No big deal. Hire a moving truck and follow it down the freeway to your new home. Moving to Hawaii: Now that’s a bit more complicated. Finally making the decision to purchase property on the Big Island is certainly difficult, but it’s just the beginning.
Now, it’s time to figure out how to get all your worldly possessions to your new home in the Islands. As someone who has made the move, I’ll let you in on a few tips to help ease the stress of shipping your belongings to Hawaii.
Step 1: Minimize Your Collection
This was the most difficult part of my journey. During my life on the mainland, like most people, I got very good at accumulating “stuff.” I had enough furniture to fill three houses, there wasn’t a closet in my home that wasn’t filled with clothes and shoes and somehow, despite my reluctance in the kitchen, I had acquired just about every cooking gadget known to man.
The best advice I can give you is to reduce your collection of “stuff” as best you can before making the move. If you don’t need it, don’t bring it. Shipping costs to Hawaii are calculated by the pound, so every little bit helps.
No Winter Clothes
There are a few things for certain that you don’t need. The first tip should be a no-brainer: sell or donate all your winter clothes. You’re just not going to need them in Hawaii. Keep some sweaters for those cooler nights on the lanai overlooking the ocean, but if it’s made for snow and temperatures under 50 degrees, don’t bother. They’re only going to take up space and collect dust in your closets.
Keep it Casual
I enjoy Gucci and Armani as much, if not more, than the next person, but if you bring all your fancy clothes to Hawaii, they’re going to sit, untouched, right next to your winter jacket in the closet. In Hawaii, everything is casual. Even formal events are casual. If someone on the Big Island invites you to a formal dinner party, that means you should wear shorts and a clean Hawaiian shirt. As always, shoes are optional.
Step 2: Find a Mover
There are plenty of moving companies that can get your things to Hawaii, but they’re not all created equal. Sure, you can choose the cheap option, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. With a move this drastic, it’s safer to go with a highly rated, experienced company, even if it does cost a bit more.
Royal Hawaiian Movers and the Kona Container Guy are two popular companies experienced in shipping items to Hawaii, but they’re by no means the only ones. Do some research and find the company that’s right for your needs.
Shipping Costs
There are several factors that go into the price of shipping items to the Big Island. First, how far away is your current home from a port? Most goods that are shipped to Hawaii leave from Long Beach, California. If your things are in Long Beach, good for you! Your shipping costs will be relatively low to start. Moving to Hawaii from Maine? Well, you might be looking at a hefty bill. All shipping containers have to be moved either by truck or rail to the port before they can be loaded on the ship. The farther away from the port, the higher the cost.
The second variable is the size container that you’re going to need. Most major movers offer either 20- or 40-foot shipping containers that start with a flat fee. From there, you’re charged by the pound. If you fill it with your prized rock collection that you just can’t live without, it’s going to cost you more than your neighbors who collect pillows.
The third, and final, variable is what you’re shipping. You’re more than welcome to put your entire car in the container with your stuff, but the load now has to be classified as a hazardous materials to accommodate the fuel, oil and battery, which will increase the price. If you have delicate family heirlooms or any other fragile items that require special handling, it will also increase the cost of shipping.
On average, it’s going to cost between $5,000 and $20,000 to ship a 3-bedroom house worth of stuff across the ocean.
Step 3: Load Up and Go!
Most moving companies can load your things for you, for an additional fee of course, or you can load it up yourself. During my move, I chose to save a few bucks and load up the container myself. Besides, who would be better at handling my stuff than me!? The truck driver dropped the container off at my storage facility, and I had a certain amount of time to get it the way I wanted (that was a fun day…). Then they sealed it up and shipped it out.
It takes some time for your items to arrive on the Big Island. I moved from Maryland, on the East Coast, and my container arrived in about a month. If you’re closer to the West Coast, it could be quicker.
Making the Move
All the steps and costs involved in moving to Hawaii might seem daunting, but there’s no other place like it on Earth. If you’re ready to start looking for your dream home in paradise, give me a call; I’d love to help you through the process. You can reach me by phone at 808.209.6244 or by email at RandyRipley808@gmail.com.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.