r/MovingtoHawaii Feb 18 '26

🐱🐶 Moving to Hawaii with Pets: What to Know

42 Upvotes

Hi folks! If you're planning on moving to Hawaii with pets, you should know that we are a rabies-free state and have a strict quarantine procedure for all animals entering the state. If you do not follow the direct release procedures for your pet, they will be quarantined for 120 days. I have gone to the quarantine center to hand in paperwork, and while they will make sure your pets are safe and fed, they are in outdoor kennels and it should only be your last resort to make them endure quarantine.

The HDOA has some handy checklists for folks looking to enter Hawaii with pets. You will likely need to consult one of these two checklists and follow the directions carefully to ensure your pets direct release is processed successfully

Checklist 1 - for arrival in Honolulu

Checklist 4 - for arrival in Kona (Big Island), Lihue (Kauai), or Kahului (Maui)

You should expect the process of moving with your pets to take about 2-3 months and $500-1000 - though costs and times may vary greatly depending on how much of the process you have already completed and your local veterinarian rates.

Please use the table below to get an idea of times and costs BUT DO NOT RELY ON THIS TABLE AS ACCURATE. Your times and costs may vary greatly depending on your pet.

Checklist Item Time Cost
Microchip 0 days $25
Rabies shot 1 (only needed if never vaccinated before or if you do not have vet's signature for first shot) 30 days $100
Rabies shot 2 30 days $100
FAVN test 60-90 days $250-$500
Health Certificate 0 days $150
HDOA Entry Fee 14 days $185
Airline pet fee 0 days $100

What happens when I land at the airport?

When you land at HNL, your animal will be taken to the animal quarantine holding center - if you are traveling with your animal in cabin, a representative from the airline or the airport will meet you and other travelers with pets at the gate to escort you to animal quarantine. The walk to the animal quarantine center is half a mile. Usually the rep will let you stop and pickup a luggage cart on your way to make it easier to carry your kennel, but the pathway leading to animal quarantine can be bumpy so be prepared.

Once you're at animal quarantine, they will scan your pet's microchip, check your paperwork, and if everything checks out you'll be able to leave with your pet. The process takes about 15min per animal, so if you are the first in line it will be relatively quick but if there are several people in front of you, you may be waiting for a while. The holding center is open from 8:30am - 4:30pm and animals must arrive by 3:30pm to be released that day. Plan your trip around these times, otherwise you animal will be held until the holding center is open next.

If you have checked luggage, the luggage carousel will probably have stopped by the time you get your pet. You will either need to coordinate with someone you are traveling with to pickup your luggage; or, once you have your pet, you will need to find the luggage office for your airline in the baggage claim area to retrieve your luggage.

What if I have an extra large dog, or another specialized transport scenario?

If you have an animal that will be hard to transport, I recommend that you look into companies that specialize in transporting pets to and from Hawaii. If you search this subreddit you'll find several people who have used these services and their reviews.

What if I'm unable to complete the direct release process in time?

Your choices are:

  • Find someone on the mainland to care for your pet until they complete direct release
  • Postpone your trip until your pet has completed direct release
  • Leave your pet in quarantine until their direct release process or 120 days are complete.

What if I'm in the Military or I have a service dog?

Regardless of these factors, your pet will still need to go through the quarantine or direct release process.

See this page for instructions for service animals. PCS will cover the cost of transporting one animal to Hawaii.

How can I check if HDOA has received my FAVN test result?

There is a PDF linked on this page which you can use to check the latest results based on microchip number.

What if I have additional questions?

The HDOA email, [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) is generally very responsive and usually responds to emails within 48 hours. You can also feel free to ask additional questions in this subreddit.


r/MovingtoHawaii Nov 04 '24

Jobs/Working in Hawaii "Can I afford to move to Hawaii?"

100 Upvotes

This used to be a post here, but I'm not sure what happened to it, so I'm reposting it since there've been a number of related questions.

The Short Answer

The short answer:Ā  Chances are, if you have to ask this question, then you probably can’t. Hawaii has the highest cost of living index in the United States.Ā  Real estate is expensive, salaries are low, and things just generally cost more.

Ā 

The Long Answer

The long answer depends on a lot of circumstances, but here are some facts:

Ā 

Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States, with a cost-of-living index of 191.8.Ā  What that means is that Hawaii is nearly twice as expensive as the national average.Ā  The 2nd highest is Washington DC at 159.

Ā 

However, the devil is really in the details and the most important details are:

  1. Where you want to live

  2. What sort of job you have

  3. What sort of housing situation you want.

Ā 

It should go without saying that if you want to live in a big house on the beach, it will cost a lot of money. But regardless of where you live, real estate is expensive in Hawaii. The average house price in Hawaii is $850,000. The average cost per square foot of real estate in Hawaii is $694. Hilo’s cost is lowest, at $440 per square foot whereas Honolulu’s cost per square foot is $732 and Kailua is $874.Ā  To put that into some perspective, Hawaii’s cost-per-square foot is 60% higher than California's.Ā  Honolulu’s real estate cost per square foot is 31% higher than New York City and is very close to the cost per square foot in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward.

Ā 

In short, purchasing a house in Hawaii will cost you more money. You can, of course, reduce your costs by reducing your expectations. Detached houses on large lot sizes will be very expensive compared to what you may be used to on the mainland, but smaller square footage of both the home and the lot can have reasonable prices. Obvious caveats apply: some more affordable real estate may be older homes and/ or in undesirable neighborhoods. Like any other large purchase, you should definitely do your research.Hawaii also has a unique feature in their real estate market called ā€œLeaseholdsā€. Hawaii's use of leaseholds is a unique aspect of the state's real estate market that stems from historical and cultural land ownership practices. In a leasehold arrangement, the buyer of a property does not own the land on which the property is built. Instead, they lease the land from the landowner for a fixed period, often ranging from 30 to 99 years. At the end of the lease, the land may revert to the landowner, leaving the leaseholder with a home but no land ownership. In some cases, leases can be renegotiated, but often at higher costs.

Ā 

This can be good, or bad, depending on your plans. If you’re planning to leave Hawaii or upgrade in a few years, then a Leasehold might be a good option. However, as the lease expiration gets closer, this will have a negative impact on the property value and the ability to resell. Leasehold properties tend to also have lower appreciation than a house without a Leasehold.

Ā 

For those who are renting, you will find that rent prices per square foot are nearly identical to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ā 

What tends to add to the affordability challenges in Hawaii is the disparity between cost of living and employee income.Ā  For example, in San Francisco, the average salary is $96,500 whereas the average salary in Honolulu is $61,243 and the average across all of Hawaii is $52,828.Ā  Put another way, while rental costs are similar in San Francisco and Honolulu, salaries are 37% lower in Honolulu. So, when it comes to affordability, you need to factor in both how much you will pay and how much you will get paid.

Ā 

You should not expect to make the same salary for the same job in Hawaii as you would on the mainland and you must factor this in when deciding whether you can afford it. You should also expect that finding a job in Hawaii will be more difficult. Although Hawaii ranks 13th in the US for population density, you should keep in mind that Hawaii is the 8th smallest state in the US, in terms of land area. Hawaii’s smaller size also means less employers. So, while the state does experience better-than-average job growth numbers, it must be kept into perspective. US News ranks Hawaii’s economy 44th in the nation. Hawaii has a 10.25% poverty rate compared to the national average of 7.8%.

Ā 

For those who have the opportunity to work remotely, such as those who work in IT, it is important to consider time zone differences. For example, Hawaii is 3 hours behind Pacific Daylight Time, and 6 hours behind Eastern Daylight Time. It is 12 hours behind Central European Summer Time. Hawaii is 15.5 hours ahead of India Standard Time. So, depending on the time zones you need to support while working, it may be extremely difficult. Supporting normal work hours with the mainland US will only give you 4 hours of crossover with the east coast and 7 hours with the west coast. The time differences improve by 1 hour during Standard time. Supporting times in Europe or India during normal business hours will mean very late nights in Hawaii.

Ā 

Finally, stuff in Hawaii just generally costs more:

Ā·Ā  Electricity is about $50 higher per month than the national average

Ā·Ā  Gasoline is about $1.30 higher than the national average

Ā·Ā  Groceries cost about 60% more than the national average

Ā 

Can you make it work?

This post isn’t meant to scare you away. 1,296,000 people are making it work, and so can you. Here’s how:Do your research

Moving 2,400 miles away from the mainland isn’t a small decision. Spend some time researching where you’d want to live, how much you’re willing to pay for housing, what your job prospects are, and so on.

Ā 

Make a budget

Establishing a budget is just generally a good idea anyway, but when deciding to move to Hawaii it is even more important. Ensure that your budget accurately reflects the differences between where you live and work now vs. what things will cost you in Hawaii.

Ā 

Have a job first, or have sufficient savings and good job prospects

The best strategy, of course, is to already have a job lined up. Having a job increases your chances of success and makes your budget more accurate.

Ā 

If you don’t have a job lined up, do not assume you’ll be able to get one quickly and make sure you have enough savings to fully cover your expenses for several months while looking for work.Due to the travel industry, it is likely that you can find a job in hospitality or food services pretty quickly, but higher paying jobs are more difficult to find. Healthcare jobs are in high demand and pay well and skilled trades are reliably in demand as well.

The Short Answer

The short answer:Ā  Chances are, if you have to ask this question, then you probably can’t. Hawaii has the highest cost of living index in the United States.Ā  Real estate is expensive, salaries are low, and things just generally cost more.

Ā 

The Long Answer

The long answer depends on a lot of circumstances, but here are some facts:

Ā 

Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States, with a cost-of-living index of 191.8.Ā  What that means is that Hawaii is nearly twice as expensive as the national average.Ā  The 2nd highest is Washington DC at 159.

Ā 

However, the devil is really in the details and the most important details are:

  1. Where you want to live

  2. What sort of job you have

  3. What sort of housing situation you want.

Ā 

It should go without saying that if you want to live in a big house on the beach, it will cost a lot of money. But regardless of where you live, real estate is expensive in Hawaii. The average house price in Hawaii is $850,000. The average cost per square foot of real estate in Hawaii is $694. Hilo’s cost is lowest, at $440 per square foot whereas Honolulu’s cost per square foot is $732 and Kailua is $874.Ā  To put that into some perspective, Hawaii’s cost-per-square foot is 60% higher than California's.Ā  Honolulu’s real estate cost per square foot is 31% higher than New York City and is very close to the cost per square foot in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward.

Ā 

In short, purchasing a house in Hawaii will cost you more money. You can, of course, reduce your costs by reducing your expectations. Detached houses on large lot sizes will be very expensive compared to what you may be used to on the mainland, but smaller square footage of both the home and the lot can have reasonable prices. Obvious caveats apply: some more affordable real estate may be older homes and/ or in undesirable neighborhoods. Like any other large purchase, you should definitely do your research.Hawaii also has a unique feature in their real estate market called ā€œLeaseholdsā€. Hawaii's use of leaseholds is a unique aspect of the state's real estate market that stems from historical and cultural land ownership practices. In a leasehold arrangement, the buyer of a property does not own the land on which the property is built. Instead, they lease the land from the landowner for a fixed period, often ranging from 30 to 99 years. At the end of the lease, the land may revert to the landowner, leaving the leaseholder with a home but no land ownership. In some cases, leases can be renegotiated, but often at higher costs.

Ā 

This can be good, or bad, depending on your plans. If you’re planning to leave Hawaii or upgrade in a few years, then a Leasehold might be a good option. However, as the lease expiration gets closer, this will have a negative impact on the property value and the ability to resell. Leasehold properties tend to also have lower appreciation than a house without a Leasehold.

Ā 

For those who are renting, you will find that rent prices per square foot are nearly identical to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ā 

What tends to add to the affordability challenges in Hawaii is the disparity between cost of living and employee income.Ā  For example, in San Francisco, the average salary is $96,500 whereas the average salary in Honolulu is $61,243 and the average across all of Hawaii is $52,828.Ā  Put another way, while rental costs are similar in San Francisco and Honolulu, salaries are 37% lower in Honolulu. So, when it comes to affordability, you need to factor in both how much you will pay and how much you will get paid.

Ā 

You should not expect to make the same salary for the same job in Hawaii as you would on the mainland and you must factor this in when deciding whether you can afford it. You should also expect that finding a job in Hawaii will be more difficult. Although Hawaii ranks 13th in the US for population density, you should keep in mind that Hawaii is the 8th smallest state in the US, in terms of land area. Hawaii’s smaller size also means less employers. So, while the state does experience better-than-average job growth numbers, it must be kept into perspective. US News ranks Hawaii’s economy 44th in the nation. Hawaii has a 10.25% poverty rate compared to the national average of 7.8%.

Ā 

For those who have the opportunity to work remotely, such as those who work in IT, it is important to consider time zone differences. For example, Hawaii is 3 hours behind Pacific Daylight Time, and 6 hours behind Eastern Daylight Time. It is 12 hours behind Central European Summer Time. Hawaii is 15.5 hours ahead of India Standard Time. So, depending on the time zones you need to support while working, it may be extremely difficult. Supporting normal work hours with the mainland US will only give you 4 hours of crossover with the east coast and 7 hours with the west coast. The time differences improve by 1 hour during Standard time. Supporting times in Europe or India during normal business hours will mean very late nights in Hawaii.

Ā 

Finally, stuff in Hawaii just generally costs more:

Ā·Ā  Electricity is about $50 higher per month than the national average

Ā·Ā  Gasoline is about $1.30 higher than the national average

Ā·Ā  Groceries cost about 60% more than the national average

Ā 

Can you make it work?

This post isn’t meant to scare you away. 1,296,000 people are making it work, and so can you. Here’s how:Do your research

Moving 2,400 miles away from the mainland isn’t a small decision. Spend some time researching where you’d want to live, how much you’re willing to pay for housing, what your job prospects are, and so on.

Ā 

Make a budget

Establishing a budget is just generally a good idea anyway, but when deciding to move to Hawaii it is even more important. Ensure that your budget accurately reflects the differences between where you live and work now vs. what things will cost you in Hawaii.

Ā 

Have a job first, or have sufficient savings and good job prospects

The best strategy, of course, is to already have a job lined up. Having a job increases your chances of success and makes your budget more accurate.

Ā 

If you don’t have a job lined up, do not assume you’ll be able to get one quickly and make sure you have enough savings to fully cover your expenses for several months while looking for work.Due to the travel industry, it is likely that you can find a job in hospitality or food services pretty quickly, but higher paying jobs are more difficult to find. Healthcare jobs are in high demand and pay well and skilled trades are reliably in demand as well.


r/MovingtoHawaii 5h ago

Real Estate & Construction Where to rent in Oahu for 6 months

0 Upvotes

My parents recently retired. They took a trip to Oahu and now want to move there. They are in their early 60s and very active. They want me to find them a 6-month lease in Oahu.

Below is what they are looking for:

-safe neighborhood, okay to walk at night

-quiet neighborhood

-clean air

-doesn't have to be close to beach

-very clean house or condo

-washer dryer in unit

-AC

-access to good food (down to earth kind of good food, no fine dining)

-budget for rent: below 5k per month

Can anyone tell me which area and neighborhood will be good? any web sites I should use for searching?

Also, should they budget another $500 or so for utilities? I imagine it is expensive to run AC.

Thank you!


r/MovingtoHawaii 6h ago

Life on Oahu Making a 2-3 year plan! Some questions about jobs & renting

0 Upvotes

Aloha friends! I know there's many similar posts to this and I have read through a lot of them, but I thought it'd be good to make my own post since my circumstances are a little different.

Some background:

My family is from Oahu (Native), but my mom and grandma were priced out in the early 90s. We recently visited and my mom cried because she wishes she could move back. I also cried because I wish I was raised there. I decided I would make it a goal of mine to move there in the next few years, my mom also said she wanted to start getting serious about moving back.

I have family there. My cousin, aunt, and uncle already agreed I can move in with them. My cousin and I agreed we would like to get an apartment together, but I can stay with them until we find something or as long as I need to of course.

My questions:

I've seen people say that you won't be able to get hired or even get an interview for a job if you don't have an 808 phone number or Hawaii address... Could I secure a job using a google voice 808 number and my aunt/uncles address? My preference would be to have a job lined up before I move there, but I'm aware this might be optimistic thinking!

Should I share context that I have local roots with employers during the interview/hiring process/on my resume? How relevant is it typically? Is it appropriate to bring this up? Do employers ask about that typically? I'm just curious.

Has anyone had luck finding a job before moving? What's the best way to approach telling a potential employer that I'm planning to move but don't actually live there yet if I tried to secure an interview before moving? Should I give up on that hope entirely and just plan to look for jobs once I'm actually there? That gives me anxiety but need an honest answer lol. I work in the nonprofit sphere but I'm open to working in retail or service environments again after my initial move if I need to...

Is apartment hunting competitive? I'm already aware of the high rent prices. I have lived in NYC and other expensive cities so I'm used to the higher end of cost of living; When applying for a place, is there usually a ton of other applicants you're fighting against? (for example: in NYC sometimes it turns into a literal bidding system with 10+ other applicants battling for who's willing to pay the highest rent, or the credit score requirement is like 800+)

If you've lived in an apartment with one or two other people, what were your utility bills like? My aunts and uncles said it's super expensive and told me how much their bills are but they all live in large multi-generational homes.

Are there times of year where it's easier to find an apartment and move? I imagine there's more listings in certain seasons than others? (for example: in east coast cities, signing a lease to move in during winter could potentially get you cheaper rent because less people want to move during that time. and in the summer you're likely to see more listings w slightly higher rents)

Any other tips or advice you have for me if you've gone thru this process? Anything else I should know especially about jobs/renting?

I have tons more questions but figured I'd start here lol...

Mahalo for any advice, honesty, and/or reassurance!


r/MovingtoHawaii 20h ago

Real Estate & Construction First Apartment Oahu

3 Upvotes

I’ve been working at my first big girl job now for over 6 months and I’m nearly done paying off my student loans (only $2k left and I can pay that off in the next paycheck). I make 65k a year, I’ve saved a pretty decent emergency fund, my credit score is in the high 700s, and I feel like I’m close to being ready to move out of my family’s house. I live in Ewa and commute to Downtown, and I’m getting tired of sitting in traffic/I want to hangout with my friends in town more often. I started touring some apartments and I’m most interested in one in Downtown. Is $1,800 a month (electricity, water, sewer included) a good price? Would I be paying too much for my salary?

I don’t qualify for a bunch of low-income places, so apartment complex suggestions are welcome. I’d like to pay as low as possible while also still having a nice/newer apartment


r/MovingtoHawaii 1d ago

Jobs/Working in Hawaii Contractor moving to Big Island

1 Upvotes

I currently have a general contractors license in Oregon and have heard it’s hard to get a license in Hawaii since they don’t do reciprocity.I don’t have years of managing someone else’s business but I have many years of experience just working on my own.Anyone have any recent experience with this they can share?
Thanks


r/MovingtoHawaii 2d ago

Life on Oahu moving to Hawaii

2 Upvotes

Its been encouraged and set in stone for me to move to Hawaii, I'm moving from Oregon. I am currently a phlebotomist and would like to continue my education to be an LPN in Hawaii. I know a lot of the locals don't want mainlanders coming in to move, but I would like to be a part of the community, especially helping out in the healthcare realm. I've started applying to a few jobs, but as I've read that a lot of jobs won't consider if you don't have a Hawaiian address or phone number. I'm already planning that I would have to find a short term place to live in order to find a more permanent place. I am trying not to be naive about this move but I know that I probably am. I'm already planning on shipping my car out there and packing light. I am single, no pets, nothing tying me down, and want to bite the bullet on taking my journey to Hawaii. If there is anything anyone recommends, please let me know how I can make this journey as smoothly as possible.


r/MovingtoHawaii 2d ago

Shipping Cars & Household Items Recently Moved? I want to interview you!

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I am an MBA student at UNLV. I’m taking a course on new venture feasibility and I am considering a moving company that specializes in the lane between Las Vegas and Honolulu and expands from there.

I realize this is a complicated move, and I want to talk to people about their experiences and pain points.

If you have recently moved between Hawaii and the mainland, and would be willing to hop on a zoom call for a short 10-20 minute interview, please send me a DM! And of course feel free to comment about your experiences for the lurkers.

Mahalo!


r/MovingtoHawaii 3d ago

Shipping Cars & Household Items Anybody moving to Hawaii from Oregon?

0 Upvotes

Hi! Is anybody moving to Oahu from Oregon? I'm trying to ship a piece of furniture (a desk) and would be happy to cover the cost of adding it to your move — logistics for shipping a single piece are very expensive. Send me a PM if it is something you would be interested in.


r/MovingtoHawaii 5d ago

Life in Maui County Place to stay in August 1st - Maui

0 Upvotes

Aloha everyone, I have a my extra room available on August 1st. I'm Looking for someone to sublet for 3 weeks beginning of August. I will be off island. There is potential to stay longer if the fit is right when I come back. I will share more details If you message me with more information about yourself. Ideally looking for a female who is mature, honest, trustworthy, considerate and has stable income.

This is ideal for someone who wants to stay for a short while or transitioning, etc. This is mostly a short-term stay. Send me a message to talk story!


r/MovingtoHawaii 4d ago

Bringing Animals to Hawai'i Renting with a Service Dog

0 Upvotes

I am planning on moving to either Oahu or the Big Island sometime in the next year. I have a service dog that is very well trained and behaved, not to mention quiet. From what I have gathered from other posts it can be hard to find a rental that will rent to anyone with pets. Will I have trouble finding a rental?

She is part Pitbull and part black lab.


r/MovingtoHawaii 5d ago

Life on Oahu Trans disabled veteran fleeing from Alabama

0 Upvotes

Edit: There seems to be some individuals that have a problem with the fact that I am a medically retired veteran with PTSD. While I understand that housing is at a premium and life there is hard financially, it is important to point out that I am not disabled by choice and I earned every cent of my disability. I am currently isolated and ostracized, so I would rather be isolated and ostracized in Hawaii than the middle of Alabama.

Frontloading the post with details since that seems to be a common request. I (32 TW) recently started transitioning and I live in Montgomery AL. I am medically retired and have a service dog. Been to Hilo once, but that was years ago and it was only for a day. Honolulu twice, once as a teenager and another time while enlisted. Every time I came it wasn't for longer than 2 weeks. I make between 6-7k a month and don't work. No family besides my kids that live with their mother and they are going to be moving to the Pacific NW next month. I will need at least a 2 bedroom for when they come visit on their school brakes. I have considered other places but Hawaii captured my imagination ever since I first visited. Plus I am an avid free-diver and I consider Hawaii the best waters for that hobby. I am a very quiet and respectful individual that values personal space, but every once in a while I crave a night out. I am currently extremely isolated and don't have any friends or community support and it wont be long before I am no longer able to hide that I am trans. I need to get out of Alabama asap.

Does anyone have any advice about places to live in Hawaii, do's and don'ts for a transplant, or making friends?


r/MovingtoHawaii 6d ago

Bringing Animals to Hawai'i Moving back to Hawaii with a cat

5 Upvotes

I have to move back to Hawaii on short notice due to family issues but I have a cat and I know there is a lot of paper work and stuff needed. I can’t afford the blood test or the health certificate, so will I be able to get my cat back after the strict quarantine or does someone thing else happen? I have all the rabies shots and stuff for him I’m just missing those two things, could they deny my getting my cat back?


r/MovingtoHawaii 7d ago

Real Estate & Construction Military moving in August. What to expect?

0 Upvotes

What’s up shipmates. I’ll be PCS’ing to Hawaii in early August just in time for chief season (worst timing) hoping I make it. I used to live there from 2014-2018. How bad is the wait for base housing since after COVID? Last time I was there I was able to get a place same day right beside the NEX at Monalua Terrace I believe. We enjoyed that style of home. Any other military housing similar to quality/standards like those that aren’t too far from Pearl? Thanks in advance! I already have my appointment with base housing set up and will be expecting to use TLA while I wait. Thanks in advance.


r/MovingtoHawaii 8d ago

Life on Oahu Moving from Costa Rica to Honolulu?

0 Upvotes

I'm a US citizen who's been living in Costa Rica for 3 years. I have a few chronic illnesses that are tough to manage here so am thinking about moving back to the US. Honolulu recently came on my radar. I'm a 40 YO man, self employed, with a remote job.

How's healthcare access in Honolulu? Specifically for gastrointestinal issues?

Where should I apartment hunt? In Honolulu or are there areas outside that are nice but still close to the city.

I would get a small motorcycle or scooter.

I've loved living in Costa Rica and think Hawaii might be a nice way for me to live in the tropics while accessing US-level healthcare.


r/MovingtoHawaii 7d ago

Life on Kauai Mountain town transplants

0 Upvotes

Hi All!
My wife and two kids 7 and 5 are seriously considering a move to Oahu or Kauai from a small mountain town in Colorado. I’ve done a ton of research overall on what to expect.

It obviously looks very difficult, expensive and even tough to find a community where we’ll be accepted.

Just curious if anyone has any stories. Both success and failures ha!?

Were you glad you made the move?


r/MovingtoHawaii 7d ago

Real Estate & Construction Wife and I are planning our move to Hawaii (Big Island). looking at homes for sale

0 Upvotes

One thing we keep seeing is houses on leased land. These are largely cash deals which is fine. Some also come with farming requirements. If some one here could help enlighten us on the pros and cons of owning such a property I'd love to hear it. We've done lots of googling on the topic but some real life first hand experience would be welcome.


r/MovingtoHawaii 9d ago

Shipping Cars & Household Items Shipping Car Oakland -> Nawiliwili

0 Upvotes

Hi all. Moving to Kauai in October. I am trying to figure out the best shipping date for our car (with Matson). We don't want to be stuck with crazy storage fees at the port if it gets there way before us. Can anyone who has shipped their car Oakland to Nawiliwili recently share their shipping & pick up dates? Thanks!


r/MovingtoHawaii 8d ago

Life on BI My goal is to buy a house on the big island, ship my car hopefully planning to save up for that for the next 5 years any comments??

0 Upvotes

Been to Maui and big island 3 times only a weeek stay for each tho and not at resorts but at airbnbs in random parts of the island, really like big island a lot and want to retire there as well. Want to do it soon and be living on the island by the 2030s


r/MovingtoHawaii 9d ago

Life on Oahu Running out of TLA ...

0 Upvotes

Hi all, my husband and I just got to pearl from norfolk. Currently staying in a hotel in waikiki on TLA. We really want to hold out for housing on MCBH even though we have lower priority as Navy. No kids or pets so it's not the worst staying in a hotel. But it looks like we're going to run out of the 60 day TLA before getting a home offer. Housing office said 2-6 months ... Any suggestions for where to find a month to month furnished rental? Looking for something around 3.5-4k to not break the bank. So far only looking on air bnb and there are a couple options but not too much... We are considering anything within 20-25 commute to pearl and a decent area since I will be home while my husband is at work. Thanks in advance!


r/MovingtoHawaii 11d ago

Jobs/Working in Hawaii Honolulu named best place to move by CondƩ Nast Traveler

Thumbnail
cntraveler.com
25 Upvotes

> The new study ranks 173 global cities based on their stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

And Honolulu ranked number one, over Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Why? The city has the highest "stability" score in the list, making it a secure place to work or start a business.


r/MovingtoHawaii 12d ago

Life on Oahu Contract worker moving to oahu

0 Upvotes

Hello all, I just accepted a contract position in Oahu and I'll be making the move out there in a month or so to work at the Schofield barracks. I vacationed on Maui/Oahu 4 years ago so I'm semi-familiar with the area. I'm originally from the Boston area and I have family on Oahu to help make the move a little smoother but any extra information you can provide would be great!

My last time in Hawaii I spent most of my time fly fishing and am excited to do that again as well as do some bow hunting while I'm on the island. Other than that I'd like to get a foothold with consulting outside of work to supplement my experience/income specifically in health & wellness and organization/industrial psychology.

I've been contracting for a few years but never somewhere I couldn't drive to so it'll be an adventure. If anyone else has made a similar move; what would you recommend/do differently such as living, transportation, etc. Thank you 🫔!


r/MovingtoHawaii 13d ago

Life on Oahu Nursing jobs on Oahu

7 Upvotes

Hi all, looking for some input from people who have worked staff at hospitals on Oahu. We are moving for my husband's job and I have a fair amount of ICU experience- doesn't have to be crit care but just wanted to see if anyone had thoughts about hospitals to avoid/ which ones are good vibes? Not looking for travel contracts looking for a long-term job with good community that people actually like working for (if that exists in nursing lol)

Would also consider alternatives to inpatient if people have recs, just don't have experience outside of ICU. thnxx :)


r/MovingtoHawaii 13d ago

Life on Kauai Moving to Hawaii for work

13 Upvotes

Aloha everyone!
I recently found out that my job is sending me to Kauai for a six-month contract starting next month. They are fully covering my housing and vehicle, so I know I am stepping into an incredibly lucky situation that most people do not get, and I really do not take that for granted.

To give a little context, I am not Native Hawaiian. I actually spent my early childhood living in Ewa Beach on Oahu before my family moved out to California when I was six years old. I’m entering my late 20’s and haven’t been back since. Even though I was so little when we left, and I do not have deep ancestral roots there, I have always felt this intense, unexplainable pull to go back. It honestly feels like the islands have been calling me home for years, so having this opportunity land in my lap feels completely surreal.
Because main living expenses are paid by my employer, the absolute last thing I want to do is show up acting like an entitled tourist or a disruptive transplant. I want to treat the island and the community with total respect.

I would love to get some honest advice from kamaʻāina on how to be a good neighbor while I am there:

-I want to consciously avoid big-box chains and major corporations as much as possible. Where should I buy my groceries, everyday essentials, and food if I want to put my money directly into the pockets of local families? Please share your favorite fruit stands, small markets, and local spots.

-Are there any community-led fitness groups, volunteer groups, beach cleanups, or environmental initiatives you recommend I should look into joining on my days off to actually contribute to the island?
Island Etiquette: What are the subtle things that mainlanders or long-term visitors often mess up that I should be mindful of?

-How do locals feel about filming? I’d like to use meta glasses to film when I go on easy hikes and trips to beaches, are locals okay with this? I’m really trying to experience solo activities and I’d like to capture these memories quietly. *Edit: I try to respect everyone’s privacy (because I also do not like being recorded) I’d like to record only in areas where I’m all by myself, and times it isn’t safe or ideal to pull out my phone. If locals find this disruptive, I 100% respect that and would not overstep boundaries.\*

I want to use my six months to listen, learn, tread lightly, and support the local economy. I deeply appreciate any guidance, tips, or reality checks you are willing to share.
Mahalo!


r/MovingtoHawaii 13d ago

Life in Maui County Avoid First Hawaiian Bank

4 Upvotes

After waiting two months for my replacement ATM/Debit card, calling and messaging FHB many times, it finally arrived. IT DOESN'T WORK! This particular card was mailed about two weeks ago, so it is not expired. The number is good and it's activated. When I called customer service, they could not explain why it doesn't work. I was told they would get back to me. I couldn't buy lunch. I wonder if they will get back to me after they eat lunch? Unless they eat too much lunch and are too tired to get back to me.