Relocating to Hawaii offers families an incredible opportunity to embrace outdoor living, cultural diversity, and a slower pace of life. But many families moving to Hawaii from the mainland—especially from states like California, Texas, or Washington—quickly realize there are things they should have shipped for their kids but didn’t.
In this post, we’ll explore the top 5 items families regret not including in their household shipments when moving to Hawaii from Californiaor elsewhere on the mainland. These regrets aren’t just anecdotal—they’re echoed across online forums, family relocation blogs, and surveys by moving professionals like Global FCL.
Bicycles and Outdoor Ride-On Toys
Many families assume they can buy bikes or scooters once they arrive in Hawaii. However, popular retailers like Target, Walmart, and Costco in Hawaii often have limited stock and higher prices due to shipping costs and warehouse limitations. Some items are out of stock for months—especially during the back-to-school season or holidays.
Why it matters: Hawaii’s warm climate and outdoor lifestyle mean your kids will want to ride bikes, scooters, or balance bikes nearly year-round. Families moving from California or Texas, where these items are everyday essentials, are often shocked to find how much more expensive or unavailable they are on the islands.
Familiar Bedding and Comfort Items
This one’s emotional. Moving can be hard on children, especially younger ones. A surprising number of families regret leaving behind their kids’ favorite bedsheets, pillows, stuffed animals, or sleep aids because they assumed they’d “just buy new ones.”
However, specific children’s brands or character-themed bedding sets are often unavailable in local stores, and shipping from the mainland or Amazon may take weeks—or come with high fees.
Pro tip: If you’re moving to Hawaii from the mainland, include familiar sleep items in your container shipment to ease your child’s emotional transition and ensure good rest in a new environment.
Kids’ Desks and Learning Furniture
Hawaii homes—especially rentals—can be compact, and furniture stores may have limited options. Families moving from Washington or New York often downsize significantly, assuming they’ll buy furniture later. However, finding ergonomic desks and chairs for homeschooling or homework can be surprisingly difficult in local markets.
Many regret not bringing their kids’ desks, bookshelves, or even small study nooks—especially post-2020, with the rise of remote learning and homeschooling flexibility.
Sporting Equipment
Soccer balls, baseball gloves, tennis racquets, and even surfboards (yes, surfboards!) are more expensive in Hawaii than on the mainland. If your child is already active in sports, replacing gear can become a major, avoidable expense.
In particular, families moving to Hawaii from Texas or California—where youth sports are heavily integrated into school life—report that it would have been cheaper and faster to bring everything they needed rather than repurchase or rent locally.
Extra Clothing in the Right Sizes
Many newcomers assume “it’s warm year-round in Hawaii” and donate their kids’ seasonal clothes before the move. But weather varies greatly across the islands. Higher elevations like in Maui’s upcountry or on the Big Island can be chilly in the mornings or evenings.
Also, Hawaii doesn’t have the same variety or volume of children’s clothing stores as mainland cities. Families moving from New York to Hawaii or Nevada to Hawaii often report struggling to find certain shoe sizes or weather-appropriate gear for school outings or camp.
Smart tip: Pack ahead for your child’s next size up—even if it’s not immediate—because options are limited once you’re on-island.
Final Thoughts: Pack for Practicality and Peace of Mind
When planning your relocation, especially if you’re moving to Hawaii from California or any mainland state, it’s easy to underestimate how challenging and costly it can be to replace children’s essentials on the islands.
By shipping these five categories of items, families can avoid unnecessary expenses, reduce stress, and help their kids settle into their new island life more comfortably.
Let Global FCL Help You Ship What Matters
At Global FCL, we specialize in helping families make smart, stress-free moves to and from Hawaii.
From full container loads to smaller, family-sized shipments, we’ll help you plan every step of your move—with your kids’ comfort and continuity in mind.
Contact us today for a customized quote and consultation.
