Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Hawaii

You think about moving to Hawaii but want to get additional information on living costs, housing, nature, safety, overall quality of life, education, income and much more before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! Stick with me since I will show you the pros and cons of moving to Hawaii in the following article.

Living in Hawaii – Overview

Advantages of Living in Hawaii

1. People in Hawaii can enjoy awesome summers
2. You can enjoy many hours of sun in Hawaii
3. Mild winters are attractive to many people in Hawaii
4. Hawaii is surrounded by beautiful nature
5. You can spend lots of time at the beach
6. Nature activities may help you stay in shape
7. Hawaii is a pretty safe region
8. You can live where other people spend their vacation
9. You can meet many interesting people from all over the world in Hawaii
10. People in Hawaii are pretty relaxed
11. People are friendly and helpful
12. Easy to find new friends in Hawaii rather quickly
13. Hawaii is a pretty tolerant place
14. Hawaii is not a hectic state
15. People are less career-focused than in other states
16. Hawaii has decent medical infrastructure
17. You will find decent public transport on the main islands of Hawaii
18. Many people will envy you for moving to Hawaii
19. Hawaii is a pretty popular place all over the world
20. You can meet many tourists in Hawaii
21. You can experience alternative lifestyles in Hawaii
22. More than enough recreational spaces in Hawaii
23. Decent education in many parts of Hawaii
24. Hawaii is a rather pet-friendly state
25. You can do many activities that are free
26. Hawaii can be an interesting place for students
27. Hawaii may be a great place to retire
28. Decent supply of material goods in Hawaii
29. Island life can be exciting
30. Traffic is not a big problem outside the major cities of Hawaii
31. You may find parking lots pretty quickly
32. Hawaii may be great to live a self-sufficient lifestyle
33. Hawaii is a relatively bicycle-friendly place
34. Distances are rather short in Hawaii
35. High overall quality of life in Hawaii
36. You can experience life from a different perspective
37. Easy to get to the main cities of Hawaii
38. Most people in Hawaii have pretty decent internet connection
39. You can find decent bars and clubs in Hawaii
40. You can meet many beautiful people in Hawaii
41. Income level in Hawaii is above national average
42. People of different social classes live together in harmony
43. Decent air quality in Hawaii
44. You may feel like being on vacation all year long

People in Hawaii can enjoy awesome summers

One advantage of living in Hawaii is that you can just experience really awesome and warm summers in Hawaii and can spend lots of time outdoors so you can enjoy the good weather and can get in a pretty good mood.

You can enjoy many hours of sun in Hawaii

Not only can you enjoy warm weather but Hawaii is also known to be a pretty sunny place where you can tan your body so many tourists will envy you for that.

Mild winters are attractive to many people in Hawaii

Not only summers are great in Hawaii, but also winters are really nice as well since you will barely have to deal with snow but can rather spend lots of time outdoors with just a shirt while many other people living in Chicago or other colder places may have to wear thick coats when going outdoors during winter months.

Hawaii is surrounded by beautiful nature

Another upside to living in Hawaii is that you will also find many palms and beautiful nature in general and this gives you the incentive to spend lots of time outdoors while other people who are not surrounded by beautiful nature may just sit in front of their computers all day long and may just not be able to experience the same high quality of life.

You can spend lots of time at the beach

You should also know that there are more than enough beautiful beaches in Hawaii and you can therefore go swimming, surfing and do many other water sports or can just relax at the beach to reload your batteries for the stressful times that may yet lie ahead of you.

Nature activities may help you stay in shape

Since you can spend lots of time outdoors and can also do many water sports, you will often exercise in a natural manner which can help you stay fit by doing what you love while many other people out there often have to go to the gym after work.

Hawaii is a pretty safe region

Compared to many other regions in the US, Hawaii is a rather safe state and crime rates are pretty low so you may be able to feel much safer in Hawaii compared to people living in Detroit or other places that have to deal with much higher crime rates and unpleasant incidents almost every day.

You can live where other people spend their vacation

Hawaii is just paradise for many people out there and while many people have to spend lots of money on spending their vacation in Hawaii, you will just live in this beautiful place and can enjoy your favorite places almost every day while tourists have to leave pretty soon after they arrived.

You can meet many interesting people from all over the world in Hawaii

Since Hawaii attracts many interesting people from all over the world, you can also have many great conversations with these people and can learn a lot about life in general and you can also discuss many things that are going on right now so you can get a different perspective on life and may be able to see the world with different eyes.

People in Hawaii are pretty relaxed

Another benefit of living in Hawaii is that people are pretty relaxed and open to new things so you can have a great time and will also be less likely to get into serious disputes compared to other states where people are often more stressed and also more eager to start fights with you.

People are friendly and helpful

You should also know that many people in Hawaii are also pretty helpful and in case you get into trouble or need assistance on various occasions of life, chances are that you will find someone who is willing to help you out rather quickly so you can really rely on your social connections and friends in this region.

Easy to find new friends in Hawaii rather quickly

Since many people in Hawaii are open and friendly, you will also have a rather easy time getting in touch with people from all over the world and this is great since you will be able to expand your social circle in a rather playful manner and will also not run out of people to hang out with anytime soon.

Hawaii is a pretty tolerant place

Another advantage of moving to Hawaii is that people are also pretty tolerant in this region and no matter where you come from or what your background is, you will be welcome as long as you are friendly and tolerant yourself and also follow basic rules of human communication.

Hawaii is not a hectic state

You should also know that Hawaii is not the most hectic state and while people in many other regions are often in a rush, people in Hawaii are a little bit slower and really know how to enjoy life so you can spend your time in a more relaxed manner and don’t have to worry about getting stressed as much as in many other regions.

People are less career-focused than in other states

While people in many other states are often pretty career-focused, people in Hawaii rather prioritize good life instead of making a maximum amount of money and will also be more eager to help you out compared to people in other regions who just rush from one meeting to the other.

Hawaii has decent medical infrastructure

You will also find many good doctors on the main islands of Hawaii and as long as you have enough money, you can be sure to get really good medical treatment so you can get cured of your health condition in the most efficient manner and can recover as quickly as possible.

You will find decent public transport on the main islands of Hawaii

You may also be surprised by how good public transport on the main islands of Hawaii really is and you will be able to get around by bus or other means of public transport in a more efficient manner than in many other parts of the US so you may not even need a car in case you want to live in Honolulu or other big cities in Hawaii.

Many people will envy you for moving to Hawaii

Since living in Hawaii is a dream for many people all over the US, you can make your dreams come true while many of your friends living in other states may secretly envy and admire you and you can therefore get a pretty high social standing among your peers.

Hawaii is a pretty popular place all over the world

Not only is Hawaii pretty popular all over the US, but it is also well-known all over the world and you can therefore meet many great people from many foreign countries and can have a great time together while you can also brag about your dream life in Hawaii on social media or other channels.

You can meet many tourists in Hawaii

In general, since Hawaii is a pretty popular place, you can also meet many tourists in this region and talking to tourists is always great since they will tell you many interesting stories about what they have experienced and you may also get some inspiration regarding where you want to travel next.

You can experience alternative lifestyles in Hawaii

Since people in Hawaii are pretty open to new and alternative things, you may also be able to experience many different lifestyles by living on those islands and this may help you see the world from a different perspective and you may also be able to find your inner self much better compared to people living in regions where alternative lifestyles are not socially accepted yet.

More than enough recreational spaces in Hawaii

Another upside to moving to Hawaii is that you will also find many nature reserves, parks and other recreational spaces where you can just sit down and enjoy the quiet atmosphere so you can relax and unplug from your stressful life for a while to reload your batteries for demanding things in the future.

Decent education in many parts of Hawaii

As long as you live in the main parts of Hawaii, you can also find decent schools and colleges and can make sure that you and your kids get solid education so you can increase your chances of getting good jobs later on.

Hawaii is a rather pet-friendly state

You should also know that pets are welcome in most parts of Hawaii and by walking down the streets with your dog, you will get in touch with many other like-minded people and can share your experience and also get useful and valuable advice for various parts of life on this island.

You can do many activities that are free

Since you can spend lots of time in nature, you can also do many free things in Hawaii and this may help you save lots of money in the long run since you can just relax at the beach, go surfing or do other things that will not cost you a lot so even people with rather small budgets may be able to enjoy their lives in this region.

Hawaii can be an interesting place for students

Since you will be able to meet many young people and can experience alternative lifestyles while you can also get solid education, Hawaii may also be a great place to study for people who not only want to get good academic schooling but also want to experience different ways of life while they are still young.

Hawaii may be a great place to retire

While Hawaii may be a great place for young people, it can also be an interesting place to live for the older generation since pensioners can enjoy the beach and live in a warm climatic zone which may be greatly beneficial for their health in the long run and will also find many amenities to make their lives as convenient and nice as possible.

Decent supply of material goods in Hawaii

You also don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods in the Hawaii region since overall public infrastructure is pretty decent and you can be sure to find most things you need pretty close to your home.

Island life can be exciting

If you are an adventurous person, moving to Hawaii may also be great for you since you can really enjoy island life and everything that comes along with it and you may feel a little bit like a pirate in the early ages and may be able to live the same simple life for a while so you will appreciate our modern technologies even more afterward.

Traffic is not a big problem outside the major cities of Hawaii

Another benefit of moving to Hawaii is that you will also not have to deal with traffic jams as often as people in California or other rather crowded states where people often get stuck in traffic in the big cities on a daily basis and will lose lots of precious lifetime due to that.

You may find parking lots pretty quickly

Since traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Hawaii, you will also find a parking lot rather quickly while people in urban parts of other states often have to search for quite a long time in this regard and may have to spend lots of money on their parking lot each month.

Hawaii may be great to live a self-sufficient lifestyle

Thanks to the warm climate, Hawaii may also be a great state to live off the grid since you may be able to grow your own veggies and fruits in a pretty efficient manner and may no longer have to rely on grocery stores since you may be able to produce most things you need yourself.

Hawaii is a relatively bicycle-friendly place

You should also know that Hawaii is a rather bicycle-friendly state with many bike lanes and other amenities for bikers so you may be able to get around by bicycle in a pretty efficient manner and may not urgently need a car to get around.

Distances are rather short in Hawaii

The islands of Hawaii are also rather small in size and this means that distances are also rather short so you can get to most places within a reasonable period of time while this would often take you much more time in bigger states so you will often be able to visit your loved ones in different parts of Hawaii in a pretty efficient manner.

High overall quality of life in Hawaii

In general, due to great weather and beautiful nature, overall quality of life is pretty high in the Hawaii region and as long as you have enough money, there may just not be many other better places to live for most people out there.

You can experience life from a different perspective

Since you can meet so many great and open people, you will also soon realize that your lifestyle is just one out of many and you may also become curious to try different ways of life and those experiences can really help you grow in character and also make you a more tolerant person.

Easy to get to the main cities of Hawaii

The big cities of Hawaii are also well-connected to the world since you can just use solid airports to get to various places in the US or even the world and you therefore don’t have to worry about being stuck on a small island since traveling is not difficult from Hawaii.

Most people in Hawaii have pretty decent internet connection

You should also know that many people in Hawaii have a pretty good internet connection and this helps them stay connected to the world so you can always stay up-to-date with latest developments and will also know what’s going on in the world in real-time.

You can find decent bars and clubs in Hawaii

While you may not be able to experience the same great nightlife as people living in L.A. or other vibrant cities, you will still find some solid bars and clubs in Hawaii and may also be able to party until the early morning.

You can meet many beautiful people in Hawaii

You should also know that Hawaii attracts many beautiful people from all over the US and even the world and you may therefore be able to hook up with many of those beauties and can just have a great time together in many different ways.

Income level in Hawaii is above national average

You should also be aware of the fact that the overall income level in Hawaii is pretty high and if you have decent education, you may be able to make more money in Hawaii than in most other states in the US.

People of different social classes live together in harmony

What’s great about Hawaii is that people of many different social classes still hang out and live together in harmony so it is rather rare that really unpleasant things happen and Hawaii is still a pretty safe place.

Decent air quality in Hawaii

Most parts of Hawaii also have pretty decent air quality and while you may not consider this important, good air quality may still help you stay healthy in the long run while people in more polluted regions may be at higher risk of having to deal with serious health conditions in the long run.

You may feel like being on vacation all year long

Since you will be surrounded by beautiful palms and beaches, you may also feel like being on vacation all year long which may give you a pretty relaxed attitude and may help you stay relaxed even during rather challenging periods of your life.

Now that you know the reasons for moving to Hawaii, we also have to talk about the drawbacks of living in Hawaii in the following so you will get a more realistic picture of reality and can better decide whether you still want to live in Hawaii or rather want to spend your life in a different region instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Hawaii

1. High living costs in Hawaii
2. Housing shortage is a big problem in Hawaii
3. Rents are barely affordable for the general public
4. Property prices are pretty high in most parts of Hawaii
5. Hard to buy a home without overextending yourself
6. Hard to live the classic American dream in Hawaii
7. Living in Hawaii comes along with significant financial pressure
8. Nature becomes increasingly polluted
9. Hawaii becomes increasingly crowded
10. Island life may just not be for you
11. Hawaii is a rather small place
12. Hawaii may be too hot for you
13. Humidity may cause problems for your body in the long run
14. Hard to find world-class education in Hawaii
15. You may get fed up with nightlife in Hawaii sooner or later
16. Hawaii is not a great place if you are afraid of sharks
17. Unemployment rate in Hawaii is rather high
18. Many low-qualified people have a hard time finding decent jobs
19. Social inequality is about to get worse in Hawaii
20. Natural disasters may hit your home in Hawaii
21. Climate change may lower overall quality of life in Hawaii in the long run
22. Public infrastructure is not great on the smaller islands of Hawaii
23. Hawaii is a pretty touristic place
24. Not many great sports teams to support in Hawaii
25. Hawaii may not be the most exciting place
26. Not many big cities in Hawaii
27. Hawaii may be overrated
28. Homeowner’s insurance is pretty expensive in Hawaii

High living costs in Hawaii

One downside to living in Hawaii is that everything is pretty expensive and living costs are pretty high so people with average incomes may really struggle to afford nice things in life and may have to live a pretty basic lifestyle.

Housing shortage is a big problem in Hawaii

You should also know that competition in the Hawaii housing market is pretty fierce and many people have a hard time finding decent and affordable places to rent or buy within a reasonable timeframe.

Rents are barely affordable for the general public

Compared to most other places in the US, rents in Hawaii are far higher and this means that many people in Hawaii have to spend a big fraction of their income on housing while people living in Louisville and other less popular regions have more money left to spend on other nice and important things of life.

Property prices are pretty high in most parts of Hawaii

Another problem with living in Hawaii is that property prices have skyrocketed over the past decades and the average person is no longer able to afford a decent home in this region and if property prices increase even further, only rich people are still able to buy decent homes while the majority of the general public may be left behind.

Hard to buy a home without overextending yourself

Many people in Hawaii are also no longer able to buy a home without overextending themselves financially and may therefore just live for paying off their mortgage without being able to afford any other nice things and this may become really annoying and exhausting in the long run.

Hard to live the classic American dream in Hawaii

Since everything is so expensive, living the classic American dream with owning a nice home, a fancy car and so on is almost impossible for the average person in Hawaii and if you want to live this kind of lifestyle, you may be better off moving to Alabama or other less popular regions where you will get far more for your money.

Living in Hawaii comes along with significant financial pressure

Due to high living and housing costs, many people in Hawaii also have to deal with serious financial pressure and in case you are not able to deal with those things in an emotionally healthy manner, you may suffer from serious mental problems sooner or later which will greatly decrease your overall quality of life.

Nature becomes increasingly polluted

Another disadvantage of living in Hawaii is that beaches and nature in general become increasingly polluted due to a high number of tourists and other irresponsible people just disposing of their waste in those natural environments and in case this trend continues, you may no longer be able to enjoy beautiful nature and your overall quality of life may drop quite a lot in Hawaii in the long run.

Hawaii becomes increasingly crowded

Since Hawaii is a pretty popular place all over the US and even the world, it also becomes increasingly crowded since many people think about moving to Hawaii and the more crowded Hawaii gets, the less public space you will have for yourself and you may also no longer life in a relaxed place but may rather feel like living in a busy big city instead.

Island life may just not be for you

Before moving to Hawaii, you should also ask yourself whether island life is really for you or if you are the type of person who rather wants to live on the mainland since you should be aware of the fact that islands in Hawaii are not really big and it will not take you a long time to explore everything around you so you may get bored with island life in Hawaii rather quickly.

Hawaii is a rather small place

In general, Hawaii is a rather small island group and compared to people living in Colorado or other bigger states in the US, there will just not be as much to see and experience and you will also not be able to make long road trips so you may feel pretty confined with your island life in Hawaii in the long run.

Hawaii may be too hot for you

Another problem with moving to Hawaii is that it is also a pretty hot place and while some people really love the heat, others just can’t stand it and if you belong to the second group of people, you may be better off moving to Minneapolis or other cooler regions.

Humidity may cause problems for your body in the long run

You should also not forget that Hawaii is also a rather humid place and combined with the heat, this may really exhaust your body in the long run and you may just not be as fit and as productive as people who don’t have to deal with high levels of humidity.

Hard to find world-class education in Hawaii

While you will find solid schools and colleges in Hawaii, you will still have a hard time finding the same world-class education as people in Boston or other fancy regions are often able to experience and your chances in the job market may therefore be worse compared to people studying at elite schools.

You may get fed up with nightlife in Hawaii sooner or later

Another downside to moving to Hawaii is that while you will find some decent bars and clubs, nightlife in Hawaii is still rather limited and if you are a party person, you may not find what you are looking for in Hawaii in the long run and may be better off moving to NYC or other more vibrant places.

Hawaii is not a great place if you are afraid of sharks

While Hawaii has many beautiful beaches, you should also be aware of the fact that you will share the water with big animals and in case you are unlucky, you may get bitten by a shark and may even lose your life in the worst case.

Unemployment rate in Hawaii is rather high

You should also know that unemployment rate in Hawaii is rather high and you may therefore have a hard time finding a decent job and may also get into serious financial trouble in case this happens since everything is pretty expensive and you may no longer be able to pay your basic bills without a job rather quickly.

Many low-qualified people have a hard time finding decent jobs

While highly-qualified people can make decent money in Hawaii and can choose among many different jobs, low-qualified people have a rather hard time finding and keeping their jobs and may therefore often have to worry about getting laid off.

Social inequality is about to get worse in Hawaii

While social inequality is not as severe as in many other regions in the US, it still becomes worse in Hawaii due to skyrocketing property prices and rents and if this trend continues, crime rates may increase and all sorts of social problems may get worse.

Natural disasters may hit your home in Hawaii

Another disadvantage of moving to Hawaii is that you may also get hit by floods or other natural disasters and in case you are unlucky, you may not only lose your home but even your life due to one of those tragic events.

Climate change may lower overall quality of life in Hawaii in the long run

Once the sea level increases even further due to climate change, many islands in Hawaii may get into serious problems since floods will become more common and also some small islands may completely vanish and may get covered by seawater.

Public infrastructure is not great on the smaller islands of Hawaii

While public infrastructure is pretty decent in the biggest cities, it is still rather poor in the smaller villages and if you want to live outside of the big cities and rather want to live on a smaller island, chances are that public transport and medical infrastructure will be rather poor.

Hawaii is a pretty touristic place

You should also know that Hawaii has also become a pretty touristic place and has lost some of its original charm and locals often feel like the character and the soul of the state have been sold.

Not many great sports teams to support in Hawaii

You will also not find many great sports teams in Hawaii and in case you want to support sports teams and watch many games live in person, you may be better off moving to Philadelphia or other big cities where you will find more opportunities in this regard.

Hawaii may not be the most exciting place

While you can do many things in nature and can also make many great experiences, you should also know that Hawaii may just not be the most exciting and vibrant place and in case you want to have action 24/7, you may not get happy in Hawaii in the long run.

Not many big cities in Hawaii

You should also know that there are not many big cities in Hawaii and you will therefore not be able to enjoy the amenities of big city life the same way as people living in Houston or other big metropolitan regions.

Hawaii may be overrated

While Hawaii offers high quality of life, it is still a pretty expensive place and you may find other regions that offer similar quality of life at a much lower price and Hawaii may therefore be considered overrated by many people right now.

Homeowner’s insurance is pretty expensive in Hawaii

Due to the high risk of natural disasters, also homeowner’s insurance is pretty expensive in Hawaii and may become even more expensive due to climate change.

Top 10 Moving To Hawaii Pros & Cons – Summary List

Is Hawaii A Good Place To Live?

While you can enjoy great weather and lots of beautiful nature in Hawaii, you should also know that living and housing costs in Hawaii are pretty high and many people in Hawaii have to deal with significant financial pressure which may greatly lower overall quality of life in the long run.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Hawaii properly so you can make the best possible decision in this regard according to your individual preferences and circumstances.

Most Popular Cities To Live In Hawaii – Comparison

Alternative States To Live

If you no longer want to move to Hawaii, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Delaware

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Florida

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Georgia

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/HI

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.