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Hawaii is famous as a vacation paradise, and yet the island chain is more isolated than most populated regions of the world. This makes moving to or from the Hawaiian islands a unique challenge. Many professional moving companies keep their service offerings stateside, leaving fewer options for Hawaii residents. However, several national movers have the means to relocate your belongings to the Aloha State.
We’ve pored over the marketing materials for moving companies around the country and asked the right questions to keep our readers informed. From our efforts, we established a methodology and ranked the best moving companies. We went on to eliminate companies from our list without availability in Hawaii and compiled this detailed guide to Hawaii’s top movers.
The Best Movers in Hawaii
Here are our top picks for Hawaii moving companies:
- International Van Lines: Best Overall Mover
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Best for Major Cities
- North American Van Lines: Best Appliance Movers
- Moving APT: Best for Coordinated Moves
- Safeway Moving Inc.: Best for Condos and HOAs
- JK Moving Services: Best Mobile App
- Allied Van Lines: Best Customer Experience
International Van Lines : Best Overall Mover
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Full service
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
International Van Lines (IVL) is headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida—a far cry from Honolulu. But IVL provides national and international availability, offering full-service moves to and from Hawaii. It services more than 180 countries and, with authority as a freight forwarder, is able to coordinate shipments via air or ocean transport.
We like IVL for its extensive service offerings, transparency for common surcharges, and informative website. The company is typically fast to respond to quote requests, and once you’ve booked a move, it offers several insurance options for your shipment. IVL also offers several commercial moving services.
Cost
You can self-report your inventory information to IVL when starting an estimate, or you can request a virtual or in-home consultation. To request your quote, fill out IVL’s online form or contact the company over the phone. IVL also has a moving cost calculator for a basic estimate of prices to expect for your move.
IVL requires an up-front deposit that is steeper than many competitors. Payment methods will vary depending on whether your payment is for the deposit or for the actual cost of the move, but IVL generally accepts cash, cashier’s check, or money order.
Services
International Van Lines, as a full-service mover, is available to help you with your packing and unpacking needs. It will also load, transport, and unload your belongings to make your moving experience hassle-free and give you time to otherwise prepare your Hawaii move. IVL offers fragile-only packing and custom crating, and it can also help with shipping your vehicle from the contiguous United States to Maui, Oahu, or any other Hawaiian destination.
For its domestic and international moves, IVL makes it easy to purchase additional insurance coverage. You can select standard valuation coverage through the company or purchase third-party insurance for more extensive protection against catastrophic events.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit International Van Lines’ site
Read More: International Van Lines Review
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group : Best for Major Cities
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) doesn’t transport household goods, but it works as a broker connecting its customers to local and long-distance moving companies. Its move coordinators will discuss your moving needs during your estimate request to find the best match, whether you need assistance with a mainland move or inter-island relocation.
An advantage of IMRG having numerous moving partners is that you can typically book a move date on time without waiting for an individual mover to have an open day in its schedule. It also opens the door to a wider range of services, including specialty services that you may have difficulty finding elsewhere.
The quality of service through any broker often depends on the mover hired. You should request a list of partners and ask questions about the mover IMRG has lined up before booking services.
Cost
To start an estimate with IMRG, call to speak with a move coordinator about your move plan. You can also use the form on IMRG’s website to provide basic information about your move and to notify a move coordinator to call you as soon as possible. You can report your own inventory details, but we recommend requesting an in-person survey to avoid a low estimate that increases if the mover finds inaccuracies.
IMRG charges a booking deposit that is non-refundable after 72 hours from reserving a move date. It accepts multiple payment options to cover moving costs, including cash, credit card, cashier’s check, and money order.
Services
With IMRG, you can have your choice of a self- or full-service moving experience. For the former option, IMRG partners with companies that transport portable storage containers that you will load with your household items. Full-service moves involve teams of movers that provide packing services to make your life easier, including furniture disassembly and reassembly. Many IMRG partners offer storage services with long- and short-term solutions.
Some of the specialty services IMRG can arrange include junk removal, military moves, and auto transport. In addition to residential moves, IMRG coordinates commercial relocation services.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Interstate Moving & Relocation Group’s site
Read More: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Review
North American Van Lines : Best Appliance Movers
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Full service
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
North American Van Lines (NAVL) serves all of North America, including the remote Hawaiian islands. A full-service mover, NAVL has hybrid carrier and broker authority to coordinate moves in-house and within its partner network. We like NAVL for its unique specialty services, including installation of high-end appliances to save you a step when moving to your new home.
NAVL has a predictable pricing structure for your convenience, and it offers several levels of packing assistance. In business since 1933, NAVL is one of the most experienced providers in this guide, and it presently has more than 500 agent locations nationwide for a prompt booking process.
Cost
NAVL will not offer ballpark estimates, but it will conduct a virtual or in-home survey to assess your inventory and provide a binding estimate. You can request your quote online or call the company, but you will need to discuss basic details about your move with a representative either way. NAVL does not have an online moving cost calculator.
Typical accepted payment options include cash, certified check, or money order. A credit card may also be accepted depending on the NAVL agent.
Services
For its moving services, NAVL offers professional packing assistance, or it will allow you to self-pack. Fragile-only packing is also an option, and custom crating is available when necessary. NAVL will help self-packers acquire the correct packing supplies, and storage solutions are available.
In addition to its disassembly and reinstallation of appliances as a specialty service, NAVL can also coordinate cleaning services to make the transition to your new home easier. This includes debris removal to get rid of packing materials after unpacking your household inventory.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit North American Van Lines’ site
Read More: North American Van Lines Review
Moving APT : Best for Coordinated Moves
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
Another moving broker on our list, Moving APT hires professional movers from a partner network with more than 2,500 agents. This gives Moving APT the flexibility to coordinate moves nationwide with large moving providers and local Hawaiian movers. Selecting from such a broad network, Moving APT can schedule many different types of services to personalize your moving experience.
Moving APT’s representatives will transfer you to several companies available for your services, leading to a more stress-free booking process. This direct communication allows you to learn about the mover from its own staff and address any questions or concerns before finalizing your estimate.
Customer reviews for brokers often point to surprise fees outside the estimated moving costs and inconsistent quality of service. Moving APT fields far fewer complaints on the FMCSA index than many similar companies, but it’s a good idea to ask questions and conduct extensive research on partnered movers.
Cost
Getting a quote from Moving APT is as easy as calling the company to speak with a move coordinator or using the online quote tool to start the process. Moving APT also hosts a moving calculator on its website to estimate a price range for your move and eliminate the guesswork. Your options for providing a record of your inventory may vary among Moving APT’s partners, but we encourage you to schedule an in-person survey of your home for an accurate assessment.
You will need to pay a booking deposit, and Moving APT’s payment options will depend on the carrier you select for your services.
Services
Moving APT coordinates various moving services, connecting you to movers offering comprehensive packing and unpacking assistance to ease the transition into your new home. Short- and long-term storage options are available, and, for DIY moves, Moving APT works with several partners that sell packing supplies. The company’s website features a helpful blog of moving tips and city guides to assist with relocation planning, including a guide for Hawaii.
In addition to long-distance moving services, Moving APT has local movers in its network that can help you move from the big island to any of its neighbors. Moving APT also coordinates international moves.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Moving APT’s site
Read More: Moving APT Review
Safeway Moving Inc. : Best for Condos and HOAs
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Full service
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
Most moving companies give a sense of their values upon first conversation or in their marketing materials, but few display those values as outright as Safeway Moving Inc. A full-service mover with nationwide coverage, Safeway brands itself on values such as integrity, commitment, communication, and positivity. The company also takes extra strides to provide assistance to senior citizens relocating, and it donates a portion of all fees to charity.
Safeway emphasizes its commitment to long-distance moving services, but the company also offers international, intrastate, and interstate moving assistance. It maintains a blog on its website with the advantages and disadvantages of moving between several locations throughout the United States. Safeway operates as a moving carrier and also holds broker authority.
Cost
Quote request forms are prominent on Safeway’s website, or you can request an estimate by calling the listed number and speaking to a Safeway representative. You can set up a video estimate to go over your inventory or request an in-person consultation. Safeway offers free storage for one month before permanent rates apply.
Expect to pay an up-front deposit for booking your Safeway move. The company accepts multiple payment options, including cash, credit card, and wire transfer.
Services
Safeway’s full-service package includes packing and unpacking of your household inventory. It also saves you a headache by having Safeway’s movers load and unload your shipment. Secure storage facilities are available for short- or long-term use. Safeway also provides customer crating when requested for fragile items.
For its senior moving services, Safeway provides a dedicated section on its website going over the company’s approach. It emphasizes an intention to give extra attention to senior moves to help guide you or your senior loved one through what can be a stressful process.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Safeway Moving Inc.’s site
Read More: Safeway Moving Inc. Review
JK Moving Services : Best Mobile App
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Full service
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
JK Moving Services is one of the companies in this guide with authority to operate as a carrier and broker, maintaining a fleet of more than 200 trucks and outsourcing some services to vetted partners. The company is able to conduct or coordinate services in all 50 states and can assist with your residential or commercial moving needs.
To streamline the scheduling process, JK Moving has constructed a mobile app for reviewing and storing your estimates. The easy-to-use app also allows you to view terms and conditions, start the booking process, and pay your deposit. We see this app being especially useful for those scheduling multiple moving services.
Cost
You must speak with a JK Moving representative before the company will provide an estimate. Start this process by providing your contact information on JK Moving’s website, or skip a step and call the company directly. JK Moving offers personalized survey options, allowing you to schedule a virtual consultation with a move consultant or conduct an AI-assisted survey on your mobile device. You can also have a JK Moving employee come to your home to evaluate the projected weight of your household goods.
JK Moving does charge an up-front deposit, but it’s a much cheaper requirement than many competitors. The company accepts payment with cash, certified check, or credit card.
Services
You can schedule a customizable full-service move through JK Moving, choosing the level of professional packing assistance you desire. A full-service move includes furniture disassembly and reassembly. The company also offers fragile-only packing and custom crating and has secure storage solutions available.
JK Moving’s commercial offerings exceed the scope of services offered by most competitors in this guide. It has experience with corporate, government, hospitality, and military relocation. JK Moving provides convenient IT relocation solutions for tech companies in addition to offering assistance with data archival and document disposal.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit JK Moving’s site
Read More: JK Moving Services Review
Allied Van Lines : Best Customer Experience
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Full service
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 states
What We Like
Allied Van Lines takes a varied approach to its business, operating a large fleet of its own moving trucks and also working with an extensive network of moving partners across the country. This includes local island movers to help you promptly book your Hawaiian relocation services. Allied’s large moving industry presence has made it a popular option, and it’s easy for prospective customers to find customer testimonials and reviews from sources across the web.
We also like Allied’s direct communication on its website, with little in the way of clutter and plentiful informational resources. You can find guidance about Allied’s services and values, along with helpful resources such as moving tips and blog entries. The company also has a convenient mobile app for surveying your household inventory.
Cost
For determining a moving quote, Allied will want to conduct a survey of your inventory. This can be done over the phone with its mobile app, or you can request an in-home visual survey. Allied has an InstaQuote form on its website for providing move details and starting your estimate, or you can call one of its moving coordinators.
You do not need to pay a deposit to book moving services through Allied. For payment, the company accepts cash, credit card, or certified check.
Services
Allied offers full packing services for household moving, including loading, unloading, and unpacking. It will also remove discarded packing supplies after the move upon request. For your most fragile belongings and sensitive electronic equipment, Allied provides custom crating. Several storage options are available, including storage in-transit and permanent storage options.
An experienced vehicle shipper, Allied can help get your vehicle to the islands and between them as necessary. Allied also includes boat shipping in its auto transport options. To help you remove the clutter before and after a move, Allied has third-party partners that provide comprehensive car cleaning services.
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Allied Van Lines’ site
Read More: Allied Van Lines Review
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Hawaii
Here are how the top Hawaii moving companies stack up:
Our Recommendation
Whether it’s the Big Island, Kauai, or Hilo, moving from the mainland or from abroad to Hawaii takes a great deal of legwork. We recommend International Van Lines to provide full-service relocation assistance, helping customers move to Hawaii from almost anywhere in the world. IVL serves more than 180 countries and has attractive insurance options to help protect your household goods.
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group can broker moving services to national or local moving companies, helping you schedule the services you need on a date that’s ideal for your transition to a new home. We also like North American Van Lines for its specialty services and its experience in the moving industry.
No matter where you intend to move in the state of Hawaii, we recommend gathering three quotes from moving companies to protect yourself from unexpected difficulties. This will not only give you insights into moving costs, but a written estimate will also provide information about moving services and the company’s approach to customer service.
Hawaii Moving Companies FAQ
What factors affect the cost of a Hawaii move?
The cost of a Hawaii move depends on factors such as the type of move and the move distance. A local move will typically be cheaper than a long-distance move to or from the mainland. The services you select will also have a significant impact on moving costs.
How are moving companies regulated in Hawaii?
Moving companies in Hawaii are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.
What are the benefits of hiring movers?
Hiring movers has numerous benefits, all of which can make relocation a less stressful effort. Professional movers streamline the moving process, helping you with packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. Many movers offer specialty services such as storage and vehicle shipping, and all take care of transport to prevent you from having to rent and drive a moving truck.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies in Hawaii
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.