Creating Hawaii real estate success stories, one home at a time! (808) 593-4444 Ext 102

Brooks T. Bowman, Realtor/Principal Broker
Hawaii Discount Realty - Ph: 808-384-2918
Susan D. Bowman, Realtor/Principal Broker
Condo.com - Ph: 808-384-2917

Shipping Your Car, Surfboard and Household Goods

Shipping your furniture and household goods to Hawaii:

The best advice that I can give you is to unload your furniture on the mainland and buy new furniture.  I know that sounds extreme, but keep in mind that you are moving to an island where the space will be limited.  The houses and apartments tend to be small and if you make the same mistake I did, by bringing your California King bedroom set, oversized sofa and large dining table, they may not fit into your new home.  The shipping costs on furniture and household goods is expensive and so you want to weigh that in making your decision.  What I realized too late is that I could have sold my bedroom set for more money on the mainland, saved a lot on reduced shipping costs and purchased "size appropriate" furniture once I got settled in on Oahu.  If you insist on shipping your furniture and/or household goods then you will need to either pack it into a container or hire someone, perhaps the shipping company, to provide and pack a container for you.  A few well-known shipping companies are listed below.  Be sure to carry your shipping receipts/claims with you and do not pack them with your household goods.

Shipping your car to Hawaii:

This is not a comprehensive list, but a few of the main Freight Companies are Matson, Horizon Lines and Schumacher Cargo Logistics.  Feel free to click the links that will take directly to their websites for pricing and shipping requirements.  Shipping your car can take three to four weeks and requires preparation, such as delivering a set of car keys to the shipping company for their use, while keeping a set for yourself.  Have your vehicle registration, title and a notarized statement from the Creditor/Lessor authorizing the shipment of the vehicle, ready to present to the shipping company.  Most shipping companies require that your vehicle have a minimal amount of gas in the tank and you will most likely not be able to leave any personal items, luggage or boxes inside the car.  And, don't forget to insure your vehicle against damage or loss.  Please check with your shipping company for any other requirements they have.  The above list of shipping companies is not comprehensive and feel free to Google the term "ship your car to Hawaii" to find alternative shipping companies, methods and requirements.  Because of the high humidity and salt air it is recommended that you undercoat your vehicle and have it waxed to protect it during shipping.  Be sure to carry your shipping receipts/claims with you and do not pack them with your household goods.  You will have 10 days from arrival of your car to register it, but I'd recommend insuring it immediately.  See this link for more information on insuring your car.

Shipping your Surfboard to Hawaii:

No need bra, they have surfboards there.  Or, you can check your surfboard on your plane as part of your luggage.

© 2005 Susan D. Bowman, Realtor/Principal Broker - Condo.com
Hawaii Discount Realty is a real estate broker licensed in Hawaii and located at 91-110 Hanua St., Suite 208, Kapolei, HI  96707 with Brooks T. Bowman as Principal Broker
Condo.com is a real estate broker licensed in Hawaii and located at 91-110 Hanua St., Suite 208, Kapolei, HI  96707 with Susan D. Bowman as Principal Broker
Office Phone:  (808) 593-4444 Ext 102 ● Office Fax:  (808) 593-2090 ● Email:  susan@hihomes4u.com