Container Shipping to the Big Island
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Container shipping to the Big Island is really two trips: one across the Pacific, and a second one across the largest island in Hawaii. Where you live on the island shapes that second trip more than anything else.
This guide walks the island region by region, from the Kohala ranch lands to the far south of Kau, so you know what your move involves before you book.
How Do You Ship a Container to the Big Island?
You load an empty container at your mainland home, and it sails to Honolulu. From there an inter-island barge carries it to Kawaihae Harbor, the island’s container port. A driver then hauls it by road to your Big Island address. Door to door, most moves take 12 to 20 days, and some stretch to about 25.
One Port, a Very Big Island
Many people planning a move to the Big Island picture a container ship pulling into Hilo or Kona. Matson no longer calls at either.
A state environmental assessment for Kawaihae Harbor reports that Matson has discharged all of its Big Island cargo at Kawaihae since 2021. Matson is the ocean carrier we book with. Matson no longer calls at Hilo, and boxes headed for East Hawaii ride a truck across the island.
Our Kawaihae Harbor guide explains the pier, the yard and each step between Honolulu and your driveway.
Why the Island's Size Matters
Hawaii Island covers about 4,028 square miles. That is roughly 63 percent of the state’s land, more than all of the other Hawaiian islands put together.
So the drive from the harbor can be short or long. A home in Kohala is close to the pier, while an address in Puna or Kau sits on the far side of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, or a long coastal drive away.
Saddle Road and the Hamakua Route
Two main roads link the west side to Hilo. Saddle Road, also called the Daniel K. Inouye Highway or Route 200, runs 52.7 miles from downtown Hilo to Route 190 near Waimea.
It crosses the high saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa and tops out at about 6,632 feet.
The other way east is Highway 19, which drops from Waimea and follows the Hamakua Coast into Hilo. Either route is a real drive with a loaded chassis, which is part of why East Hawaii addresses take planning.
Delivering a Container Around the Big Island
Each region below has its own roads, weather and lot types. Share your full street address when you ask for a quote, so the route and the box size can be checked before anything is booked.
Kohala: North and South
South Kohala holds Kawaihae itself, plus the resort areas and Waikoloa Village along the dry lava coast. Many of these homes sit in planned communities, so ask your association about container rules early.
North Kohala is quieter and greener. Hawi and Kapaau sit near the island’s northern tip, reached by the coast highway (Route 270) or by Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250), a 19-mile upland road that starts just outside Waimea.
Waimea
Waimea, also called Kamuela, is upcountry ranch land a short climb from the harbor. Highway 19 to the Hamakua Coast starts here, and Highway 190 leads south toward Saddle Road, so many cross-island trips pass through it.
Kona
Kona is the island’s main west side hub, south of the harbor along the coast. Homes range from Kailua-Kona town to the coffee farms upslope. Our Kona delivery page covers Holualoa, Keauhou, the coffee belt and Waikoloa in detail.
Kau: Ocean View, Naalehu and Pahala
Kau is the island’s remote south, and it is the longest haul from Kawaihae. Highway 11 is the only main road through the district.
Ocean View is a large subdivision on the lava slopes, with private roads. Naalehu is often called the southernmost town in the United States. Ka Lae, or South Point, lies down a side road to the south.
Pahala was a sugar town until its mill closed in 1996. Coffee and macadamia farms now fill much of the land above it.
Puna
Puna is the district south of Hilo, centered on Pahoa. Many lots sit in large private subdivisions where the roads are not county roads.
The 2018 eruption of Kilauea destroyed about 700 structures in lower Puna and buried parts of Highways 132 and 137. Check your road’s current status and ownership before you book.
Hilo
Hilo, the county seat, is the biggest town on the island and sits on the wet east side. Our Hilo shipping page covers Hilo town, Keaau, Volcano and humidity packing.
Hamakua Coast
The Hamakua Coast runs between Waipio and Hilo along Highway 19, through Honokaa and Laupahoehoe. Sugar cane covered these slopes until Hamakua Sugar closed in 1994.
The highway crosses deep gulches on many bridges. Side roads down to older homes can be steep and narrow.
If you are still choosing a region, our guide to moving to the Big Island compares life on each side.
What We Ship to the Big Island
Every Big Island booking is a full container: a 20ft, 40ft, 40ft high cube or 45ft box. No other shipper’s goods ride in your box, and nothing is shared: no partial, pallet or shared loads.
You can load it yourself, or a crew can load it for you. We also take shipper-owned containers.
A car cannot ride inside a household container. It needs a separate booking, which our Hawaii auto shipping page explains.
Karen Danino, who owns Hawaiian Movers, oversees each Big Island booking. Our drivers hold TWIC cards for port access, and we are UIIA approved, with SCAC code HWMI, USDOT 4024631 and MC 1518931.
What Our Customers Say
“Nicole from Hawaiian Movers Inc., was the most amazing person I have ever been lucky enough to do business with. Nicole made our move from the Big Island of Hawaii to North Bend, WA completely carefree.”
★★★★★ Sal C., Big Island to North Bend, WA, verified Yelp review
“We moved from WA to Hawaii with Hawaiian Movers Sept 2025. We found them online and compared them with other moving company’s. After our lengthy conversations with three companies, Nicole at Hawaiian Movers Inc. was the most detailed.”
★★★★★ Becky B, Washington to Hawaii, verified Google review
“This company is the best for your move to Hawaii! They are professional and do everything they say! Don’t waste your time with anyone else!”
★★★★★ Al Georgino, mainland to Hawaii, verified Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a container to the Big Island?
The cost to ship a container to the Big Island from the mainland is typically $10,000 to $20,000 for a full container you load and unload yourself. Two things move the price most: the size of the container and where on the mainland your move starts. A 45ft box holds more than a 20ft box, and an inland starting point adds distance to reach the West Coast pier. Call us with your mainland city and your island address for an exact quote.
How long does it take to ship a container to the Big Island?
Shipping a container to the Big Island usually takes 12 to 20 days from your mainland door to your island door, with longer routes reaching about 25. The ocean leg to Honolulu takes about 4 days from Long Beach, about 5 from Oakland, and about 6 from Tacoma. Port to port with terminal time is about 7 to 10 days. The Honolulu transfer to an inter-island barge is why Big Island moves run longer than Oahu moves.
Can I ship my car inside my moving container to the Big Island?
No, you cannot ship a car inside a household moving container to the Big Island with us. Vehicles travel on their own booking, apart from your furniture and boxes. Your container carries household goods only, such as furniture, appliances, tools and boxes. If you are bringing a car, book it as a separate vehicle shipment and plan both around your own arrival date on the island.
How big is the Big Island compared to the other islands?
The Big Island is bigger than all of the other Hawaiian islands combined. It covers about 4,028 square miles, or roughly 63 percent of the state’s land. For a household move, that size matters. A container that comes ashore at Kawaihae may travel a few miles to Kohala or a long way to Hilo, Puna or Kau. Saddle Road, Route 200, is the main shortcut across the middle.
Ready to Book Container Shipping to the Big Island?
Tell us your mainland pickup city and your Big Island address, and we will send a quote for a full container. Call 800-671-0924.
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