Moving to Hawaii: What You Need to Know

With its sunny beaches and tropical vibe, Hawaii seems like the ideal state when you’re considering a move, and in many ways, it is. But The Aloha State isn’t all sun and fun. Moving your belongings from the mainland to the islands can be a challenge, not to mention finding a job and an affordable place to live. Add to that the state’s high cost of living, and it’s obvious that a move to Hawaii takes a lot of planning.

For all of that, Hawaii has a lot to offer, though, and many people dream of calling it home. Here’s everything you need to know about moving to Hawaii, including its cost of living.

The Islands

Hawaii is a chain of more than 100 islands formed by volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. We’ll explore six that are considered major islands—Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Island of Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai—and only the first four have significant populations. Unless you can work remotely, living on Molokai and Lanai is probably not feasible because few jobs exist.

Before you decide to move, it’s important to get a feel for the islands since each has its own personality and weather. We recommend visiting the actual neighborhoods where you think you might want to live, during the day and at night, to see what life is really like there. To help you get started, we’ve compiled some basic descriptions of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.

Oahu: The most populous of the islands with nearly 1.02 million residents, Oahu boasts the state’s capital, Honolulu. Honolulu may feel more comfortable for those moving from the mainland since it has major highways, shopping malls, office buildings, and restaurants. It also offers the most opportunities for jobs and has plenty of public and private schools for families.

Maui: While Maui is a larger island than Oahu, it has roughly 1/10 th of its population. As a result, the island has fewer jobs. However, if you can find a job or work remotely, Maui offers diverse geography ranging from its cool interior to the dormant volcano at Haleakala National Park and beaches on the island’s west side.

Kauai: Because it has a population of only 72,000, finding a job on Kauai can be even more difficult than on Oahu or Maui. Some argue that it is the most beautiful of the islands, though, with rainforests and waterfalls that have earned it the nickname “The Garden Island.”

Island of Hawaii: Even though it has the second-largest population behind Oahu, the people who live there can spread out because it is the largest island. If you choose to live here, you will need a car to cover the vast distances between destinations.

The Culture

Moving to any new state can be a bit of a culture shock, but that’s amplified when you move to Hawaii. For starters, you’ll be living on an island, and island fever—that claustrophobic feeling some people get when they live on an island—is a real thing. Then, you have the distance between Hawaii and the mainland to contend with, a mere 2,560 miles by air from California. You’ll miss the family and friends you leave behind and may feel isolated.

In fact, locals have a term for newcomers, malihini, or stranger. Most locals will view you skeptically at first since so many malihini return to the mainland within their first year. You can take a few steps to help you adjust to the Hawaiian culture, fit in better and make friends easier, though. First, read about the state and the history of its people. A few books to consider include Hawaii’s Story by Queen Liliuokalani and Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii by James L. Haley. You’ll also want to learn a few words.

Cost of living in Hawaii

Hawaii is the most expensive state in the United States, and Honolulu consistently ranks as one of the nation’s most expensive cities. According to Area Vibes, Honolulu has a cost of living index score of 185, which is 85 percent higher than the national average of 100. That is slightly better than Hawaii’s overall cost of living index score of 178. This is due in large part to the high cost of groceries. Because many items have to be shipped from the mainland, groceries are 71 percent above the national average, and goods are 28 percent higher.

The price of housing contributes greatly to the cost of living. Area Vibes notes that housing costs in Honolulu are 171 percent above the national average. Overall, the state doesn’t fare much better with housing prices that are 150 percent higher. (Read the section on real estate below for more information on housing costs in Hawaii.) Add utilities, which is 102 percent over the national average in Honolulu, and transportation at 45 percent higher, and it’s easy to see why Hawaii is the most expensive state.

Don’t let this deter you. If you compare the cost of living in Honolulu to the cost of living in San Francisco, the capital city of Hawaii is actually a less expensive place to live. The overall cost of living in San Francisco is 105 percent higher than the national average compared to Honolulu’s 85 percent higher. In other words, if you live in an expensive mainland city like San Francisco already, living in Hawaii may not be such a big shock to your budget. However, if you are coming from a more affordable city, the high cost of living in Hawaii may be dramatic.

Jobs in Hawaii

The current unemployment rate in Hawaii is 6 percent, which is above the national rate of 3.9 percent (at the time this article was written). Honolulu’s unemployment rate is 5 percent.

By far, tourism is the largest industry in the state, accounting for approximately 21 percent of the state’s economy, according to WorldAtlas. Defense plays a critical role, too. In fact, the U.S. The Pacific Command makes its base in Hawaii. And members of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard all call the state home. Other significant industries include mining, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and construction.

Note that a lot of the tourism jobs are seasonal. As such, employers hire a lot of part-time and contract workers. These workers don’t qualify for full-time benefits, such as health insurance. Also, even if you do find full-time work, you may need a second job to afford your living expenses.

Salaries in Hawaii

The average U.S. salary is $56,310, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the average salary of someone living in Hawaii is $58,190. Keep in mind that the cost of living in Hawaii is 71 percent above the national average.

Based on how the average American allocates his salary, people living in Honolulu—and on a broader scale, Hawaii—need to spend more of their income on necessities. For example, the average American spends 33.8 percent of his income on housing and 12.5 percent on food. The average Honolulu resident spends 38.7 percent of his income on housing and 16.3 percent on food.

Similarly, while the average American spends 4.9 percent of his income on entertainment, the average person living in Honolulu spends just 3.2 percent. When it comes to apparel and services, the average American doles out 2.7 percent of his earnings to look his best, but the average Honolulu resident spends 1.9 percent. This may be because he has less disposable cash to spend on anything that isn’t a necessity.

Hawaii Real Estate

As mentioned above, housing is very expensive in Hawaii. According to Realtor.com, Honolulu’s median listing home price is $650,000, with an average of $668 per square foot. But that’s far from the most expensive average. The median listing home price on the island of Maui is $896,500, with an average of $787 per square foot, and houses in Kauai have a median home listing price of $940,000, with an average of $680 per square foot.

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data, Hawaii has more than 465,000 households, 8.5 percent of which are overcrowded. That means that more than one person occupied each room in 8.5 percent of all Hawaii households. Roughly 60 percent of all households are owner-occupied, and 40 percent are renter-occupied.

In most cases, renting a home in Hawaii will be much more expensive than renting one on the mainland. According to Rentcafe.com, the average rent for a small, one-bedroom apartment in Honolulu is $1,845. Current listings on Apartments.com show studios averaging $2,000 per month, with two-bedroom units going for roughly $4,000. In general, you will pay more to rent on Oahu and less on the Big Island of Hawaii. Maui and Kauai fall in the middle.

Taxes

Based on your federal adjusted gross income, Hawaii has a progressive state income tax, meaning you will pay more the more you earn. The scale ranges from 1 percent for those in the lowest bracket to 11 percent for those earning more than $200,000. With that 11 percent bracket, Hawaii has one of the highest income taxes in the United States.

It also has the third-highest sales tax in the nation at 12.7 percent. That means that when you make a taxable purchase, you’ll not only pay significantly more for the item because of the state’s high cost of living, but you’ll also pay more in sales tax.

There is good news if you own property, though. Hawaii has a relatively low property tax rate. Owners receive an exemption on the first $80,000 of assessed value. Then, they pay a flat $3.50 per $1,000 after that until they reach the age of 65. For those age 65 and older, the exemption increases to $120,000.

What to bring when moving to Hawaii

Once you decide to move to one of the islands, the question isn’t about what to bring or what not to bring. Most locals recommend you don’t bring any major possession except your car. They advise selling all furniture (most rentals are furnished) and any belongings that don’t fit in your suitcase. If you plan on returning to the mainland, they suggest storing those items rather than trying to relocate them. That’s because it costs so much to ship anything to Hawaii.

When considering what to buy before moving to Hawaii, the answer is simple—don’t. Only purchase an item if you are positive you can’t find it on the islands. Even if you can’t buy something you need, you can certainly have a friend or relative mail it to you later.

How to move to Hawaii

If you aren’t bringing much, moving to Hawaii is relatively simple. You purchase your airline ticket and pack your bags. Anyone trying to find how to move to Hawaii for cheap would do best to limit themselves to just the items they can pack in their bags.

However, if you need to bring more, the question of how to move to Hawaii becomes more complicated. Everything that doesn’t fit in your suitcases needs to be shipped by boat or mailed in a box. Smaller items can be mailed. But furniture will probably require a shipping container.

How much does it cost to move to Hawaii?

The cost of moving to Hawaii depends on which method you use. If you choose to pack everything in suitcases, the move will cost a plane ticket and baggage fees. To this, you can add the costs of any mailed boxes sent by UPS, FedEx or USPS. Expect to pay significantly more to mail anything to Hawaii, though. For example, a 1-pound package sent from Los Angeles to New York would cost $9.14, according to Stamps.com, a licensed USPS vendor. That same package going to Hawaii would cost $28.09.

On the other hand, the cost increases drastically if you want to relocate your entire household. This is because you’ll need to pack your items in a shipping container. Shipping containers come in two sizes: 20 feet and 40 feet. The cost of shipping items to Hawaii depends on where you are loading your shipping container (it will cost more to load in Las Vegas than Los Angeles), the weight of your packed container and what you are shipping.

In general, a 20-foot shipping container will cost $9,000 to move from Los Angeles to Honolulu, and a 40-foot container will cost $13,000. Given those high figures, you probably want to sell your belongings and buy new ones when you arrive.

Additionally, because it can be challenging to find a job, you’ll want to have saved a bare minimum of 6 months of living expenses to cover your costs when you arrive.

How to move your pets to Hawaii

Because it’s an isolated chain of islands, moving to Hawaii with pets can be challenging. First, it’s the only state in the country that is rabies-free. As a result, there are very strict protocols about bringing any domesticated animal to the islands. Second, some animals can’t be brought to the islands because of Hawaii’s delicate ecosystem.

The key to moving to Hawaii with a pet is to plan far in advance. Start by determining whether your pet can be brought into the state. In general, most dogs and cats are welcome as long as they are not crossed with another species, such as a dog-wolf hybrid. Examples of prohibited animals include snakes, hamsters, hermit crabs, porcupines, geckos, toucans and snapping turtles. You also can’t move a pregnant animal to Hawaii.

Next, make sure your pet is completely up to date on its vaccinations, and you have detailed vet records. Your pet may qualify for the direct release program if everything is in order. A small glitch that can be resolved quickly may result in the pet being placed into a 5-day or less quarantine. However, pets that don’t qualify for either will be subject to Oahu’s full 120-day (4-month) quarantine.

How to move your car

Despite the advice to sell everything before moving to Hawaii, it can make sense to ship your mainland car if you need one. And you likely will since Hawaii doesn’t have much public transportation outside of Oahu. Selling your current car and purchasing a new one when you arrive is an option, but you will pay more for it, just as you would for any other item purchased in Hawaii.

The first step in shipping your car to Hawaii is determining whether it’s the best decision for your circumstances. Consider your car’s age and condition. How many miles does it have on it? Will the car need to be replaced soon anyway? Then, determine how practical it is for island life. Your SUV may not be the best choice since gas can be very expensive on the islands. Currently, the national average for a gallon of gas is $3.32. In Hawaii, that same gallon costs $4.28, according to GasBuddy.com.

If you’ve decided to ship your vehicle to Hawaii, you have two options. The first is to drive it to the port and pick it up yourself in Hawaii. Known as RORO, or “roll-on, roll-off,” this is the least expensive method. However, this doesn’t make much sense unless you live close to the port. Instead, most people hire someone to drive the car from their current city to the port. Then, they have it delivered to them in Hawaii.

The costs will vary depending on the type of car and how far it is from the port. For example, expect to pay $2,179 to ship a sedan from Columbus, OH to Kauai. You will pay $2,099 to ship a sedan from Miami to Kauai. A Honda Pilot going from Columbus to Kauai will cost $2,300, while one going from Miami will cost $2,200.

Another option is to move your car in the same shipping container as your furniture and other belongings. This will protect the car’s paint from seawater during transit but add to your costs since oil and gas are hazardous materials. Plus, you can expect an extra labor charge for bracing your car in the container.

Before shipping a car to Hawaii, make sure you have its documentation in order. You’ll need the vehicle title or lien holder authorization letter to move the car. Add to that the current vehicle registration and a picture ID that matches the name on the title and registration. Just to be on the safe side, you’ll also want two sets of keys—one to go with the car and one to stay with you.

More to consider before moving to Hawaii

• When you move to the islands, make transferring your driver’s license to Hawaii a priority. Not only is it essential to drive in the state, but it can earn you discounts at local businesses.
• Many people decide to put their children in private schools rather than public schools. If you have children, do your research and consider the expense of possible private school.
• Don’t be surprised if stores are out of a common item, like baking soda. You’ll learn quickly to make do with what’s at hand.
• Like everything else, car insurance is very expensive. Just how much does car insurance in Hawaii cost? Budget approximately $2,000 for the year, depending on the amount of coverage you need, versus the average rate of $900 you’d pay on the mainland.

Ready to move to Hawaii?

For more information about moving to Hawaii, check out the resources available at Moving.com, such as the City Profile Report feature. Simply enter the zip code or the state and city of your potential move. You will get a free report with city demographics, real estate information, quality of life factors and more. When looking for the best moving company, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers.