The west coast ports are the ones closest to Hawaii and if located near this area, transporting your car can be less of a hassle then bringing it in from farther places in the continent as you don't have to worry about the carrier getting on time to the port in order to load the car on the boat. San Diego is one of the main ports of transport from the California coast and is in high demand for car transport between the continent and the Hawaiian Islands.
In order to enjoy of a proper, safe and hassle free transportation it is important you comply by the dock regulations to ship a car. There are transportation companies who will assist you with the documents and paperwork needed in order to ship your car, such as customs paperwork and dock receipts, as well as helping prep your car for the transport. Something you will be notified and must be aware of is that when transporting a car overseas, there a due dates by when your car must be registered in ordered to be shipped, usually ships leave by the end of the week, but cars must be registered in the dock by Monday, if done later, it will be reserved for the next shipment. Shipments usually leave weekly from the continent to the islands and back. This is very important to prepare in advance for, therefore, if you are running with a tight schedule, this will cause delays for you and major inconveniences.
One of the major advantages of shipping overseas is that for most cars, including sedans, pickups, vans or SUV's, there is a flat rate, unlike shipping in the main land, where transport prices are influenced with the type of car, the bigger the more expensive.
When planning to ship overseas from San Diego, CA to Hawaii it is very important you speak with your agent regarding tight schedules and all paperwork needed in order to enjoy of a hassle free experience, this will help you plan your schedule better and know what times frames you are working with. Don't expect magic to happen overnight, be prepared and avoid the inconveniences!