So, you’re curious about living in Hawaii? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Hawaii.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Hawaii matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Hawaii is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Hawaii
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Hawaii is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Hawaii:
- It’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
- If you are respectful and conscientious, you’ll be greeted by some of the nicest people on Earth as well.
- The weather is amazing.
- You can live close to the beach (and go every day).
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Hawaii:
- It’s expensive to live in Hawaii. You will need lots of money for housing, food, and utilities if you don’t already have a place or vehicle here.
- Transitions aren’t always easy – it can be hard adjusting from one culture to another and leaving friends/family behind (although new ones are sure to come)!
- Job opportunities can be difficult to find.
Read More: Is Hawaii a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Hawaii
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Hawaii? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Hawaii!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Hawaii.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Hawaii:
- Honolulu
- Hilo
- Lahaina
Read More: Best Places to Live in Hawaii
Checklist for Moving to Hawaii
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Hawaii. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Hawaii.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Hawaii:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Hawaii driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Hawaii
- Getting Hawaii car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Hawaii and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Hawaii.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Hawaii and your previous home state.
Visit your Hawaii Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Hawaii Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Hawaii.
Things to Know About Living in Hawaii
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Hawaii, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Hawaii
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Hawaii ranks 51st on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 187.6, meaning it’s one of the most expensive places to live.
Here is how Hawaii scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 157.9
- Housing: 313.1
- Utilities: 169.2
- Transportation: 141.1
- Health: 112.3
- Miscellaneous: 126.7
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Hawaii
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Hawaii from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Hawaii’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4%, with an average local rate of .44% (the highest local sales tax rate is .5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 4.44%.
Check with the Hawaii tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Hawaii
If you own or plan to own real estate in Hawaii, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Hawaii ranks 1st (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .28%.
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There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Hawaii tax office for the most current tax rates.
Hawaii’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Hawaii is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Hawaii ranks 39th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Finance and insurance
- Wholesale trade
- Other services (except government and government enterprises)
The top employer in Hawaii is University of Hawaii.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Hawaii
Our Hawaii moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Hawaii is the Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial.
National Parks that you can visit in Hawaii include:
- Haleakala National Park
- Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Hawaii include:
- Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Hawaii
Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States that lies in the western region in the Pacific Ocean.
What is the capital of Hawaii?
The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu.
Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu with a population of 359,870.
What is the population of Hawaii?
The population of Hawaii based on 2020 US Census data is 1,455,271.
What is the largest city in Hawaii?
The largest city in Hawaii is Honolulu.
What is the size of Hawaii?
Hawaii is 10,932 square miles, making it the 43rd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Hawaii?
The state motto of Hawaii is: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Āina i ka Pono
What is the state bird of Hawaii?
The state bird of Hawaii is the Hawaiian goose (Nēnē).
What is the state flower of Hawaii?
The state flower of Hawaii is the Hawaiian hibiscus.
What is the state tree of Hawaii?
The state tree of Hawaii is the Candlenut tree (kukui).
What is the minimum wage in the state of Hawaii?
The minimum wage in Hawaii is $10.10 per hour.
What is the median income in Hawaii?
The median annual household salary in Hawaii is $80,212.