FAQ

American Eagle Moving USA is an online marketplace that connects you to moving companies in Hawaiʻi. We are not a carrier (for example we don’t own a truck). Rather, we allow you to compare licensed, insured movers that accept your route, review what is included, and request quotes without calling multiple companies.

We are a comparison marketplace. The actual move is completed by the independent moving companies we list on the site. When you enter your origin, destination, dates, and basic inventory that is all you need to do to be connected to movers that are already servicing that route in Hawaiʻi and/or to the main land. Contracts, payments, and insurance are always between you and the mover you choose.

You provide us with your route (e.g. “Los Angeles to Oʻahu” or “Maui to Big Island”), general dates, and move size, and we then use that info to select vetted movers already working those lanes. Then, you can review the services they offer, typical pricing ranges and past reviews, and request a firm quote of the moving company you’ve selected.

No. There is no “best” mover for everyone. The best company depends on your island, route, dates, budget, and the extent of help needed for packing, cleaning, and logistics. Our goal is to show you solid mover options, explain what to look for in a quote, and ultimately make it easier for you to choose a company that works for your situation.

Start by contacting your moving company directly and documenting everything, including photos, an inventory list, and copies of emails, bills of lading, and estimates. Every reputable moving company has a claims process in place for damage, delay, or other service-related issues.

Hawaii moving costs will vary, but they depend largely on the size of your household goods, your location, and how much help you need on your end. Full-service moves from the continental U.S. to Hawaii for a one- to three-bedroom home cost in the range of $5,000 to $12,000+, with most smaller minimalist moves costing less and larger homes costing more.
Island-to-island moves often cost less than mainland moves, billed hourly between $600 and $4,000+, and have additional barge and port fees.

The cost difference depends on the route and access to unpack. Additionally, depending on the route and how much you need to pack/unpack, PODS ‘style’ services look cheap on paper but you’ll still need people to load/unload, and send yourself or someone else back and forth with the items if the PODS-styled container(s) can’t be set near your place, especially if you live in a condo, tight street or if your building has stricters when being utilized. In fact, depending on the route and port fees, especially if you live in a condo, a full service moving company could be competitive on total cost for a service that includes loading/unloading plus the ocean leg of transporting shipping containers (if applicable) once you’ve considered port fees and final delivery.

A few core things to know before moving to Hawaii:

• Cost of living is significantly higher than the U.S. average, especially for housing, groceries, and utilities.
• Island logistics add time and cost for almost everything, including shipping, car ownership, and large purchases.
• Job markets vary by island and rely heavily on tourism, healthcare, construction, and government.
• There’s a distinct local culture and pace; it takes time to adjust and to build community.
• Pet, plant, and vehicle rules are stricter than on the mainland.

Planning ahead and budgeting realistically makes the transition much smoother.

Yes. We’ve created a comprehensive moving to Hawaii checklist that breaks the transition into tasks from a few months before you arrive to move-in day by breaking things into tasks to accomplish before you’re all packed up (like decluttering), choosing to mover, booking ocean freight, and working through documents and paperwork.

Here’s the link to that checklist for your review:
Moving to Hawaii checklist

Yes. Many moving companies and auto-transport professionals can send your vehicle via ocean. The average cost for transporting a standard vehicle to Hawaiʻi will be around $1,500–$2,500 for each of the several routes, depending on the port of departure, size of the vehicle, and whether you’re using port-to-port service or door-to-port service. Since costs can accumulate quickly, some choose to sell their car on the mainland and buy locally, so check fees and local vehicle pricing before the decision.

Hawaiʻi is rabies-free, which affects the state’s strict quarantine procedures for dogs and cats. If your dog or cat qualifies for the shortened “5 Day Or Less” or direct-release, they simply must provide the proof of the vaccinations, microchip, and the blood test, and the paperwork must be completed well in advance.

If you’re moving with dogs or cats, you need to start your preparations months in advance of departure and follow the latest instructions from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine Branch.