FAQs About Moving Containers and Cars to Hawaii

DOES THE KONA CONTAINER GUY ONLY SERVICE KAILUA-KONA/THE BIG ISLAND?

No. We provide services for all aspects of residential moves to and from the entire continental U.S., Southeastern Alaska, and B.C., Canada (auto service is currently not offered from Canada). Container and auto services are offered weekly/bi-weekly to and from the Hawaiian ports of Nawiliwili on Kauai, Honolulu on Oahu, Kahului on Maui, and Hilo and Kawaihae on Hawaii (the Big Island). We also offer limited service to Molokai. In the continental U.S. we provide weekly shipping to and from Long Beach, CA., Oakland, CA., and Seattle, WA. Our Southeastern Alaska services operate weekly to and from Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, and Kodiak.

Does The Kona Container/Car Guy just move household goods to kona?

No. We can accommodate most shipment requests and offer shipping services for vehicles, oversized vehicles, work trucks, box trucks, flatbeds, RV’s, motorcycles, household goods and more! We also offer options for shipment of household items that include full container and less than container load (LCL) service.

are there benefits for shipping all my belongings with the Kona container guy?

Yes. We offer bundled pricing at attractive discounts for autos and household goods being quoted together. Our bundled pricing applies even if your household goods and autos are not shipping at the same time! As a local company, we have extensive on island resources for container delivery and vehicle delivery services. Additionally, we offer numerous courtesy services for customers that book a vehicle and container together! Click here for a list of our Courtesy Services!

i don't think i have enough stuff to fill a container. can you help me?

Yes. We provide a full range of services for less than container load (LCL) shipping. We provide door to door service, or you can choose to pick up or drop off at your shipping or receiving port. We offer optional full packing services, which includes palletizing your entire shipment! You also have the option to do it yourself.

how long will it take for my container and/or auto to get to hawaii?

Total transit time for household goods shipments from the west coast to Hawaii is approximately 2 weeks. Total transit time for auto shipments is approximately 3-4 weeks. This includes ocean sailing, processing, loading, and offloading. Generally speaking, containers and vehicles take the same amount of time. Vehicles are more susceptible to an additional one-week delay during peak seasons. We keep our customers informed by providing target timelines, tracking information, and regular updates. We offer courtesy 24/7 customer support for all current clients.

how far in advance should i book my move?

It is common knowledge that the cost of fuel has gone up our entire lives. This current reality will continue into the foreseeable future. We offer Industry-leading 90-120 Days Price Lock Guarantee for shipment reservations applied at the time of booking. Our Price Lock Guarantee ensures that our customers won’t pay a higher price! It’s like purchasing an airline ticket- the farther you book in advance, the more cost effective your pricing will be.

what about payment?

For payment we accept personal check, money orders, cashier’s checks, wire transfers, Visa/MasterCard and American Express. Credit or debit bank cards are assessed a 3% card processing fee.

What about insurance?

For containers with household goods the limited liability coverage provided by the ocean carrier is usually enough. For customers who have goods that have extraordinary value, we offer the option of purchasing marine insurance through our trusted marine insurance provider. For vehicles, the limit of liability provided by the ocean shipper is not to exceed $8,000 per vehicle. The overland vehicle transport truckers are fully bonded, insured, and in our network. In any case, your existing homeowners/auto insurance provider will be primary in any claim. We base this answer on experience- we strongly recommend you contact your homeowner’s/vehicle/renter’s insurance agent for professional advice prior to your move.

my car is worth way more than $8,000. What happens if my car is a total loss?

As stated, the ocean carrier’s liability is $8,000 but your insurance provider will be primary in any claim. If you’re still confused, please call us or your insurance agent and we will give you a detailed explanation.

can you provide additional helpful information i can use for air travel, rental cars, and temporary relocation housing?

Yes. We have included referral links at the bottom of this page including AKona Pet Relocation, Go2Kona.com, and Punahele Travel. We are usually able to assist with most referral requests.

can i pack stuff in my vehicle when i ship it?

No. The port authority mandates removal of all items that are packed, stored, or left in your vehicle. In other words, remove any items that didn’t come stock with your vehicle. Floor mats, seat covers, and spare tire equipment/jacks can ship with the vehicle. We will provide you with an extensive “Prepping Your Vehicle for Shipment” checklist at the time of booking.

I'm planning on loading my container myself and I want to ship my vehicle inside. How do i do that?

Our professional and in-house loadmasters will be available to you by phone 24/7 once your shipment reservation has been booked. They can assist you with any questions/concerns regarding shipping of your vehicle or goods inside the container, securing your load down, packing advice, and much more!

When shipping my vehicle, should I leave my insurance and registration in the glove box?

No. Do not leave any paperwork in the glove box of your vehicle. It’s a security risk and it’s not required. If you’re shipping your vehicle out of the state of Hawaii, documents are required at the time of drop off at the Hawaii port facility. Your customer service administrator will be able to advise you on the paperwork you should provide at the time of drop off.

Why is the delivery of my container/vehicle late?

All targeted pick up, delivery, and availability dates provided for your shipment(s) are estimates and are subject to change. There are several factors that can cause delays in ocean shipping. The list of items includes, but is not limited to: environmental, mechanical or security issues at the ports, weather, trucking mechanical issues, road conditions and other hazards that could delay trucking at pick up or delivery, union work stoppages, and priority loading issues. Priority loading issues concern the ship's loading protocol when essential goods such as military, hospital, household, and other goods deemed essential that can't be loaded due to space limitations. Therefore, vehicles/cargo are offloaded from the vessel to make room for commodities deemed priority. Priority loading protocol more commonly impacts cargo/vehicles entering the state of Hawaii (due to volume) and is also more common during high volume shipping times.

Can you help me move back to the mainland?

Yes. Every service we provided going west bound, we provide going eastbound. Shipping a container or vehicle eastbound from Hawaii back to the mainland is generally less expensive.