r/MovingtoHawaii

Hi there I have a question for black Hawaiian locals. just wondering how bad the racism there is? A friend who is black told me he moved there in 2012 and said he was experienced awful racism from the native Hawaiians, whites, Asians, etc. I am confused. I know racism is everywhere but I didn't think it would be crazy in Hawaii especially with the history. Also white people being racist in Hawaii is very surprising to me. I just want to know from other black Hawaiians what were your experiences there with this topic?

Single and in my mid 20s, moving to Oahu in September for a job and looking for a condo/studio. Salary of 130k looking to rent in the ranges of 2200 - 2800. No car payments or other big recurring expenses, really want a peace of mind when I’m home so willing to pay a little extra for a nice quiet neighborhood or great soundproofing. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated!

aloha!!

would you consider hawai'i to be vegan friendly? my wife and i are planning to move there in the future and we fluctuate between pescatarian/vegetarian/vegan and wonder if we'd have options with the most restrictive diet listed (vegan)? very much appreciate all and any input!! 🫶

Title! Recently went to O’ahu for vacation and me and my gf really loved it there for a lot of reasons! I did majority of the planning about 5 months worth before hand also took time to learn about the culture and history as I felt that was important before going. I’ll cut out a lot of details but basically I’m here to ask will it be doable for us.

We already had savings and are adding to it everyday and the goal is to go to Hawaii with about 50-60K in savings. Is that enough to get by even in the worst of circumstances? We are only taking all of our clothes with us. Everything else (besides a few electronics) will be sold off before we do and we aren’t having a car shipped either. Still trying to figure out where we will want to live (renting) but obvs a lot of time to figure out which neighborhood works best for us.

We also plan to have jobs there before we go but we’re not banking on that which is why we want to save so much in case there’s issues. Do landlords like renting to people coming over but aren’t yet there? On my end I’m reaching a new age milestone next year and feel like it’s the perfect time for a life reset and I’m pretty committed to making this move but want to be as prepared and informed as I can be. Any feedback appreciated!

Questions for those who have already made the move:

- What was the process with your remote role as you made the move to Hawaii?
- Did you have to leave your role and find another job while on island?
- What company do you/did you work for?
- What has been your experience working in tech, seeking remote roles while living in HI?

My partner and I live in the Bay Area and are planning to move in the next year. We’d like to keep our roles, but understand that may not be possible if companies cannot “set-up” to operate in Hawaii.

Looking to hear more stories. I appreciate whatever can be shared.

Hello from an outsider! One of my friends will be moving to Hawaii soon for work and we’ll miss her terribly, but I wanted her to feel more at home once she gets there. She is very art-minded and has picked up numerous hobbies throughout the years including sewing, knitting, ceramics, and jewelry-making. I wanted to ask if locals in Oahu could recommend any art studios or crafting centers for adults — can be both broad or specific types of crafts.

im planning on moving to hawaii once i graduate as i already make enough money and i could support myself if i were to move there . im just wondering if its logical or i should stay on the mainland and contemplate my decision . i also intend to move there with my dog so idk how thats gonna work but yeah prob more cost . what island/area is better for a younger crowd there thats what im wondering . ive always dreamed of living there , idk i guess i just need the pros to outright the cons . if anyone had any advice on this pls lmk

Would love to hear feedback... was it what you thought?

Did your finacials work the way you anticpated?

Wife is 61 retired. Japanese. Went to UH for a year.

Me as haole as it gets.

We are coming from Seattle so COL wont be as shocking as it could be (maybe)

Any thoughts welcome!

Hi all! Seeking some guidance/advice.

My company is relocating me to Hawaii, and the start date for my new role is 6/29.

Details: $90k base salary. I am in a sales role, however, I am selling a new product in this position. My first year earnings I estimate to be between 120-150k.

I am seeking an apartment or house within striking distance of downtown. I’d prefer to be under $2,500 in rent.

In addition, I need to move my furniture and vehicle out there and would like recommendations on what company to use for this, and what it would cost me.

Thanks in advance for any help :)

hi i, my family is moving back to hawaii in September after many years on the mainland. we havent been back since i was a kid so i just want to prepare myself. whats average day-to-day life look like? how is the traffic? how walkable are different neighborhoods? should we shave our great pyrenees? is it worth it for all of us to ship our cars or should i just sell mine? how is the job market there (relative to the rest of the U.S.)? what are some good places you would recommend a student try to get hired at? whats the student life like (im an incoming sophomore and have to try and transfer now before the term begins). would you guys recommend living on campus or off campus?

Aloha!

My wife and I are moving to Oahu in the next couple of months for her job (We're lucky enough to have good lawyers working out all the real details for us) We're not sure exactly where we're going to be living, but she's going to be working at Pearl Harbour so, within a sky train commute of that or so?

I'm curious about a couple of things.... Especially in that, as a Following Spouse I'm apt to not be allowed to work for at least the first year.

One of my long running hobbies has been Community Theatre, but I'd rather avoid musicals.... Are there "drama" clubs that do "straight plays" (as opposed to musicals I mean... No theatre is "straight" LOL )

I also enjoy cycling but more casually.... I'm not a MAMIL. Are there groups that do, like, Friday night pub crawls on bikes, or something similar?

I have spent the better part of my long life making folky/celtic/maritime music in pubs, clubs, festivals, etc.... Am I apt to find places to gig? Or even busking? There's a huge navy base, and I know about a thousand sea shanties and the like.

I assume there's good craft beer too? Anywhere there's people, there's good craft beer....

Holla back at a Haole, and let him know he's not gonna be totally lost

And yes, I am also planning on enjoying, experiencing, and respecting the hell outa, local culture and the like!

Cheers! 🤙

Hello, I was recently accepted into a university in Hilo, and I do not know anything about hawaii culture or Hilo or the do’s and don’ts about living in hawaii so I was wondering if anyone could give me good insight into tips, things to bring and not to bring, and just basic information I should need to know before coming.

Hi! I’m looking for a clean, responsible roommate to share a 2 bed / 2 bath apartment in town (open to areas like Waikiki, Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Aiea, Pearl City, or Mililani). Ideally aiming to keep total rent around $2,800–$3,200 so we’d each pay ~$1,400–$1,600.

About me:

- Active duty military

- Very clean and organized

- Don’t party or bring a lot of people over

- Keep a calm, low-stress home environment

- Respectful of space and privacy

What I’m looking for:

- Clean and consistent (this is really important to me)

- Responsible with bills

- Not loud / not a heavy partier

- Communicates well and respects shared spaces

Preferences:

- Washer/dryer in unit or building

- Good condition apartment

- Parking available

- Open to pet-friendly places (I may get a cat in the future 🐱)

Timeline:

- Looking to move in by June 1st

If you’re interested or also looking for a place, message me and we can talk details!

So I have some decent skis that I'm thinking of of bringing in the move. For those that have, was it worth bringing them from the mainland for a snowy day on the mountain?

What sort of a vertical can you usually get and are there groups that go up there and shuttle to the top when that happens?

This post keeps on getting auto-removed for 'low effort', but I can't seem to find an answer to this anywhere.

Howdy!

My family is considering a move from the mainland to the Big Island. We are trying to find direct flights to Kona and don't mind driving to whatever airport.

We have 2 large dogs (~90lb each) who would be coming with us. One is a Husky mix and the other is a total mutt, but his paperwork lists him as an American Staffordshire Terrier (he is the most docile, sweetest old man ever).

I can't seem to find any airlines that will let us cargo check them both straight to Kona. Hawaiian/Alaskan allows direct flights with dogs in cargo, but they list Staffie as a restricted breed, United stopped taking any dogs in cargo, and according to their website American requires a layover in Honolulu if flying with dogs in cargo.

Does anyone have any advice or expertise on this? We might have to just bite the bullet and do American through Honolulu, but I'm trying to minimize the time the dogs are in their crates. Neither of them have flown before and our Husky has separation anxiety (thank God for trazodone).

Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone! Just moved to Honolulu for the summer for work! Would love to make new friends— I’m very social and enjoy new activities and adventures. I’m a guy in my 20s and would love to meet people

Also, do you have recommendations for ways to get out and meet locals? Been doing my own research on things, but I’m sure a lot of folks on this sub would have their own ideas. Really appreciate any insight!! Dm me if you’d like to make a new friend :)

Hi everyone. Just got my admission letter for a PhD program at UH Manoa starting Fall 2026 and I'm starting to think seriously about the logistics of the move.

A bit about my situation: I'm coming from Boulder, CO. I'll be a grad student so budget is real. I'll have a TA stipend but nothing extravagant. I'm looking for a studio or 1BR, ideally within reasonable distance of the Manoa campus. Not looking for luxury, just clean, safe, and not a scam.

A few specific questions:

1. Housing : What are the most realistic neighborhoods for a grad student budget near UH Manoa? Any neighborhoods to avoid?
2. Finding a place from the mainland: Is it realistic to find and sign a lease remotely, or should I plan to arrive with a short-term Airbnb and find something on the ground? What platforms do people actually use?
3. Moving logistics: I'm moving with minimal stuff: computers, an electric scooter, and a few boxes. Planning to sell furniture here and buy cheap used stuff there. Any Hawaii-specific shipping tips or gotchas?
4. Electric scooter: Planning to use this as my primary transportation. Is that realistic for getting around the UH area day to day?

Any advice appreciated. Excited to make the move.

My husband and I are moving to Kauai for a job at PMRF later this year. We are flying to Kauai in a month to see what neighborhoods on the south end we are most interested in renting in. What would you recommend seeing while we are there? We are going to go to the grocery stores to get a better idea of food prices, go to the farmers markets, and drive the commute from Kalaheo to PMRF to see what traffic would be like. I'd love to hear what else we should check out that might've surprised/shocked you once you moved there! TIA

I would like to know more detail regarding Kauai (no specific area in mind) and the Hilo area on the main island. Kauai does seem a lot more scenic and smaller clearly, however I gather it is economically stagnant and low housing options. I take it there must be a lot of history for why it became like that and for the number of people moving to O'ahu or the mainland, its a bit surprising since it is so beautiful.

Regarding Hilo area, is it correct that it is cheaper? With the volcano being active I would think insurance is quite high and there must be other unexpected factors. Also for most of the towns like HPP there is significant commentary about petty crime, drug abuse... clearly this is common on the mainland but it does seem that it is significantly higher for Hilo. It's not clear to me if Kauai also has significant petty crime.

Any insight on the differences besides the clear landscape differences would be appreciated. Thanks!

I’m getting quoted really steep prices by services (2300+) and wanted to check if anyone has any recent experience sending a bike. I think some things have changed recently and details now include the ability to procure a skid/ crate. Thanks! (California)