California to Hawaii
Moving from California to Hawaii
Reviewers who moved from California to Hawaii paid a median $4,300. 10,516 people made the move in 2024, and 9,923 went the other way.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$4,300
median, 45 priced reviews
Moved last year
10,516
CA to HI, 2024
Cost of living
-0.7%
HI vs CA, US = 100
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
What it costs
California to Hawaii moving cost
Across 45 priced reviews of moves from California to Hawaii, the median was $4,300 and the middle half paid $2,646 to $7,000. Home sizes and distances are mixed; the table below is by size.
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $5.60 per gallon for the week of 2026-08-31 (EIA weekly US on-highway diesel via FRED GASDESW). A fuel surcharge on a long lane follows the diesel line; ask how the mover sets it.
From the review file
Movers with reviews on the California to Hawaii run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from California to Hawaii. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 21 Sept 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, this run | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Moving | Los Angeles, CA | CarrierUSDOT 1826833 | 5 | 1324.2 mean, dated | $6,000 | 15 Oct 2025 |
| Prime Moving | Paterson, NJ | CarrierUSDOT 2109775 | 5 | 494.5 mean, dated | $3,200 | 23 Jan 2025 |
| Hawaiian Moving Pros | Los Angeles, CA | CarrierUSDOT 1826833 | 4 | 2084.5 mean, dated | $14,000 | 26 May 2026 |
| Cardinal Moving Systems | Phoenix, AZ | CarrierUSDOT 1463484 | 4 | 221.8 mean, dated | $26,000 | 2 Oct 2020 |
| Hawaiian Shipping | Honolulu, HI | CarrierUSDOT 1208629 | 4 | 202.8 mean, dated | $2,024 | 22 Aug 2016 |
| Hawaiian Moving | Canoga Park, CA | BrokerUSDOT 4024631 | 3 | 54.0 mean, dated | $990 | 30 Sept 2013 |
| Hawaiian Van Lines | Van Nuys, CA | Broker and carrierUSDOT 932259 | 2 | 203.8 mean, dated | $7,750 | 16 Dec 2012 |
| Guardian Cargo Logistics | Los Angeles, CA | No FMCSA match | 2 | 152.5 mean, dated | $9,000 | 14 Dec 2013 |
| Guardian Moving and Storage | Baltimore, MD | CarrierUSDOT 65301 | 2 | 121.3 mean, dated | $7,000 | 17 Sept 2012 |
| Hawaii Moving and Storage | Santa Clarita, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2554992 | 2 | 92.4 mean, dated | $5,000 | 25 Sept 2023 |
| Royal Hawaiian Movers | Honolulu, HI | Broker and carrierUSDOT 227698 | 2 | 72.6 mean, dated | $5,000 | 2 Apr 2024 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved California to Hawaii
1 of 5 · 13 Aug 2026 · reported $13,000
“I was told my stuff was supposed to arrive months ago. It got lost, they flagged my phone and won't answer it. When I call from different phone, they put me on hold and won't respond. I dont understand why they are still in business. A storage company called me, said I owed $250 a month because my…”
5 of 5 · 26 May 2026 · reported $14,000
“After getting very unfriendly and actually not very helpful "help" from Matson. I went looking for a different company. Once I filled out a moving form somewhere online I was then overwhelmed by contacts and offers!! I had no idea how to tell who was legitimate! I said as much on an email with…”
5 of 5 · 15 Oct 2025 · reported $4,500
“Great communication, very efficient! This was our second time using City Moving (first in 2020 2br appt). We had such a good experience the first time, I did not hesitate to call them again. Again, we were given a reasonable quote to move our valuables to Hawaii from Northern California. They…”
What went wrong on this run: of 45 reviews, 29% mention damage and 18% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
ACS 2024 shows 10,516 people moved from California to Hawaii, with a margin of plus or minus 2,445.
Census counts a two-way flow. ACS 2024 shows 10,516 people moved from California to Hawaii, with a margin of plus or minus 2,445. The reverse count is 9,923 people moving from Hawaii to California. Those figures describe the size of the move, and nothing about why anyone left.
Price parity is nearly even. BEA price parity for 2024 puts California at 110.7 and Hawaii at 110.0, with the US set at 100. California taxes wages, and Hawaii taxes wages too. Both ends tax wages, so the move does not escape wage tax.
What the job looks like
The most common run in our file is Los Angeles to Honolulu.
There is no road route. Household goods from California to Hawaii travel by ship, usually in a container or a van loaded onto a vessel. The car goes separately. The most common run in our file is Los Angeles to Honolulu. That is the whole path for the goods.
The price is still by weight. Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles, and this run is no exception. Across 45 priced reviews the median is $4,300, with the middle half from $2,646 to $7,000. Those prices mix home sizes and distances, so the range is wide.
Reviews flag damage and delay. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, and that window runs longer than on a road move. Of 45 reviews, 29% mention damage and 18% a delay or no-show. Ask for those dates in writing before you sign.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Check the USDOT number. Interstate household moves need a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Use the license lookup before you pay anyone. Haulest is not a carrier, so the check sits with you and the company you hire.
Ask which estimate you are signing. Ask for a binding or not-to-exceed estimate, and read how weight and services are listed. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. The 110 percent rule and a guide to estimates spell out that line.
Write down the window and the deposit. The delivery window belongs on the order for service. Ask for deposit terms in the contract before any money moves, and read the deposit guide so the amount and the refund rule are clear. If dates slip later, the written window is what you can point to.
Leaving California, arriving in Hawaii.
| California | Hawaii | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 110.7 | 110.0 |
| Median home sale price | $887,400 | $741,300 |
| Median days on market | 33 | 86 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | Taxes wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 9,923 arrived from Hawaii | 10,516 arrived from California |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 22 Sept 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026); US Census Bureau, ACS, 2024.
When to go: in California, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Oct 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (California homes sold by month).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people move from California to Hawaii?
- ACS 2024 counts 10,516 people moving California to Hawaii, with a margin of plus or minus 2,445. The other direction is 9,923. The counts show volume, not a reason for the move.
- Can a truck drive household goods from California to Hawaii?
- No. There is no road route, so household goods travel by ship, usually in a container or a van loaded onto a vessel, and the car goes separately. The most common run in our file is Los Angeles to Honolulu.
- What do reviews show for price on this run?
- Across 45 priced reviews the median reported price is $4,300, and the middle half runs from $2,646 to $7,000. Our file has 45 reviews for this run. Prices mix home sizes and distances, so the median is a midpoint, not a bid.
- How often do reviews mention damage or a delay?
- Of the reviews in our file, 29% mention damage and 18% mention a delay or no-show. The delivery window should be written on the order for service, and a ship move keeps that window longer than a road move. Keep the dates in the contract.
- What should I check before I book?
- Hire a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Prefer a binding or not-to-exceed estimate, and on a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. Get the delivery window and the deposit terms in writing.
Next
Keep going
- Long distance moversWeight, miles, and where the bill grows.
- What movers costNational medians by year and lane.
- The 110% ruleWhat you can be made to pay on delivery day.
Other state-to-state runs
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a written California to Hawaii quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
+1 (866) 961-9682Free quote, a person answersHaulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers.
Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.