Shipping to Hawaii is not as easy as it would be shipping to any other American State. The main reason behind this being that it is not as easily accessible as the rest of America. When searching for an international shipping company to complete the task at hand, be sure to ascertain whether or not they do ship to this State before taking any further action.



Some international shipping companies specialise in transportation to Hawaii so it might be best to look into these options first.

You will be able to receive obligation free quotes from various listed international shipping companies, estimating how much it will cost to send a shipment to Hawaii. These figures will be based on:

* The item or items being shipped

* The dimensions of the shipment as well as the weight

* What delivery service you make use of, for example: door to door or door to port etc. Ask your international shipping company for the options on offer

* Chosen mode of transport. In the case of Hawaii, shipments can only be transported by sea or by air

Goods transported are measured in cubic feet. Bear this in mind when handing over details to your international shipping company.

Once you have found a quote that suits your needs, your next move will be to confirm with the Hawaii Department of Transport that your chosen shipment is allowed to be transported into the country. Various restrictions apply on selected items.

The State if Hawaii has 10 harbours that serve the country for commercial use.

* On the island of Hawaii: Port of Hilo and Kawaihae Harbour

* On the island of Oahu: The Kewalo Basin, Honolulu Harbour and Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbour

* On the island of Maui: Kahului Harbour

* On the island of Kauai: Nawiliwili Harbour and Port Allen

* On the island of Molokai: Kaunakakai Harbour

* On the island of Lanai: The Kaumalapau Harbour

Hawaii's primary and most frequently used harbour is Honolulu Harbour on the island of Oahu. Your shipment will more than likely be directed here by your international shipping company.

The Hawaiian Department of Transportation charges fees and duties for all services rendered by the ports of Hawaii. These vary according to your goods being transported so should be investigated prior to shipment.

Whatever you are shipping will require some level of packaging or preparation. If you are unsure of the best way to pack your goods to avoid all possible damage, it might be best to ask your international shipping company to do it for you at an extra cost to you. Usually this is written into higher level service packages.

If your goods do not fill a container, you can consolidate your shipment with someone else. This means that you will share the container space, and therefore share the cost of the container. Sometimes, an international shipping company will do this without your consent to maximise the use of space, and to minimise costs for their customers.