Marine Corps Base Hawaii — Kaneohe Bay, Oahu
Ship Your Car to MCB Hawaii
(K-Bay) — 2026 PCS Guide
From Camp Pendleton to Camp Lejeune, we coordinate vehicle shipments to Kaneohe Bay for Marines, Sailors, and family members PCSing to MCBH. Guaranteed pricing. One contact. Every mile managed.
$1,580
P2P ocean freight to Oahu
12–14
Days ocean transit to Honolulu
$200
Deposit locks rate, applied to total
INSTANT QUOTE
“Got orders to K-Bay with 3 weeks notice. Camilo locked us in same day, coordinated pickup at Camp Pendleton, and our truck was waiting when we landed. Nothing to figure out on our end.”
— Sgt. M. Reyes, USMC → MCB Hawaii
On this page
About MCB Hawaii (K-Bay)
Shipping From Your Current Base
How Our Process Works
Preparing Your Vehicle
Why Car Shipping Hawaii
Units & Commands at MCBH
2026 Pricing
Port Routing & Size Limits
Insurance Coverage
FAQ
About Marine Corps Base Hawaii (K-Bay)
Getting PCS orders to Hawaii is one thing. Understanding exactly what you are moving to, and what you need to get your vehicle there, is another. Here is what matters for your car shipment.
Location: Windward Oahu, Mokapu Peninsula
MCBH sits on the northeast windward side of Oahu, roughly 15 miles from Honolulu and 25 miles from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. You are not on the same side of the island as Pearl Harbor. Your vehicle arrives at the
Sand Island Terminal in Honolulu
on the leeward side — plan a 30 to 40 minute drive to pick it up after clearance.
MCBH, or K-Bay, is home to approximately 25,000 Marines, Sailors, family members, and civilian employees. The base occupies about 2,900 acres on the Mokapu Peninsula, surrounded by Kaneohe Bay on one side and the Ko'olau Mountains on the other. Having your own vehicle at K-Bay is not a luxury. It is how families get to school, to the commissary, to medical, and off the windward side for anything Honolulu-facing.
H-3 and Likelike Highway are your two routes off-base
Kaneohe Bay sits on the windward side of the Ko'olau Range. Every trip to the leeward side of Oahu, including the Sand Island terminal where your vehicle arrives, goes through the H-3 or Likelike. Traffic is real. Plan your terminal pickup on a weekday morning or afternoon when the commuter crush is lighter.
MCB Hawaii Official Site — Marines.mil
Official base website with mission, commands, and current operational status.
MCB Hawaii — MilitaryOneSource
Relocation overview, DMO contacts, housing info, and newcomer resources.
MCCS Hawaii — IRRS (Relocation Services)
Information, Referral, and Relocation Services office. Building 579, Reed Road, MCBH.
Move.mil — DoD Moving Portal
Submit and track your government-channel POV and HHG shipments here.
Camp Smith Quick Reference
Location
Mokapu Peninsula, Windward Oahu, HI 96863
Arrival Terminal
Sand Island, Honolulu (~30–40 min from K-Bay)
Departure Port
Long Beach (most) / Oakland (NW origins)
Ocean Transit
12–14 days to Honolulu
Lead Time (Summer)
4–6 weeks min (May–Aug)
Lead Time (Standard)
2–3 weeks minimum
Camp Smith DMO
Location
Bldg 209, 2nd & C St, MCBH
Phone
(808) 257-3566 (808) 257-6713
Hours
M/T/W/F: 0730–1600 Thursday: 0730–1400
For government-channel (1st vehicle) POV shipments via Move.mil and DP3.
Port Size Limits
Long Beach
Max 84" tall • Max 86" wide
Oakland
Max 76" tall • Max 76" wide (incl. mirrors, roof racks)
Measure total vehicle height including any aftermarket additions before booking.
Useful Links
MCB Hawaii Official Site
MilOneSource — MCBH
MCCS Hawaii IRRS
http://move.mil/
Matson Sailing Schedule
Hawaii USDA Biosecurity
All Hawaii Military Bases
Units & Commands at MCBH
K-Bay is home to a mix of infantry, aviation, logistics, and intelligence commands. Knowing your unit helps us understand your timeline and coordinate accordingly.
3rd Marine Regiment
Ground Combat Element — III MEF
Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24)
Aviation Combat Element — 1st MAW
Combat Logistics Battalion 3 (CLB-3)
Combat Service Support
3rd Radio Battalion
Intelligence & Electronic Warfare
1st Battalion, 12th Marines
Artillery — 3rd Marine Division
Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC)
Component command — INDOPACOM
Various Tenant Commands
Navy and joint-service personnel also serve at MCBH
Regardless of your unit, your vehicle arrives at the same terminal and clears the same agricultural inspection. What changes is your timeline based on where you are shipping from.
Shipping From Your Current Base: Routes, Ports & Timelines
This is the table nobody else publishes. Origin base to K-Bay: which port, which overland route, and your honest total door-to-delivery estimate.
| Your Current Base | Departure Port | Overland Time | Ocean to Oahu | Est. Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Pendleton, CA | Long Beach | 1–2 days | 12–14 days | 13–16 days |
| MCAS Miramar, CA | Long Beach | 1–2 days | 12–14 days | 13–16 days |
| MCAGCC 29 Palms, CA | Long Beach | 2–3 days | 12–14 days | 14–17 days |
| MCAS Yuma, AZ | Long Beach | 2–3 days | 12–14 days | 14–17 days |
| Camp Lejeune, NC | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
| MCAS New River, NC | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
| MCAS Cherry Point, NC | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
| MCB Quantico, VA | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
| MCAS Beaufort, SC | Long Beach | 8–11 days | 12–14 days | 20–25 days |
| MCLB Albany, GA | Long Beach | 7–9 days | 12–14 days | 19–23 days |
| MCRD San Diego, CA | Long Beach | 1–2 days | 12–14 days | 13–16 days |
| MCRD Parris Island, SC | Long Beach | 8–11 days | 12–14 days | 20–25 days |
| NAS Lemoore, CA | Long Beach | 2–3 days | 12–14 days | 14–17 days |
| NAS Whidbey Island, WA | Oakland | 2–3 days | 12–14 days | 14–17 days |
| NS Norfolk, VA | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
| Fort Liberty (Bragg), NC | Long Beach | 7–10 days | 12–14 days | 19–24 days |
These are estimates, not guarantees.
Transit times vary by carrier availability, season, and port processing. The biggest risk is missing a Matson sailing cutoff. If your vehicle misses the cutoff, it waits for the next departure, which can be 2 or more weeks. That means car rentals in Kaneohe, extended hotel stays, and costs most families never budget for. Book with enough lead time and we handle the sailing coordination.
Booking lead time recommendations:
Standard moves: 2–3 weeks minimum before target pickup. Summer PCS season (May through August): 4–6 weeks minimum. Marine Corps PCS season peaks June through July. Book as soon as your orders are cut.
2026 Pricing: Shipping to Camp H.M. Smith
Transparent. Locked at booking. No last-minute adjustments. Here is exactly how we price a shipment to K-Bay.
Port-to-Port → Oahu
You drive to your nearest port. We handle the ocean leg.
$1,580
Ocean freight only — you handle overland to Long Beach or Oakland
Deposit: $200 applied toward your total. Locks your rate and vessel space. 12–14 day ocean transit to Honolulu Sand Island Terminal.
Door-to-Port → Oahu
We pick up at your base. You do nothing until Hawaii pickup.
$1,980+
Oahu starting price from West Coast. East Coast adds overland cost.
Deposit: $600 applied toward your total. We coordinate pickup at your base, overland transport, port processing, and ocean freight. Your exact all-in price depends on your origin base. Call for your number.
Your deposit locks your rate, period.
A $200 or $600 deposit secures your vessel space and freezes your quoted price. It applies toward your total, never on top. Peak season surcharges apply June through August, but once your deposit is in, your rate does not move.
Get your exact all-in price for K-Bay.
We go through the calendar with you personally. Move-out date, flight, housing. Five minutes and we have your number.
ETS / PCS Out of K-Bay: Shipping Back to the Mainland
| Route | Price Range | Ocean Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (Sand Island) to Mainland | $900 – $1,200 | 12–14 days |
Required documents when shipping FROM Hawaii:
Vehicle Title (front and back), current Hawaii registration, Hawaii Safety Inspection Certificate (yellow or blue), government-issued photo ID (original at gate), and Lien Holder Authorization if financed. Email copies to the port 24 hours before drop-off.
Lien Holder Authorization is ONLY required shipping FROM Hawaii.
Not when shipping TO Hawaii. Many service members get this confused. If your vehicle is financed and you are PCSing to K-Bay, you do not need lien holder paperwork.
Transit Times
How Our Process Works: Pickup at Your Base to K-Bay
Get Your Locked Quote — Same Day
Call or request a quote. We confirm your origin base, vehicle details, and K-Bay as destination. We quote an all-in price and lock it with a deposit. Your rate does not change after booking, even if market prices rise during summer PCS season.
Calendar Coordination Around Your Move-Out Date
Camilo maps your pickup date backward from the Matson sailing cutoff. If you are flying to Hawaii on a specific date, we work backward from there. Move-out date, flight date, housing availability at K-Bay, all factored in so your vehicle lands when you need it.
Vehicle Pickup at Your Current Base
A licensed carrier picks up your vehicle at your designated location at Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune, or wherever you are. Overland transport to the assigned mainland port follows, with full documentation coordination on our end.
Hawaii Arrival & Sand Island Terminal Pickup
Your vehicle sails on a Matson vessel from Long Beach or Oakland and arrives at the Sand Island Terminal in Honolulu. It clears Hawaii USDA agricultural inspection. You are notified when it is ready. You drive about 30 to 40 minutes from K-Bay to pick it up. Done.
Port Routing & Vehicle Size Clearances
Most MCBH-bound vehicles route through Long Beach. Only Pacific Northwest and Northern California origins use Oakland. Know your clearances before you book.
| Port | Height Limit | Width Limit | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, CA | 84 inches (7 ft) | 86 inches (7 ft 2 in) | All CA (except far NorCal), AZ, NV, CO, TX, all Midwest, all South, all East Coast |
| Oakland, CA | 76 inches (6 ft 4 in) | 76 inches incl. mirrors | SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, NW Washington |
Oakland's 76-inch limit is total vehicle height, including roof racks, cargo carriers, or antennas.
Many Marine families have lifted trucks or SUVs with aftermarket additions. Measure your vehicle's actual total height before booking. If it exceeds Oakland's limits, it routes through Long Beach regardless of origin.
Size limit exceeded?
If your vehicle exceeds the clearance limits at its assigned port, Car Shipping Hawaii cannot ship it. This is our policy, not an industry rule. We do not have alternative oversize options.
Your vehicle arrives at: Honolulu Sand Island Terminal, Oahu
Sand Island is the primary Matson terminal for all Oahu-bound shipments. It is on the leeward side of Oahu. From K-Bay, take H-3 west, plan 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Terminal access requires your pickup appointment and government-issued ID.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipment to K-Bay
Hawaii USDA biosecurity inspects every arriving vehicle at Sand Island. Fail inspection and your vehicle does not leave the terminal until it is clean. This is the exact list we send every customer before pickup.
Required Before Pickup
Quarter tank of fuel max
Fire safety regulation. Enforced at port. Drain if needed before the carrier arrives.
Empty interior, no personal items
Nothing in the trunk, back seat, glove box, or cargo area. Enforced at mainland terminal and Hawaii inspection.
Fully operational
Steering, braking, and rolling 100%. Vehicle must drive on and off the carrier under its own power.
Clean — inside, outside, undercarriage
USDA biosecurity. No mud, dirt, seeds, leaves, or organic debris anywhere on the vehicle.
No windshield chips or cracks
Required for terminal acceptance. Repair before the carrier arrives.
Photograph everything with timestamps
All four sides, interior, roof, undercarriage. Do this before pickup and again at Hawaii pickup.
Not Accepted
Electric vehicles (EVs)
Not accepted on any route. No exceptions.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
Not accepted on any route. No exceptions.
Non-running vehicles
Our policy. Vehicle must be fully operational to be accepted.
Personal items in vehicle
Will be removed at the terminal. Ship household goods separately through your TMO.
Vehicles over port height/width limits
Long Beach: 84" tall, 86" wide. Oakland: 76" tall and wide including accessories.
USDA biosecurity enforcement detail: Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture — Plant Quarantine & Biosecurity ↗
Insurance Coverage: Two Legs, Two Policies
Most brokers never explain this. We walk through both layers with every customer at booking.
Layer 1 — Overland
Your base to the mainland port
Up to $100,000
The land carrier holds up to $100,000 in cargo insurance. Covers your vehicle from pickup at your origin base until arrival at the mainland port. For most vehicles, this exceeds replacement value.
Layer 2 — Ocean (Matson)
Port to Honolulu Sand Island
~$8,000 standard
Matson's liability covers actual damage up to approximately $8,000 for an average-sized vehicle. If your vehicle is worth more, declare a higher value on the Dock Receipt and pay an additional freight rate to increase liability to full vehicle value. Always verify whether your personal auto insurance extends to ocean transport.
Why Car Shipping Hawaii vs. Any Other Broker
The complaint we hear most from Marines switching to us: their last broker changed the price the week before pickup. Our pricing is locked. Period.
| Feature | Car Shipping Hawaii | Typical Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed pricing after booking | ✓Locked. No changes. | ✗Last-minute surcharges common |
| Named single point of contact | ✓Camilo, start to finish | ✗Different agent every call |
| Matson exclusive specialist | ✓Hawaii only, deep expertise | ✗General auto transport broker |
| Calendar coordination at booking | ✓Pickup timed to your sailing | ✗Generic window, you manage timing |
| Overland + ocean managed together | ✓One call, one invoice | ✗Two vendors, two contacts |
| Insurance explained at booking | ✓Both layers, upfront | ✗Rarely discussed |
| Military PCS experience | ✓Hundreds of PCS moves, all branches | ✗Varies widely by broker |
| Island-owned, Honolulu-based | ✓We know every port, every route | ✗Mainland-based, no Hawaii presence |
Camilo Jaime — Lead Shipping Coordinator
Car Shipping Hawaii · Honolulu, HI
18 years in the vehicle shipping industry. Hundreds of PCS moves coordinated to MCB Hawaii and every other installation on the islands. We work personally with every service member from booking to pickup. You are never handed off to a dispatcher after you book.Mainland-based, no Hawaii presence
Frequently Asked Questions: Shipping to MCB Hawaii
What port do I use to ship my car to MCB Hawaii from Camp Pendleton or other California bases?
Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego, MCAS Camp Pendleton, and NAS Lemoore all route through Long Beach, CA. Long Beach connects directly to the Honolulu Sand Island Terminal. Oakland is only used for Northern California, Oregon, and Washington state origins.
What port do I use from Camp Lejeune, Quantico, or other East Coast bases?
All East Coast and Midwest Marine Corps bases route through Long Beach, CA. Overland transit from the East Coast typically adds 7 to 10 days, making total door-to-delivery to K-Bay approximately 19 to 24 days. Book 3 to 4 weeks before your target pickup date at minimum, and 4 to 6 weeks during summer PCS season.
Where does my car get picked up at K-Bay when it arrives?
Your vehicle arrives at the Sand Island Terminal, Honolulu — not at MCBH itself. You pick it up there after it clears the USDA agricultural inspection. From K-Bay, drive H-3 west to Honolulu, approximately 30 to 40 minutes depending on time of day. You will need your pickup appointment confirmation and government-issued photo ID.
What does the MCBH DMO handle versus what Car Shipping Hawaii handles?
The MCBH Distribution Management Office (DMO) at Building 209, 2nd and C Street handles government-channel POV shipments for your first vehicle, coordinated through the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3). Contact them at (808) 257-3566.
Car Shipping Hawaii handles second vehicle shipments, guaranteed-pricing private-sector shipping for any vehicle, and service for Marines who want personal coordination, a locked rate, and a direct contact from pickup to delivery.
How much does it cost to ship my car from Camp Pendleton to MCB Hawaii?
Port-to-Port ocean freight from Long Beach to Honolulu starts at $1,580 with a $200 deposit applied toward your total. If you want Door-to-Port service (we pick up at Camp Pendleton), overland transport from Southern California to Long Beach adds a relatively short distance cost. Total Door-to-Port starting price to Oahu from Southern California is approximately $1,980+. Call for your locked quote.
Can I ship a lifted truck or truck with a roof rack to MCB Hawaii?
Possibly, depending on your total vehicle height. Long Beach accepts vehicles up to 84 inches (7 feet) tall. If your truck has a lift kit, roof rack, or cargo carrier that pushes it above 84 inches, it cannot be shipped. Measure your vehicle's actual total height before booking. If you are within the limit at Long Beach, we can ship it. If not, Car Shipping Hawaii cannot accommodate it.
Do I need any documents at the port when shipping TO MCB Hawaii?
No documents are required at the mainland port when shipping TO Hawaii. Your vehicle must meet the vehicle preparation requirements: under a quarter tank of fuel, empty, clean, fully operational, and free of windshield damage. Documents are only required when shipping FROM Hawaii back to the mainland.
When is the best time to book for a summer PCS to MCB Hawaii?
Marine Corps PCS season peaks June and July. Matson sailings fill up and private-sector carrier availability tightens. We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks before your target pickup date if you are moving between May and August. A deposit locks your rate regardless of market movement after you book.
Ready to Ship?
Ready to Ship Your Car to Camp H.M. Smith?
Any branch. Any origin. INDOPACOM, SOCPAC, MARFORPAC. Guaranteed pricing. One contact from your current installation to Sand Island. The vehicle waiting when you land.
4.9 / 5 Stars - 212 Reviews
Island-Owned & Operated
Matson Route Specialist
USDOT 3505506 · MC 1158539
All Inclusive Pricing
1110 Nuuanu Ave #305, Honolulu, HI 96817
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM HST
carshippinghawaii.com
