Container Shipping to Molokai
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Container shipping to Molokai takes one more step than a move to Oahu, because no ship from the mainland calls at the island. Your household rides to Honolulu first, then crosses on the inter-island barge to Kaunakakai.
Here is the route, the roads from the harbor and how to plan around weather at sea.
How Do You Ship a Container to Molokai?
To ship a container to Molokai, we deliver an empty container to your mainland home, you load it, and it sails to Honolulu. There it transfers to the inter-island barge to Kaunakakai Harbor, and a truck brings it to your Molokai address. Allow 12 to 20 days door to door, and up to about 25.
How a Container Gets to Molokai
There is no direct mainland service to Molokai. Every household container we send there makes two sea trips: the ocean crossing to Honolulu, then an inter-island barge to Kaunakakai.
You can see how the first leg runs on our Honolulu container page.
The barge docks at Kaunakakai Harbor on the south shore. It is one of the nine commercial harbors in the state system, and its wharf runs about 1,900 feet out from shore to deep water. That makes it the longest wharf in Hawaii.
Food, fuel and building supplies for the island cross that same wharf.
Delivering a Container Around Molokai
Molokai is about 38 miles long, and three state routes carry most of the traffic. Routes 450 and 460 start in Kaunakakai, and Route 470 branches off Route 460.
Kaunakakai
Kaunakakai is the main town and the island’s commercial center. The business district is a few blocks along Ala Malama Avenue, a short drive from the wharf.
Homes in and around town are the shortest run from the harbor.
East End: Kamalo to Halawa on Route 450
Kamehameha V Highway (Route 450) runs east along the south shore for about 27 miles, from Kaunakakai to Halawa Valley. The first 10 miles or so, out to Kamalo, are fairly wide and straight.
Past that, the road gets narrower and curvier, and near Halawa it drops to one lane below sea cliffs. If your address is out past Kamalo, tell us the full address and we will check the route and container size before you book.
Central Molokai: Hoolehua, Kualapuu and Kalae
Maunaloa Highway (Route 460) climbs northwest from Kaunakakai to Hoolehua, where Molokai Airport sits. Kalae Highway (Route 470) leaves Route 460 and heads toward Kualapuu and Kalae and ends at Palaau State Park.
Much of the land around Hoolehua and Kalamaula is Hawaiian Home Lands. Native Hawaiian families have held homestead leases here since the 1920s, and Kalamaula was the first homestead settlement in the state.
Many homes here sit on rural lots. If your driveway is unpaved, firm and level ground makes a better spot for the container.
West End: Maunaloa
Route 460 continues west from Hoolehua and ends at Maunaloa, about 17 miles from Kaunakakai. It is the longest run on the west side.
Kalaupapa Is Not a Delivery Stop
Kalaupapa, on the north shore peninsula, has no road link to the rest of the island, and entry is restricted. We cannot deliver a household container there.
How Long Shipping to Molokai Takes
| Leg of the trip | Typical time |
| Sailing from Long Beach, Oakland or Tacoma to Honolulu | about 4, 5 or 6 days |
| Mainland port to Honolulu, with terminal time | about 7 to 10 days |
| Your mainland home to your Molokai door | 12 to 20 days, up to about 25 |
The barge leg from Honolulu to Kaunakakai is what pushes Molokai toward the long end of that range.
Strong south swells can make it unsafe to moor and unload at Kaunakakai. When weather cancels a sailing, cargo waits for the next one, and delays of several days have happened. Build spare days into your plan.
What Moving to Molokai Costs
Budget $10,000 to $20,000 for a full mainland-to-Hawaii container that you load and unload yourself. Your mainland starting city and the container size are the two biggest drivers of where you fall.
A crew can handle the loading if you would rather not do it yourself. Our guide on the full cost of moving to Hawaii covers the costs that are not freight.
Vehicles do not ride inside a household goods container. If you are bringing a car or truck, you can ship a vehicle to Hawaii on its own booking.
Planning a Move to a Rural Island
Molokai is quiet and rural. Kaunakakai is the island’s main town, with a short main street of shops.
Everything on store shelves arrives by barge. When a barge is delayed, shelves can run short, so a full container is a good way to bring what your household needs from day one.
Pack what is hard to replace on the island, like furniture, tools and appliances. Leave out soil and potted plants, which fall under Hawaii Department of Agriculture import rules.
Molokai and Maui share one county government, but little else about a move. Still choosing? Compare this page with our Maui container service, where the harbor, roads and timing all work differently.
Why Book Your Molokai Container With Us
Karen Danino, who owns Hawaiian Movers, coordinates every Molokai move, from the ocean leg to the inter-island barge. On the Pacific crossing, your container sails with Matson.
Our drivers carry TWIC cards for port access. We are UIIA approved, our SCAC code is HWMI, and we hold USDOT 4024631 and MC 1518931. If you own your container, we can ship that too.
The container is yours alone: a 20ft, 40ft, 40ft high cube or 45ft box that no one else loads. We never mix shipments or take shared, partial or pallet loads.
What Our Customers Say
“Unbelievable service with Hawaiian Movers! Nicole is experienced and an expert in her role! The move from the West Coast to a rural Hawaiian island was smooth, efficient, and affordable.”
★★★★★ Jamie Crompton, West Coast to a rural Hawaiian island, verified Google review
“Hawaiian Movers Inc. is an excellent and very trustworthy company. Every part of our move from start to finish was right on time. Nicole was awesome keeping us informed of exactly where our shipping container was along the way.”
★★★★★ Mitch Sowl, mainland to Hawaii, verified Google review
“Nicole was wonderful in the door to door process of getting me moved from Texas to Hawaii!”
★★★★★ Star Dust, Texas to Hawaii, verified Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there direct shipping from the mainland to Molokai?
No, there is no direct shipping from the mainland to Molokai. Mainland container ships call at Honolulu, and cargo for Molokai moves there to an inter-island barge bound for Kaunakakai Harbor. Karen Danino coordinates both legs of the trip, from your mainland driveway to your Molokai address. The extra transfer is why Molokai sits toward the longer end of our 12 to 20 day door to door range.
Can you deliver a container to Kalaupapa?
No, we cannot deliver a household container to Kalaupapa. The peninsula has no road link to the rest of Molokai, because tall sea cliffs separate it from the island above. Visitors need advance permission to enter, and heavy supplies arrive by a separate barge about once a year. For any other address on the island, tell us the full address and we will check the route and container size before you book.
Can anyone move to Molokai?
Yes, anyone can move to Molokai, and there is no residency permit to live on the island. Much of the land around Hoolehua and Kalamaula is Hawaiian Home Lands, which are leased to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and cannot be bought on the open market. Check how your home is held before you book. Once you have one, send us the full address and we will check the route and container size.
Why do barges to Molokai get delayed?
Barges to Molokai get delayed mostly by weather at sea. Strong south swells can make it unsafe to moor and unload cargo at Kaunakakai Harbor, which faces open water on the south shore. Mechanical repairs to the towing tug have also pushed back sailings. When a sailing is canceled, cargo waits for the next one, and delays of several days have happened. Leave spare days between your move-out and move-in dates.
What is the road like on the East End of Molokai?
The road on the East End of Molokai is Kamehameha V Highway, Route 450, which runs about 27 miles from Kaunakakai to Halawa Valley. It is fairly wide and straight for the first 10 miles or so, out to Kamalo. Past that it gets narrower and curvier, and near Halawa it is a single lane below sea cliffs. If you are moving to the East End, tell us the full address and we will check the route and container size before you book.
Ready to Book Container Shipping to Molokai?
Share your Molokai address, the city you are leaving and the size of your home, and we will send you a quote. Call 800-671-0924 or use the quote form below.
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