Your Hawaii 90-Day Move Checklist

Days 90–75 — Decide and commit

• Pick the island Cost, climate, job market, school options all differ. Read our which-island quiz before you commit.
• Run our cost-of-living calculator for your household Hawaii is 65–80% more expensive than the US average. Know the number before you sign anything.
• Tell your employer (or line up remote work / a job offer) Many movers underestimate how long Hawaii-side hiring takes. Start before you list the house.
• Get your finances in order: 3–6 months runway in liquid savings First three months in Hawaii routinely run 30%+ over plan. Cushion matters.
• Open a Hawaii-friendly checking account (First Hawaiian, Bank of Hawaii, or a major national) Local banks make rent + utility setup smoother.

Days 75–60 — Lock the logistics

• Get container-shipping quotes from Matson AND Pasha Rates and dates differ. Book the slot 6–8 weeks ahead or you will pay rush pricing. Compare quotes side-by-side using our free mover-matching form below.
• Decide: ship the car or sell + rebuy in Hawaii Used cars in Hawaii cost ~25% more. If your car is reliable, shipping (~$1,200–1,800 from US west coast) usually wins.
• If moving with pets: start the FAVN process immediately Hawaii’s 5-Day-or-Less program needs two rabies vaccinations and a passing OIE-FAVN blood test, and your pet cannot arrive until at least 30 days after the lab receives the sample. Labs are currently taking 1–2 months to return results (HDOA), so start now. Miss a requirement and your pet faces quarantine of up to 120 days.
• Book pet flights early Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska have the only direct pet cargo to Honolulu. Slots fill up.
• Itemize what you are NOT shipping Plants, soil, fresh produce, certain pesticides — all blocked by HDOA at the port. Selling/giving away saves money and headaches.

Shipping a container or car? Skip the phone-tag with Matson, Pasha and vehicle shippers — get matched with vetted movers who cover your route, free.

Days 60–45 — Find a place to land

• Book a short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO) for your first 30 days Trying to sign a long-term lease sight-unseen is risky. A landing pad gives you time to scout neighborhoods.
• Start the long-term housing search remotely — Zillow, Craigslist, local FB groups Hawaii landlords often want first + last + deposit + proof of income. Have docs ready.
• If buying: line up a Hawaii-licensed real estate agent and pre-approval letter Inventory is tight; cash + pre-approved offers win.
• Research school enrollment if you have kids — public, charter, or private Private school waitlists fill 6–9 months out. Public school assignment is by address.

Days 45–30 — Paperwork

• Notify your current state of address change (DMV, voter registration, IRS) You will need clean paper trails for Hawaii tax residency and DMV transfer.
• Get medical and dental records released to take with you Local providers will need them; faxing later from the mainland is painful.
• Refill prescriptions for 90 days Pharmacy transfers across state lines + Hawaii inventory delays can leave you short.
• Cancel or transfer utilities at your departure address Final bill timing matters for your security deposit.
• Update auto insurance to a carrier that writes Hawaii (GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual all do) You will switch over within 30 days of arrival.

Days 30–14 — Final shipping + travel

• Hand container off to Matson or Pasha — expect 10–14 days transit Time your flight so you arrive a few days before the container.
• Drop the car at the shipping port (Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, San Diego) Plan a ride home from the port — they will not let you wait inside.
• Confirm pet FAVN paperwork is in HDOA hands 10+ days before arrival Email confirmation from Hawaii AQS is your proof of pre-clearance.
• Book one-way flights for the family — Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska, Southwest, United, Delta Compare prices across all five. Hawaiian usually wins direct from the west coast.
• Set up mail forwarding via USPS Forwarding to Hawaii takes 7–10 days; do this 2 weeks out.

Handing your container to the port next week? If you have not locked a shipping partner yet, compare quotes here — same-day turnaround from Hawaii-route specialists.

Days 14–0 — Landing week

• Fly out with a "first 72 hours" suitcase — clothes, meds, chargers, swim gear, beach towels Container is still in transit; you need to function without it.
• Activate Hawaii address: open utilities, register vehicle (DMV — within 30 days of arrival), update IDs The Hawaii driver license process is in-person and slow. Book the appointment week one.
• Apply for Hawaii vehicle registration — bring shipping paperwork, mainland title, ID, insurance Vehicle registration must be completed within 30 days. Late = fines.
• Register kids for school in person at the assigned campus Bring birth certificate, immunization records, proof of address.
• Get a Hawaii driver license — REAL ID compliant if you fly Required within 30 days of becoming a resident.
• Sign up for a Costco membership and a Foodland Maika`i card These two cards meaningfully change your grocery budget. Foodland is the local price floor.
• Find a primary care doctor + dentist accepting new patients Many practices have multi-month waitlists. Start week one.
• Meet your neighbors. Bring something — fruit, a six-pack, a plate. Hawaii moves on relationships. Showing up matters.

Common questions about moving to Hawaii

Once you have picked a move date

• Cost-of-living calculator Enter your household — get a real Hawaii monthly number.
• Best island to live on Oahu vs Maui vs Big Island vs Kauai for movers.
• FAVN pet-import timeline How to hit the 5-Day-or-Less program instead of 120-day quarantine.
• PCS to Hawaii guide Military relocation specifics — HHG, DPS, DLA, POV shipping.
• Cheapest places to live in Hawaii Where the rent-plus-groceries math actually pencils out.

Once you are here

We publish guides on cost of living, neighborhoods, schooling, surf, food and the rest of what makes a Hawaii life work. Bookmark the home page and the cost-of-living calculator — you will use both a lot in your first year.