PCS to Hawaii: The Complete 2026 Military Relocation Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Oahu, Finding Housing, Shipping Cars, Using Your BAH

Welcome to your new duty station—Hawaii!
Whether you're PCSing to Schofield Barracks, JBPHH, Kaneohe Bay (MCBH), Fort Shafter, Camp Smith, or Wheeler, this guide walks you through every step of relocating to paradise while avoiding the most common military mistakes.

We specialize in helping active-duty families relocate to Oahu using their VA benefits, offering neighborhood expertise, and PCS-timed home buying strategies. Not only have we helped other families but we have used our VA loan multiple times and on Oahu! We have helped hundreds of military families PCS to the island through our popular Facebook Groups and helping guide them with the process and off base living. We would love to connect with you and help you with your move to Hawaii.
If you need personalized help → Book your free PCS housing consult. Message us at yradmin@yourislandhomesteam.com and provide your contact information or click the contact now button below!

Understanding Your PCS Orders to Hawaii

PCS Timeline Overview

4–6 months out

Receive RFO or soft orders
Start looking at neighborhoods + commute routes
Begin HHG planning/downsizing or buying furniture
Confirm pet requirements (VERY important)

2–3 months out

Book flights early
Reserve Temporary Lodging (can fill up fast)
Schedule vehicle drop-off for POV shipping
Decide whether to rent or buy

30 days out

Confirm HHG pickup
Coordinate school enrollment

Shipping Your POV

Check Your Orders: Look for specific authorization for two POVs in your PCS orders, especially for Hawaii moves.

Contact Your TMO: Your Transportation Office (TMO) or Surface Deployment & Distribution Command (SDDC) handles this. They can confirm if your orders support two vehicles and guide you on the process.
FY25 NDAA Change: The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 updated rules to allow two vehicles for Hawaii PCS, but it needs to be reflected in your orders.
Coordination is Key: Even with the new policy, proper arrangement with your shipment office is crucial to get both vehicles shipped at government cost.
Mil-to-Mil: If both you and your spouse are military, you might each have one authorized vehicle, making two easily covered.

If Not Authorized for Two:

The standard entitlement is one POV at government expense.
You'd pay for the second vehicle's transport out-of-pocket.
Contact commercial shippers (like Schumacher Cargo or 4 Corners Transport Services

Military TMO Offices:

• Schofield Barracks: (808) 655-4308
• Hickam AFB: (808) 449-0951
• Pearl Harbor: (808) 474-1999
• MCBH Kaneohe: (808) 257-2101

Vehicle Preparation Checklist:

✓Clean vehicle thoroughly inside and out
✓Remove all personal items (shipping companies won't be responsible)
✓Keep fuel tank 1/4 full or less
✓Document existing damage with photos
✓Check tire pressure and battery charge
✓Ensure vehicle registration and insurance are current

⚠️ Important Notes:

• Vehicle must be operable for loading
• No personal items allowed in vehicle
• Keep spare tire and jack in vehicle
• Convertible tops must be secured
• Take photos before and after shipping

PCS MY POV

Understanding Your BAH and Living Off Base

Let Us Guide You Through all the Next Steps

BAH in Oahu is some of the highest in the country because the cost of living is high.

How BAH impacts your housing choices:

Most families choose Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Mililani, Kaneohe, Kailua, Aiea, and Pearl City
O-3/O-4 can often afford single-family homes
E-5/E-6 usually target townhomes or condos

👉 Want your BAH broken down into real home options? Message us your Budget or rank + report date with an email address. We can also schedule a time to chat on the phone, through text, or zoom.

Rent vs Buy in Hawaii — What Military Families Should Know

Hawaii is a high-appreciation market, meaning many military families can build equity fast.

Renting Pros:

Flexible
No maintenance
Short-term commitment

Buying Pros:

Builds equity during your 3–4 year tour
Use your VA loan with $0 down
Rent is investing in someone else instead of your own.
You can keep your home as a rental after PCS

Ideal candidates for buying:

Serving 3+ years in Hawaii
Using a VA loan or have a savings for a VA Assumable.
Want a stable housing payment
Want long-term investment potential

Want a custom analysis? → Get a free rent vs. buy comparison by contacting us.

Best Neighborhoods Near Each Base

Army – Schofield / Wheeler / Helemano

Mililani (most popular + great commute)
Wahiawa (closest, budget-friendly)
Ewa Beach (newer homes, larger communities)
Kapolei (city-style amenities)

Navy / Air Force – JBPHH / Hickam

Aiea (closest, mature neighborhoods)
Pearl City
Moanalua
Kapolei
Salt Lake (super close to base)

Marines – MCBH Kaneohe Bay

Kailua (beaches + family lifestyle)
Kaneohe (more affordable than Kailua)
Haiku/Keolu Hills

👉 Ask us for commute times — traffic on Oahu varies dramatically.

Schools in Hawaii

Hawaii uses one statewide school district, which is unusual for mainland families.

Quick facts:

Quality varies by neighborhood
Many military families choose Mililani, Kailua, Kapolei, Ewa, and Pearl City for school consistency
Private schools are available but costly ($10k–$30k annually)

School Info

Buying a Home with a VA Loan in Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the BEST places to use your VA benefit.

Why?

No loan limits for 100% financing
Use your BAH as mortgage coverage
Lower rates vs conventional loans
Lower closing costs

Sight-Unseen Home Buying for PCS

Many military families buy their home before arriving.

How we assist:

Live video tours
Neighborhood walk-throughs
Base commute checks
Inspection guidance
Offer strategies customized to BAH

Helpful Tips:

What to Bring (and Not Bring) to Hawaii

Bring:

Lightweight clothing
Car seats, beach gear
Dehumidifiers
Small appliances

Don’t Bring:

Large furniture sets (Hawaii homes are smaller)
Multiple vehicles if your parking is limited
Excess winter clothing

Cost of Living Breakdown for Military Families

Expect higher prices for:

Groceries
Gas
Electricity
Dining out

But military families benefit from:

BAH rate adjustments
Commissary & Exchange savings
On-base services

Ready for Your Hawaii PCS? We Can Help You Every Step

Whether you’re 6 months out or already on island, we provide:

✔ PCS housing strategy

✔ Neighborhood recommendations by rank & commute

✔ VA loan–friendly property search

✔ Base-specific market data

✔ Sight-unseen purchase assistance

✔ Temporary housing guidance

🎖 Get Your Free Hawaii PCS Housing Guide

Receive:
• Neighborhood comparisons
• BAH breakdown
• Market pricing
• VA loan tips
• Commute maps