Shipping Our Ram 2500 to Hilo: What to Do When Matson Isn't an Option

Shipping Our Ram 2500 to Hilo: What to Do When Matson Isn’t an Option

If you live in the Pacific Northwest and have roots or family back home in the islands, you know the hustle of moving equipment, supplies, and vehicles across the ocean. For years, the default move for many of us when shipping a car or truck from Washington to Hawaii was simple: drop it off at the Port of Tacoma with Matson.

Recently, though, things changed. Matson decided to forego shipping privately owned vehicles out of Tacoma directly to Hawaii. For many in our Micronesian and Pasefika community—whether you’re relocating, sending a vehicle back home to family, or getting a heavy-duty work truck out to the Big Island—that sudden shift left a lot of folks scrambling and asking, “What do we do now?”

That was exactly the position we found ourselves in when it came time to get our Ram 2500 down to Hilo.

In all honesty, before this happened, I didn’t know who else offered vehicle shipping from our area. But when one door closes, you do your homework. That is when I found Pasha Hawaii, and I’m writing this post because our people need to know that there is still a reliable, smooth way to get your ride home.

The Reality: It’s More Expensive, But Seamless

Let’s be upfront about the elephant in the room: it is more expensive.

Because there isn’t a direct roll-on/roll-off vessel leaving Tacoma for everyday passenger vehicles right now, the logistics involve an overland haul before hitting the water.

Here is how Pasha Hawaii handled it for us:

Auburn Drop-off: Instead of having to drive the truck all the way down to California ourselves, Pasha has a receiving terminal right in Auburn, Washington.
Overland to California: From Auburn, Pasha arranges the overland transport down to their port hub in California.
Ocean Transit to Hawaii: From California, the truck boards their vessel and makes the voyage across the Pacific directly to the islands—in our case, straight to Hilo.

Yes, adding that overland leg increases the final bill. But when you factor in what it would cost in fuel, hotels, food, time off, and wear-and-tear to drive a 3/4-ton truck 1,000+ miles down I-5 yourself to reach an open port, having Pasha manage the entire route under one booking is a lifesaver.

Dropping Off the Ram 2500

We just completed drop-off at the Auburn facility. The check-in inspection process was smooth and straightforward:

Clean & Empty: Like all ocean freight, the vehicle must be clean inside and out, with no personal items packed in the cab or bed.
Fuel Level: Make sure your tank is between 1/4 and 1/8 full (they inspect this closely for fire safety regulations during transit).
Walk-Around & Inspection: Staff took detailed photos and documented the condition before clearing it for the haul down to the California port.

Seeing the truck parked at the yard ready to roll gave us huge peace of mind.

A Word for Our Community

To our Micronesian, Pasefika, and extended island community across Washington and Oregon: don’t panic if you hear that Matson isn’t taking cars out of Tacoma. You are not stuck.

Look into Pasha Hawaii. They can handle the whole chain from Auburn all the way to Honolulu, Kahului, Nawiliwili, or Hilo. It’s an investment, but knowing your truck is in good hands and on its way to work for you and your family makes all the difference.

Next stop: Hilo harbor! Stay tuned, and we’ll share updates once she touches down on the Big Island.