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From 2018-2019, Henderson held the title of Nevada’s fastest-growing city, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. In fact, Henderson recently outpaced Reno to become Nevada’s second most-populated city behind #1 Las Vegas, which has about double the population of Henderson.
What’s drawing people to Henderson? Job opportunities, for one. Henderson hosts the offices of several large companies, including Bank of America, Zappos, Amazon, Ocean Spray, and Levi Strauss & Company, among others. Entrepreneurs have also flocked to the state to enjoy its low business taxes (including no franchise tax or business income tax) and its business-friendly court system.
The area has also seen an influx of California residents who favor Henderson for its significantly lower housing costs and its lower tax burden. For former Californians, a shift across state lines can mean an immediate increase in quality of life, take-home pay, bank account balances—or all of the above.
Here at DeWitt Move, we see a fair amount of movement between Henderson and Hawaii. Those moving from Hawaii enjoy similar benefits to those leaving California behind: a lower cost of living and lower housing prices. Additionally, given Las Vegas’s position as Hawaii’s “Ninth Island,” residents moving from Hawaii can find a familiar sense of community that feels a little like home (more on that later)!
And as for the people who move from Henderson to Hawaii—do we really need to list the reasons? Moving to paradise is something many people dream of, sometimes for their entire lives. Trading the desert life for the ocean life comes with meaningful perks—white sand beaches, warm breezes year round, and an easy island lifestyle, just to name a few.
If you’re planning on making the move between Henderson, Nevada and Hawaii, we’ll run you through the must-knows. First, we’ll share some unexpected parallels between the two locations to ease your transition. Then, we’ll offer you some ideas to narrow your search for the perfect neighborhood to call home. Finally, we’ll throw out some ideas for enjoying your leisure time in both places.
Let’s get started with some surprising similarities between Tree City USA, as Henderson is known, and the Aloha State.
4 Unusual Parallels Between Henderson and Hawaii
1. Plenty of sunshine to enjoy
When most people think of Hawaii, they immediately picture beaches, palm trees, and sunshine. However, even though Honolulu gets an average of 271 days of sunshine a year (your mileage will vary in other parts of Hawaii!), Henderson is even sunnier. The city gets an average of 297 sunny days per year. This puts both Honolulu and Henderson well over the national average of 205 days of sunshine annually.
2. Skills that translate between locations
Given the proximity of the major tourist destination of Las Vegas, it’s no wonder that Henderson shares a number of big industries with Hawaii, a state whose economy is largely powered by leisure travel.
In Henderson, some of the biggest industries include accommodation and food services (12.1%) and retail (9.92%). When you look at Hawaii’s biggest industries by sales, you’ll find retail trade at the top, with accommodation and food services in third. If you’re moving between these locations with experience in these fields, you’ll find it much easier to score a job in your new home.
3. Lots of options for outdoor enthusiasts
Hawaii’s gorgeous and unique setting draws many people to its shores. Whether you prefer to make your fun in the ocean or on land, you’ll find countless opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy all that the Aloha State has to offer.
If you’re transitioning from Hawaii to Henderson, you’ll find a similar number of opportunities—even some that are water-based (more on that in a bit)! Just for starters, consider Sloan Canyon, located just 10 minutes from downtown Henderson. Miles of walking trails, ancient petroglyphs, and extraordinary rock formations will keep any outdoor enthusiast enthralled for multiple visits.
4. You might just find a little piece of home
If you’re moving from Hawaii and worried you might get a little homesick, you’ll be relieved to know that the Las Vegas metro area has earned itself the nickname “Hawaii’s Ninth Island.” As a result, you’ll find a few familiar touches in the area that will make you feel welcome. In addition to frequent visitors from Hawaii, the area also often hosts Hawaii high school reunions. Additionally, Clark County, which houses both Las Vegas and Henderson, has the fifth-largest population of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents in the United States, just behind Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Maui Counties. You’ll also find local organizations like the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club that will make it easy to connect with others from the Hawaiian islands.
Now that you understand some of the similarities between Henderson and Hawaii, let’s talk about where you might want to make your home in both places.
What Are the Best Places to Live in Henderson and Hawaii?
If you’re moving to Hawaii, your first task will be figuring out which island you want to live on. With four main islands to choose from—Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island—plus the two smaller islands of Lanai and Molokai, you have a number of options to explore, each with its own distinct personality.
If you loved having easy access to a big metropolis while living in Henderson, Oahu is probably the right island for you. Honolulu is as close as Hawaii gets to “the big city.” Depending on where on Oahu you decide to live, you can still enjoy quick and easy access to all the opportunities that Honolulu has to offer.
One area you might consider on Oahu is Kailua. Not to be confused with Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, Kailua is located on the windward coast of Oahu—the eastern side. The town offers excellent proximity to two gorgeous beaches, Kailua and Lanikai. It’s also got a funky and fun town center with a variety of local boutiques and coffee shops, as well as Whole Foods. There’s also a weekly farmer’s market, several close hiking trails, and even a golf course located in Kailua—a little something for everyone.
If you’re headed the other way toward Henderson, you might want to check out Lake Las Vegas. You’ll find this neighborhood a little more than five miles from the downtown area. The neighborhood’s crowning jewel, as the name implies, is a 320-acre lake that’s open for kayaking, stand-up paddling, and other water sports. If you’re coming from Hawaii and wondering whether you’ll miss being so close to the water, Lake Las Vegas could be the perfect spot for you.
And while we’re talking about enjoying your leisure time, we’ll finish off with a way to find fun in both Henderson and Hawaii.
Enjoy Your Days Off in Henderson or Hawaii with These 4 Tips
#1: Tour the Grand Canyon by Helicopter
Considering the Grand Canyon is only 250 miles from Henderson, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that there are companies that offer helicopter tours right from Henderson Executive Airport. What better way to take in the scope and grandeur of this natural wonder than from the air?
However, you might be curious about how this works in Hawaii. Let us turn your attention to the spectacular Waimea Canyon on Kauai, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Because so many of Kauai’s natural features are inaccessible by car or foot, a helicopter tour is a perfect way to take in all of the island’s awe-inspiring landscape, Waimea Canyon included. Tours take off from both Lihue and Princeville.
2. Bring Out Your Inner Ornithologist
Because of its unique position in the Pacific, Hawaii is home to a tremendous number of flora and fauna you won’t find anywhere else, and that includes its birds. One of the most famous is the Hawaiian honeycreeper, a species of forest bird that’s evolved in spectacular ways in the islands. While you’re hiking in Hawaii’s forested areas, keep an eye out for the flame-colored feathers and curved beak of the iiwi (the scarlet honeycreeper) and your ear out for the powerful chirps of the sunny yellow amakihi. If birdwatching is your thing, you can continue the tradition at Henderson’s Bird Viewing Preserve. There, you’ll spot birds as diverse as road runners (beep beep!), quail, hummingbirds, heron, and many more. It’s also a great place if you simply want to enjoy a little peace and quiet.
Or, if you’re in the opposite mood…
3. Snag a taste of city life
Whether you’re hopping an interisland flight to Honolulu or an Uber toward Vegas, both Henderson and Hawaii present the possibility of a little taste of city life when you need it. In Honolulu, you’ll find young chefs cooking up inventive cuisine, live music from national acts as well as local musicians, museums, art galleries, and the world’s largest open-air shopping center at Ala Moana. As for Las Vegas, you probably know that it’s the kind of city where you can pretty much get anything you want, whether that’s a fancy, high-end meal at a place like Nobu or an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, a Cirque du Soleil show, a night with the Osmonds, a wedding officiated by an Elvis impersonator, or a few rounds of blackjack to get the blood going. If you can dream it up, you can make it happen in Vegas, if only for a night.
4. Admire the local flora at a botanical garden
In addition to its unique birds, Hawaii is also well known for its abundant flowering plants and trees, many of which you’ll simply see out and about in the Aloha State. If admiring local flora sounds like the way you’d like to spend your day, try the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens in Hilo, a tranquil location that features more than 2,000 species of tropical plants nestled in a 40-acre valley.
If you’re looking for a similar experience in Henderson, check out the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden. The M stands for Mars, by the way—yes, that “Mars” of the candy company. Ethel was the mother of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., the inventor of the M&M. Today, her garden showcases 300 species of cacti and succulents, making it one of the largest in the world. (And, while you’re there, consider one of the chocolate tasting classes, or at least snag a few of their decadent sweets!)
From the Heart of the Desert to the Heart of the Pacific
Whether you’re leaving Henderson behind to chase your dreams of living in paradise or trading the ocean life for the desert life, you’ll find plenty of parallels to help you make an easy transition between both places. Plus, armed with these must-knows, you’ll have a better sense of what your life might look like in either location, giving you that extra boost of confidence that you’re making the right move.
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Transitioning between Henderson, Nevada and Hawaii? We’ve helped tens of thousands of families and individuals transition both ways! We’d be happy to help you make a safe, easy, and affordable move. It all starts with a free quote from one of our experts.
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