My employment has offered me a residency in Oahu, HI (JB Pearl-Hickam for those who know what that means) for a period of 1-4 years.
I have a few days to think it over before I decide whether or not to take it. So I thought I would list the pros and cons of temporarily relocating to Hawaii. Since I generally value the opinions of BWDC membership (loosely, sort of, with big grains of salt), I thought I would throw it out here in case anybody has any experience living over there.
One of my more radical republican friends told me, “you’ll be living in the middle of democrat hell”. But where I live in northern Virginia is now enveloped in democrat hell, and it ain’t Hawaii.
I started looking into the tax burden differential, and it’s not much worse there. The top income tax rate in VA is 5.75%, and in HI it is 8.25%, so that’s another 2.5% of my income (no brag, but only the top bracket matters to me). The often overlooked sales tax burden is actually less. I’m paying 6.0% now, and it is only 4.5% in Honolulu. I have not looked into property taxes, which will probably be opaque to me at first, as I will likely rent when I first get there.
My employer may increase my compensation in respect to the overall cost of living there, though I have not seen a number, if you know what I mean. If that’s the case, that increase in compensation could follow me when I return from the assignment.
I’m looking for any cons that might be overlooked. A friend of mine who vacations in HI frequently told me that crime and poverty are a much bigger deal outside of the tourists resorts, but it doesn’t get reported on much here in the mainland. But any advice or even anecdotes you have to share is welcome. Thank you!
17 replies on “Should I move to Hawaii?”
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Thank you. This is all very good information.
You don’t state your age or family status. If family is not an issue, sounds like a good adventure for a few years.
It is not an issue. My niece and her husband live there. They are about to rotate out. When I asked them if, in a few years work wanted to send them back, would they want to go, they both said, “yes”.
I don’t know about you, but for me, I would not do it. I emigrated from New York state because my Second Amendment rights had been abrogated, my First Amendment rights trampled, and Emperor Cuomo liked to play fast and loose with the Fourth Amendment. I could no more live in NOVA today, than I could in NY. Never been to Hawaii, but I wouldn’t bet it’s any better. Me? Still loving South Carolina.
I love Hawaii, but I only visit – not sure if I could live there. The two top “con’s” that leap to mind to consider: 1 – Cost of living, as mentioned. For obvious reasons everything is generally more expensive. 2 – Guns. If you’re a shooter the laws are not friendly. For a 1-4 year time frame it might make sense (if you do own guns) to arrange for a friend to store them for the duration.
I’ve been there a few times, and it’s a great place to visit, but there are a few things I suggest you consider.
1. Climate: how tolerant are you of humid heat? I live in western Washington, where we get rain 180 days a year (no joke) so hot weather just kills me. Think about whether you could tolerate it or not.
2. Big bugs: keep in mind, cockroaches and other bugs thrive in the tropical environments (again, we don’t have many big bugs in my area).
3. Homesickness: how attached are you to your community in Virginia? I know I’d start to miss my church and neighborhood after a year (or four) away.
Of course, you do have the food, beaches, botanical gardens, zip lining, sunsets, warmth (if you’re into that) and just the experience of living in a new state for a while going for you. The locals are also pretty welcoming to tourists in my experience. Choose wisely, my friend!
Bugs especially. I saw a video of a Hawaiian centipede eating a mouse.
That’s rough.
I also found out that property taxes are actually much lower in Honolulu County than where I’m paying now. Right now I pay $1.085 per $100 of assessed value. There it is only $0.35 per $100 of assessed value.
Yeah, but I bet the property is a lot more expensive.
How well do you get along with a climate that never changes? Being in northern Virginia, you might be appreciative of seasons.
I lived in Florida for 12 years, and really learned to hate it. The tourist-y glamour wore off quickly, and all that was left was heat, humidity, bugs, and more humidity.
Sounds like something that’s worth getting sick of, for once in your life.
LOL! Spoken like a true veteran of urban winters. Go for it, just keep in mind you’ll probably be happy to leave when your mission is finished. You can treat it as an extended vacation. Buy sunglasses and a eye-bending print shirt.
Hawaii is much more socialist than Virginia, and the natives actually don’t like whites much. I’d be mindful of the crime your friend mentioned.
Air Force, or Navy?
You hear that Hawaii is “more socialist”, but what does that mean in real terms? What impact does it have if I don’t start a business or buy any property?
No impact at all. It’s just part of the social environment. In real terms, it would mean that Hawaii would be broke except for the gigantic tourist business (much from China and Japan) and the wealth of one or two giant corporations that own most of the farmland.
I am speaking as an observer, I’ve never actually been there. The only one in my family who’s visited is my son, who got to spend about 24 hours there when the Enterprise came back through from the Far East on it’s last deployment.