If you’re thinking about moving there, you’re making the rest of us jealous. But if you need help picking the best places to live in Hawaii, you’re in the right place. Keep scrolling to read about the 10 best places to move to Hawaii.
Best places to move to Hawaii
Hawaii is comprised of eight islands. The largest island, Hawai’i, has just over 4,000 square miles, 190,000 residents. The state’s other gorgeous islands include:
- Kahoʻolawe
- Kauaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Molokaʻi
- Niʻihau
- Oʻahu
Unfortunately, the state is widely known for being one of the most expensive states to live in. That said, there’s plenty of tradeoffs that make this the case.
Why? Well, for starters, it’s one of the beautiful places on planet Earth. But whether you’re looking for a lower cost-of-living or have a slightly bigger budget than the rest, one of these places should be the perfect pick for your new home in paradise.
East Honolulu
Island: Oʻahu
Known for being: The most livable place in Hawaii
Hawaii is one of the most wondrous places on the planet. And if you’re looking for the best way to make your budget work, East Honolulu will be an easy place to call home.
According to AreaVibes.com, East Honolulu has the highest livability rate in the state. Factors leading to this include relatively low crime rates, high graduations, and a good housing market. All-in-all, Honolulu is a vibrant city and on the bucket list of many travelers from around the world.
Kula
Island: Maui
Known for being: The best place to retire in Hawaii
Located on the beautiful island of Hawaii, Kula is known for being tight-knit and quaint.
A hotspot for snowbirds or people looking for a great place to retire, Kula is somewhat removed from the rest of the business of Hawaii, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere for anybody looking to make a home somewhere that’s easier to find peace-of-mind.
There are also good schools in this town, so if you’re looking for one of the best places in Hawaii to raise a family, this might be a consideration. But if you have children interested in extra-curricular activities or other forms of entertainment (outside of going to swim in the beautiful beaches), this remote community might not be the best option for you.
Scroll down to see another great place to live on the island of Maui.
Lahaina
Island: Maui
Known for being: The best all-around place to live in Hawaii
As the largest communities in Maui, Lahaina is filled with beachfront views, rolling green hills and plenty of smiling faces.
Typically a holiday town, this area is also equally beloved by locals for its unique taste of Hawaiian food and culture.
Mililani Town
Island: Oʻahu
Known for being: The best place to live in Hawaii for families
Mililani is a small city on Oahu, northeast of Honolulu. As one of the most expensive states, Hawaii is also known for being one of the most expensive states for childcare costs. Now, with that said, if you can afford to make the move with your family, Hawaii is an extremely happy place.
As we’ll suggest many times in this article, if you can make the budget work, Mililani Town is considered one of the happiest places across the islands. And subsequently, one of the happiest places in the world to raise a family.
Makaweli
Island: Kauaʻi
Known for being: The safest place to live in Hawaii
With an extremely low population, Makaweli also has one of the lowest crime rates. The quiet, quaint and risk-free environment will make for a great lifestyle and even better place to raise a family.
Princeville
Island: Kauaʻi
Known for being: The most beautiful place to live in Hawaii
Princeville is just stunning. In terms of living there, it has great public schools, diverse residents and gorgeous view everywhere you turn your head.
It’s also a blossoming community of vacation homes and condo-style apartments, as it’s super close to scenic spots like Queen’s Bath and Hanalei Pier. Once you see Princeville for yourself, you’ll stop wondering why people never want to leave.
Waikele
Island: Kauaʻi
Known for being: The best place to live in Hawaii for millennials
Residents use Waipahu, Hawaii for their postal city. But, you’ll feel like you’re in another universe when you enter Honolulu’s lovely area of Waikele.
Quickly becoming one of the most favorite spots to live in Hawaii amongst millennials, the small neighborhood of Waikele is also considered to be one of the best places to raise a family in the state. With all of Waikele’s stunning parks, golf courses and sunset-viewing spots, your only concern will be wondering why you ever lived anywhere else.
Starting to get the picture? Hawaii is overflowing with wondrous wildlife, jaw-dropping sights, and one-of-a-kind culture.
Tips for moving to Hawaii
From wondering the cost to ship a car to Hawaii or which of your furniture to bring with, there’s obviously a lot of decisions you’ll have to make if you and your family are planning to ship off to one of the most beautiful (and by far the most unique) states in the country.
Here are some topics you’ll likely need some advice on when planning your big move to Hawaii:
1. Pick an island
When you’ve made these decisions, you’ll be able to determine your housing costs.
No matter which price range you’re looking at, or what your income level is, your cost-of-living will be higher than it was in the states. Set your budget, and when doing so, make the hard decision of where you want to live and how expensive of a lifestyle you want to have.
2. Decide if you’re going to move furniture
This next part is always a big hurdle for people moving to Hawaii: moving your stuff.
It’s very intimidating to pack up everything you own and ship it to Hawaii. When doing your research for a company to move your boxes, furniture or even valuable items — make sure you look for similar accolades. Unlike your car, moving all your furniture can be an excessive financial burden.
Simply pack as you would for a vacation. In this case, less is more.
3. Shipping a car to Hawaii
You’ll most definitely want a vehicle if you move to Hawaii. Plus, shipping a car to Hawaii is less complicated than people imagine.
The key is to find a vehicle transport company with a lot of experience shipping cars to and from the Hawaiian islands. Do a quick Google search or ask around for car shipping experiences. This might help you find other people with experience shipping their car.
You should be wary of companies without any reviews at all and companies with a lot of negative reviews that mention the same issues.
Cost to ship a car to Hawaii
The first step in shipping your car to Hawaii is getting a quote and booking your order. You can get an instant price quote and book your order directly through our online calculator.
When you’re ready to ship your car, book with one of the best car transport companies in the business. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our car shipping experts via live chat or phone. We’re here to help with your move to Hawaii!
Ready to transport your car with Montway?
Our car shipping advisors are available by calling (888) 666-8929 to answer all your questions.
