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So you want to know how to move to Hawaii? You want to spend your weekends relaxing on tropical beaches, snorkeling in crystal clear waters or going on jungle hikes? That and more is all possible on Hawaii. The islands are so diverse and special, that you can find a different adventure every weekend.

We made the move to Hawaii and we could have really used an informative post on what to expect. Apart from neighborhood recommendations and the cost of living, we couldn’t find much information about the experience of moving to Hawaii, finding a job and settling into the local community. We created this post from our own experience of moving to Hawaii and included everything we think you should know. Keep on reading to get all the information you need for a successful move to the Hawaiian Islands. So keep reading if you want to know how to move to Hawaii in 2022.

Article contents

1. Choosing your island
2. How much does it cost to move to Hawaii?
3. How to get a job in Hawaii
4. Shipping your items to Hawaii
5. What is the cost of living in Hawaii? (+ our monthly costs)
6. How to find a place to live in Hawaii
7. Our experience moving to Hawaii
8. Things to think about before moving to Hawaii

Choosing your island

Hawaii is made up of multiple islands (don’t be embarrassed if you didn’t know). The six major islands are Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii (aka, the big island), Molokai and Lanai. However, Molokai and Lanai are one of the smaller islands, and well… you will probably not move there. Unless you like solitude and work remotely of course!

Each island has their own vibe and feel. You can have different lifestyles on the different islands. For example, Kauai is more rural and rugged as compared to Oahu, which has more of a city feel.

There is more than one climate in Hawaii

You will experience many microclimates on the Hawaiian islands. This means you can experience rain, wind and heat all in one day while exploring the island. If you start climbing mountains on the Big Island, you may even find snow! We bet you didn’t expect that when you decided to move to Hawaii?

For an understanding of different climate experiences, lets use Oahu as an example. Oahu’s leeward side (the West side of the island) is more dry and sunny. The windward side (the East side of the island) faces the trade winds and gets more rain during the year. This also means lots of lush greenery. And the Big Island (Hawai’i island) has 10 climates! You could say that there’s a climate for everyone in Hawaii.

Read all about the different climates in Hawaii, so you know what to expect.

Should you visit the island before your move to Hawaii?

It might be a good idea to visit some of the islands of Hawaii. This way you can experience the islands and have an idea of where you would want to live, but this can also be quite expensive.

We weren’t that picky when it came to what island we were moving to. We had never visited Hawaii and yet, we decided to move Oahu! It’s the most densely populated island and we felt comfortable finding jobs on the island.

We weren’t sure if we could both land jobs on the other, more rural islands. If you like some adventure and are somewhat impulsive, you don’t need to spend money on an extra visit to Hawaii.

How to move to Hawaii – the costs of moving

This answer will be different for everyone. It can depend on how much stuff you ship to Hawaii, whether you have kids, a pet, a job lined up and so forth.

Here’s a list of things we recommend to budget for:

• Flight tickets (Also enough $$ for an emergency return ticket)
• Shipping items and/or car (see more about this below)
• First month hotel or airbnb for when you arrive
• First/last month rent and deposit
• Rental car (shipping your car takes about 2 weeks)
• 1-3 months of living expenses

We spent roughly $9000 moving to Oahu. This includes everything on the list described above.

How to move to Hawaii – getting a job

Most people who want to move to Hawaii, will need to find a job on the island (unless you’re one of the lucky ones who works remote). Depending on the sector you’re going to work in, it might be hard to find a job if you’re not physically on the island.

Typically, employers want to know you’re already here before offering you a position. Read Denny’s experience on getting a job in Hawaii as a teacher.

I started applying for jobs after we made the move to Oahu. Just to give you an idea, I got 3 job offers in the first two weeks of being on Oahu. Our experience might give you some perspective on finding a job in Hawaii, because it doesn’t have to be difficult! However, we both have jobs that are high in demand and we applied for positions on the populated island of Oahu, which has more job opportunities.

This has been our experience moving to Hawaii. By all means, this does not mean that it’s easy to find a job in Hawaii. We recommend doing some research beforehand, to see if there are hiring opportunities in your sector or job specialty. We used the following websites:

• Indeed
• Hawaii DOE
• Monster

How to move to Hawaii – shipping your items

We did not ship any personal items to Hawaii, as we weren’t attached to any furnishings we had. However, this might be something you want to consider.

Buying furniture on the island is not necessarily cheap (Ikea, we miss you). Most items have to be imported to the islands, so the prices can be steep.

We shipped our car with Matson and did so from the port in Los Angeles. At the time of our move (in 2020) it cost $1500 and it arrived in Honolulu after 14 days from the shipping date. It was a smooth and simple process.

What is the cost of living in Hawaii? (+ our monthly costs)

Depending on where you’re coming from, the cost of living in Hawaii can be high. Most items have to be imported to the Hawaiian Islands and are therefore more expensive.

We had to accept paying more money in our daily lives on Oahu. It really does help to accept the higher cost of living, spare yourself the frustration and budget accordingly. Daily items such as groceries and gas are more expensive, but also utility costs and eating out at restaurants. These are just a few examples.

We spent roughly 1.5x more in Hawaii, compared to our living costs in Orlando, Florida. This number will be different for everyone, but it might give you an idea about the cost of living in Hawaii.

“Local items are not necessarily cheaper, but they are more accessible”

Our monthly costs

Here is an overview of our monthly costs living on Oahu. We decided to put our monthly costs in this post, to give you an idea of what a couple would spend monthly. By no means is this the standard. Of course, your cost of living will vary depending on your own personal situation, income and so many other things.

Disclaimer!!! You can live cheaper on the island, but also more expensive. We would characterize ourselves as ‘in the middle’. Not too budget but not lavish living either. Alright, here is our expenses!

• $1900 Rent
• $300 Utilities
• $800 Groceries
• $90 Car insurance
• $100 Gas
• $106 Phones
• $89 Gym membership
• $300 Leisure

As you can see, we prioritized food quite a bit. I enjoy cooking and making recipes with whole vegetables and fruits, which are more costly on the islands (as mentioned before, they are imported goods).

Some tips to gauge the cost on the islands

I would suggest doing online research on rent prices in certain neighborhoods to get an initial idea. Look at online grocery services such as instacart to get an idea of grocery prices on the island. Or check out the websites of grocery stores directly.

• Some of the main grocery stores in Hawaii are:
• Foodland
• Safeway
• Target
• Whole foods
• Times

When you’re moving somewhere new, you will always have to adjust. The Hawaiian Islands are much different than the mainland. It’s a new culture, landscape and way of life.

We strayed away from items we usually bought on the mainland and bought local items instead. Local items are not necessarily cheaper, but they are more accessible. We noticed that imported goods take a while to be restocked.

That being said, we spent less money on recreation in Hawaii. All the fun stuff to do is outdoors. Think about amazing jungle hikes, snorkeling with sea turtles and exploring new beaches. We spend less money on the weekends, simply because the activities are free!

Get excited for your move to Hawaii and read about local things to do and the best hikes on Oahu!

How to move to Hawaii – finding a place to live

Moving to Hawaii means moving to one of the most expensive states in the country! That reflects in the housing and rent prices. This post will have information about renting a place only, as we only have experience with renting in Hawaii.

Familiarize yourself with the neighborhoods on the island to get an idea of where you want to live. Think about proximity to work, costs and living style.

Just like in every state, you can find a wide range of urban, rural and suburban neighborhoods on the island. We toured the entire island by car during our first week looking at apartments. That was the easiest for us!

However, you could find videos on YouTube or read articles on blogs about attractive neighborhoods to live in. We also got in touch with a realtor who provided information on where to live that fit our budget.

If you’re not starting this process with the realtor, you will most likely be in contact with landlords. Hawaii does not have as many apartment complexes that you would find no the mainland.

In some cases, the landlord is living on the same property as you. You will often see houses that have been split into several units.

Expect to be emailing or texting with landlords personally when you’re interested in renting a place. A lot of people inquire about a place, but end up not moving to Hawaii. Because of this, most landlords will require you to be on the island before negotiating.

We researched websites such as Zillow and Apartments.com to gauge what’s out there and for what price.

Adjusting your expectations

The housing situation on the island is different from the mainland of the United States. Buildings and amenities are older and certain luxuries, such as air conditioning and dishwashers are not always there.

We noticed that the rent prices were significantly higher for houses with updated appliances, which we were willing to pay.

Expect many rentals to be older than your home state. Search for housing with an open mind, as it’s much more expensive to repair and do maintenance on the secluded Hawaiian islands.

Sometimes, you can do without luxuries. Perhaps you don’t need air conditioning if you find a house that regularly receives natural cooling from the ocean breeze.

Searching with an open mind will make the process easier, and it’s all part of your move to Hawaii. You will be living in a different environment and different culture. We would advise you to keep this in mind, while you’re apartment hunting!

How we found our apartment on Oahu

We rented a beautiful place with a garden (and coconut palm tree!) in Kailua, a neighborhood on the East side of Oahu. Beforehand, we rented an airbnb in Waikiki for a whole month. This allowed us to scope out the island and look for a place to live.

We managed to set up several visits for different apartments in a short time span. I called and sent emails to landlords, who were very responsive. I quickly noticed that the lifestyle in Hawaii is more laidback, which reflects in how people act and talk to each other.

Within two weeks we found our apartment and moved in. We had to pay the first month’s rent and a deposit upfront to the landlord. In our experience, it was pretty easy to find something!

How to move to Hawaii – our experience

Now you know how we did it, let’s talk about how we experienced it.

We had 3 months of preparation time, because we decided somewhat last minute to move to Hawaii (long story). That was just one of the curveballs life threw at us because of the pandemic. Oh covid… we had a plan to move away from Orlando and already gave notice to our jobs and ended the lease on our apartment.

So then we had to think of plan B and that was Hawaii.

Taking the leap of faith

We decided to take the leap of faith and prepared for our move to Oahu, without any jobs lined up. Denny had interviews set up with multiple schools, however, he got the final job offer as we were driving to Los Angeles to ship our car to Oahu!

By this time, we sold most of what we had and our plane tickets were booked. Talk about taking the leap of faith! Yes, it was scary but I always had the feeling that we would be alright. We did have a fully stocked savings account, which definitely helped.

Saving money and budgeting is part of our lifestyle, which means that we save money by default. We prioritize saving money, over buying stuff. This made moving to Hawaii, without any jobs lined up, a little less scary!

Eventually, the island felt small to us. Perhaps you could call this island fever, but we did want to experience something new or have a weekend getaway off island!

Luckily, you can always explore the other Hawaiian Islands. These islands are more accessible than flying back to the mainland, and the islands are truly different from each other. You won’t be disappointed if you venture out to see them!

Getting settled in Hawaii

It took us about 6 months to get fully settled on Oahu. I’m not talking about housing or jobs, that was fairly easy. It was rather the emotional part of living somewhere new and quite different. It was knowing where to get groceries, understanding the island layout and most importantly, feeling home in Hawaii.

We have also felt some negativity on the island regarding ‘outsiders’ coming to live in Hawaii. There is such a long history in Hawaii, which we urge you to explore and learn about. This will open your eyes to life in Hawaii and how the Native Hawaiians have been disadvantaged throughout the previous decades.

With that being said, give yourself time to adjust and get settled in Hawaii. Give yourself at least 6 months to 1 year. It is normal to feel negative feelings or think about home on the mainland (or somewhere else).

We certainly did, but that gradually changed as we learned more about Oahu and the different pace of life. With time, we got to know other people and befriend them on Oahu. Slowly but surely, Oahu felt like home.

How to move to Hawaii – things to think about

Travel and family

Hawaii is one of the most isolated island chains on the planet! Family and friends will most likely not visit you as often as you think they will. Be prepared for expensive plane tickets and long travel times when planning a trip away from Hawaii.

Think about building a community or support network in Hawaii. It’s pretty nice to have someone on the island who is close to you. The distance and time difference can make it difficult to stay in touch with old friends and family. There are many Facebook, hiking and community groups to join to meet people.

Island fever

Oh yes, island fever is real. Taking a long road trip to a new place is just not going to happen. At some point, you will know the island inside out and even see the same people in stores over and over! You might feel the itch to be on a big landmass again, but maybe you won’t. You will have to move to Hawaii to find out!

Lack of seasons

There is no cold weather in Hawaii, no fall or winter seasons. Even though the warm weather is a reason to move to Hawaii, some people end up missing the colder seasons.

Maybe a yearly trip to a cold destination will do it for you. In our opinion, the weather is absolutely awesome in Hawaii and we did not miss the cold weather at all! On Oahu, it either rains or the sun is out. What’s not to love?

No such thing as 2 day delivery

It takes longer to receive mail and items on the islands of Hawaii. Definitely not a dealbreaker (in our opinion), but something to be aware of.

Hawaii bank account

We do our finances online, however, it is important to know that your mainland bank won’t have any branches on the island. It might be worth checking out some local Hawaiian banks if you want to do banking in-person.

There is no nightlife

There are restaurants that close their doors at 7 or 8 PM. You will find some bars, (mostly in the Waikiki area), but that’s about it. The nightlife on the mainland cannot be compared to the nightlife on the islands. This is probably not a dealbreaker for those wanting to move to Hawaii. Rather, people want to move to Hawaii for the beaches, sun, beautiful turquoise waters and aloha lifestyle. I don’t think you will miss those late nights out.

Let yourself be heard!

Are you thinking about moving to Hawaii? Let us know if you have any questions that we can help you with. Definitely leave a comment with your experience moving to Hawaii if you’ve done it as well. We and others would love to read it! Mahalo!