Trucking in Hawaii: Your Guide to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island Freight

Freight movement is absolutely critical for Hawaiʻi’s economy. A third of the state’s economic output directly depends on freight. Additionally, the sectors that rely on freight employ 38% of the entire workforce in Hawaiʻi—nearly 350,000 people.

If you’re one of the many businesses moving freight in Hawaiʻi, this guide to trucking in the Hawaiian Islands is for you. We’ll show you everything you need to know about trucking on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island.

We’ll start with a couple of topics that impact over-the-road freight statewide. Then, we’ll take a closer look at each island, so you can get the local intel you need to keep your freight moving, quickly and efficiently.

Hawaiʻi Trucking Tips

While each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own feel, there are a couple of challenges all the islands share. If you’re new to Hawaiʻi freight, this section will be a good primer. 

Access Issues

All across the state of Hawaiʻi, truck drivers encounter access issues.

This can mean narrow or twisty roads, small alleyways, and steep driveways or inclines. It can also mean low-hanging wires, especially for deliveries in and around residential areas.

• Drivers have to navigate these hazards with caution—and may need to re-route to avoid some of these pitfalls (when possible).

• Additionally, freight operators have to choose their equipment with care. There are many areas where tractors pulling shipping containers simply can’t go. As a result, freight shipments may have to be repacked to fit into a box truck or on a flatbed. In some cases, this can mean additional costs. Make sure to talk to your freight provider early in the booking process to avoid unexpected charges.

Hawaiʻi Freight Tip: In many cases, there’s nothing you can do about these access issues—except to be aware of them and discuss them with your freight provider up front. That way, everyone will be on the same page in terms of 1) the challenges your driver may have to navigate and 2) your freight bill. (No one likes a surprise charge after the fact!)

Potential for Natural Disaster/Severe Weather

Every location has its own potential hazards. It’s good to understand the possibilities for Hawaiʻi so you’re prepared for impact to your freight timelines.

• Hurricanes and other severe weather events can impact not only trucking on the islands, but also ocean freight and air freight bound for Hawaiʻi. Keep your ears out for potential storms, so you can stay prepared.

• Volcanic eruptions are largely a problem for the Big Island. Most recently, an eruption from Mauna Loa threatened Saddle Road. To the relief of many, the flow stopped before cutting off this vital connector for Big Island trucking. However, if volcanic flow reached the road, trucking timelines would likely have been impacted as trucks diverted to alternate routes.

• Tsunamis, earthquakes, flash flooding, and wildfires are also possibilities in Hawaiʻi. Keep tabs on these events. If they do occur, stay in close contact with your freight provider in case your timelines need to be adjusted.

Interisland Freight in Hawai’i

Interstate trucking on the mainland is pretty simple. In Hawaiʻi, providers have to rely on air freight and interisland barges to move freight between islands. If you’re sending freight to neighbor islands—Maui, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island—make sure you ask about direct ocean freight service. Under this model, your freight can simply be transshipped at Honolulu Harbor right onto an interisland barge headed for the destination neighbor island.

Direct service can save you significant time and money over unloading your freight on Oʻahu, trucking it to a warehouse, unloading it and repacking it, and then trucking it back to the port for interisland transport. Ask your freight forwarder for more information.

Next, let’s go island by island to look at the particulars of trucking on each.

Oʻahu Trucking Tips

In addition to being the most populated Hawaiian Island, Oʻahu is also a major hub for freight. 70% of all the warehouse and industrial space in Hawaiʻi is on Oʻahu. Despite all this infrastructure, Oʻahu still sees a few trucking challenges you should be aware of. 

Traffic & Unpredictable Travel Times

Every time Honolulu gets nationally ranked as one of the worst cities in terms of congestion, a few eyebrows pop. However, if you’ve ever driven the H-1 during rush hour—or if you’re one of the island’s truck drivers—you simply sigh in recognition.

Traffic on Oʻahu can be epic, especially if there’s an accident. This congestion leads to unreliability in travel times—meaning that it can be challenging for truck fleet operators to accurately estimate how long a route will take. Of course, freight providers make every attempt to execute deliveries and pickups outside of peak hours, but sometimes, there’s no avoiding it.

If you’re new to Oʻahu freight, expect to build in some flex time around your deliveries and pick-ups as truck drivers navigate the island’s traffic.

Lack of Loading Docks

Even in Oʻahu’s busiest areas, loading docks can be hard to come by. That’s true of congested Waikīkī and it’s true of the Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest open-air shopping center. Where there are loading docks, they’re extremely congested since everyone’s trying to use them.

It’s critical for Oʻahu truck drivers to bring the right equipment for their deliveries. That might mean a truck with a liftgate and a pallet jack for moving freight by hand.

Hawaiʻi Freight Tip: In many cases, there’s nothing you can do about these access issues—except to be aware of them and discuss them with your freight provider up front. That way, everyone will be on the same page in terms of 1) the challenges your driver may have to navigate and 2) your freight bill. (No one likes a surprise charge after the fact!)

Varying Road Quality

On an island of more than a million people, you might be surprised that only 5% of Oʻahu’s roads were rated “good” in terms of pavement quality by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. 8% were rated “poor,” and the rest (87%) were rated “fair,” revealing another hazard truck drivers on Oʻahu need to navigate: varying road quality.

While Oʻahu’s interstates are in fairly good condition, the access roads leading up to them can present challenges. Drivers have to choose whether to navigate these roads carefully or, when possible, go around them to reduce wear and tear on their vehicles. (Or potentially avoid a blowout, which could seriously impact the day’s timetable.)

Maui Trucking Tips

Next, let’s take a look at the Valley Isle and the kinds of challenges Maui’s freight providers and trucking fleet operators have to contend with.  

A More Rural Landscape

Overall, Maui is significantly more “country” than Oʻahu. Outside of the island’s central business district (Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei), truck drivers encounter hilly, mountainous terrain, winding roads, and steep inclines—all of which can be challenging to navigate with larger equipment.

You‘ll also find a number of gravel parking lots and grassy areas on Maui, which make using a pallet jack difficult, if not impossible. For Maui freight deliveries, make sure to talk with your freight provider about the conditions at your location. That way, the truck driver making your pick-up or delivery can prepare for the landscape with the proper equipment.

Smaller Roads and Few Highways

Unlike Oʻahu, you won’t find a four-lane freeway on Maui, which means truck drivers need to be experts at navigating smaller roads. As we mentioned earlier, many of these roads have low-hanging power lines, which can make access difficult. Many providers on Maui are well aware of these challenges, but, if you have any concerns, bring them up early. 

One Road in, One Road out, Maui Edition

In some areas of Maui, there may be only one way to access certain areas. For example, although it looks like there are two ways to get to Lāhainā from Kahului, taking the counter-clockwise route around Kahakuloa Head is not an option for a big truck. The road is simply too narrow. As a result, if there’s an accident on Honoapiʻilani Highway, it may completely halt commercial traffic in and out of Maui’s West Side. In these cases, there’s nothing to do but wait—and stay aware that delays or rescheduled deliveries/pick-ups may be inevitable. 

Kauaʻi Trucking Tips

Like Maui, Kauaʻi also has a much more rural feel than Oʻahu. Let’s take a look at what to look out for when trucking freight on Kauaʻi.  

One Road in, One Road out, Kaua’i Edition

To an even greater degree than on Maui, access to several Kauaʻi communities hinges on a single road. For example, all of the North Shore’s businesses and residents rely on Kūhiō Highway. If floods, road work, or an accident close the highway, you can expect freight movement to be affected.

In the case of planned closures, work with your freight provider to schedule around these issues as much as possible.

Not All Providers Do It All

On Kauaʻi, it’s fairly easy to find a freight provider who will do standard curbside pickup and delivery services. That means that your truck driver will retrieve or drop your freight at the curb—a warehouse door or the end of a driveway, for example.

Not all providers on Kauai offer inside pickup/delivery or white glove pickup/delivery. You may need to look a little harder if you want these services. (Our Līhuʻe-based team would be happy to help!)

Flexible Freight Options Are Available

When you’re moving freight around Kauaʻi, you might be thinking about a full container or a pallet of freight.

In some cases, you might have a one-off freight project, such as a small appliance, a piece of machinery, or a piece of equipment you need to replace. If that’s the case, feel free to drop our Kauaʻi team a line. We’ve moved just about anything and everything around Kauaʻi, and we’d be happy to help you come up with a trucking solution for your less-common freight projects.

Big Island Trucking Tips

Finally, let’s head over to the Big Island, where truck drivers have to navigate an island measuring more than 90 miles lengthwise, not to mention the world’s most active volcano, Kīlauea. If you’re moving freight around the Big Island, check out our must-knows. 

The Island Has Two Ports

When many people think of Big Island ports, Hilo Harbor is the first to come to mind.

But don‘t forget about Kawaihae Harbor, located on the leeward coast of the Big Island, about 35 miles north of Kailua-Kona. For businesses located on the island’s western coast, sending freight through Kawaihae can shorten your timeline significantly. In fact, we have warehouses located near both ports on the Big Island to help our customers move their freight as quickly as possible.

Road Conditions Are Variable

Given the rural nature of the Big Island, you might not be surprised to know that road conditions vary from location to location.

However, did you know that Hilo has “the worst pavement conditions on the island,” according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation? Hilo also has a number of areas with access issues, which can make it tough for truck drivers to get close to their delivery/pick-up points.

Here’s what all of this rolls up to: Big Island truck drivers may need to reroute to avoid poor road conditions. Fleet operators also have to choose their equipment carefully, which is why it’s important to…

Look for a Provider with a Varied Fleet

Big Island access issues and varied road conditions both mean that you’ll be best served by a Big Island trucking provider with a range of equipment at their disposal.

Our Big Island team tends to prefer box trucks for freight deliveries, since they protect freight against wind and inclement weather, while remaining quite maneuverable. Additionally, since they’re equipped with lift gates and pallet jacks, they make for easy freight deliveries. That said, there are some deliveries that simply require a flatbed.

Choosing a provider with several different types of vehicles at their disposal will keep your freight moving—and ensure a safe delivery.

Choosing the Right Trucking Company: Asset-Based Providers

One final note about trucking in Hawaiʻi: As you select your freight provider, you’ll discover that some are asset-based. Others use agents.

Here’s the difference:

• An asset-based freight provider owns its own fleet and employs its own crews.

• Companies that use agents essentially outsource pickups and deliveries to other Hawaiʻi trucking companies.

In the best-case scenario, you might not see much difference between these two.

However, using an asset-based freight provider makes it more likely you’ll get the pick-up and delivery times you’re looking for.

Direct customers tend to get first pick on scheduling. However, when the provider you’re working with uses agents, you’re essentially going through a middle man. This can mean that your projects don’t get the same level of priority as a direct customer.

When you’re shopping for a new trucking provider, ask them about scheduling priority—and whether they have the time slots you’re looking for.

And if you feel as though you’re not getting the priority service you deserve from your Hawaiʻi trucking company, consider shopping around for an asset-based provider.

Trucking Freight Around Hawaiʻi with Ease

With these trucking tips in hand, you’ve got the insights you need to keep your Hawaiʻi freight—and your business—moving forward.

If you have any questions—or want to talk to one of our experts about optimizing your Hawaiʻi freight—just reach out to schedule a call. With teams, fleets, and warehouses on all four major islands (including two on the Big Island!), we can offer you the simplicity of a one-stop freight solution in Hawaiʻi.