What It’s Really Like Living in Hawaii: 12 Surprising Realities

If you’re considering a move to Hawaii, you’ve probably heard plenty about the year-round sunshine, surf, and slower pace of life. But what is it really like to live in Hawaii, day in and day out?

To help you get a real picture of life in the Aloha State, we’ve pulled together 12 truths about what it’s really like to make Hawaii your home. Some of them might surprise you. All of them will help you decide whether moving to Hawaii is right for you.

If you’re new to Hawaii, you might know “aloha” as a greeting, but the true meaning of aloha goes much deeper. In fact, aloha is such an important cultural value in Hawaii that it’s actually written into the law: 

Everyone in Hawaii has their own interpretation of aloha—and their own way of feeling the aloha spirit in everyday life.

When you move to Hawaii, you may feel it first in the deep sense of community between your new neighbors. The more time you spend in Hawaii, you’ll see many ways in which the ideal of aloha—of “warmth in caring with no obligation in return”—is expressed. The aloha spirit is something that sets the Hawaiian Islands apart—and makes it such an incredible place to live.

Even as you experience those “only in Hawaii” moments that make you feel so lucky to have made the move, island fever can creep up on you.

Whether you’re living on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai, the isolation of living on a small island can create a kind of claustrophobia. You might find yourself feeling bored, depressed, or desperate for new experiences.

Two remedies we recommend:

1. Hop an interisland flight. In less than an hour, you can arrive in (what feels like) a whole new world. Fares on Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines can be relatively inexpensive, and a weekend on another island can remind you how amazing your own island home is.

1. Go do that “Hawaii” thing you’ve been putting off. After you’ve lived in Hawaii for a while, it’s easy to stop doing the activities that brought you here in the first place. I’m talking about things like going on a hike, hitting the beach, or enjoying a mai tai at a bar with a gorgeous ocean view. Get out and take advantage of what it means to live in Hawaii. Consider a staycation at a local hotel offering a kamaaina rate. Any reminder of how special it is to live in Hawaii can quickly cure a nasty case of island fever.

When you’re living in Hawaii, you’ll be completely surrounded by the natural beauty of the islands. Towering waterfalls, ocean vistas, gorgeous flowering plants, and white sand beaches are all just part of Hawaii’s everyday landscape.

When you first move to Hawaii, you’ll probably feel a deep sense of awe with each post-card perfect beach, each majestic waterfall, and each sweeping vista. But it’s very easy to stop truly “seeing” Hawaii’s natural beauty. The more you can embrace and appreciate Hawaii’s landscape, the happier you’ll be in Hawaii.

Even if you don’t plan your day around the daily surf report, try to make it a habit to enjoy a regular morning swim, a sunset beach walk, a longer hike—whatever you love to do. Making the most of these perks will keep you from focusing on some of the downsides of living in Hawaii. (And there are a few of them, even in paradise!)

Speaking of one of the cons of Hawaii life, cost of living falls solidly in that category. 

Pretty much everything is more expensive in Hawaii than in the rest of the U.S., but you’ll especially notice the cost when it comes to:

• Housing
• Utilities (especially electricity, which is one reason solar power is so popular in Hawaii!)
• Groceries

That said, with a population of more than a million, it’s clear there are ways to make it work in Hawaii. Smart budgeting, shopping at farmers’ markets and bulk stores like Costco, and taking full advantage of all of Hawaii’s completely free outdoor activities can all help you manage the higher cost of living.

If you take the opportunity to get involved with your island community, you’ll find that ties can run deep. Whether you’re volunteering for a cause that’s close to your heart, getting to know your local business owners by becoming a regular patron, joining a canoe club, or simply helping out a neighbor, you’ll begin to experience the strength of Hawaii’s community relationships.

Before you move to Hawaii, taking time to learn the history that’s impacted the people around you will go a long way with helping you understand their perspectives. We’ve listed a few of our favorite books and resources below to get you started:

• Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen, written by the kingdom’s last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani

• Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler

• Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii by James L. Haley

In Hawaii, respect goes a long way. Even simple acts—like learning how to pronounce Hawaiian place names correctly—can build bridges with your new neighbors. Approaching the people you meet in Hawaii with genuine interest (and a touch of humility) can open the door to many new friendships that can quickly run deep.

Even as you build new friendships in Hawaii, you’ll still find yourself waving goodbye to many of them. Anywhere from 55,000–72,000 individuals leave Hawaii every year. Some who move to Hawaii only stay for a few years. (We’ve moved the same families to and from Hawaii!) Some are military personnel who get redeployed. Still others are long-time residents looking for a change of pace.

Either way, the transience of residents is something you’ll just have to get used to when you’re living in Hawaii. By staying involved with the community (as we suggested above), you’ll keep your greater social circle strong even as friends come and go.

One of the first things many newcomers to Hawaii notice is the shift in pace. In Hawaii, life tends to move a little more slowly. The first place you might feel this is at a grocery store like Foodland, when the line grinds to a halt while the cashier stops to talk story with someone in line.

If you’re running late, you might wish Hawaii was more of a transactional place—i.e., here’s my stuff, here’s my money, see you later. But if you lean into the slower pace of life in Hawaii, you might find a new appreciation for everyday niceties like a brief connection at the cash register. (And, since you’re living on a small island, you never know when and where you’ll see that cashier again!)

Long story short, if you’re coming from a fast-paced city, living in Hawaii will feel like an adjustment. But for many, it’s a welcome change.

Hawaii is one of the most culturally diverse states in the U.S. You’ll experience that diversity in many different ways in Hawaii:

• Take a look at a local events calendar and you’ll see slack-key shows and hula performances alongside pop concerts, Bon Dances, and Korean festivals.
• Show up at a neighborhood potluck and marvel at all the different heritages on display.
• Peruse the islands’ grocery stores, which stock staples from Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and China, along with Portuguese sausages and many favorites from the Pacific Islands.

This blend of cultures creates a dynamic environment with plenty of opportunities to expand your horizons. Stay curious, and you’ll find Hawaii’s cultural mix incredibly enriching.

If we hear one regret from clients who we’ve moved to Hawaii, it’s: “I wish I hadn’t taken as much stuff.”

You might be surprised by what you don’t need in Hawaii—or how your mainland furniture and belongings may not “fit in” with your new island lifestyle. That’s why we recommend that all our clients downsize before their move to Hawaii.

That might seem like a strange recommendation from a moving company, but if there’s a way we can help you simplify your move, we’re all for it.

Before you decide what you want to move to Hawaii, consider whether embracing a simpler way of living might be in the cards. It will certainly help you save on your move.

Life in Hawaii can be simpler in many ways. However, when it comes to accessing healthcare services, it can be more complex.

This is especially true if you live on one of the neighbor islands—Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. If you have healthcare needs, you’ll discover that there may be only one or two specialists who can assist on your island, and they’ll likely have a long wait list. In some cases, you’ll need to fly to Oahu to see the doctor you need.

Some healthcare plans do assist with the travel costs, although rules vary from plan to plan. Some will only pay for the flights, but not other costs, like Ubers. Additionally, some healthcare plans may pay for the main patient to travel to Oahu, but they won’t pay for a companion to accompany the patient. You’ll need to review your coverage carefully to determine your benefits.

If you have a current health condition, we suggest researching your healthcare options before you make a permanent move. That way, you’ll know the resources and doctors available to you in your new home.

If you’ve already found a place to live in Hawaii, you’re ahead of the curve. Demand—and prices—can be high. After all, who wouldn’t want to live in paradise?

Housing availability and pricing varies by island. To take a deeper dive into what to expect, check out our island guides:

• Moving to Honolulu (Oahu) – Includes notes on neighborhoods, buying vs. renting, and more.

• Moving to Kona (Big Island) – We’ll show you the best places to live on the leeward side of the Big Island.

• Moving to Hilo (Big Island) – Includes info on Hilo’s more affordable real estate prices, plus a neighborhood guide for the windward side of the Big Island.

• Moving to Kauai – We’ll cover the prices of renting vs. buying, plus the areas to consider before making the move.

• Moving to Maui – Get a sense of the best neighborhoods on Maui, plus average costs for renting and buying real estate.

Doing your homework in advance will help you get up to speed on the Hawaii real estate market. That way, you’re ready to make a quick decision when the right place presents itself.

If you’ve only spent time in Hawaii on vacation, it could be easy to think that every day will be a picture-perfect day in paradise—warm weather, lounging on the beach, savoring the sunset at the end of the day. The reality of Hawaii includes things like navigating island traffic, running errands, paying bills, etc. Hawaii might offer a gorgeous backdrop for everyday life, but it’s not an escape from it.

That’s not to say that you won’t appreciate living in Hawaii. It’s an experience you’ll never forget—full of only-in-Hawaii experiences and adventures. As with any other place, living in Hawaii has its drawbacks. For many, the advantages far outweigh them.

A Clear Picture of Day-to-Day Life in Hawaii

If you’re considering a move, the more you know about living in Hawaii, the better prepared you’ll be to create a life you love, one allows you to enjoy your time in these beautiful islands to the fullest.

The DeWitt Move team would be happy to help you make a safe, easy, and affordable move to Hawaii. We can help you get anywhere you want to go on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island.

To get started, just reach out to our team for a complimentary quote for your Hawaii move.