Because Hawaii is an ocean move, pricing works differently than a mainland per-mile rate. Your quote combines the mainland road leg to the departure port (Long Beach or Oakland, California) with the ocean sailing, so it depends on your mainland origin, the direction of travel, the vehicle’s height class and the sailing schedule rather than a simple per-mile figure. We book the sailing, deliver the car to the terminal with the right paperwork, and coordinate pickup at the other end, one quote and one point of contact.
What the ocean leg itself costs. These are the carriers’ own published rates, so you can check them:
- Matson, Long Beach or Oakland → Honolulu: $1,790 per passenger car
- Matson, Long Beach or Oakland → Hilo, Kahului or Nawiliwili: $2,600
- Matson, Honolulu → Long Beach or Oakland: $1,020 (neighbor islands $1,990)
- Sailing time is typically 9 to 14 days port to port; plan on 10 to 21 days door to door
On top of the sailing you pay the mainland trucking to the port (a Los Angeles or Bay Area pickup is a short local run; a Texas pickup is a normal 1,400 to 1,600 mile lane) and our coordination fee. Cars must arrive with a quarter tank or less, no personal items, and every compartment unlocked for the state agriculture inspection.
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles cannot currently be shipped by sea to or from Hawaii. Matson has suspended EV and PHEV acceptance and TOTE stopped on 1 August 2025, both citing lithium-ion fire risk at sea. Conventional hybrids that do not plug in are still accepted.
