While there are a lot of logistics to consider when moving in Hawaii (Hawaiʻi), there are several top moving services to make your relocation less stressful. If you are looking for help with your Hawaii move, we recommend hiring experienced movers like International Van Lines, which ensure price transparency and dedicated account managers during the process. However, depending on your needs and budget, other moving companies may be a good match for you. Here are some companies we recommend and factors to consider when hiring movers in the Big Island.
Compare Hawaii moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in Hawaii
Population
There are 1.442 million people living in Hawaii.1 Additionally, Hawaii is the most ethnically diverse state in the US, with a diversity index of 76%.2 Asians make up the largest demographic (close to 37% of the population), followed by White (25%), two or more races (25%), Latino or Hispanic 11%, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (10.5%). The number of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders has increased since the last time the US Census was taken (2010), from 540,000 to 619,855 people in 2020.3
Other interesting stats about Hawaii’s population:1
- 18% of residents were born in another country
- 26% of Hawaii households speak another language aside from English
- The poverty rate is 11.2%, falling just under the national poverty rate of 11.6%
Employment
About 61% of Hawaii’s population participates in the labor force, and the state has an unemployment rate of 4.2%.4 The average annual pay in Hawaii is $51,425 per year or roughly $24.72 an hour.5 The sectors with the most employment include real estate, rentals and leasing, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. It’s no secret that the Aloha State’s highest revenue industry is tourism, generating $218.7 billion in 2022.6 While it fuels the economy, many Hawaiians have long been calling for change to the tourism industry and ask visitors to “travel mindfully.”
Cost of living
The cost of living in Hawaii is among the highest in the US. Honolulu, with an average rent of $5,208 per month, made our list of metros with the highest cost of living, coming in third place after New York City and San Francisco.7 Hawaii has the highest utilities costs of any state, averaging around $611 a month when combining electricity, water, natural gas, phone, internet, and streaming.8 The median list price for a home in Hawaii is a whopping $829,000.9
Politics
Hawaii has voted Democrat in all presidential elections since 1984.10 The state's senators are Democrats Brian Schatz and Mazie Hiron, and Josh Green is governor. Hawaii House representatives are Ed Case (D) and Jill Tokuda (D). Some issues Hawaiians seek to address include excess tourism, rising housing costs, climate change, and access to affordable health care.
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best Hawaii movers FAQ
Moving costs in Hawaii vary depending on the time of year, shipment size, and type of move. The average cost for a full-service long-distance move is $9,140 and $4,310 for a moving container.11 Moving to or from the mainland is expensive no matter how you look at it. If you’re moving locally, you could move with PODS, which has an average cost of $3,810.12 PODS also offers helpful tips on what to consider for a Hawaiian move with a moving container.
If you’re moving locally in Hawaii, renting a moving truck is the cheapest way to move, but using a moving container may save you just as much.
The salary needed to live in Hawaii varies depending on your financial and living situation. However, a single adult with no children would need to make $22.69 per hour or $47,195 annually (before taxes) to meet basic living expenses, while two parents (one working) with three children would need to make $55.04 per hour or $114,476 annually.13
Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the US. You can’t beat the sunshine, the plethora of things to do, and cultural diversity. Some cons of living in Hawaii include the cost of living and the ecological concerns around the state's natural beauty.
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Sources
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Hawaii,” July 2022. Accessed Jan 17, 2022.
- The United States Census Bureau, “Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census,” August 21, 2021. Accessed Jan 17, 2022.
- The United States Census Bureau, “U.S. Census Bureau Releases Key Stats in Honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” May 3, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Hawaii Economy at a Glance,” January 13, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2023.
- ZipRecruiter, “Hourly Rate in Hawaii,” January 2023. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- IBIS World, “Hawaii Industry Trends,” in 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- Asha Kennedy, Move.org, US Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living in 2022,” August 23, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- Sarah Cimarusti, Move.org, “Utility Bills 101: Utilities Tips, Average Costs, Fees, and More,” December 29, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- Redfin, “Hawaii Real Estate,” December 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- 270toWin, “Hawaii Elections,” Accessed January 17, 2023.
- Colin Holmes, Move.org, “How Much Does it Cost to Move?” Published December 22, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- Kurt Manwaring, Move.org, “PODS Moving Review 2023: Pricing & Services,” Published December 29, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
- MIT Living Wage Calculator, “Living Wage Calculation for Honolulu County, Hawaii,” Updated May 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023.
