What If I Don’t Love Living in Hawaii?

It’s a fair question — and an important one. Moving to Hawaii is expensive, logistically complex, and life-changing. Not everyone is happy here, and you owe it to yourself to do everything possible to make sure it’s the right move before you commit.

Visit Multiple Times and Stay as Long as You Can

Come more than once. Stay in different areas. The Big Island alone has dramatic differences between regions — Waimea’s cool ranch country feels nothing like Kona’s sunny leeward coast, which feels nothing like Hilo’s lush rainy east side. What suits one person perfectly drives another person away.

Finding places to stay has become more challenging since Hawaii County tightened vacation rental regulations in residential neighborhoods, but bed and breakfasts are still available and longer term rentals can sometimes be arranged. The investment of time and money to truly experience an area before buying there is always worth it.

The People May Surprise You

I hear this again and again from people who move here: it’s not just the place they fall in love with — it’s the people. Come with an open heart and treat the people you meet with genuine kindness and respect, and most will repay you with the aloha these islands are known for.

Do Your Research

Your realtor is a valuable source of information about what life here is really like day to day — not just the real estate transaction. The State of Hawaii also maintains a helpful newcomers guide.

And if you want the unvarnished truth about what to expect — healthcare, schools, cost of living, insurance, and more — read my longer post: What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Big Island.

Judy S. Howard, Esq. is a Realtor Broker with COMPASS in Waimea, Hawaii, and a licensed Hawaii attorney with over 30 years of experience. She can be reached at judy@livinginwaimea.com or 808-885-5588.