21 Honest Pros and Cons of Living in Hawaii—from a Resident

Updated: 2/10/2026

So, you want to know what living in Hawaii is really like? The good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between?

You’ve come to the right place! Below, you’ll find an honest run-down of the pros and the cons of living in Hawai’i. You’ll get a resident’s perspective on the best parts and the worst parts about making your home in the Aloha State.

At the end of the day, we love Hawai’i. (We wouldn’t live here otherwise!) And we love welcoming new residents into the Royal Hawaiian Movers ohana. However, we’re also not blind to the fact that paradise comes at a cost. Our list of 21 pros and cons will give you the intel you need to make an informed decision about moving to Hawai’i.

Pro: Lots of People Go Off the Grid in Hawai’i

If owning land is still on your bucket list—and you’re interested in building an off-the-grid house—you’ll be in excellent company in Hawai’i. Living on an island makes you more aware of just how limited resources can be, and many people in Hawai’i embrace sustainable living, to varying degrees. You’ll see plenty of roofs covered in solar panels. Some homeowners generate enough power to go off-grid. Others simply aim to reduce their pricey power bills or charge their electric vehicles, of which you’ll see plenty in Hawai’i.

Off-grid living is particularly popular on the Big Island. Some areas simply don’t have any power and water infrastructure in place. Other areas get enough rain and sunshine that make it feasible to run a household without the use of public utilities. (Note that certain areas of Hawaii are good for setting up catchment systems, while others don’t get enough rainfall consistently. Do your research carefully!)

Building an off-grid home in Hawai’i gives you the freedom to pick a piece of land that’s as remote as you please. It’s a perk many embrace, and you’ll find plenty of people who share your thinking in Hawai’i, as well as plenty of ways to get supplies.

Con: But It’s a Significant Up-Front Investment

Remember that remote land we mentioned? The one that gets enough rain and sun to make off-grid life tempting? The one that’s a lot cheaper than a lot of the other listings?

There’s no real “catch”—except for the fact that you’re going to have to build all of your own infrastructure. And that’s going to mean a significant up-front investment to get water and power going on your land.

Sure, a catchment system can be relatively simple. However, if you want pressurized water in your home, you’ll still need things like a pump (along with electricity to power the pump), a pressurizer, and some way to sanitize the water for drinking.

A solar setup will require panels, an inverter, and possibly some kind of battery system. Read more about all the factors involved with going solar in Hawaii on the Consumer Affairs website. In other words, even though off-grid living on a piece of remote land in Hawai’i sounds tempting, make sure you take into account all of the costs that make that life feasible for you. Many will tell you that the up-front investment is more than worth it.

Pro: Each Hawaiian Island Has Its Own Personality

• Oʻahu is where you’ll find Honolulu—the most populated, most urban island. Jobs, hospitals, shopping, restaurants—Oʻahu has the most options. You’ll also deal with the most traffic and the highest cost of living.
• Maui gives you gorgeous coastlines and a more relaxed pace than Oʻahu, plus solid dining and nightlife in towns like Wailea and Lahaina. Tourism is heavy, so popular beaches and attractions get packed.
• Kauaʻi is for people who want peace and quiet. Lush landscapes, big cliffs, fewer people. Job opportunities are limited, and you won’t find as many amenities. But if slower pace and natural beauty matter most, Kauaʻi delivers.

The Big Island is the youngest and biggest island in the chain. Kīlauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Mauna Kea is the tallest sea mountain on the planet. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is massive. Real estate costs less, and there’s plenty of space. Rainforests in Hilo, sunny weather in Kona, volcanic desert in between.

Con: You May Never Feel Like You Truly “Belong” in Hawai’i

If you were born in California, you might refer to yourself as a “Californian.” However, when it comes to the word “Hawaiian,” it’s not that simple. “Hawaiian” refers to those who can trace their ancestry back to the Native Hawaiians who originally settled these islands—Kānaka Maoli. Being born in Hawaiʻi doesn’t make you Hawaiian. Instead, those who live in Hawaiʻi are referred to as “Hawaiʻi residents” or kamaʻāina, (literally “child of the land”). 

Even kamaʻāina can be a complex term. Some believe you’re not truly kamaʻāina unless you were born in Hawaiʻi—or unless you’ve lived here for a long time. Newly-arrived residents may be considered malihini—strangers, foreigners. You may also hear the word haole, which usually refers to Caucasian people. (Often, it’s just a statement of fact, not an insult. It’s all about the tone and the context.)

Where are we going with all this vocabulary? All of these words are a reminder that ancestry, identity, and origin are all critically important concepts in Hawaiʻi. The islands have a complex history that continues to impact its people. European arrival brought a lot of suffering to the Native Hawaiian people. The population was reduced from an estimate of 683,000 in 1778 (the year Captain James Cook arrived) to a low of 24,000 in 1920. The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown in 1893, and many generations of Native Hawaiians still feel the lasting effects. (It’s impossible to reduce the history of the Hawaiian Islands to a few simple sentences. We encourage you to make your own deep-dive into Hawaiʻi’s history if you want to better understand the points of view you’ll encounter here in Hawaiʻi.)

All of this is to say that, even if you decide to call Hawaiʻi “home,” it’s important to respect the people whose home this was originally, many of whom feel like second-class citizens on the land originally settled by their ancestors. It’s also important to realize that you may not ever truly “belong.” You may always feel like a visitor or a temporary resident. However, respecting the land, the culture, and the people who originally settled it will go a long way.

Pro: You’ll Discover an Incredible Culture Here in Hawaii

Along with this complex history, you’ll still find a ton of aloha here in Hawaiʻi. In our opinion, the more you give, the more you’ll experience. Aloha is an intricate, multi-faceted concept to explain, but it’s something you’ll certainly feel in Hawaiʻi. You might experience it when someone stops their car so you can cross the street. You might feel it in the friendly way you’re greeted at your favorite food truck. Or you might experience it when a neighbor goes out of their way to help you with a problem. Hawaiʻi is a place where a smile and a patient attitude will get you far, whether you’re in a store, in the DMV, or just walking down the street.

There’s a reason that there are so many stories about the Hawaiian goddess Pele that involve her asking for help from a stranger. Those who assist the goddess-in-disguise are rewarded, and those who spurn her are punished. These stories reveal a culture where showing care and love to your community is prized. You’ll see that spirit alive in Hawaiʻi today.

(By the way, we can’t encourage you enough to learn more about Native Hawaiian culture when you move to Hawaiʻi. Get your kids involved in hula. Read Hawaiʻi’s Story by Hawaiʻi’s Queen. Go see an authentic slack-key show. Tour ʻIolani Palace and hear the true story of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Mai tais and grass skirts are easy to find in Hawaiʻi. True cultural opportunities are harder to uncover—but a little digging will bring rich rewards.) In short, even though you may never feel as though Hawaiʻi is “yours,” you’ll still find opportunities to feel like a part of the community.

Pro: Enjoy Hawaiʻi’s Gorgeous Natural Landscapes All Year Round

In Hawaiʻi, you’re almost always a short drive away from a gorgeous beach—the kind that some people save their whole lives to visit. For you, a beach visit might be an average Tuesday—and it’s free!The same is true of most of the hikes you’ll find in Hawaiʻi, as well as those gorgeous coastal views, rainforests, waterfalls, and mountains. 

As a Hawaiʻi resident, you’ll have easy access to the state’s incredible natural beauty and outdoor adventures, including some of the state’s most notable sights, such as:

• Oʻahu’s North Shore and its incredible hikes
• Waimea Canyon and the Nā Pali Coast on Kauaʻi
• Haleakalā National Park on Maui
• Mauna Kea and Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island

(Just to name a few!) And…

Pro: There’s Nowhere Better to Embrace Water Sports

Pick your poison. Surfing? You’ll find plenty of world-class breaks all around Hawai’i—and they’re much less crowded than those in California. Foiling? Check. Kiteboarding? Check. Same with paddleboarding, canoeing, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, spearfishing, boogie boarding, body surfing, etc., etc.

However you want to enjoy the ocean, it’s possible on just about every one of Hawai’i’s islands. There’s a reason so many pro athletes make their home here. Hawai’i is a veritable watersports playground, one you’ll have easy access to every day of the week.

Pro: Hawaiʻi Has Some of the Rarest Species on Earth

Hawaiʻi is home to birds, fish, plants, and insects that exist nowhere else. They evolved here in isolation over millions of years, which makes them rare—and vulnerable.

You might see a nēnē (the Hawaiian goose and state bird) wandering through a park. You’ll probably spot green sea turtles (honu) while snorkeling. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch sight of a Hawaiian monk seal hauled out on a beach. Native plants like the silversword and ʻōhiʻa lehua trees grow in places that feel like another planet.

A lot of these species are endangered. Habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change have taken a toll. Conservation efforts are happening across the islands, and many residents take this work seriously.

Con: The Cost of Living in Hawai’i Can Be Brutal

All that said, the cost of living in Hawaii is no joke. It will really hit home when you put five items on the belt at Foodland, and the cashier tells you your bill is $40.

To offer a few specific numbers for consideration:

At the End of the Day…

Hawaiʻi is what you make of it. We know plenty of people who have moved out and stayed for a lifetime—and plenty of people who moved to Hawaiʻi and soon headed back to the mainland.We love it here, and, if it’s the right fit for you, you’ll love it, too.

Want to know more about Hawaiʻi life? Or want to talk about the logistics of moving your belongings to Hawaiʻi? Reach out to our team. We’d be happy to talk more about the real Hawaiʻi—and get you a complimentary quote for your move.