Who Is Young Brothers?

For most freight that arrives at the Big Island by ocean, the final leg of the journey is handled by Young Brothers, LLC — the dominant interisland cargo carrier in Hawaii. While mainline carriers like Matson and Pasha Hawaii bring containers from the U.S. West Coast to Honolulu, Young Brothers takes over for the interisland haul, connecting Oahu to ports across the neighbor islands, including Hilo and Kawaihae on the Big Island.

Young Brothers operates under a state franchise granted by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, which gives it exclusive rights to provide interisland barge service — making it an essential and unique player in Hawaii's supply chain.

Ports Served on the Big Island

Young Brothers serves two ports on Hawaii Island:

  • Hilo Harbor (Hilo): The larger and more commercially active of the two Big Island ports, serving the eastern side of the island. Most containerized freight and general cargo moves through Hilo.
  • Kawaihae Harbor (North Kohala Coast): Located on the drier, western side of the island, Kawaihae serves the Kohala and Kona regions and handles significant bulk and break-bulk cargo in addition to containers.

What Types of Cargo Does Young Brothers Handle?

Young Brothers moves a wide variety of cargo types on its interisland barges:

  • Dry containers (20-ft and 40-ft) — the most common unit for general merchandise
  • Refrigerated containers (reefers) — for perishable food, produce, and temperature-sensitive goods
  • Flatbed/open-top containers — for oversized machinery, lumber, and construction materials
  • Vehicles and heavy equipment — roll-on/roll-off service available
  • Bulk liquid and dry bulk — for agricultural and industrial commodities
  • Household goods — in partnership with moving companies

How the Interisland Leg Works

Here's a typical flow for freight moving from the U.S. mainland to the Big Island via ocean:

  1. Your container departs a West Coast port aboard a Matson or Pasha Hawaii vessel
  2. The vessel arrives at Honolulu's Sand Island terminal (typically 5–10 days transit)
  3. Your container is offloaded and transferred to the Young Brothers terminal at Pier 51 in Honolulu
  4. Young Brothers loads your container onto an interisland barge
  5. The barge departs for Hilo or Kawaihae (sailing schedule typically a few departures per week)
  6. Your cargo arrives at the Big Island port, clears inspection, and is available for pickup or delivery

The interisland leg typically adds 1–4 days to your overall transit time, depending on sailing schedules and port processing times.

Booking and Tracking with Young Brothers

Young Brothers offers online booking through their website, where you can also access sailing schedules, request rate quotes, and track your shipment. Key things to know when booking:

  • You'll need a booking number from your mainline carrier (Matson or Pasha) before you can book the interisland leg
  • Cargo cutoff deadlines apply — missing the cutoff means waiting for the next sailing
  • Demurrage charges apply if cargo sits at the terminal past the free time allowance (typically a few days)

Tips for Working with Young Brothers

  • Coordinate timing with your mainline carrier so your container arrives at the Honolulu terminal in time for the Young Brothers cutoff
  • Plan for sailing schedules — not every destination gets daily sailings, so check the schedule for Hilo and Kawaihae in advance
  • Arrange port pickup promptly to avoid demurrage fees at the destination port
  • Work with a local trucking company on the Big Island familiar with Hilo and Kawaihae port procedures for smooth final delivery

The Bottom Line

Young Brothers is the indispensable link in the Big Island freight chain. Understanding how their barge service integrates with your mainline ocean carrier — and planning your shipment timeline accordingly — is one of the most important things you can do for a smooth, on-time delivery to Hawaii Island.