I’m sure when most people think of Hawaii they think of how much it would absolutely SUCK to live there. Okay, not really. I personally think it would be awesome to live in Hawaii. It’s as close to paradise as you can get (at least here in the United States).
I went to Hawaii two years ago for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I was excited to leave the freezing temperatures and ice-covered roads that are characteristic of Minnesota winters. This was my first and hopefully not last trip to Hawaii.
Photo by David Carlson
When I got home from Hawaii I naturally started to think how awesome it would be to live there year-round. While I haven’t thought too much about it since then, there is a new show on HGTV called Hawaii Life. Each episode a family, couple, or individual is featured who is making the move to Hawaii. Once again, my wife and I were thinking about how awesome it would be to live there.
Unfortunately, if I ever did decide to go for it and hire movers for a big move to Hawaii it wouldn’t be for quite a few years. To make myself (any of you reading this who wouldn’t mind living in Hawaii) feel better I thought I would write about the disadvantages of living in Hawaii, or in other words…why living in Hawaii Sucks!
1) Higher Cost of Living
As you can imagine, it’s a little more expensive to live in Hawaii than in the other forty-nine states. Expect higher food, fuel, and other costs. If you are having something shipped to you it will cost more than if you lived in the contiguous United States.
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2) Limited Housing Market
While the Hawaii Life TV show makes it seem like there is an abundance of homes for sale, it really is a limited market. For obvious reasons, people desire to live in Hawaii, pushing prices up. If you are on a limited budget it’s going to be a bit harder to find a house that fits everything on your want list, but at the same time there are some beautiful houses if you have the cash to spend.
3) “Rock Fever” and Travel Expenses
If I lived in Hawaii, I would want to be able to travel off the island much more than I would probably be able to. Conversely, I’m sure less people would visit than I would expect, mainly because the flights aren’t always that cheap to get out there, especially from Minnesota.
Someone I know lived there while they were in the military, and one of the negatives is that the island you live on is only so big. There may be plenty to do the first few months or year, but you may get “rock fever” from being stuck on an island and not being able to drive for miles and miles like you could when you lived on the mainland. Another negative is that flights between the islands are not as cheap as one would think. In their words “I can see the island across the ocean, I’m not going to pay hundreds to fly somewhere that I can see!”
4) Limited Live Entertainment
Living in Minneapolis, there are constantly an endless number of entertainment options. You can almost guarantee your favorite band will be in town at least once every few years, if not more often. If you live in Hawaii it could be a long time before a band comes that you want to actually see. Further, if you are a sports fan there are no professional sports, and only the University of Hawaii to keep you entertained if you are looking for live action. If you are a big NFL fan like me you may be waking up before 6am on Sundays to see your favorite team play.
5) Limited Job Market
There are definitely job opportunities in Hawaii, but it’s more limited than some other places. For example, if you are looking for accounting work you may be competing for a very limited number of positions, as opposed to a large metropolitan area where there are literally thousands of accounting jobs available. Another consideration is if you get laid off and are stuck competing for only a handful of job openings in your field.
6) Relocation Considerations
Relocating to Hawaii is no small undertaking – you can’t just load up a U-Haul and drive to your new home. You have to pick and choose what is important to you and what is worth leaving behind. If you own a house, it would require selling or renting your current home, which may be more difficult if you can’t get everything finalized before leaving for Hawaii.
8) Poisonous Toads
In Hawaii poisonous cane or “Bufo” toads inhabit the land. These toads are poisonous for dogs. As described by islandermom:
It’s most common for dogs to become poisoned by Bufo Toads. In Hawaii up to 50 dogs a year die after being poisoned by Bufo Toads. When the dog mouths the toad it instinctively defends himself by releasing its venom from its parotoid glands. Often times the dog will bite down on the toad enabling poisonous venom to squirt directly down the dog’s throat.
While 50 dogs isn’t a huge number, I personally would be paranoid to bring my dog over there. At minimum I would want to be watching them at all times when they are outside.
____________
I’m big on comparing the pros and cons of various jobs, workplaces, personal finance strategies, etc. In a usual article, I would now list a few pros or at least give a write-up on all the positives of living in Hawaii.
But let’s be honest: is it really necessary?
We all know Hawaii is beautiful, it has awesome weather year-round and some of the most amazing beaches and scenery in the entire world.
Photo by David Carlson
Have you ever thought about living in Hawaii? Would you ever consider moving there?
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I’d totally take it right now with the snow we have on the ground! I would have to say the same thing about Alaska. I lived there for three months after college and loved it. It’s beautiful and so much to see, but they deal with a number of the same issues that Hawaii does. Not to mention that it’s dark for six months out of the year! I’ll be satisfied with another visit though. :)
@FrugalRules I’ve never been to Alaska but I can see how it would have similar issues as Hawaii, as well as similar benefits (beautiful place to live I’m sure). I’d like to visit Alaska, but would probably visit Hawaii again first : )
Ha! Awesome title. I wouldn’t consider moving to Hawaii. It’s such a nice place to visit that I think the shine would wear off if I lived there. It’d be like living at Disney World. Wouldn’t that completely suck living in Cinderella’s—wait….I’d love living at Disney, what the hell am I talking about?
@AverageJoeMoney Haha!
I think I’d enjoy living there if I had the money! However it would stink to have no family there and that would be my biggest reason for why I wouldn’t want to do it.
@SenseofCents Yeah I would want enough money to fly back at least a couple times a year, if not more. It would be hard to live that far away from family and friends.
It’s funny you write this because we get a lot of the same comments about living in the Caribbean. Yes, it’s pretty here in Grenada, and yes, the water is blue. However, it’s still a developing country with an extreme amount of poverty, and the cost of living is pretty high for the US people who live here (Think $500 a month to rent a ’95 CRV). We’re glad we made the decision to move here, as it’s been a life changing experience. But, we’re also glad that we won’t live here forever and that in 2014 we’ll be moving stateside.
@BudgetBlonde Did not know you lived in Grenada! That’s really, really cool!
@DC @ Young Adult Money Thanks! It’s fun. Yeah, here is the nutshell version of our move on my about page: http://www.budgetblonde.com/about-me :)
@BudgetBlonde Awesome will check it out!
Lol rock fever. Apart from the high price of real estate I would like to live in Hawaii. Of course you have to adapt your lifestyle and stop trying to eat and live like you’re in the lower states. Fruits and fish have to be pretty cheap, and you can change your diet a bit. I would hope to do and visit as much as possible locally but sure you can get bored after 2-3 years and want to move back.
@RFIndependence Good points about the diet. I’m sure if you adjust you can save some on the food prices.
“Fruits and fish have to be pretty cheap, and you can change your diet a bit.”
Yes and no.
Produce is outrageously expensive at the supermarket. Fruits that most Mainlanders are accustomed to are at a premium – if and when they are available. Tropical fruits are plentiful and inexpensive if you know where to get them, the freshest are on your own tree of course.
Fish is inevitably fresh. While prices may be comparable to the Mainland, the quality often cannot be beat. Breaks my heart in fact when we visit my Father in Arizona and he wants to treat us to a family favorite…
Sushi.
We have come to a point where we flat-out refuse to go. They really have no idea what they are up against. I love my Dad but I cannot stomach him getting ripped off on our account, especially since we would much rather enjoy something we cannot get – like reasonably priced Greek food.
Adapting, you learn to shop sales and clip coupons – and forgo certain foods until they are on sale. Otherwise you burn a hole in your pocket before you know what happened.
My father lived in Hawaii for quite some time. He enjoyed it, but said that it gets tiring after a while. Also, with the expanse of ecommerce, both Hawaii and Alaska get the short end of the stick when it comes to shipping. No ground shipping to either. Boo!
@DebtRoundUp The no ground shipping thing is killer.
Funny, I was watching House Hunters in Hawaii last night and thought how much I’d like to live there and my husband reminded me about the really big bugs that I’d have to combat. Didn’t make it a deal breaker but the 1BR, 1BA 574 sq ft house for almost half a mil did.
@Eyesonthedollar The episode I watched they showed a tiny house like you described that was incredibly expensive, but it was right on the beach. The couple ended up getting a 3 bedroom house with a 2 car garage for relatively cheap (and it was newer construction!). So it seems there are some very expensive houses there and some that are somewhat more affordable.
I was on Maui last summer and wondered what it would be like to live there. I think the only way I could do it is if I lived up in the hills a really long way from the beaches and tourists.
@KyleJames1 Maui was the same island I went to when I was in Hawaii. Beautiful place.
I’ve never been but have always wanted to go. About 4 years ago I had a hairdresser here that was originally born there. I didn’t know that and one day I said something about how nice it would be to live there. He said I was crazy. He said that it was very expensive and that the people that lived there were either very rich or very poor. The people that run the banana plantation were the rich ones. He said as soon as his parents could afford to do so they took him and his brothers and sisters and moved to Canada to build a better life for themselves. i can clearly remember how emotional he got about how much he didn’t like living in Hawaii.
@TacklingOurDebt Wow! That’s quite the story. Honestly, I’m not sure it would be worth it to live there either unless you were economically well-off enough to afford a decent house and lifestyle. I imagine the job and business opportunities would be more limited which would explain why their parents wanted to move them to Canada. Sounds like an interesting person to talk to.
From the west coast, flights are incredibly cheap and I have only been there once. The best time to go is in the winter around Christmas which is their high season. Summer time is much cheaper, but not as desirable. I remember food was 20% more expensive besides housing etc. One of the few professions they recruit for is teachers. They pay pretty well, but when consider the costs it is not so good. I live in southern California, so it is close to paradise.
@krantcents1 Ah yes if you lived in Cali vs. in Minnesota you could cut two whole flights out of the equations (MN -> LA and LA -> MN) which I’m sure would bring the price down.
It’s too bad it’s not a place where there’s a lot of decent-paying finance jobs…I would still consider the move then!
Everyone who has ever visited there thinks the same thing, “this must be paradise living here!” But unless you were raised there and it’s in your blood, it’s a very hard place to live. Other things not mentioned were racism. Yes, it exists and is hard for mainlanders to fit in and often times find work because of it. Locals are favored. Understandable to some degree! If you live in Honolulu, traffic is just as bad as LA. If you move there with a pet it has to be quarantined for a quite a while (I don’t have the exact numbers). I’ve had several friends who have lived there…all have moved back. One friend who currently lives there and makes quite a bit of money had the hardest time finding a one bedroom apartment near Honolulu. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade…but I just know there is a LOT to consider before moving there. That being said, I LOVE Hawaii and it’s very easy for me to visit there (been there 4 times), so I would aways recommend it as a place to visit. I believe it’s a much different experience than living there.
@Beachbudget Ah great points and thanks for sharing. I think if I ever became so wealthy I had no idea what to do with my money I would buy a vacation home there : )
By “racism” I take it you mean racism against “whites from the mainland.” Not a problem for a Native American. In fact, any bias TOWARDS Native Americans/Pacific Islanders would be a welcome breath of fresh air for my life. I came to New Mexico, to “Indian Country,” trying to get AWAY from all the “regular” racism against educated Native Americans in the job market in what feels like ALL of the other 48 states and yes I’m including Alaska in that. Now, the “Land of Enchantment” isn’t working out because of the same damn “regular” racism against me here – but it’s OK, I’m used to the cost of living in San Francisco, Boston and New York anyway, so if I decide to try Hawaii as my last resort in the United States that won’t be a problem.
I think some of these probably apply to my country, New Zealand! Yes, it’s paradise in many ways (everyone who visits says that) but of course there are plenty of downsides, many of them financial.
My cousin’s husband was posted in Hawaii for a few years and, while it was absolute paradise, she found it to be a very expensive place to live and noticed that the locals were hostile towards her/the army (which made it difficult for her to get a job off the base)
I’d love to visit Hawaii, but I don’t actually think I’d want to live there. Something about living on an island I feel like I would feel claustrophobic. I’d also hate the higher cost of living although we live in NYC so the cost of living here is pretty bad too (ie. prices may be higher in Times Square, AL, and HI). I had no idea about the toad thing, I definitely would watch my dog like a hawk if I let him outside.
I think the only time I’d want to live there, would be for a period of 6 months or a year. Only as part of my ‘travel the world while working” plan. But not to live there permanently for a long period of time. It would be an awesome place to visit though!
Living <a href=”en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii”>Hawaii</a> is like living in the paradise. Enjoyed the days when I was on assignment.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii
The flight problem can be solved easily by either renting, chartering or buying a boat.
I have been here for 6 weeks now. Im already realizing it was not a smart decision. If you have never been here or do not have a job or a place to live prepare yourself for a mountain of obstacles. Prejudice runs rampant here. If you are white, never lived here, have no family here, AND you have a southern accent you are you will quickly overlook the weather and the beauty.
mikale1 Sorry to hear about that. I hope you made your way back to the mainland by now. Would be interested in hearing more about your experience.
I just put In a commute but he is right if u are white or black they don’t like u . And there are homeless everywhere . My African American friend lives here to and she hates it she said that they have called her the n word to her face . I have been called howley and I am mexican I am very light skin . But I carrier a weapon so I’m not scared of any one . But some are very rude and predijudice.
Well, I”m Native American, and finding that even in Indian Country (New Mexico) some parts of it, some people – usually whites – treat me like “black” just like in all the other states I came here to get AWAY FROM THAT – so hopefully Hawaii will be the one place in the country where people can TELL a Native American from “black”. When I meet dark-skinned Natives “from” Hawaii here they tell me I should fit in fine there. No place likes “blacks.” I’m trying to find some place where I can get a job in my field and stop being TREATED like “black” instead of Native American. But maybe I should talk in-person to more Utes, Paiutes, Lakotas and Apaches before I just start pricing airline tickets and filling out applications for jobs with the state of Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney’s office…
DC @ Young Adult Money FrugalRules
DC @ Young Adult Money FrugalRules
Hey, you can always rumble in the jungle or barbeque some bufo frogs if your really worried about getting bored and being broke in Hawaii……
I would get island fever. I could visit for 3 months-then it’s time to go!
ShopMyCloset12 3 months sounds like an ideal amount of time! Maybe spend 1 month on an island, then go to another, and another, then home? Sounds like an awesome trip.
I would LOVE to live in Hawaii, but probably not forever. I can’t imagine having to take an epic flight just to get to mainland. Right now my parents are just a 45 minute drive away.
brokeandbeau Same here. I also would want to fly back probably 4 times a year and that would be really expensive : /
StudentDebtSurvivor Yeah it would be really tough to have a dog. I’d be scared to death at night because it would be hard to see where they are going and whether they are getting into some bushes that have the toads.
Carrie Smith I think 3 months would be an ideal amount of time for me. I would maybe stay in one place and take weekend or week-long trips to some of the other islands.
That is not the only thing u have people who are born hear but are not hawaiin and they donot like any one from the main land . I cannot even celibrate 4 th of July because it offeneds naibors and not to forget how loins and horrible some of the locals can be some not all ,foul mouthed awlful people. If u are a Cristian u can not handle the discusting foul mouth people . And the school are awful I would hate have childeren live in it. The beaches nice but the locales 70% phillipeno do not like Americans. .very trashy area and never go to wiainie they are extremely prejudice.
Hawaii sucks Waianae people sucks true, But your wrong about Hawaii being 70% Filipino and they don’t agree with “4th of July” because they believe Hawaii was taken illegally on August 21th 1959 by the US government.
Hawaii was stolen from her people for the benefit of wealthy American plantation owners and military interests, and the justifications for the crime were invented after-the-fact.
THATS WHY THEIR SO RACIEST AGAINST AMERICANS Because their NOT Americans
Hawaii is not legally a state!
Google it…
I would not give the freeking locals the money for visiting there they are to prejudice for me.
Okay, I have lived in Hawaii for the past 3 years because (being a minor) my mother did. My mother is a local who grew up here while i grew up in Florida. we moved back so we could be closer to family and these are the things i have noticed. 1. if you move here do not call slippers flip flops or you will die. 2. know your place, i’m being serious, get to know where certain people and ‘types’ hang out because if you are ‘white’ and you go to an area that dont like them. you got trouble. 3, fucking hell rock fever sucks, i mean Oahu is really entertaining and all but there is nothing to do after a while. 4. if you are in highschool or about to be then moving to Hawaii will literally be the opposite of what you expect. In the mainland the jock guys and skinny pretty girls get groomed to be the popular ones. well if you are one of them and you are moving here then hate to burst your bubble but you are going to be the most hated teenager. trust me, i know. 5. AND THIS UPSETS ME THE MOST. NO BANDS COME HERE. in the past….three years i have only had 2 major people come to the island, Justin Bieber (vomit) and Matchbox 20 (who only played one night) so if you are hoping for a band Like idk Sleeping with Sirens (please please please) or One Direction (please) then you are shit outa luck because it probably wont happen. 6 and last is that the school system sucks. your school choices here are either public schools where kids get put in hopsitals and have drug problems and teach not well. or private schools that eat your money, dont teach well, and still have drugs, in fact the more expensive ones because they are rich. All in all, i really really wish i lived in the mainland again (not florida like when i grew up florida is a hell hole) but not here that is for sure.
sorry about my mistakes not exactly feeling like correcting them. same goes for any typos along the way.
BrandiSantos No worries, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
I have lived in the islands for two years and that is enough for me. I am Asian and can easily blend it and never experienced any prejudice or discrimination, but still would not go back to live there. Everything is expensive in comparison to the mainland. Yes, I can’t stand the island fever. It got so boring I’ve seen it all and have nowhere else to go, and I hate flying just to get from one island to another (can’t they come up with ferry services?). I moved to the south and within a year I am able to purchase a house, whereas I have friends in Hawaii who have lived there for two decades and still renting. Going back there? No thanks.
jjatlman Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The home prices seem out of control in Hawaii when you compare them to here in the states. I bought a house here in the Midwest but would not be able to purchase a condo in Hawaii. I think vacationing for a few days (or weeks!) would be ideal. It’s definitely interesting how you can go around Maui in such a short time (that’s the only island I’ve visited). As far as ferry service, I heard that it would be more difficult than we think and potentially dangerous? Not sure, just what someone else said.
DC @ Young Adult Moneyjjatlman
Really? I was born in Asia and we have ferry services all the time as an alternative for people who can’t afford to fly and except for a few accidents (which can happen anywhere) it is a good way to travel. I wonder why it won’t work in Hawaii? Hmmmm. Also I lived on the Big Island which is twice the size of all the other islands combined, as well as traveling to Oahu and Maui but I still feel confined.
jjatlman DC @ Young Adult Money The State of Hawaii did in fact purchase a couple of ferry boats but the airlines mounted frivolous legal challenges which were enough to kill the service
PatrickJohnBlackburn jjatlman DC @ Young Adult Money Interesting, did not know that. Not surprised the airlines did everything they could to stop it.
PatrickJohnBlackburn jjatlmanDC @ Young Adult MoneyWow..now that’s another reason why living in Hawaii sucks! Airlines manipulating the travel industry and the state can’t do anything about it.
Um, you seem to have forgotten to complete your list. Living in HI sucks because so many of the locals do! Not all but a lot are incredibly prejudiced against caucasians or “hoales”. In fact, they reminded me of poor white trash in that they are so horribly uneducated and unaccomplished (horrible school systems and above average rates of meth use, domestic violence and welfare dependence) that they turn to racism/a distorted sense that they’re superior to others to make themselves feel better. As a result, they’re just hateful and so insecure that they’re always on guard against some perceived slight. Honestly, I grew up in a very racially diverse part of the mainland and never saw or experienced the blatant prejudice that I did in Hawaii. Of course, I also befriended and worked with some lovely locals -who themselves stated that their culture was very prejudiced against whites – but am still recovering from the very opposite of aloha in HI. So “lucky (I no longer) live Hawaii”!!!
jfs1014 now you know how the Mexicans feel…
Sorry, Billy, but what is exactly is your point? Please try to be a bit more concise than the above post. (Btw, you say that quickly learning Hawaiian and pidgin helped you with “the racism issues”? FYI, locals laugh at haoles who come over and speak pidgin as it’s just not authentic. They were probably just laughing behind your back.)
jfs1014 billy420hilo Billy can leave as long a comment as he wants, but it’s fair to ask him what his point was in his responding comment. Just hoping to allow as many comments as possible on this post without it becoming a back-and-forth between commenters.
jfs1014 My point being is; When I was living in the mainland, most all white prejudice Mexicans, like their all illegal being there. Same type racism happens to us white in Hawaii. Yes! learning Haole helped a lot with the racism issues. I can understand what their saying around me while they don’t even know I understand their language. Its safer that ways. Most Hawaiians do discriminate us. Their history explains why, August 18, 1959, the United States overthrows the Hawaiian Kingdom, Hawaii was then admitted to the Union. and more current, on July 15, 2003 Hawaii announces Independence from all Foreign Powers for returning the Sovereign Kingdom of Hawaii. Hawaiian history its confusing and shocking. Sorry many didn’t like it here. My wife and I are happy here. Coming here financially prepared helps most!
DC @ Young Adult Moneyjfs1014billy420hilo
We’re going on our 7th year here and I think its fair to say we’ve never had “Rock Fever” nor heard about the “Poisonous Bufo Toads killing dogs”, maybe its just in the rual countryside area’s
I like your article, it touches on the grounds of common sence before conceitering nesting in Hawaii. I’m going to write an artice on here called “How To Keep Living in Hawaii Without It Sucking”
JC Mahalo pilialoha (thank you my friend)
billy420hilojfs1014 I am glad you liked it there eventhough you are experiencing some form of discrimination. However, coming to Hawaii financially prepared doesn’t always apply to everyone. In my case, I moved to the U.S. in 2002 and first lived in the midwest, but can’t find a job. After a year, the first offer I got was in Hawaii. Back then I had nothing, except for a few hundreds when I moved there. But its work, so I cannot turn it down just because I am not yet financially prepared. In fact, it is where I started earning my income and building my credit record since moving to this country. Nevertheless, I still move out after two years.
Sorry, you’re right. I guess I just always find unsolicitated advice/lectures irksome – especially long-winded ones. And of course, financial planning before making any big move is sound. And the overthrow of the HI monarchy is sad. However, that history does not excuse or even explain the aggressive and active prejudice that many locals demonstrate. For as someone who worked with locals, served a mostly local population and dated several locals, I have not even a little doubt that my opinion is an informed one! Believe me, I wish I had a better one!
Im from northern Indiana and Ive been living in Hilo Hawaii
for 6 years now and I love it here.
DC thank you for the time you put into this webpage so please
pardon me if I go off topic of the negatives of living in Hawaii.
Firstly I do agree with “all” the negative opinions everyone
has expressed here.
Six years ago I bought 3 acres of land in Hilo through the
internet for $21,000, before moving here bought a small 2 level park model home
(loft bedroom) which I found on Ebay for $17,000.
I havean electricity pole running to my little home but I don’t
use it, Im running all solar electric and at times decorative oil lamps.
I use LP gas for the stove for cooking indoors, but I most
usually bbq outside or use my smoker,
Ive got a modern outhouse
with an outdoor shower. There are no law limits of what I do with my land
I have no electric on my well instead I use an old fashion
hand pump for drinking water.($5500 to have drilled and installed) My shower water
is heated by a solar heater put on my roof which holds 22 gallons of water. I
bought all my solar equipment online through a China website known as Taobao.
My Hawaiii life is good to me and I love it here, but theres
some things you need to know before planning on making Hawaii your nesting
ground.
True, Living in Hawaii seems like a paradise. But it is a
lot of work if you’re not financially set or stable. Hawaii is also nicknamed,
“The Melting Pot”, as the islands are diverse with a mixture of
ethnic backgrounds.
Know that on average, a studio can go for $800 to $1600 a
month, while a one bedroom apartment would be as much as $2000 a month,
depending what area in Hawaii you look into. Water may be included in the rent
but it’s usually up to you to pay for electricity, cable, internet, and other
items. Pets aren’t all that welcome around here. Just take a look on Craigslist
rentals and you’ll notice that a large portion of available rentals won’t allow
pets. The situation is so bad here, that somebody had to create a rental site (extra
fee) that has lists of pet friendly rentals, only.
Try to get a job interview lined up before coming to Hawaii.
Most college graduate jobs, for example, nursing and computer engineer are the more
hard to find than a waitressing or cashier jobs. My first 2 years here I’ve learnt
that I needed to adapt to a second job, one on the side for extra money.
I quickly learned both Hawaiian and local Hawaiian pidgin languages
which are very common languages spoken with the locals and natives and that
alone helped me with the racism issues, don’t be offended if they wave to you
in a different way. Locals use the “shaka” sign as an appreciation to
one another.
Hawaii has seasons, but in a different way from the rest of
the world. The average temperature year round is between 78 to 85, with August
being the hottest month and December being the coolest month at mid 60 degrees.
Ive never felt the hot blistering summers or the freezing winters, but the
winters can be a bit chilly with the cold humidity. The rain season extends
from September through February, although an unexpected downpour for two
minutes can turn the day around at the beach. Snow does not fall in the State
of Hawaii except for the peaks on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, both located on the
island of Hawaii.
A gallon of milk can cost between $6 to $9 and gas prices
range from $4.50 to $5.80 per gallon.
Beef is expensive here, pork is a little bit cheaper. I fish
therefore I save a lot of money and I drive a 3 wheel motorcycle for means of transportation
and on that note, You may want to learn the names of the major highways and local
roads. Most locals don’t follow the actual highway numbers but as the real road
names. ( “Kamehameha Highway” instead of “Route 99”)
Im growing my own vegetable garden year round, 3 harvest
seasons here! YAH RIGHT?
Oh! And speaking of fishing; Don’t think of Hawaii as the
mainland. Think of it more like a foreign country that’s all backwards. The
state harbors are falling apart but the slip feeshave been going up and up since Ive been here.
You might not have to worry about it, however, since getting a permanent slip
at a state harbor is nearly impossible unless you’re willing to bribe the right
person. The private marinas are in pretty good shape; then again, they’re
usually full and will put you on a long waiting list. Although more expensive
than state harbors, there will be electricity and water for your convenience. I
always take my inflatable Coleman boat out saving having to pay to dock or
launch.
Hawaii does not have Daylight Savings Time. If it is
Daylight Savings Time, Hawaii will be 3 hours behind the West Coast and 6 hours
behind East Coast.
Below I listed the current time:
11:34 PM. Saturday, January 11, 2014 (HST) Time in Hawaii,
USA
1:34 AM. Sunday, January 12, 2014 (PST) Time in Los Angeles,
CA, USA
The necessities in your Hawaiian home: a fly swatter, slippers (flip flops), and
fans. The temperature does not go below 65, so there will always be ants and HUGE
cockroaches somewhere, so I got a cat to rid them. You don’t wear shoes in the
house, Hawaiians look down on this. Slippers or being barefoot are most common.
If you are a smoker, Hawaii has a smoking law states that
smoking is not allowed 20 feet from a public doorway or open ventilation
(windows) of a building or partially enclosed spaces and even under overhangs
and roofs) But you can smoke less than 20 feet from a doorway only if the business
is closed, so lucky me I don’t smoke cigarettes.
As an “haole” (White Person) you may want to avoid
the Waianae area beaches. And a warning to all singles coming here looking for
the Hawaiian marijuana and the single women who are walking alone. Hawaii, like
everywhere else, has some bad people. But just be more cautious because,
“This is Hawaii”
I got my time table all wrong hahaha!!! Hey what can I say,
This is Hawaii!!
I’ve lived in Hawaii (Oahu) for nearly 4 years now. My husband’s in the military and we’re finally leaving in 2 months! Personally I haven’t experienced much racism as a white person, though we’ve always lived in prominently military-friendly areas (not on base) and after the first year we stopped venturing out. He also lived here for a few years when he was younger, so we already knew certain places/areas to avoid.
It is incredibly boring!! I grew up in a small(ish) town with a great community, decent night life and close enough to bigger cities where there was even more to do. Most of the night life here is limited to Honolulu, so if you live anywhere else on the island it’s kind of a pain to get there with such limited transportation options (if you’re drinking). The city is working on a rail system, but huge criticism toward the project has put numerous delays on it and I’m skeptical it’ll ever get built.
This article didn’t touch on traffic which I think is odd because in my opinion, it might be the worst thing about living here. Most people live on the west end of Oahu because it has new mainland-style homes (Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Waikele) and tends to be a bit more affordable. That comes at a price though. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing – it’s dry, brown, and HOT (Ko Olina is very beautiful, but it’s a resort area with nothing but tourists). Right now West Oahu is primarily residential forcing everyone to find work in town. Because of that, traffic is an absolute nightmare!!! I heard stories about it before moving here and I thought because I had been in traffic plenty of times, it’d be no big deal or be about the same. No nononono NO! You simply don’t move. I worked 20 miles away from home and my commute would take an hour most days, an hour and a half on bad days (usually right around when school first starts up), and it’s been bad enough that I’ve sat in it for 2 hours. There are no alternate highways/roads to take to avoid it. And that’s just to get to work. Going home is usually worse because by that time tourists and other people are also out and about. Traffic in downtown Honolulu is usually bad at all hours of the day because the freeway suddenly turns into 3 lanes for some reason, so everyone is squeezed together like sardines. I think it may be one of the worst bottlenecks in the country. If you can afford it, live in areas like Kaimuki, Hawaii Kai, Waimanalo, Kailua or Kaneohe. It’s breathtakingly beautiful to live, you’re close to town, and traffic is not nearly as bad.
The weather is wonderful, it’s the perfect temperature all year. But if you’re not getting a breeze, your home will get HOT and it forces you to run the AC quite a bit. Right now it’s nice because it’s “winter” and it’s been cool enough to keep it off. But I’d say 80-90% of the year the AC is running at some point during the day and electricity in Hawaii is beyond expensive. All you have to do is look up HECO reviews on Yelp to know how pissed off people are at how the electric company scams people out of money. It’s a monopoly and there isn’t a choice but to suck it up and pay. I expected utilities would be higher here, what I didn’t expect was to pay a $500 electric bill every month for a small 2-bed townhouse simply because we run the AC for a few hours a day. If you’re thinking about moving here, depending on the size of the home you choose, keep in mind you may end up paying anywhere from $400-$1000 in utilities alone (usually water and electric – gas is pretty uncommon here). Because of this, we had to make the decision to go without cable but hey, at least there’s Netflix! ;)
TL;DR:
Get to know the different areas quick! You don’t want to move into or venture into an area that’s “local only.” If you’re of a race that blends in well with the locals (Hispanics and Asians typically) you won’t have as much trouble, but I’d say white and black people have the most problems fitting in.
Entertainment options are pretty limited, even on Oahu.
Traffic will suck the life out of you and most people can’t avoid it.
Know what you can afford and take every single expense into consideration. Amazon Prime is now available in Hawaii, so take full advantage of free shipping and order online every chance you can.
Also, make time and save money to LEAVE often. Island fever is awful – a lot of people get depressed, bored, lonely, etc. Even if it’s just to one of the other islands. Your sanity might depend on it.
Find the truth about the islands here
https://www.facebook.com/KauaiSuks?ref=hl
That is exactly what I want to do but I would like more resources to know more first. I do not want to live on the main island, I want on the smaller, much more private island, to be alone with my family. That is what we all want!
I moved here in January of 2014, and I’ve seen no less than 5 shows dating from that time to about the first two weeks of April. The fact that there always seems to be a music act that I like is one of the only things I like about living here. For hip-hop and rock, few if any places are better than the Republik.
I lived in Hawaii for 7 years (2004-11), worked at a local TV station, and then went back to school at UH. When I first moved there, I didn’t know anyone in the military and only had “local” friends. I felt accepted and made great friends and was lucky to be introduced to some of the most wonderful aspects of culture in Hawaii. In 2008, I met my Army husband (totally random) and was introduced to a whole other side of the island (figuratively, not literally). The military people I met seemed, in general, angry about being there and were very negative about their time there. Obviously this doesn’t go for everyone, but it seemed so common after awhile. They might’ve just been upset with being in the military. Moving so much is very hard (as I discovered later when the Army moved us to Arizona- ugh.) But, it’s easy for people to be stereotyped and not accepted if they’re angry all the time.
Couple of things I wanted to share:
* I never heard of anyone’s dog coming into contact with the Bofo frogs.
* TheBus system is pretty good. I was without a car for a couple of years and got along very well. Sometimes I long for the days of not having to drive. But then, I love public transportation and just put on headphones to ignore the crazies.
* In 2007, TheBus started up a ferry system which failed for several reasons. KGMBTV had a reporter and a couple of photographers take it to Maui and back and they ALL got sick. Seasoned ocean-going people got terribly, terribly sick on TheFerry. We eventually got a press release from TheBoat warning people of the conditions.
* I have haole, former-military friends who live in Makaha and Waianae and they love it and love their neighbors. I lived in Makiki and never felt scared at night.
* Milk can often be $7 gallon. Gas can top $4/gal. So, that sucks. Solution: Drink more water and drive less!
* The Kokua Festival was awesome… but Jack Johnson is sadly no longer holding them. It’s hard for promoters to get concerts to Hawaii because of the expense of transporting the sets and staff. If easier if someone who is already on a World Tour agrees to stop for a night in Hawaii.
* Stuff is run-down. Yup. It’s sad. Not much I can say about that.
* I certainly didn’t make very much money and took advantage of the unusual rental market. I think patience is key. For every space-under-the-stairs listed as a bedroom, there is a nice family with an Ohana rental who doesn’t realize they could ask for twice the amount.
* There are so many wonderful opportunities to be outside and enjoy the island – where else can you saunter past a Plumeria tree, pluck one for your hair, walk to a farmer’s market and buy avacados that were picked THAT DAY, then go to the beach – for free – and later watch a movie or fireworks on the beach? Where else can you hear dozens of languages on the same corner? Where else can you get Leonard’s malasadas?
* This is a different place that deserves respect and no judgment. You can’t move to Hawaii and say “oh, I wish it was like XXX.” It’s not. The moment you stop wishing it was something else is the moment you can start appreciating the real Hawaii. It must be appreciated for what it is, for the history that is here, for the struggles it still endures, and for it’s amazing place in our world.
* My favorite Hawaii-ism is: “if can, can, if no can, no can.”
I was just about to buy a ticket there until I saw the paragraph about poisonous toads. This changes everything!
jfs1014 From experience it’s not about prejudice towards white people as much as some sort of a strange prejudice towards everyone who is not definitely not related to you. Having said that it’s nothing like the some of the bad areas on the mainland, nobody will rob you or not serve you because you are of some race other than the owner of the place. White people are a minority there but there is prejudice even between for example Samoans and Tongans. Sometimes I think people talk smack about others just because the have nothing else to do and they are bored. If you are sensitive about this – don’t be, it never turns into anything and people love to throw around the race card.
I cannot believe how many people are saying basically that Hawaii is not like some place on mainland – off course it’s not. Oahu is crowded with some tensions coming that. To everyone considering a move there – you move there because you love Hawaii, not because of going to concerts, because you like to travel or because it’s just like your hometown only with a better weather. I am one of those people who love Hawaii, ocean, weather, mountains, everything green, beatup cars, surfing, food and I also love the diversity. There are lot’s of unhappy and at times mean people there but there are also plenty of very nice people who still have the aloha spirit with them.
dsamus
While I agree with almost everything you said, especially
the reasons to move or not to move to Hawaii, and that there always mean people
everywhere (not just in Hawaii), I must say that being Filipino (which makes up
a large population of the state), I have no issues with discrimination and I
easily blended in. Thus I did live as a
local for two years, but contrary to what you said, not even that had convinced
me to live there permanently. I moved out and living in the south for 10 years
now.
billy420hilo Hawaii sucks You are an idiot. As shown by your grammar and “history”.
Hawaii sucks It’s haole.
StudentDebtSurvivor I lived on the Big Island with a dog…we were surrounded by jungle…never heard anything about poisonous toads. We did have the ubiquitous coqui frogs, though, accidentally brought to Hawaii by Home Depot on plants they sold. Now, everywhere. Tiny, make a very loud racket at night…which I liked!
PatrickJohnBlackburn billy420hiloHawaii sucks
You actually took the time for your short comment that’s way off topic?
Every thread has its share of stereotype people on board such as yourself, fortunately this thread only has one, YOU!
Only an “idiot” will post their real name in the web…
Take care of yourself and try to find peace within yourself and stop searching to be the center of attraction in the internet.
My life in Hawaii is a good life, shame yours isn’t good everywhere your feet lands.
Peace From Hilo!
PatrickJohnBlackburn billy420hilo Hawaii sucks Your an IDIOT for posting your real name in the web~ everyone wants to be the grammar police in most message boards…
When you are in a new enviornment whether moving to Hawaii or the states you end up facing certian challenges. It is my opinion that the reason many people have terrible expieriences when visiting or deciding to live here for a few months is that they have a certian expectation of what Hawaii is all about. Yes Hawaii is beautiful and has a tropical appeal, but we have poverty and violence just like any other state. Honestly you will end up facing different levels of racism when living in Hawaii if your white but to say that everyone from Hawaii will treat you that way is unfair.
Yes Hawaii has increased cost of living and housing. Yes there is limited entertainment options in terms of well known bands performing and night spots but, there are still lots of things you can do that are fun and entertaining. There is a limited job market due to the fact that Hawaii’s main form of income is centered around Tourism. To those that are shocked about this I would like to point out that this is an island, it is not like mainland nor has it ever been. So to treat it as such is setting yourself up for a terrible time.
If you are considering moving to Hawaii I would say that you should treat the decision just as if you were moving to state located on the mainland. Figure out all aspects that would encompass moving here, from the job market, living expenses, location, school districts, crime rates, and traffic conditions. Figure out what it is that you are looking for and what would suit you and your families needs.
(P.S. posionus toads are a danger to dogs here. My golden retreiver has had contact with these toads on three different occasions. A big warning sgin is that your dog will start to foam at the mouth in rapid succession. When this happend we flushed out his mouth with water 3-4 times and he was fine.)
I live here now. Praise God for Army life!
So it did crossed my mind, this would be a great place to live and raise a family, but then I factor in the negatives (the disparity between the rich and poor….enormous gap here), and many hurdles needed to jump before making a decent living and is it worth all the effort. I must note, as much as I enjoyed playing the resident for most of the time, I did enjoyed best was the last week where I did indulgde on myself and was just like any tourists. Having to worry being on a restricted budget, living with others, or taking the bus is something I would not do for any place where I would call home and make a living including a paradise such as Hawaii …those days living by pay check, sharing with roommates, not having a car are behind me and there is no place I would live to go back to living as I once did. You need to have a plenty of income unless you don’t mind living off mostly of your pay check if you are lucky enough to find work or using up your savings that’s if you have any meanwhile incurring further debts and never owning anything even a simple used car. I know after awhile, I would have to get off the island to the mainland once and awhile and vacation to other destinations just for a change of scenery.
Also it doesn’t help the wealthier Asians among others but mainly Asians are fuelling the growth by buying up properties and spending their vacation dollars at highend Hotels, dining out at ritzy restaurants, shopping at highend designer stores which is why the prices are inflating at a rate where most average Americans cannot have the same kind of standards like many parts of the mainland while all along bringing in cheap temporary workers mainly from the Philippines all which need a place to stay and paying gouging prices just for a room which explains why many of them stay with more than one person in a room. Funny how, history now affects the Americans now with Asian buying power pushing up the prices what White Americans did to the natives of the Islands of Hawaii in the past ( well, a hell lot worse, overthrown their Kingdom and took away their sovereignty as a nation….which is why some, not all resent the whites naturally). Now it’s the Japanese and other Asians are taking over which the resident whites protesting meanwhile the natives are also taking resentment towards them. I’m not saying all, but these where things that I observed and heard from them.
For me, Hawaii would be a paradise island to retire, but who knows how that will be like in 35yrs from now…maybe a place as DC would put a place that “sucks”. Just one last point, the person who manages the airbnb lives in the building and as a part time job she manages the properties within the apt. complex. I asked her, how many units do you manage and out of curiosity, who owns them and she replied with, she personally manages 12 apts. all are foreign owned 10 are from Japan, one from Korea and the other from China. This was a buiding with about 12 stories with 8 units on each floor. She said that 80% is Asian owned yet I saw mainly, Phillipinos, some Polynesians, some Caucasian and the rest Asians. Many lived with different family members or roommates and the odd loner, but those where few and far between (probably the owners) and there was one bedroom unit listed in the lobby for $1650. Mind you, it’s right in the heart of Waikiki, but still, which is why there are those willing to live two families in one unit. No wonder there was an infestation of roaches. Mind you I only paid $36 a night for a private room (the room was decent to what I paid), but I think in the near future, I’ll stick to a private condo or what I did the last week paid $199 a night at the Sheraton and that was a deal since I book locally which is normally over $300 a night. Sounds crazy, well it is. Mind you the Trump Towers which is not ocean front goes for about $700 a night. You can get a decent place for around $99 but I said to myself, after two weeks living with 3 girls, one whom help herself to my things in the fridge and the only one bathroom not to mentioned the roach filled kitchen, I needed an upgrade so I decided to not take chances and go for the Sheraton which has an amazing infinity pool. Money well spent.
jfs1014 Hawaian people are so ugly
I lived on what I think is the best island myself. Best beaches and weather, Maui. I could hardly wait to go home after a year. It is a whole different thing to actually live and work there.
Island fever is a real thing. Unless you surf or take up some kind of sport or outdoor hobby it gets boring.
It is quite expensive, and there really is a prejudice against white people. It is real and you need to tread carefully. Also living in a vacation location is kinda strange. Very transient. I now go there often for two week vacations. That is just perfect. I enjoy being a on vacation there vs. living there. But I do live in a beautiful part of California, so that may be part of why I was not enamored with living there.
LeaveComments Well, it’s culture. There’s nothing wrong with xenophobia and wanting to protect your culture from the impurities that capitalistic america is subjecting to you and we’ve been doing our best to push the aboriginals out for the white man with money.
nothingornot LeaveComments There’s nothing wrong w a fear of strangers?! Well, there is something wrong w the rampant prejudice that locals display in HI. “Fucking haole”is such a refrain that even whites sympathetic to locals financial displacement become sick and tired of local’s endless whining – especially as they blame everything on “whitey” as opposed to taking some responsibility for their above average rate of illiteracy, domestic violence and welfare dependence. Not to mention the meth epidemic over there. So lucky I (no longer) live Hawaii!
Anything I should know about the buying process? Is is difficult to get solar energy or wells drilled? Anything else you can think of hat would be suggestions for me? I am looking at some land near Mountain View about 2-3 acres for 15-20K
Low pay,high prices, tsunamis, volcanos, earthquakes, flashfloods etc. No thanks. Lived there one year and hated it.
I moved to Maui almost three years ago with a job lined up and four suitcases and I’m still here. It is completely doable. I do live in a tiny studio house in a great neighborhood on a golf course and drive an economical Honda Civic sedan I lease. I only commute 1.5 miles each way to the school where I teach. My salary went up 10k and my expenses are about the same. My car payment is $100 less than on the mainland, my car insurance and wifi is considerably less here than in Vegas as well. My student loan and cell phone payments are the same. I only pay maybe $100 more in groceries, and $75 a month in gas due to my commute. My housing is only $100 more than the condo I rented in Vegas as well. However, again it’s a simpler life. Everything is smaller here. Weather is great here- cool at night in the country and warm in the day. Summer can get a little hot, but I manage. I have a pension, retirement account, and savings as well as great medical. I’m also able to travel to different islands a few times a year, and a big mainland trip for two weeks each summer. I haven’t traveled internationally in the few years I’ve been here, but I’m planning a trip to Thailand in the next year or so. I have never experienced racism ever, only lots of aloha and friendliness from local people. Several of the white or ‘haole’ people I have met that moved here are a mess and strange but that’s not everyone. Overall, it’s a great life! I do miss city life at times, but I’ve flown to Waikiki for the day and that satisfies me. I really haven’t encountered any of the things others have listed at all. Anything is possible if you want it badly enough!
Been here two years now. I still think it’s better in small doses, but since I’m here for a few more years (looks like), the weather’s great, people are very friendly, and the things that I thought I hated were just things that I needed to get used to (and get over), like cash-only businesses in the 21st century. I’m even re-learning to drive the speed limit (especially hate that everywhere I go is down a hill, but alas).
It’s not for everyone, though. It’s okay to desperately want to get back to the mainland. I find it strange that people love Alaska (where I also lived for 3 years, and now dread ever being cold again), but they do, and in larger numbers than I thought possible. Paradise is your own perception of it, I guess. Anyways, Aloha.
Like your article on Hawaii. I’ve been here for 6 years and am so homesick for my home state. My husband and I were working on contracts for Solar Energy program and he got sick and could no longer work. So now I live almost 4000 miles away from my family and miss them terribly and my old life style.
I currently live here but don’t love it or hate it, the first 7 months were optimistic but I feel stuck here now after 2 years & you realise that cost of living is way too high ( Rents,food, petrol,etc…) Job opportunities are limited or underpaid. The only way to survive is to transfer or find a extremely good paying job through a solid connection, otherwise you’ll be stuck with s $10.00 hourly wage. Ah’, and it’s Horrible being single here. There’s not much to do ( nightlife wise) and people are not very receptive with other cultures or races. Unless you’re Asian or White Anglo/ Military.
Bottom line is NOT with it to move here unless you’re a Surfer, Hicker or transfer with a good paying job that will set you up for the rest of your days
Been on Kauai for almost 2 years, none of this applies to people that belong here. There is a reason these things keep so many people from moving here. I was fortunate to come at 19…. If I had kids and a wife I couldn’t imagine moving. Next stop, New Zealand. United States I will soon leave for as long as imagineable. Living in Hawaii is a breeze, if you surf/hike/LOVE our abundant nature, and don’t worship money. Let go of ideas of money worth and it’s a breeze, everyone takes care of everyone. At least in west & parts of south Kauai. Never lived north or east side… Peace and one love!
Racism is one of the biggest problems. Hawaii has “Kill Haole Day”. It would be like South Carolina or some other state having a “Kill Ni@@ers Day”. Hawaii is the most racist place I’ve ever been. I was told by a private school that my son could not attend because he was not “Native Hawaiian”, and the school was only for “Native Hawaiians” only. Imagine being told “This is a “White” school. No blacks allowed. But in Hawaii this segregation is legal. If you are white you can expect to be treated like blacks were in the post civil war southern states.
Don’t, I repeat DON’T do it man. I’ve been here for 6 months and it is awful…period. I’m not even kidding. It’s gorgeous and that’s about it. Visit for a week and stay in the tourist areas, as soon as you’re out of that facade Hawaii reveals itself as a very unwelcoming place. You can cut the Mainlander/Local tension with a knife. I have a Horticulture degree with years of experience in specialized crops and hydroponics and can’t get an entry-level, min. wage position on a farm due to not being a local, which is a statement I don’t make lightly. I actually heard the people who interviewed me laugh about it as I got into my car (dead serious had to get a horrendous pizza delivery route where I was harassed and not tipped due to my being a ‘haole’). Meth and theft are rampant and rarely handled by police (just look at the Facebook group ‘East Side Big Island Watch’ and you get a taste of every day life here). I’m trying to figure out how to get everything back to the mainland right now and will literally sell everything just to get back to somewhere where people don’t throw pig carcasses in your backyard.