Moving From Arizona to Hawaii: Costs, Shipping, and What Changes

Written by Tina Haines who has made this move both directions.

Authenticity note: I don’t have a record of where you and your wife moved from, so I didn’t assume Arizona. If you lived in Arizona or have family there, say so. If not, add a line like “We moved to Oahu from [place]. The Arizona-specific numbers below come from research, and here is how the steps differ.” That keeps the firsthand credibility honest.

We moved to Oahu from San Diego and then recently relocated from Oahu to Texas. Moving from San Diego to Hawaii is a much similar to moving from Arizona to Hawaii. The Arizona-specific numbers written in this post come from research.

Making the move from Arizona to Hawaii means having to ship your car and belongings to a California port (in this case, it’s likely Long Beach), then by ocean to Honolulu. Plan at least 4 to 6 months of lead time. Shipping a car to Hawaii costs around $1,790 and the cost of living is about 20% to 32% higher than Phoenix.

The change you can expect with an Arizona to Oahu move is swapping Arizona’s dry heat, cheaper groceries, and lower gas prices for Hawaii’s humidity, import prices, and higher tax and housing bill. We’ll get into a cost comparison, car and household shipping, flights, pets, climate differences, DMV steps, and a timeline.

If you plan on moving with a dog or cat, it will help to understand why Hawaii is rabies free before you begin planning for the rabies vaccinations timeline.

TL;DR – Arizona to Hawaii Relocation

Prepare for 4 to 6 months of planning when moving from Arizona to Hawaii. Your car and belongings will travel by truck to a California port (usually Long Beach) and then shipped by ocean to Honolulu. Matson is the most common shipping option and car rates start at $1,790. Phoenix is around 20% to 32% cheaper than Honolulu, so prepare for higher groceries, gas, housing, and state income tax.

Key Takeaways

• Matson ships from Long Beach and Oakland
• Matson’s published rate to ship a car from the mainland to Hawaii starts at $1,790
• Phoenix groceries run about 37% to 44% cheaper than Honolulu
• Arizona has a flat 2.5% state income tax. Hawaii has graduated rates from 1.4% to 11%
• Nonstop Phoenix to Honolulu flights take roughly 6.5 to 7 hours,
• Pets need 4 to 5 months of prep (microchip, two rabies vaccines, FAVN blood test, 30-day wait)

Is Hawaii More Expensive Than Arizona?

Yes. Hawaii is about 20% to 32% more expensive overall than Arizona. The largest price gaps will be found in groceries, gas, housing, and taxes. As far as utilities go, a basic utility bill for a 915 sq ft apartment in Phoenix is about $249 and $255 in Honolulu due to Phoenix summer air conditioning being expensive. Hawaii’s electricity rates are between 40-48 cents per kWH (the highest in the U.S.).

Be prepared for a change in income tax with Arizona’s flat income tax of 2.5% versus Hawaii’s graduated 1.4% to 11%. Hawaii also has a General Excise Tax on most purchases.

When we moved to Oahu, one of the biggest shocks were the Hawaii grocery prices and the high costs of dining out. We knew groceries would be higher, however, it didn’t set in until we felt it impact our budget first-hand. It was also difficult for us to enjoy dining out. Eating for two at a restaurant would be no less than $60 in most cases, even for meals that were considered inexpensive on the mainland.

Many newcomers do best when they start finding a job in Hawaii before they ship anything. Having remote work before you move is also very helpful. For a full breakdown, read our guide about Hawaii cost of living.

Renting vs buying in Hawaii is also going to more expensive than Arizona. The average rent in Oahu being around $2,600 a month for a one bedroom and a median single-family home around $1.2 million.

Category	Phoenix, AZ	Honolulu, HI
Overall cost of living	Baseline	Roughly 20% to 32% higher
Groceries	Baseline	Roughly 60% to 85% higher
Milk (1 gallon)	$3.40 to $3.45	$7.67 to $9.79
Eggs (1 dozen)	$4.31 to $5.10	$6.85 to $7.51
Gas (1 gallon)	About $3.52	About $4.68
1BR rent, urban core	About $1,748	About $2,600
Basic utilities (915 sq ft)	About $249	About $255
Median home price	About $460,900	About $1.2M (Oahu single-family), $510K (condo)
State income tax	2.5% flat	1.4% to 11%

How Do You Ship a Car From Arizona to Hawaii?

It will be a two-leg trip. Unless you can drive your vehicle to Long Beach, you’ll be relying on it getting to the port via truck with a car transport company. The second leg will be by ocean to Honolulu. There are two shipping companies that ship vehicles and household goods to Hawaii. They are Matson and Pasha Hawaii.

You’ll want to get quotes from both companies before booking. Matson has ports in Long Beach and Oakland. Long Beach is the practical choice from Arizona. The distance from Phoenix to Long Beach is about 370 miles. The starting rate for Matson is $1,790 from the mainland to Hawaii. You’ll need to get a separate quote for the truck leg if you cannot drive your vehicle to Long Beach yourself.

Side note: We used Montway for delivering our vehicle to our door when we relocated from Oahu to Texas.

As for timing, Matson estimates 9 to 24 days to Honolulu which includes 5 to 8 days of sailing and 3 to 5 days of loading and unloading. Driving your vehicle to the port yourself will save money and skips paying the trucking cost. Drop-off cutoffs are strict with Matson so you’ll want to confirm dates.

Matson has also restricted electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. You’ll want to verify before you plan any booking if you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car. If you’re considering selling your vehicle and buying another on island, keep in mind that used car prices run high.

Shipping our car from Long Beach to Honolulu was one of the easiest parts of our move. We booked directly through Matson’s website. It’s an easy process and Matson will provide you details by email for next steps.

How Do You Move Household Goods From Arizona to Hawaii?

Similar to shipping your car, your household goods would need to be delivered to a California port by truck, then by ocean container. Cost will vary by tiers. A studio or 1 bedroom is about $2,500 to $8,000, 2 to 3 bedrooms about $7,000 to $14,000, a 4 bedroom and up is about $12,000 to $22,000 and up.

Allow for 3 to 6 weeks for door to door arrival. It’s best to plan a rental car and basic essentials to fill in the gap. Save money by decluttering first. I cover details of this in my post how to ship household goods to Hawaii without overpaying.

Arizona-specific household items to sell or donate may include:

• Outdoor and patio furniture built for dry heat
• Pool equipment
• Heavy wood furniture that may warp in humidity
• Anything that easily mildews

Fortunately for us, we didn’t have household items to ship. We sold or donated almost everything we owned. We moved with very little clothing and our cat. Our car was the only large item that we shipped.

What Should You Know Before Flying From Phoenix to Honolulu?

There are non-stop flights available from Arizona to Hawaii that run about 6.5 to 7 hours. Several airlines are reported to fly non-stop including Southwest, Alaska, and American. Schedules will change by season.

Airline tickets are around $250 to $950 one-way depending on season and the booking window. Hawaii is 3 hours behind Arizona and neither state observes daylight saving time. You’ll likely land on island before your shipments so line up a rental car and pack enough items to last you until your items arrive.

We arrived with four large suitcases. Our car had not arrived but took about 1 to 2 weeks after we landed. Once we were notified that our car was ready for pick up, we took a rideshare over to Matson. Then it was a matter of registering our vehicle with Hawaii state and obtaining our drivers licenses as well.

Can You Bring a Dog or Cat From Arizona to Hawaii?

Yes. However, it is a very detailed process as Hawaii is a rabies-free state and has strict rules about bringing cats and dogs to the islands. It’s best to start the process 4 to 5 months before your arrival date.

The first thing you’ll want to do is download the checklist pertaining to your situation from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine page. Read that checklist over and over until you understand what is required and all paperwork deadlines.

Pets will need an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart, a passing OIE-FAVN blood test, and a 30-day wait to qualify for Direct Airport Release. Fees are as follows:

• Direct Airport Release: $185
• 5-Day-or-Less: $244
• Full 120-day quarantine: $1,080

If your pet has to fly in cargo, you may want to check with the airline you choose about airline rules that restrict pets in cargo during the summer. For more information, see our full guide to moving to Hawaii with pets.

Preparing our cat’s requirements for moving to Hawaii was the most stressful part of our move. The first thing we did was download the checklist from the Animal Quarantine Information page. Then we went to the vet who helped us with the entire process. Make sure you start early! Give yourself at least 4 to 5 months before your flight date.

How Different Is Island Life From Desert Life?

It is quite different and may take some getting used to. The biggest adjustment will be the humidy, rain, and import prices. Prepare to expect issues with humidity and mildew. Pay close attention closets, shoes, leather, and electronics.

If AC is a deal breaker for you, you’ll want to ask if it’s available before you rent. Most apartment complexes are older buildings and do not have air conditioning. The apartment we rented did not have AC, only jalousie blinds with no windows. The summers were uncomfortable for us.

Another thing to keep in mind are driving, parking, and shopping. Running red lights is normalized (our experience on Oahu). A parking space is not always offered with an apartment or condo rental. We were put on a waiting list for a parking space at our complex for two years.

When out shopping, most places will have a parking garage and parking spaces are small almost everywhere. There aren’t many big-box store options and you’ll experience higher prices overall. The pace and culture will take time. I cover this in my post culture shock in Hawaii.

One thing that surprised me most about island living was the amount of noise there was. We lived in town and so it was a daily barrage of loud cars, motorcycles, and mopeds. There isn’t any regulation on loud mufflers. Many moped riders modify their mopeds to rev loudly. It was difficult to sleep or even relax in our apartment with the amount of noise on a daily basis.

How Do You Transfer an Arizona Driver’s License and Car Registration to Hawaii?

You will have 30 days from establishing residency for transferring your driver’s license and car registration. Schedule two appointments with the Hawaii DMV – one for your license and one for registering your car. Bring your current driver’s license and residency documents.

Our experience went well with the Hawaii DMV. Be sure to schedule an appointment as walk-ins will be turned away. Expect a vision test. Written and road tests are generally waived for a valid license. Get your Hawaii safety inspection as well (around $25).

Registration is based on Hawaii weight tax by county, plus a 4.5% use tax (4.0% in Maui County) on out-of-stat vehicles unless you can show sales tax was already paid.

What Is a Realistic Timeline for Moving From Arizona to Hawaii?

Here is an Arizona to Hawaii moving timeline:

1. 4 to 6 months out: start your pet paperwork, research islands, and build your budget
2. 2 to 3 months out: choose your island, line up a job and housing, get shipping quotes
3. 4 to 6 weeks out: book car and household shipping + declutter
4. 2 to 4 weeks out: finalize bookings, forward mail, set up utilities, book flights
5. 1 week out: confirm port dates, pack a first-week bag
6. Moving week: drop off the car, fly out, and arrive before your shipments

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Moving to Hawaii has a lot of steps so proper planning is key, especially if you are moving with a pet. Start your pet’s paperwork and blood testing 4 to 5 months out. Your vet can help you with what’s required and keeping on track. Get shipping quotes for both Matson and Pasha Hawaii for shipping your car and household items.

Do your best to declutter and save money on shipping any household items. Secure work (if possible) before your move. Beware of rental scams and work with property management companies. Get video walk-throughs of properties you’re interested in. Real estate agents do not help with rentals so if you hav family or friends that can do walk-throughs for you, that is helpful.

We had multiple challenges with our move to and from Hawaii. The biggest challenge moving to Hawaii was working to avoid Hawaii pet quarantine for our cat. Be ready to pivot when challenges arise. Best of luck on your transition to Hawaii!