A guide for new and future residents
The Waianae Coast on leeward Oahu has a bad reputation, and it isn’t entirely undeserved. Waianae High School has the highest student dropout rate in the state. Drive through certain neighborhoods and you’ll see unkempt properties, shuttered businesses, and a proliferation of convenience and liquor stores. News reports of drunken brawls and “tent cities” on … Read more
If you’re planning a move to Hawaii, I recommend that you rent a home (rather than buy a home) for at least your first year in the islands. This will give you time to make sure you really want to stay put in that neighborhood, in that city, on that island, or even in Hawaii … Read more
A common question I see posted on forum threads about moving to Hawaii is: “How much do groceries cost?” This question seems to spring from the common knowledge that Hawaii has higher grocery prices, because most goods are manufactured or grown outside of the islands and need to shipped over. It’s a good question to … Read more
Everyone knows that housing in Hawaii is expensive. In fact, when compared to other U.S. states, Hawaii’s average rent is the highest. But rents vary greatly throughout the state, depending on the island, city/town, and neighborhood. So which areas of Hawaii have the least expensive rents? And perhaps more importantly, why are they less expensive … Read more
Yesterday I wrote about which neighborhoods had the least expensive rental housing on the island of Oahu. Today, let’s take a look at the cheapest ZIP codes on the Big Island. Pahoa (Puna District, on windward coast) ZIP Code: 96778 2-bedroom: $1020 4- bedroom: $1576 Why it’s less expensive: Rainier, less sunny than leeward (Kona) … Read more
In my last two posts, I wrote about which neighborhoods on Oahu and the Big Island have the least expensive rental housing. Today, Maui County is the focus of my search for the areas with the lowest Fair Market Rents. The towns listed below are on the islands of Maui and Molokai. Although the island … Read more
In my last three posts, I identified which neighborhoods had the cheapest rental housing on Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui & Molokai. Today’s post completes my series on the most affordable ZIP codes in Hawaii, with a focus on the island of Kauai. Kaumakani (West Side of Kauai) ZIP Code: 96747 2-bedroom: $1207 4- … Read more
If living in Hawaii is currently your dream rather than your reality, you’re certainly not alone. And if your dream is anything like mine was, it includes year-round sunshine, going to the beach after work, living in shorts and flip-flops, tropical flowers blooming everywhere, bronze-skinned surfers, a stress-free life… And while that is a somewhat … Read more
(Note: If this article looks familiar, it’s because it was originally published in my newsletter. I have since changed the format of my newsletter and have moved all articles previously published under the old format to my blog, where they can be more easily found.) Deciding on which of the six major islands in Hawaii … Read more
(Note: If this article looks familiar, it’s because it was originally published in my newsletter. I have since changed the format of my newsletter and have moved all articles previously published under the old format to my blog, where they can be more easily found.) Honestly, I don’t know how I would have moved to … Read more
Hawaii is a good place to grow old: The weather is mild year-round, the air is clean, the beautiful natural surroundings encourage outdoor activities, the pace of life is less-hectic, and the influence of Hawaiian and Asian cultures has produced a special respect for kupuna. But that’s not all: There are also many state programs … Read more
