Island Movers Review
Fact Checked by: - Based in Hawaii, with offices on Oahu and Maui
- Family-owned and moving customers to, from, and around Hawaii since 1958
- Operates the only U.S. Customs Central Examination Station in Hawaii
- Handles large freight shipments and commercial moves
- A+ BBB rating and accredited since 1997
- Best for: Customers moving within, to, or from Hawaii, or those with large shipments
- Not recommended for: Customers who need published pricing upfront
- For more Hawaii moving tips, see our guide on how to move to Hawaii
Here’s the bottom line: Island Movers is a family-owned Hawaii mover that has handled local, interisland, and mainland moves since 1958. It holds an A+ BBB rating, has been BBB accredited since 1997, and runs Hawaii’s only U.S. Customs Central Examination Station. Below, we cover its services, pricing, reputation, and licensing, plus how it fits alongside the best moving companies.
Pros & cons of Island Movers
- Local, interisland & mainland moves
- Family-owned since 1958
- A+ BBB rating since 1997
- Free estimates
- Portable storage units
- Mainland legs use partner agents
- No published pricing
- Limited weekend hours
Jump to the Island Movers info you’re looking for:
Why moveBuddha?
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Who is Island Movers?
Island Movers, Inc. (USDOT #105271) is a family-owned moving and transportation company that has operated in Hawaii since 1958. It runs its headquarters on Oahu and a branch in Kahului on Maui.
As of September 2026, FMCSA records list Island Movers as a carrier, freight forwarder, and broker with 144 trucks and 57 drivers. Its fleet logged more than 1 million miles in 2024.
Island Movers also runs Hawaii’s only U.S. Customs and Agriculture Central Examination Station (CES), a bonded facility where importers and freight forwarders have cargo inspected.
The company sponsors the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade and the HHSAA Track and Field Championships, and it supports Aloha United Way and the American Cancer Society. It’s also a member of the Office Moving Alliance and partners with International Convention and Event Services and Pacific Courier.
What services does Island Movers offer?
Island Movers offers residential, commercial, and freight services across all of Hawaii’s major islands. Here’s what the company handles:
- Local moves: Island Movers packs, loads, and unloads residential moves within the same island.
- Interisland moves: A local barge carries shipping containers from Oahu to Maui County, Kauai, and Hawaii Island, and Island Movers prices these moves by weight.
- Mainland moves: Island Movers packs your household goods and ships them to a port or your new home, working with agent partners on the mainland.
- Business moves: The company relocates offices, hotels, and retail spaces in and around Hawaii.
- Portable storage: Island Movers rents units that hold up to 2,000 or 5,000 pounds, which you can keep on-site or store in its warehouse on Oahu or Maui.
- Trucking and freight: The company hauls containers from Hawaii’s ports and runs consolidated interisland freight service.
- Warehousing and distribution: Island Movers offers warehousing and inventory management for businesses.
- Home delivery: Its contract services team delivers and installs furniture and appliances for retailers.
How much does Island Movers charge?
Island Movers doesn’t publish prices for its moving services, since costs depend on your shipment and route. Interisland moves from Oahu are priced by weight, and you can request a free estimate online or by phone.
The quote form asks for your pickup and drop-off locations, move type, approximate moving date, and any valuable items that need special handling. List everything up front so your estimate reflects your full shipment.
Hawaii moves are hard to benchmark, since shipping by sea adds costs a mainland move doesn’t have. moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so you can check whether an Island Movers quote lands in a typical range for your move.
What is Island Movers’ customer service like?
Island Movers’ main office is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, according to its BBB profile. It’s closed on Sunday.
You can call the Oahu office at (808) 832-4000 or the Maui office at (808) 871-7755, email the company, or request a free estimate online.
Under federal rules, basic released value protection covers just $0.60 per pound per item on interstate moves. Ask Island Movers about full-value protection before your move.
Pro tip: Ocean shipments can sit sealed for weeks, so photograph high-value items before they’re packed and list them on your inventory. Our moving insurance guide explains your coverage options.
Does Island Movers have a good reputation?
Island Movers has a strong reputation in Hawaii. As of September 2026, the BBB gives it an A+ rating and lists just one complaint in the past three years, and the company has been accredited since 1997.
Its Honolulu location has more than 200 Yelp reviews, and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has named it Hawaii’s Best Moving Service in reader polls. Reviewers often praise the company’s communication and professionalism.
Not every move goes smoothly. One 2019 forum reviewer said two new items went missing from a sealed shipment on a Honolulu-to-mainland move and that settling the claim took about a year, which is why documenting your items before pickup matters.
Is Island Movers licensed & safe?
Yes, Island Movers is licensed to move household goods across state lines under USDOT #105271 and MC-135534. We check four databases, alongside company websites and review sites, to judge a mover’s credibility and transparency:
| Database | Listed? |
|---|---|
| AI FMCSA | Yes |
| SAFER FMCSA | Yes |
| Licensing & Insurance FMCSA | Yes |
| BBB | Listed & accredited |
Island Movers holds a Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating, last reviewed in November 2022. Its vehicle out-of-service rate was 11.8% over the past 24 months, below the 22.26% national average, with one tow-away crash and no injuries.
To learn why we check these databases, see our post on how moving companies are regulated.
Is Island Movers worth it?
Island Movers is a strong choice for moves within, to, or from Hawaii. After 68 years in business, it combines a large local fleet, statewide barge connections, and an A+ BBB rating with very few complaints.
Those moving to or from Hawaii should get an Island Movers quote, especially for large shipments. Before you book, check your quote against moveBuddha’s calculator, which runs on 1,000+ live price points collected every month.
For more options, compare our picks of the best interstate moving companies.
FAQs about Island Movers
Is Island Movers a legit moving company?
Yes, Island Movers is a legit moving company registered with the FMCSA under USDOT #105271. It has operated in Hawaii since 1958 and holds an A+ BBB rating as of September 2026. Confirm the USDOT number on your paperwork before you book.
Does Island Movers move to the mainland?
Yes, Island Movers handles moves between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. It packs your belongings and ships them to a port or your new home, working with agent partners on the mainland. Ask which partner will handle your delivery.
Does Island Movers do interisland moves?
Yes, Island Movers ships household goods by barge from Oahu to Maui County, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. Interisland moves from Oahu are priced by weight. Request a free estimate for your route.
How much does Island Movers cost?
Island Movers doesn’t publish prices, since costs depend on your shipment size, route, and services. Request a free estimate online or by phone. Then compare it with our moving cost calculator.
What is Island Movers’ Central Examination Station?
Island Movers’ Central Examination Station is Hawaii’s only U.S. Customs and Agriculture CES, where imported cargo gets inspected. It serves importers and freight forwarders, not typical household moves.
Does Island Movers offer storage?
Yes, Island Movers rents portable storage units that hold up to 2,000 or 5,000 pounds. You can keep a unit at your home or have Island Movers store it in its warehouse on Oahu or Maui.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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