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FAQs

Answers to Your Most Common Shipping and Logistics Questions
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Yes. Items such as live plants, soil, and certain foods are regulated by Hawaiʻi’s Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs. We will guide you through what is allowed so you stay compliant.
Yes. Island Movers warehouses include secure facilities with monitored access and operational controls designed to help protect business inventory, equipment, household goods, and sensitive items stored in Hawaiʻi.
We follow industry standard valuation options that provide basic coverage for your shipment. Additional protection may be available depending on your needs and the type of move. Our team will explain your options before you book.
Yes. CES fees cover labor, equipment, handling, and storage related to inspections. You can review our fee schedule or contact our team for the current rates.
Island Movers, Inc. is licensed and insured to handle moves across Hawaiʻi and to the mainland. Customers may request current licensing and insurance details when getting a quote.

Yes, our storage facilities on Oʻahu and Maui are secure and monitored.

Yes, that's exactly how portable storage works — it stays on-site so you can pack at your own pace before we pick it up.

Yes, storage pairs easily with any of our local, inter-island, or mainland moving services — helpful when your move-out and move-in dates don't align.
Yes. We can help coordinate vehicle shipping between islands using trusted local partners. We will walk you through the booking, drop off, and pickup process so you know what to expect.
Yes. We offer vehicle transport for cars, trucks, and motorcycles between islands and also to or from the mainland.
Yes. If you find that you need more space, we can often help you move into a larger unit depending on availability. Just contact our office and we will review your options and timing.
Yes. We regularly combine freight going to different islands to save time and cost for our customers.
Yes. Our crews can unpack, assemble, and set up products inside the home and remove packaging materials when they are done.
Yes. We work extensively with military families moving to or from base housing at Hickam, Schofield, Pearl Harbor, Fort Shafter, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. We understand base access requirements and military moving timelines to make your PCS move seamless.
Yes. Our team is experienced working with kūpuna and families who need extra time or accessibility support. We move at a comfortable pace, protect walkways, and can coordinate elevator access or special equipment as needed.
Yes. Through our network of mainland partners, we can coordinate moves from many U.S. locations back to Hawaiʻi. We will help arrange packing and pickup on the mainland, ocean transport, and final delivery to your Hawaiʻi home.

Absolutely. We regularly handle moves within the same building, whether you're upgrading to a larger unit or downsizing. We coordinate with building management, reserve elevators, and protect common areas throughout the move.
Yes. Once your shipment is cleared, we can deliver your cargo directly from the CES to its final destination anywhere in Hawaiʻi.

Absolutely. Many customers combine portable storage with our moving services for projects like staged moves, renovations, or timeline gaps between homes.

Yes, the general planning timeline applies to any move type — just build in extra time for inter-island or mainland transit when setting your schedule.
Yes. We frequently handle the Hawaiʻi portion of mainland relocations and can work directly with your mover to keep everything on schedule.
Yes. We coordinate mainland moves through trusted partners, making sure everything arrives safely to your new home in Hawaiʻi or on the mainland.
Yes. Island Movers can act as your third party logistics partner, handling receiving, storage, pick and pack, and delivery across the islands.
Yes. Inter island household moves are one of our specialties. We handle everything from pickup to barge transport to delivery at your new island home.
Yes. Once you finish loading, we can pick up your portable storage container and deliver it to your new home or store it at our facility until you are ready. This can reduce the need to load and unload multiple times.
Yes. Our crews are trained and equipped to move heavy, oversized, or sensitive items such as medical, hotel, or industrial equipment.
Yes. To help reduce disruption, many commercial moves are scheduled after hours or on weekends. We will work with you and your building management to coordinate timing, access, and elevator reservations.

Yes, we can arrange vehicle transport as part of your inter-island move. Let us know during your quote request and we'll include it in your plan.
Yes. We can help arrange vehicle transport to the mainland using trusted carriers. Your coordinator will review timing, preparation steps, and pickup and drop off locations with you.

Yes, we offer short- and long-term storage on Oʻahu and Maui, which is especially helpful when mainland move dates and Hawaiʻi move-in dates don't line up.

Yes. We coordinate moves between Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, with home bases on Oʻahu and Maui to support both ends of your move.

Yes, we coordinate moves both to Hawaiʻi and from Hawaiʻi to the mainland.

Reach out to our team and we're happy to provide checklist resources to help you plan.
Yes. For many programs we can assemble furniture or basic items at the time of delivery. The exact services depend on your company’s delivery agreement, so please ask your retail or logistics partner or contact us for details.
Yes. We provide final mile delivery services for local and national retailers that need large items delivered to homes or businesses across Hawaiʻi.
Yes. Our friendly team can pack your whole home or just the tricky items that need extra care. We also unpack and set up your new place so you can settle in faster.

Yes, we can hold your belongings securely at either island's facility for as long as you need.
Yes. Every consolidated freight shipment includes tracking and proof of delivery so you know when your cargo has arrived.
Yes. Island Movers provides warehousing and distribution services for retailers, hotels, and other commercial clients. We can receive shipments, store goods, stage projects, and coordinate deliveries across Oʻahu and the neighbor islands.
Yes. Island Movers operates a Customs Examination Station in Honolulu for bonded freight inspections and Customs or Agriculture holds.
Yes. We can create customized relocation programs for employees moving within Hawaiʻi or between Hawaiʻi and the mainland.
Yes. We handle complete office and business moves, including desks, workstations, computers, and sensitive equipment.

Yes, we offer full-service packing and unpacking, or we can help you plan your own packing timeline if you prefer to do it yourself.
Yes. We offer sturdy boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and specialty crates for fragile or oversized items. If you prefer, our team can also do the packing for you.
Yes. Island Movers supports online and brick and mortar retailers with storage, order fulfillment, and delivery throughout Hawaiʻi.
Yes. Island Movers has supported many hotel, resort, and large renovation projects across Hawaiʻi. We can receive and stage FF&E, coordinate deliveries by floor or phase, and support installation teams on site.

Yes. For moves in Honolulu neighborhoods with parking restrictions like Waikiki, Kakaako, or downtown, we can coordinate parking permits and loading zone access to ensure a smooth move. Let us know your address and we will handle the logistics.
Yes. Island Movers offers scheduled delivery appointments across Hawaiʻi to help customers coordinate deliveries around business hours, staffing availability, construction schedules, or residential access requirements.
Yes. We provide short term and long term storage for office furniture, files, and inventory if your move is happening in phases.
Yes. We manage statewide delivery and distribution for retailers, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that need reliable logistics in Hawaiʻi.
Yes. Island Movers offers professional packing and unpacking services throughout Hawaiʻi using quality materials and experienced crews to help protect furniture, valuables, and household goods during transport.
Fees are based on how your cargo is packed, such as loose, palletized, or containerized, and the type of handling that is required for the inspection.
Moving costs are typically based on the size of the move, labor, packing needs, access conditions, travel distance, storage requirements, and whether the move is local, inter island, or mainland related.
Our storage facility offers set access hours so you can plan your visits with confidence. When you sign up, our team will review current hours, security procedures, and how to access your unit so there are no surprises on move in day.
Businesses can contact our Contract Delivery Division to discuss delivery volume, service areas, and service level needs. We will build a program that fits your brand and your customers.
The right storage size depends on how much you need to store and whether items can be stacked. Our team will ask a few questions about your furniture, boxes, and equipment and then recommend a unit size so you are not paying for more space than you really need.
We will help you figure out the right size. Whether you are storing a few boxes or a whole household, we will recommend a storage space that fits your needs so you do not pay for extra room.
You can contact our warehousing and distribution team with details about your inventory and delivery needs, and we will prepare a tailored quote for your business.
You can request a quote by calling our office or submitting a form on our website. Share a little about your move, storage, or freight needs and we will connect you with the right Island Movers team member to follow up.

Confirm your crew's arrival time, do a final walkthrough, and keep essentials like your phone charger and water within reach.
You can reserve a storage unit by calling our office or sending a request through our contact page. We will confirm availability, review your needs, and help you choose move in and payment options that work best for you.
We coordinate everything with our mainland partners, including pickup, shipping, and final delivery. You have one main point of contact with Island Movers throughout the process.
We wrap your furniture with pads and shrink wrap and use floor and doorway protection so nothing gets scratched or scuffed during the move.

We pack and load your belongings on the origin island, coordinate ocean transport with Young Brothers, and handle delivery once your shipment arrives. Our team manages the full chain so you have one point of contact throughout.
For inter island moves, our crew packs and loads your belongings into a container or truck on your island, coordinates barge transport, and arranges delivery on your new island. We work with barge schedules and local partners to make the transition as smooth as possible.
We plan your move around your schedule, often after hours or on weekends, so your team can get back to work quickly with minimal downtime.
For mainland moves, Island Movers handles packing, loading, and container preparation in Hawaiʻi and coordinates with trusted mainland partners for delivery to your new home. We help you understand shipping timelines, documentation, and what to expect on each side of the move.

We deliver the container to your home or job site, you load it on your own timeline, and we pick it up when you're ready — either to move to secure storage or deliver it to a new location.
We deliver a portable storage container to your driveway, you load it at your own pace, and then you can either keep it on site or have us move it to our secure facility or your new address. It is a flexible option for moving, renovations, and decluttering.
It is best to book your move at least 2 to 4 weeks early, especially during busy months like summer or around the holidays in Hawaiʻi. That way, you will get the dates you want and our crew can plan everything right.

We recommend booking 8 to 12 weeks ahead when possible, especially for moves during summer months or inter-island and mainland relocations that involve transport scheduling.
For the best availability, we recommend booking your residential move at least two to four weeks in advance. Peak seasons and weekends fill quickly in Hawaiʻi, so the more notice you can give, the easier it is to match your preferred dates.
Because mainland moves involve ocean transit and coordination with mainland partners, it is best to plan at least four to eight weeks in advance. More lead time gives you better date choices and helps everything flow smoothly.
In many cases you can keep a portable storage container for several days, weeks, or longer, depending on availability and local guidelines. Our team will explain timing options and any site requirements when you book.

We offer both short-term storage (weeks to months) and long-term storage for extended periods, so you can choose based on your timeline.

Transit time depends on your origin, destination, and shipping method. We'll walk you through a realistic timeline based on your specific move during your consultation.
Most local Oʻahu moves take between 3 to 8 hours depending on the size of your home, accessibility, and distance between locations. We provide accurate time estimates during your in home consultation so you can plan your moving day accordingly.

Most local Oʻahu moves take between 3 and 8 hours, depending on the size of your home, accessibility, and the distance between locations. We'll give you an accurate estimate during your in-home consultation so you can plan your day with confidence.
Most inter island moves take about 3 to 7 business days, depending on the barge schedule and your destination island.

Timing depends on transport schedules and your specific islands, but most inter-island moves are completed within several days of pickup. We'll walk you through an estimated timeline during your consultation.
Shipping usually takes about 3 to 7 days depending on the barge schedule, the origin island, and the destination island.
Transit times vary based on barge schedules and island destination, but most inter island shipments move within several days once loaded. Your move coordinator will review current timelines and help you plan around delivery windows.
Yes. Island Movers is a family-owned company with offices on Oʻahu and Maui. Our local ownership and roots in the islands are part of what allows us to offer the personal care and community commitment our customers expect.

Yes. Once picked up, your container is kept at our secure Oʻahu or Maui facility until you're ready for delivery.
We offer flexible storage agreements, often with month to month options. Our goal is to give you the time you need without locking you into long commitments. Your coordinator will review current minimum terms when you receive a quote.

While it's not required, being available for the initial walkthrough and any questions helps your move go smoothly.
Our storage units in Honolulu give you a safe, secure space for extra belongings, whether you are decluttering, between homes, or need long term storage on Oʻahu.
Storage pricing depends on the unit size, location, and length of stay. Island Movers offers competitive, transparent rates without hidden fees. We will provide a clear quote before you decide so you understand the monthly cost and any one time charges.
Our pricing is competitive, and we keep it simple with no hidden fees. Your rate is based on the size of the unit and the location, and we are happy to provide a custom quote.

We serve all areas of Oʻahu, including Honolulu, Pearl City, Kailua, Kapolei, Mililani, Waipahu, ʻEwa Beach, Kāneʻohe, ʻAiea, and the North Shore. Whether you're moving within your neighborhood or across the island, we bring local knowledge to every community we serve.
We serve all areas of Oʻahu including Honolulu, Pearl City, Kailua, Kapolei, Mililani, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Kaneohe, Aiea, and the North Shore. Whether you are moving within your neighborhood or across the island, we have local expertise in every community.
Island Movers has been BBB Accredited since 1997 with an A+ rating, and was named Hawaiʻi's Best Moving Service by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in 2025. We're also proud to be the title sponsor of the HHSAA Track and Field State Championships.
We accept all major credit cards, checks, and ACH payments. Our goal is to make the whole process easy and straightforward from start to finish.
We provide trucking, container freight, consolidation, and bonded freight station services for shipments to, from, and within Hawaiʻi.
You can store furniture, electronics, boxes, business items, and more. For safety, hazardous or flammable items and perishable goods are not allowed.
No problem. Just give us a call as soon as you can, and we will work with your schedule to find a new date that works best for you.
If your dates do not line up, we can often support you with short term storage. Your belongings can be stored securely until your new home is ready and then delivered on the date you choose.

We offer secure short- and long-term storage on either island, so your timeline doesn't have to be perfectly synced to your move date.
A Central Examination Station, or CES, is a facility where U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials inspect imported shipments before they are cleared to enter Hawaiʻi.
A Central Examination Station, or CES, is a bonded facility authorized to hold and present cargo for inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Island Movers operates a CES in Hawaiʻi to support these examinations in a secure, controlled environment.
A U.S. Customs CES facility is a secure location where imported shipments are opened and inspected by Customs or Agriculture officials before they are released into Hawaiʻi.
Consolidated inter island freight is a service where we combine shipments from multiple customers into one container or barge load to lower costs and move goods efficiently between islands.
Contract home delivery is a service where Island Movers partners with retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers to deliver furniture, appliances, and retail products directly to customers' homes throughout Hawaiʻi. Our crews can provide room of choice placement, basic assembly, and haul-away of packing materials when requested.
We handle your entire inter island move from start to finish, including pickup, packing, barge transport, and delivery to your new home on another island.
Trucking usually covers transport within one island, while freight forwarding coordinates inter island or international shipping. Island Movers can handle both parts for you.
You can store most household and business items, including furniture, boxes, equipment, and documents. For safety and compliance, hazardous materials, perishables, and certain restricted items are not allowed. Our team will review any questions about specific items before you move in.
Island Movers can store business inventory, office furniture, retail products, hospitality supplies, trade show materials, equipment, records, and overflow inventory for companies operating across Hawaiʻi.
Island Movers operates Hawaiʻi-based crews, warehouses, equipment, and logistics resources. As a family-owned company serving the islands since 1958, our local experience includes inter-island transportation, ocean-shipping coordination, island-specific access conditions, and moves between Hawaiʻi and the mainland.
Our storage spaces are clean, well maintained, and secure, backed by a local team that genuinely cares about your belongings and your experience.
Our storage units are known for being clean, secure, and supported by a friendly local team. We offer flexible terms, optional moving and packing help, and the convenience of working with one company for both your moving and storage needs in Hawaiʻi.

Oʻahu moves come with their own set of details — narrow streets, steep driveways, high-rise elevator logistics, and HOA or building requirements. After 68 years on the island, we've learned how to navigate all of it efficiently and without surprises.
Oʻahu moves require understanding of narrow streets, steep driveways, high rise logistics, HOA requirements, and tight parking situations. Island Movers has 60 plus years of local experience navigating these unique challenges across the island with efficiency and care.
Island Movers offers full service residential moving on Oʻahu and across Hawaiʻi, including packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and basic furniture reassembly. We can also coordinate inter island and mainland moves and connect you with storage when you need extra time between homes.
At our Honolulu CES, we provide inspection coordination, devanning, storage, and bonded freight handling under the supervision of Customs and Agriculture officers.

Pack toiletries, a change of clothes, phone chargers, basic medications, and any items you'll need immediately without digging through boxes.
For everyone’s safety, please do not pack hazardous items such as paint, propane tanks, fireworks, or flammable liquids. We can provide a simple list of what is okay to move and what is restricted in Hawaiʻi.

Start with an inventory of what you're bringing versus shipping separately or replacing, and reach out early — mainland moves benefit from extra lead time for scheduling and container coordination.

Certain items like perishables, propane, and some chemicals typically can't be shipped. We'll go over any restrictions specific to your move type during your consultation.

We offer two sizes: an 8' x 5' x 7' container with a 2,000 lb capacity, and a 7' x 7' x 7' container with a 5,000 lb capacity, so you can choose based on how much you need to store.
We handle hotel renovations, convention and event logistics, large item moves, and other special projects that need careful coordination throughout Hawaiʻi.
We support offices, retail stores, medical facilities, schools, hotels, government agencies, and more. Our commercial crews are trained to handle office furniture, fixtures, equipment, and documents with care and professionalism.
We handle a wide range of general freight such as furniture, retail goods, and supplies, as long as they are non hazardous and meet all shipping regulations.
We deliver furniture, appliances, electronics, and other large items, with the care and professionalism that local customers expect.
We help with hotel renovations, FF&E rollouts, large office moves, event logistics, and other complex projects that require extra planning and coordination. Our team can combine warehousing, delivery, placement, and installation support into one project plan.
We offer short term and long term warehousing, cross docking, and inventory management for commercial clients across Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi moves often involve building or HOA coordination, parking permits, and — for inter-island or mainland moves — extra time for transport scheduling.

Residential storage means we pick up your belongings and store them at our secure facility. Portable storage means a container is delivered to your home for you to load before we pick it up. Either option works depending on how hands-on you want to be.

We're licensed as both a motor carrier and a freight broker, which means we can manage more of your move directly instead of handing it off to unknown subcontractors along the way.
CES fees are billed after the inspection is completed and are usually charged to the importer, consignee, or their customs broker. All charges are itemized on the invoice.

As soon as you have your new address confirmed, update it with the post office, your bank, and your utility providers to avoid any service gaps.
Island Movers was founded and incorporated on July 1, 1958, giving us 68 years of experience serving Hawaiʻi as of 2026. We've grown from our island roots into a full-service moving, storage, and logistics company while staying family-owned and community-focused.
Shipments are selected for CES examination by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or USDA based on their own criteria. If your container or cargo is flagged, it will be moved to the CES for devanning, inspection, and any required documentation before release.
Our CES fee schedule is available on the Island Movers website in the Resources section. You can also contact our CES team directly and we will provide the current schedule and answer any billing questions.
You can view or download the latest CES fee schedule from our website or contact our Honolulu CES office for the most current information.
Portable storage delivery is typically available to many areas on Oʻahu with safe driveway or curb access. Our team will confirm that your location is accessible and discuss any placement limitations before scheduling delivery.
Island Movers is headquartered in Honolulu, Oʻahu, with additional operations in Kahului, Maui. The company serves Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, and coordinates moves between Hawaiʻi and the U.S. mainland. International capabilities should be confirmed based on the destination and service required.
We provide home delivery services statewide, including Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island.
We serve Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island with regular routes between the major ports for consolidated freight shipments.
Customs or Agriculture officers decide which shipments need inspection based on the import documents and risk assessments. Island Movers coordinates the process once your cargo is selected.
Consolidated freight is a good fit for retailers, contractors, and suppliers that ship pallets or smaller loads between islands but do not have enough volume for a dedicated container. Our team can review your freight profile and recommend the most cost effective option.
CES fees help cover the cost of inspection services, handling, labor, and security so that shipments can be processed safely and efficiently under Customs and Agriculture requirements.
We have been moving families and businesses in Hawaiʻi since 1958, and we treat every job like it is for our own ʻohana. With more than 60 years of experience and local know how, we are proud to be recognized as one of Hawaiʻi’s best moving services.
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