News Updates

Return to Newsletter Index

DHX - Dependable Hawaiian Express

12/4/2025

NEWS UPDATE

December 2, 2025

Dear Valued Customer,

Please find below our monthly update and the upcoming holiday operations schedule for December 2025 and January 2026.

Holiday Schedule:

USA offices will be closed:

Christmas Day December 25

New Year's Day January 1

*All terminals will have normal operations on Friday, December 26, and Friday, January 2.

Holiday Operations Schedule

Please note the specific cut-off times for shipments during the holiday weeks. All times are PST.

Southern California:

Christmas Week – Wednesday, December 24 sail

Cut-off for hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Monday, December 22

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 23

Cut-off for Guam hazardous freight will be 5:00 pm on Friday, December 19

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight will be 5:00 pm Monday, December 22

Hazardous cargo received for Hawaii on Tuesday, December 23, will be loaded for the following sail on Saturday, December 27, and hazardous cargo for Guam received on Monday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 23, will be loaded on the following sail on Wednesday, December 31.

Saturday, December 27 sail

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Friday, December 26

Hazardous cargo received for Hawaii on Friday, December 26, will be loaded for the following sail on Wednesday, December 31.

New Year’s Week – Wednesday, December 31 sail

Cut-off for hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Monday, December 29

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 30

Cut-off for Guam hazardous freight will be 5:00 pm on Friday, December 26

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight will be 5:00 pm Monday, December 29

Hazardous cargo received for Hawaii on Tuesday, December 30, will be loaded for the following sail on Saturday, January 3, and hazardous cargo for Guam received on Monday, December 29, and Tuesday, December 30, will be loaded on the following sail on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Saturday, January 3 sail

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 5:00 pm on Friday, December 29

Hazardous cargo received for Hawaii on Friday, December 29, will be loaded for the following sail on Wednesday, January 7.

Northern California:

Christmas Week – Tuesday, December 23 sail (Oahu only)

Cut-off for hazardous and non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 3:00 pm on Friday, December 19

Wednesday, December 24 sail

Cut-off for hazardous and non-hazardous freight to Hawaii will be 3:00 pm on Monday, December 22

There will not be a Guam sailing this week.

New Year’s Week – There will not be a sailing this week as the ocean carrier is bypassing the Port of Oakland.

Seattle: The last sailing of the year will be on December 26

Cut-off for hazardous freight will be 12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 23

Cut-off for non-hazardous freight will be 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 24

Hawaii Service Rates for 2026

As a reminder, as is customary in the Hawaii trade lane, the ocean carriers announced the details of their annual General Rate Increase. Ocean container rates will again increase by $200 per westbound and $100 per eastbound container, effective Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Also effective on the same date, their Terminal Handling Charge (THC) for Hawaii will increase as follows:

● West Coast to Honolulu Increase $100 per container to $1,725

● West Coast to Neighbor Islands Increase $200 per container to $1,925

● Honolulu to West Coast Increase $50 per container to $890

● Neighbor Island to West Coast Increase $100 per container to $990

Additional assessorial charges will increase as follows:

● Hazardous Ocean Surcharge Increase $50 per container to $475

As a result, our Hawaii rates will pass on these amounts for Full Container Loads (FCL). For Less-than-Container Load (LCL) cargo, our Customer rates will be raised based on various factors, including the commodity, density, and current costs. These changes will also take effect with shipments sailing after January 4, 2026. Please contact your Account Executive to review adjustments to your current rate levels.

Due to increased costs in Hawaii, delivery and accessorial rates will increase as follows –

- Oahu and Maui 5%

Customer Feedback on Trustpilot

We value your feedback! Please visit our Trustpilot page to share your experience with us. Your input helps us improve our services and better serve you and other customers. We look forward to hearing from you!

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/dhx.com

As always, thank you for your business and confidence. Should you have any questions, or need assistance in planning your shipments, please feel free to reach out to your Salesperson or our Customer Service team at

1-800-488-4888 or 1-310-537-2000, Ext. 2020.