The ocean charges you more on the way to paradise. The published household goods tariff prices a 20-foot container from the West Coast to Honolulu at $7,070 — and the identical container coming back at $4,238. Same ship, same ocean, 40% less eastbound.
The reason is cargo imbalance: Hawaii imports far more than it exports, so ships sail full westbound and return with empty slots to fill. The carrier's public rate sheet prices that in — it just doesn't advertise it.
This matters for anyone planning a fixed-term move — a posting, a contract, a try-it-out year. The return leg being 40% cheaper changes the round-trip math substantially. It also means an "average Hawaii moving cost" quoted without a direction is meaningless. Full westbound and eastbound tables, all 27 origin cities and every surcharge, are on our Hawaii page.
Source: Matson household goods tariff, effective 1 June 2026 – 31 May 2027, published at matson.com; rates are ocean + wharfage per container excluding the 10% fuel surcharge. Retrieved and verified 15 August 2026.