Your decision to move to Hawaii from the mainland is a courageous one. You are abandoning your familiar and convenient lifestyle in the mainland for an exciting, but still very challenging Hawaiian paradise. You’ll enrich your life with a truly amazing experience. But have you worked out the plan on how to move to Hawaii from the mainland? Do your homework, keep your expectations realistic and you won’t find yourself disoriented once you start planning and organizing the big move.
Prepare yourself mentally
If you’ve spent your entire lifetime in the mainland, you may experience a culture shock once you move to Hawaii. The unique scenery also comes with the unique weather, animal and plant species. Geographical isolation of the Hawaiian islands will attract you at first, but in time you may feel homesick. In a certain way, you are isolated from the rest of the world. It’s too expensive to travel around any time you wish.
Secondly, expect to find a strong Asian influence in all areas of life, ranging from cuisine to family values. The respect for the elderly, family in general and the concept of collective over the individual are merely some of the values ingrained deeply in the Hawaiian culture. Your new friends and neighbors may cherish a different kind of lifestyle. Prepare yourself to embrace it, or at least adjust your expectations to the new surroundings.
Choose the island you'll call home
Before you move to Hawaii from the mainland, you need to have a clear picture of your future home. Among many islands that constitute Hawaiian archipelago, there are several most popular to live on:
Oahu
Maui
Kauai
The Big Island
Oahu is the most densely populated of all the islands. The state’s capital,
Oahu is very urban and offers opportunities for employment
Honolulu, is located on Oahu. It’s urban and has a lot to offer in terms of employment, housing and entertainment. However, the traffic is awful and prices are generally higher in comparison to other islands. For example, average rent in Honolulu amounts to $1985, whereas in Maui it goes for $1286.
Maui is the second largest island, but with far less inhabitants than Oahu. If you’re moving to Maui, you’ll find that the lifestyle is rather laid back in comparison to Oahu and the prices are more affordable. It’s a great place to raise a family. In addition, life expectancy on this island is among the highest in the U.S.
Kauai is slightly smaller than Oahu, but it boasts impressive natural beauties. However, the economy is poor which makes this island the least developed among these four and not so desirable for newcomers.
Natural beauties of Kauai are impressive, but the economy of the island is poorThe Big Island actually has the smallest population despite the fact that it’s the largest island in Hawaii. With a high unemployment rate, it’s not a desirable destination to move to. The only advantage is the most affordable housing market in Hawaii. However, if you choose this island and you get the feeling it's not the right choice, you can always move between the islands.
Get a picture of the moving costs in advance
Moving to Hawaii from the mainland is much different from moving anywhere within the mainland. Therefore it is essential to do the job as efficiently as possible. But how can you assess the moving costs in advance without any previous experience?
You don’t need a crystal ball to tell you the answer. The best way is to contact movers with experience. Some local companies in Maui such as Wailea movers can provide you with a free estimate, which can help you a great deal when you start planning your big journey. Plan your budget several months before the move and you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises.
Make the move to Hawaii from mainland as simple as possible
Just remember that all the belongings you want to carry with you require shipping. This means that the costs are automatically higher, but not only that. This kind of long-distance move demands that you carry out the packing with great care in order to avoid damage. Keep things as minimalistic as possible. Declutter your home and don’t get emotional about the furniture you need to say goodbye to. Forget about lamps, vases and useless bits you dragged from summer holidays. Keep in mind that you can find a fully furnished apartment in Hawaii anywhere you go.
Ship your car
When you decide to move to Hawaii from the mainland, the one thing that really needs to be shipped is your car. Unless you plan on buying a new one. You can hardly get by in Hawaii without your own vehicle. The only place with functional public transport is Oahu, but even if you’re moving to this island, it’s risky to rely solely on public transport.
The costs of shipping range from $1000 to $1500 depending on your location in the mainland. To avoid possible damage, remove all the exterior accessories, check the fluids and empty the tank. Leave only as much as you need to transport the vehicle from to your new Hawaiian destination. This way you’ll secure the vehicle before you hand it over to the professional shipping company.
Bringing pets is not easy when you decide to move to Hawaii from the mainland
There are strict procedures you need to follow when you decide to move to Hawaii from the mainland, and the same stands with our pets.
If you have a furry friend, you need to know that regulations in Hawaii are very strict when it comes to importing pets. There are inspections and a quarantine period for dogs, cats and all kinds of other animals you want to import. If you fail to bring them in the inspection hours, they can be held at the airport overnight and released another day when the inspection is over.
The reason for the implementation of strict regulations is that the authorities in Hawaii aim at controlling and preventing the entry of animal diseases. If you plan to import your pet, you need to inform them well before the move. Contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture several months before the big day to obtain instructions on the procedures for pet importation. Plan ahead and leave nothing to chance.
Best movers period. Should call them Hercules movers . Stong as ox and were in Total beast mode . Fast efficient friendly . Reasonable priced . Good energy and good vibes. Highly recommend . Very happy
Working with Wailea Movers has been a wonderful experience! They are incredibly easy to work with and always go the extra mile to help find the best solution.
What more can a review say!? These guys were amazing. We were done before I could even realize what was happening. I’d recommend to anyone moving to Maui!
Great company!!!Was a pleasure working with this team of very professional people. the process was very smooth and stress free , I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for Movers that cares.If you looking for honest , quality , and completely serious service satisfaction don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
10/10 service10/10 communicationThese guys are the way to go when moving to Maui. We moved 3 fully packed PODS from California to Maui. They went to the port and unloaded our stuff on to their trucks and brought it over to our place. It was easy to schedule, they were really careful with our furniture and boxes and they were quick and so friendly. We could not have asked for better moving experience. You hear all these stories about terrible movers and they are the opposite and set the standard for sure. Extra Mahalo to Tom and David who did our move.
Ryan and CJ were top notch! They were on time, worked hard throughout the entire process and were true to their word on price! I would highly recommend them for any move you need local, inter island and across the country!
My experience with Wailea Movers was great. They were flexible and patient through the scheduling process and the guys showed up on time with a great attitude, ready to go. They took good care of our stuff and I knew I had nothing to worry about. Thank you Isaiah and RJ for the excellent service!
Highly recommend Wailea movers, they were very professional. If you have expensive furniture and things you care about I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Wailea Movers get action! 🔨
I'd been trying to find a mini container to self pack and ship my things from Maui all the way to Michigan. All the services were either too expensive, too elusive, or too restricted. I met James at Wailea Movers and he just seemed like a friend from the start trying to help me get my things shipped. The pricing was great, simply based on cubic feet, no worry about weight, and there were no hidden charges... "just give me your boxes and I'll ship them wherever you need them to go." He urged me to buy heavy duty boxes, and I took my chances on what I had at my disposal, and I swear, everything showed up in my driveway as if I'd done it myself. My pallet was so well packed and better than I could've done myself. You never know what you're getting into with shipping a ton of stuff off Maui, and I literally shipped a ton, but James was very cool & confident about his services, and gladly in hindsight I can say that he and his team were wonderful and I couldn't be happier.
Thank you Daniela and Wailea Movers and Storage for booking with Move It.We are always here for your moving needs.Very easy to deal with.Move It: On Demand Moving & DeliveryTruck & Muscle Anytime You Need It
Ryan coordinated my whole move perfectly and him and Taylor were awesome on move day. I have used Wailea Movers 6 times and already have another move planned with them. They have great workers and always take the time to protect my furniture. Very professional. I highly recommend this company.
I was more than pleased with wailea movers! All three men were kind ,courteous and efficient. they got the move done less than the time we had booked for! They were friendly and very easy to work with. I would use them again if I ever were to move and I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for good help!
These guys are always first class. Had my third experience with their service and they never disappoint. Great communication ahead of my move and the morning of. They carefully and individually wrapped up all of my dishware items, protected the space I was leaving and my furniture and set everything just where I needed it in my new home. Highly recommend.
The guys at Wailea Movers did an excellent job picking up and delivering our pool table. There were 7 of them and they were professional, friendly, knew what they were doing and took the time to carefully wrap everything so that it wouldn't get damaged. I would DEFINITELY use them again. Thanks for doing such a great job guys!
Second time using these folks. Prompt. Courteous. Great communication. Fabulous moving experience definitely recommend. Thank you for the help and making a normally stressful situation almost fun! Mahalo
My name is Joseph, I am the owner of Smooth Movers LLC out here in Pahrump NV. James called us to unload a client of his moving to Pahrump. He made it very clear before using us that he valued quality over speed. 👉The items wrapped on this move was hands down one of the best we have seen. Today we took notes! After the move I called to discuss the bill. We quickly sparked a similar interest and spoke for an hour. We had a great conversation about some very positive things. Today Smooth Movers made a friend in the moving business. We are a newer company, these things mean alot to us. Thank you Wailea Movers 🙏
Top tier service! James was extremely accommodating with great communication throughout our experience. If you need a ramp to unload your container, they got you covered!
I recently had the opportunity to work with Daniela at Wailea moving and could not be happier. Communication was superb and the process was a breeze. Look forward to working with them again very soon!
Timely arrival and efficient workflow. The staff was communicative with great energy. Very polite . Moving is NOT fun, but the Wailea team made it a lot less painful !!😃
From the first phone call to schedule my move to finishing the move Wailea Movers and Storage were outstanding! Very friendly and professional help when I was scheduling my move. They were very accommodating and when I had to reschedule they made it super easy. On moving day they called me when they were on their way and communicated everything to me. The movers were quick and efficient and I was very happy with their service. I highly recommend them for your next move.
Really just the nicest, hardest working group of guys you could ever meet. Francisco, Spencer, David and Elijah were fast and efficient and worked wonderfully together as a team when they moved me last month. The communication was great, starting with texting me in the morning to let me know they were on their way. Ryan in the office came and gave me an in person estimate beforehand, and answered all my questions about the paperwork that I completed online. My only complaint and suggestion is that I did have a lot of questions because their on-line system for completing paperwork is confusing, and the process should either be modified to be more user-friendly or be explained better up front, which would eliminate a lot of back-and-forth (for example: you’re going to input all your credit card information for paying the estimate, but the total amount being charged to your card isn’t going to show up until the very end of the process, which is pretty nerve-racking because you have no idea if it’s going to be correct or not.)I look forward to working with this company again for my next move!
From initially reaching out, Wailea Movers were efficient and professional. I left a voicemail and recieved a call back within 4 hours. The quoting process was fast and easy and they kept in communication the days leading up to my local move. They sent a big truck and three guys and had my apartment loaded up in no time! The three guys they sent were lovely! They were intentional and proactive when loading/unloading and took care of all my belongings. Would definitely recommend and personally use them again!
Our recent move from Maui to the mainland U.S. was made seamless and stress-free thanks to Wailea Movers and Storage. From the moment we contacted them, their commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of the process.Communication with Wailea Movers and Storage was exceptional right from the start. They provided clear and timely updates, ensuring we were well-informed at every stage of our move. This level of communication gave us confidence that our belongings were in good hands.Handling the logistics of moving from an island to the mainland involves numerous complexities, but Wailea Movers and Storage managed everything with precision and expertise. They took care of packing our belongings securely, loading them into a shipping container, and ensuring their safe arrival on the west coast of the mainland.Once our belongings arrived on the mainland, Wailea Movers and Storage coordinated the next phase flawlessly. They arranged for transport by train to the east coast and then coordinated with local movers who seamlessly delivered our belongings to our new home. Every step of the way, the professionalism of Wailea Movers and Storage was evident.The team at Wailea Movers and Storage demonstrated not only their professionalism but also their attention to detail. Our belongings arrived in perfect condition, a testament to their careful packing and handling throughout the journey.Overall, Wailea Movers and Storage exceeded our expectations in every aspect. They transformed what could have been a daunting move into a seamless and efficient transition. For anyone planning a move, especially one involving complex logistics like ours, we highly recommend Wailea Movers and Storage.
The absolutely BEST company to work with for a move and their employees are simply amazing! This is my 2nd time using them - first time for a local move and this time for a move back to the mainland and across the country. The guys packing & moving were friendly courteous and their attention to detail was perfect! I wouldn't hesitate to use them again if the need arises. I highly recommend!
We had to move from Hawaii to the mainland 2 weeks ago, and these guys were there for us every step of the way! I can’t make a bigger recommendation! And with less than 2 weeks to go before our shipping container was scheduled to be loaded, I developed a hernia and could not do anymore heavy lifting during literally the most inconvenient time it could have happened. I talked with Ryan and he quickly had guys available for me for packing help, and he brought extra guys the day the container was loaded to ensure it would all get done since I couldn’t do what I needed to do. It was very last minute and they came through for me big time and saved me. Especially Blaize and JD, they coordinated the delicate packing and loading of the container like pros. I was also impressed they contracted with a company that specialized in piano moving and crating just to get our grand piano broken down and packed up very well. They were available via text or phone call anytime I needed them , whether it was extra boxes or just a question to ask. I can’t say enough good things about all these guys. The aloha was very strong, and they took so much of the stress of a huge move like this off my shoulders. They coordinate everything from the local island movers, to the shipping container, the boat, the train, the 5 star movers on the mainland, literally everything. If you’re making a move, I highly recommend these Maui guys for you!!!! They are local and you really feel it with them. Mahalo Wailea Movers!!!
The Guys were early, easy to work with, did a fine job putting the furniture together, cleaned everything up in the garage and took the boxes and pallet with them.Pleasure