Your Life in Hawaii
Starts Here
LivingInHawaii.com helps you make clear decisions about Hawaii, whether you are planning a first visit, a scouting trip, or a long term move. We cover the real questions people ask, including cost of living, housing, jobs, neighborhoods, culture, and daily life on each island. Expect practical guidance, local context, and honest tradeoffs so you can plan with confidence.
Is Hawaii Right For You?
A quick reality check to help you decide if the move fits your life, budget, and expectations.
Cost to Move?
Get a rough estimate for what it might cost to relocate, based on your situation.
Make it Happen
Short, useful guidance each week — built to help you plan the move with less noise.
Latest Content
Latest from YouTube
Visual guides to daily life in Hawaii, island comparisons, neighborhood tours, and moving logistics you can actually use.
Start with the statewide basics
Before you choose an island or a neighborhood, start with the statewide realities that shape daily life, cost, and logistics everywhere in Hawaii.
Is Hawaii Right For You?
A clear starting point. We cover lifestyle fit, distance from the mainland, culture, and expectations so you can decide if Hawaii matches your real life.
Cost of Living
What it costs to live in Hawaii day to day. Housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and the expenses people usually discover too late.
Finding Jobs
How jobs work in Hawaii, including local industries, relationship-driven hiring, and what to plan for before you arrive.
Moving Logistics
A practical guide to moving to Hawaii, including shipping cars, pets, and household goods, timelines, and what to handle before you fly.
Daily Life & Culture
What life in Hawaii feels like after the vacation glow. Routines, community norms, neighborhood rhythm, and cultural respect.
Scouting Trips
How to plan a scouting trip to Hawaii with purpose: test commutes, compare neighborhoods, and understand daily logistics beyond the highlights.
Find the island that fits
Once the statewide picture is clear, compare the islands by pace of life, housing, jobs, weather, and the kind of daily routine you want.
Not sure yet?
Hawaii can be an incredible place to live, but it works best when expectations match daily reality. This short quiz walks through the tradeoffs that matter most.
It is not designed to convince you. It is designed to give you clarity.
Take the quiz
You don't have to figure this out alone
Islander Ohana is a guided planning program for people serious about living in Hawaii who want a clear sequence for making the right decisions.
Housing, cost, timing, island fit, and the decisions that trip people up — organized into a proven sequence.
Best for planners with a 6–24 month timeline who want clarity before making big moves.
Learn moreCommon questions about moving to Hawaii
Clear answers to the things most people want to understand before making a decision.
Where should I start if I am thinking about moving to Hawaii?
A good place to begin is Is Hawaii Right For You?. It helps you step back and look at lifestyle, distance, cost, and expectations before getting caught up in neighborhoods or listings. If that still feels like a fit, most people move next to Cost of Living and Moving Logistics.
Is living in Hawaii difficult?
It is different, and that difference is what surprises people. Distance from the mainland, higher costs, and a slower pace can feel either refreshing or frustrating depending on what you are used to. People who do well here usually plan for those differences instead of discovering them after they arrive.
How much money do you need to move to Hawaii?
There is no single number, because it depends on island, housing type, and income stability. A helpful way to think about it is having enough runway to cover deposits, shipping costs, and several months of living expenses. The Cost of Living guide gives a realistic statewide baseline before you narrow things down.
Which Hawaiian island is best for jobs and a normal routine?
There is no universally "best" island, but there is a best match for how you live. Oahu generally offers the most job options, infrastructure, and services. Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island can offer more space or quieter lifestyles, but often with fewer daily conveniences. The island guides help you compare those tradeoffs.
How do scouting trips work if I am serious about relocating?
A scouting trip works best when it focuses on daily life instead of sightseeing. That means grocery stores, commute routes, neighborhoods at different times of day, and understanding local weather patterns. The Scouting Trips guide walks through how to plan a visit that answers practical questions.
Does this site help with military PCS moves to Hawaii?
Yes. PCS moves come with tighter timelines, but many of the same considerations still apply, including traffic, housing availability, and day-to-day logistics. Starting with the statewide guides and then narrowing by island usually leads to fewer surprises once you arrive.
What if I am thinking about leaving Hawaii instead of moving there?
That decision comes with its own set of questions around family, finances, and long-term plans. The goal here is clarity, not judgment. We are actively building resources for people weighing a move back to the mainland so they can plan thoughtfully and confidently.
