Everything You Need to Know
About Shipping to Hawaii

No. Our quote includes every component — overland transport (for door-to-port), port processing fees, ocean freight, documentation, and coordination. The only thing not included is the USDA inspection fee at the destination terminal — a government fee of roughly $25–$50 paid directly to the USDA inspector, required for every vehicle entering Hawaii.

Return port-to-port from Oahu starts at $1,122. Door pickup from your Hawaii address and mainland delivery are available at additional cost. We coordinate returns from all four islands with the same fixed all-inclusive pricing.

We require a deposit to lock your sailing date and rate. It's applied to your total — not an additional fee. The remaining balance is collected prior to vessel departure. We accept major credit cards and ACH bank transfer. Your deposit locks both the sailing date and the price — if rates go up between booking and sailing, your rate doesn't change.

Yes — fill out our quote form with your origin, destination island, service type, and vehicle details. We calculate your complete all-inclusive price and send it to you directly. No obligation, no pressure, and no need to talk to anyone until you're ready.

Ocean shipping rates are primarily based on your vehicle's linear footage — essentially its length — not weight. Standard sedans and SUVs typically fall within the same rate tier. Oversized vehicles such as large trucks or lifted long beds may carry a slight surcharge, which we calculate in your quote based on the make and model you provide.

The ocean crossing from Long Beach or Oakland to Honolulu takes 12–14 days. Add overland transit time: West Coast origins add 2–5 days, East Coast origins add 7–12 days. Maui, Big Island, and Kauai add 10–14 days for the inter-island barge leg after Honolulu.

Total door-to-terminal estimates:
Oahu: 14–20 days (West Coast) · 20–28 days (East Coast)
Neighbor Islands: 25–35 days (West Coast) · 32–45 days (East Coast)

Matson and Pasha Hawaii operate regular sailings from Long Beach and Oakland. To Oahu, there are typically 2–3 sailings per week from Long Beach. Oakland sailings are roughly weekly. We book your specific vessel at the time of the quote and lock the date with your deposit.

The port cutoff is the deadline by which your vehicle must be received at the departure terminal to board a specific sailing. Miss it and your vehicle misses the vessel — typically meaning a 3–7 day wait for the next available sailing.

Yes. Once your vehicle boards the vessel you receive a Matson or Pasha booking number to track progress in real time. You'll also receive status updates from us at key milestones: pickup confirmed, port received, vessel departed, and ready for release at destination.

If your vehicle misses the booked sailing for reasons within our control, we rebook on the next available vessel at no additional cost and cover any resulting port storage fees. If the miss is due to factors outside our control, we'll work to get you on the next sailing as quickly as possible.

Port-to-port: You drive your vehicle to our departure terminal in Long Beach or Oakland. We handle everything from there. Lower cost — best for customers near the West Coast.

Door-to-port: A licensed carrier picks up your vehicle from any address in the continental US and delivers it to the port. More convenient, slightly higher cost due to the overland leg.

Fuel: Quarter tank or less — terminals require this for safety.
Personal items: Remove everything from the vehicle. Nothing can be shipped inside it.
Cleanliness: The USDA inspects for plant material and pests. A clean car makes inspection faster.
Documents: Title or loan payoff letter, photo ID, and current registration.

Every vehicle entering Hawaii is inspected by USDA APHIS at the destination terminal for prohibited plant material, soil, and insects. It typically takes a few minutes for a clean vehicle. You do not need to be present — the inspection happens before release. You pay the fee ($25–$50) directly to the inspector at pickup. We notify you as soon as your vehicle clears and is ready.

Yes, with a notarized letter of authorization from the registered owner plus the authorized person's photo ID. We provide a template for the authorization letter at booking. Alternatively, our port-to-door upgrade arranges delivery directly to your Hawaii address after inspection — no terminal visit at all.

Yes — this is one of our newest services. Found a vehicle from a mainland dealer, private seller, or auction? We dispatch a carrier to pick it up directly from the seller anywhere in the US, handle port processing, manage the ocean crossing, and arrange delivery to your Hawaii address.

Yes — we've handled hundreds of military PCS moves to Schofield Barracks, Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hickam AFB, Kaneohe Bay MCAS, and other Hawaii installations. We understand reporting-date pressure and JTR documentation requirements.

Yes. We provide all documentation required for JTR reimbursement claims — itemized invoices, Bill of Lading, and carrier receipts. We've worked with all branches of the military and know what the finance office needs to process your claim.

Call us immediately. Short-notice PCS orders are common and we deal with them regularly. We'll check vessel availability, confirm whether the timeline is achievable, and — if it is — lock your sailing date the same day. If the timeline is genuinely too tight, we'll be straight with you rather than take your deposit and leave you scrambling.

Yes, but you'll need a letter from your lender authorizing the vehicle to be shipped to Hawaii. Most lenders provide this without issue, especially for military PCS orders — but request it early as some lenders take a few days. We can provide a template request letter if needed.

Matson: Does not accept full battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) of any kind — including Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and all other fully electric models.

Pasha Hawaii: May accept qualifying electric vehicles under certain conditions, depending on the make, model, and battery capacity. This is subject to change at the time of booking.

Standard non-plug-in hybrids are accepted by both carriers without restriction.

Absolutely — this is one of our specialties. We arrange fully enclosed overland carriers for collector cars, walk you through declaring your vehicle's full market value on the Dock Receipt for maximum ocean crossing coverage, and ensure careful handling at the port. Standard coverage is limited unless you declare full value — something most brokers don't explain clearly. We do.

Yes, with conditions. Inoperable vehicles require special handling at the port and cannot be driven onto the vessel — they require winching or forklift placement. There is an additional fee, and the vehicle must have working brakes and steering. Call us with the specifics and we'll confirm whether it qualifies and the additional cost.

Yes. Full-size trucks, SUVs, minivans, and most commercial vehicles ship without issue. Lifted trucks, extended cab long beds, and oversized vehicles may carry a small surcharge. We calculate this based on your specific vehicle in your quote — just provide the year, make, model, and any modifications.