Oahu is the third-largest of Hawaii's eight major islands, and is the state's most populous island due mostly to the city of Honolulu, which is Hawaii's largest city and state capital. Oahu is also home to the tourist attractions Waikiki and Pearl Harbor. Oahu is about 2,560 miles from California, 2,630 miles from Oregon and 2,680 miles from Washington state. The island has a frequent flow of cargo ships traveling to and from the U.S. West Coast, bringing everything from personal vehicles to industrial items to consumer goods.
Gather all the important information about your car-- license plate number, vehicle ID number, make, model, color and style--and write it down on one sheet of paper. You'll need the information when you're getting quotes from shipping companies.
Research all the shipping companies in your area and find out if any ship to the Hawaiian Islands. There are a handful of seaports throughout California, Oregon and Washington that have cargo shipping operations based there, including the ports in San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle.
Things to investigate during your search include the cost of service, available shipping dates and times, and where the vehicle needs to be dropped off for shipping.
Choose a shipping company and departure point for your car, then settle on a price, time and location for the departure for your vehicle. Read and sign a contract, and if required, pay any up front costs and fees.
Prepare your car for shipping. This includes inspecting the vehicle for any minor or major mechanical problems, like leaking fluids, that could potentially make the journey problematic.
Also, remove any and all personal items from the car, including paperwork from the glove compartment.
Turn the vehicle over to the shipping company for transport. Provide the company with a spare set of car keys along with copies of the insurance and registration paperwork.
Pick the vehicle up in Oahu at the appointed time and place. Bring a picture ID and copy of your shipping contract with you in order to retrieve your vehicle, as well as payment for required outstanding fees, if any.
