Military Move - PCS W/Guns and Alcohol to Hawaii?

Question

Hi, I am PCSing to Hawaii with my husband in November. We are trying to find out of they will ship Guns and alcohol over there or if we will need to find alternate storage for them while we are away for the next 3 years. Any PCS-to-Hawaii or living tips would be helpful. Also planning to buy a house, so neighborhood info for Oahu would be great. We will be on Camp Smith.

Answer 1

alcohol no in fact they are very picky they will not ship or allow any liquids even simple things such as bubble bath, nail polish,etc.  as for the guns they will but it must be known that u have them i believe there is a form you have to fill out and with the military i am sure they will want documentation.  not sure where camp smith is so i will tell you from the schofield barracks point of view.  house around here are expensive you are looking at 350,000 for a simple 3 bed 2 bath condo.  an average house of 3bed will probably cost close to 500,000.  me and my husband were going to buy at bragg when he got transferred here and it was a whole lot more expensive.  as far as neighborhoods that are good i am not too familiar with the area.  

Answer 2

Alcohol, definately not.  Its flamable, and can not be shipped.  So have a party now! :)

Guns, I'm not sure...while we moved last, my husbands guns were with his father.

About Hawaii, get used to Spam. :(

You may want to ask this in the military section as well.

Answer 3

Don't call them guns. Disassemble them and they are "Sporting Goods." Flammables and liquids can't go. Your packer will give you a sheet prepping you for the move.

Camp Smith is just Mauka (away from the water) from Pearl Harbor, so you are in the central part of the island. You have to decide how much you want to spend. Email me and I can send you the names of three local lenders (two banks and a mortgage company/broker).  Once you have a price in mind and are prequalified, start your home search.

Traffic is heaviest coming from the leeward (West) side, but the homes homes prices are lowest there. 30 years ago, a lot of it was cane filed, so land costs were low. Unfortunately there are too many commuters, unless you are out your door before 6 AM.

Price ranges

to $500K - Mililani, Makakilo, Ewa Beach

to $600K - Pearl City, Waikele, Kunia

to $700K - Aiea, Town (Makiki, Punchbowl, Pauao, Salt Lake, etc. - Salt Lake is Really close to Camp Smith)

to $800K - Diamond Head, Kaimuki

to $900K - Anywhere east of Kahala, Hawai Kai, etc.

Around 10-20% less for the above for a condo or townhouse.

Email if you need more info. Welcome to Hawaii.