PCS Car Shipping FROM Hawaii - Return to the Mainland, All Branches
Rotating back to the mainland from Hawaii? Whether you are a service member ETS-ing, retiring, rotating to a CONUS assignment, or a dependent leaving the islands, we ship cars from Oahu and every neighbor island (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) back to any state. Return port-to-port from Honolulu starts at $1,072. We coordinate your Matson return booking around your final out-processing date - not a generic window.
PCS Vehicle Shipping — Free Quote
Military rate · All-inclusive
The Hawaii-to-mainland return uses a Matson mainland sailing from Honolulu to Long Beach or Oakland. You drop off at Honolulu Port, or we coordinate a neighbor-island connection to Honolulu first. We plan backward from your travel needs using the current route-specific receiving cutoff and confirmed connection; a mainland sailing alone does not confirm a neighbor-island barge. We share an estimated mainland availability window with its source and update it when Matson confirms the booking.
Report-date-first scheduling
We build your entire pickup and sailing calendar backward from your reporting date. No guessing, no buffering.
Base housing coordination
We contact your gaining installation's housing office on your behalf to align your vehicle arrival with in-processing.
SCRA honored
Active duty members may cancel without penalty if orders change. No questions asked.
Direct Matson booking
We book directly on the Matson sailing calendar — no broker markup, no third-party delay.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Hawaii to the mainland?
Return port-to-port from Honolulu to the mainland starts at $1,072. Neighbor island origins (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) start at $2,090+ due to the Young Brothers inter-island barge transfer to Honolulu (the barge is included in your single booking). Door-to-port from the CONUS side to any state is available - get a quote for your specific route.
How do I get my car to the mainland-bound Matson vessel?
Drop off at Honolulu Port, 1411 Sand Island Parkway, Honolulu, HI 96819. Gate hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:30pm (closed weekends and federal holidays). Any weekday within those hours works — no appointment needed. We send you the cutoff date with your booking confirmation, plus the gate-entry procedure for non-DoD civilians.
How long does the return trip take?
Ocean transit from Honolulu to Long Beach or Oakland is 14-17 days (the same Matson crossing as the inbound, eastbound). Add overland delivery time if you chose port-to-door. Total to most CONUS destinations: roughly 18-28 days from drop-off depending on your state, with exact dates at booking.
Can I leave personal items in my car for the return trip?
No. Matson prohibits personal items in vehicles for all transits, including return. Remove all personal belongings (including paperwork, floor mats with personal items, aftermarket electronics not bolted in) before drop-off. Honolulu Port will reject vehicles with visible personal items at the gate.
What documents do I need for the return trip?
(1) Hawaii vehicle title (or out-of-state title if never retitled in Hawaii), (2) Hawaii safety inspection certificate, (3) lien release if there is a loan on the vehicle, (4) the original Matson Bill of Lading, and (5) government photo ID. We send you the complete checklist at booking and confirm receipt of each document before the sailing cutoff.
Can I ship my car from a neighbor island (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) back to the mainland?
Yes. We coordinate the inter-island transfer to Honolulu and a mainland sailing. We confirm the originating port receiving date and actual barge connection for your route before promising a mainland arrival window.
What if my out-processing date changes or my family is leaving on a different date?
Contact us immediately. We reschedule the Matson sailing and the inter-island barge (if applicable) at no penalty. Military out-processing changes (terminal leave, family travel arrangements) are common and we have handled every scenario. The only constraint is the Matson sailing cutoff - we need at least 5 business days before the cutoff to reschedule without a fee.
Does TMO cover the return shipment cost for my PCS?
Depends on your orders type and entitlement. Retirees and those separating may have partial or no TMO coverage; those rotating to a CONUS assignment typically have full POV shipping entitlement. Consult your TMO. For out-of-pocket portions, we offer all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees.
PCS Rates
Port-to-Port (Oahu)
K’AI booking fee $100
Door-to-Port
K’AI booking fee $300
Neighbor Islands
Includes inter-island leg
Military hotline
(808) 378-7540