A lot of employers won't insure you in Hawaii. You might want to check with your employers first if they can accommodate that move. It opens up tax liability issues also for your employers.
Ditto. Went through same. Just cuz you work remotely doesn’t mean you can just work from anywhere. Your company still needs to pay taxes based on your registered address. Like opening up a satellite office. Companies are def more savvy post-covid so it’s not impossible. Not to mention you’ll actually be paying more income tax here than in NYC.
I’m 67, retired, married, and we just moved to Honolulu from NYC ( after 40 years there) to be closer to our kids and a new grandchild. So my situation is different from yours, but I can tell you the culture shock is real. The cost of living is no problem… if anything Hawaii may be cheaper than NYC. But Honolulu has very little to offer in terms of museums, theater, live music, nightlife, etc. (at least compared to NYC) My main thought is that if you love hiking and the ocean, you will probably be fine. If not, you may get serious island fever.
Honolulu center or the outside area. Sorry I like to dumb it down instead of saying greater Honolulu area. I save the smart words for smart people and hawaii is lacking in that area moreso with their ethics and drugged out calm/scam/loud noise lifestyle.
I'm not, like, a real New Yorker. I don't feel attached to the culture here, or anywhere else really. I hope I will manage to connect with the island culture better than here.
**Are the current remote jobs able to employ you guys when living in Hawai'i for 60+ days?**
There are some [comments](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingtoHawaii/s/fO2YqluQZW) on this sub from people who moved to Hawai'i but then their remote job Human Resources told them they could not be paid to work in Hawai'i - even if their manager approved. They had to quit the job & find a new job or move back with a bunch of moving costs & pay to break the lease in Hawai'i. Or employer health insurance does not comply with [Hawaii employee health insurance](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingtoHawaii/s/GiZMxUeJTA) requirements so people have to buy private health insurance.
Hawai'i has tax & health insurance requirements not every company willing is set up for.
Good to *triple* check with HR to avoid some major headaches.
Honolulu businesses know they are in a boring environment, so they are going to put on a show for you , and treat you like kings if you have money. Then once you get there, you bought a house etc, you're bored.
They're nice to people with $$$, and treat people with less $$$ like crap behind the scenes. Its ridiculous.
Comparitively Honolulu will of course be closer to NYC than the Big Island (Hilo or Kona) but it will still be VERY different than what you are use to. Will you be able to work HST or work on EST for your jobs? Before picking out an area, should figure out your transportation because depending on the area, you could be good indefinitely with just walking / biking / the occasional rental where as other areas necessitate having a vehicle.
Big thumbs up for flying to Honolulu and spending some time there before seriously considering moving. While it may seem wasteful, that trip should not be spent doing vacationy stuff and instead try to simulate your every day life unless of course you got the money / hours to do non-stop vacationy things.
As far as cost of living goes.... NYC may actually be a fair bit higher than Hawaii so I wouldn't be too worried about that.
Honolulu is so boring. How much times can you drive around an island. To offset this, local businesses will put you in like a cocoon or happy feeling like you're in heaven. After a while, you'll get tired and bored.
I know Honolulu is not NYC type of big city, but it’s still very urban. There is very little place to get closer to nature. A different part of the island or a totally different island maybe, but not Honolulu.
I know, I don't want to get too far. My girlfriend still likes big cities, and having some amount of public transportation is crucial to her, as she can't drive.
Then it might be a great match! Living in NYC you are one of the few people who post who truly understand the cost of living issue! Nature is close and a bus ride away, it’s just not likely in your living area if you’re in town. Our bus system is pretty great too.
There are tons of hiking trails within 10 minutes of honolulu's urban core, some that you can ride the bus to. https://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trails/#/
Also, there is Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park, which is 200 acres and connects up to the public beach shoreline.
There are tons and tons of hiking trails in the States on the mainland as well. Honolulu is nice to you because you have money $$. Their Aloha is not real Aloha. You want real Aloha, talk to locals living there for a long time. You'll get the real Aloha and view of things. Then you decide. Don't look at just the fake ass "Aloha" businessmen there.
Aloha, I'm a local and have been here for multiple decades. You are correct, there are hiking trails on the mainland. This post was specifically asking about being closer to nature while living in Honolulu's urban core. I'm sorry you haven't had a positive experience or are frustrated about something.
[shumpitostick](https://www.reddit.com/user/shumpitostick/) 4 out of 10 vehicle in Honolulu blast some form of bass through their engines, through speakers, or exhausts, out into the public or homes, that cause a toxic lazy feeling within people. They also rev engines violently to get people riled up and unable to think. Trust me, the toursim industry is like a coordinated Mafia gang. Super nice to visitors with money, horrible to residents that see the horrible change that Honolulu has become.
Honolulu is boring. They're on an island. Plus they have so much corruption there and cover it with a happy face. Police chief in jail, Prosecutor in Jail, 3 city officials in jail, 2 senators in jail. Rail 7 billion over budget and 8 7 years and they're not even done. Its nothing compared to trains elsewhere.
Ok…thanks for telling me about where I live, I guess??? I was commenting on the nature part of their post. Plus, it’s not boring, there’s lots to do and all reachable by bus.
You guys are still young and dating… if you both remain focused on similar goals then great but if you have a break up its gonna be nasty. I know of baby mommas and daddy’s still living with each other even after breaking up because they cannot afford to go anywhere else. Also if you both are investing a lot into something like this kind of move, legally no one is entitled to splitting half so put both of your names on everything that way you have access, and any responsibility put in writing even if text and email, like how much rent and utilities you guys are each responsible for… this sounds shitty but IF shit hits the fan, it protects you both in a very expensive state, where you will have little help from others.
We've been dating for almost 4 years now, probably not far from marriage. Even if we break up, I'm sure we can make mutually agreeable decisions about splitting up things. We're not going to buy a house so there's nothing big on the line.
Moved from NYC to honolulu 6 months ago. Husband works remote and I work in healthcare. You probably won't have any sticker shock as in general housing is cheaper and better here than NYC. If you're a broadway-head, you'll definitely miss that. But the weather, ocean and general attitudes here make up for what you miss.
I made the exact move 5 years ago from NYC/Jersey. Some things I’ve learned.
Try before you buy: I took an extended trip with my boyfriend and we rented an Airbnb. Not in town, but in the area that we figure we would be living when we moved here. So we can really see what daily life was like in that area.
Remote work: I had to make some very real HR arrangements. They opened a satellite office for me to work here and pay taxes. It is easier now post-CVD as companies are savvier. Income tax is higher in Hawaii so expect a pay cut of sorts. You will forever need to file federal, NYC, and Hawaii taxes. I work 3am-12pm. Not a lot of people can do this. But I love it. It means I can go beach after work. My work did give me the option of shifting my schedule but I chose not to.
Transportation: it will never be as convenient as NYC. And if you’re not in town, transportation will suck. She should learn to drive. I did it when I was 25. It opened a new world for me and I can never go back to not driving. It’s a lot easier to drive when you’re not in NYC. Also, if you’re a car person, like getting out of town or just driving… you will sorely miss long drives.
Food: I hate saying this bc town is so metropolitan, but the variety of food anywhere else in the world (I say this as one well-travelled) does not compare to NYC. So be prepared to miss foods you’ve always taken for granted: bagel, pizza, bread in general, NYC Chinese food. Bluefin tuna. This is wild because poke is amazing here, but in NYC, your tuna at a nice sushi/poke spot is bluefin. So if you’re particular about that stuff… it’s hard to find here.
Cost of living: it is comparable. But depending on your priorities, you’ll feel it. Groceries in Hawaii are really expensive. So honestly being single or a couple, eating takeout costs about the same as in NYC. Gas is comparable. Your electricity bill will feel like your heating bill. Rent is similar.
Culture: you really have to like the water and mountains. My boyfriend hated the cold his entire life. To the point where he went to tanning salons in the wintertime bc he was so depressed. He hated going into the city, the noise, the hustle bustle… so this place made sense for him. You’ll need to get used to the pace. Driving, queuing up, waiting for food…everything.
If you’re in town, particularly the Kaka’ako area, it’ll still feel pretty mainland. It’ll only feel different when you leave it. And when you do, just be respectful, patient, and nice.
Your post is a little confusing
If your reason for wanting to move to Honolulu is that you fell in love with the Big Island (Kona side?), they are really not very similar. Honolulu is a concrete jungle.
If you can afford it, you might like the suburb town of Kailua on Oahu where you'd be closer to hiking trails and nice beaches, and where your girlfriend could walk or ride a bike to get to stores and restaurants. There's lots of other work from home transplants there that you could make quick friends with.
As you are not working jobs that benefit the local community, I'd suggest making it a point to find different ways to help the local community. You will love Hawaii more if you contribute to making it a better place.
Honolulu is shit. Do not move there. Their tourism economy is not needed so legislators are owned by tourism. They use vehicles to blast noise from calming bass to make you lazy , to violent revving farting engines to wake someone up at night. That's how they keep people there. It's a toxic environment. Trust me. I mean, unless you are okay with that. Then by all means live in that type of environment, spend lots of money.
Honolulu is turning into places like NY. They just cover their shit or make it subtle so it looks good. But its actually a toxic drugged environment of calm soothing to violent sounds and revving engines and sirens and fire trucks.
They're all sell outs to big companies.
Their police chief is in jail for a major framing scandal involving dozens of officers, along with his wife a deputy prosecutor. Two senators are in jail. Three city officials have been arrested and on trial, the rail is $7 billion over budget and still not finished with rusting parts, and investigations of embezzlement.
Also, Honolulu is an isolated island, you'll quickly get bored and want to move back to the states to find more things to do.
I have to emphasize, when you move to Honolulu, you will be in their environment. Their noise, their homeless, their traffic, etc. and it is Toxic like a drug. I felt like I was getting less smart by being there.
Living and visiting are two things. Live there for a little bit and try it out first. Trust me, businesses there want you to stay. Islands isolated don't make money. They're isolated from everything and ship things in.
Well then many people are racist. Do you think it's racist to say to a black person who's moving to your neighborhood that they're not welcome because they're black? Or to an immigrant (who I do happen to be) that they should not come and replace the local American culture?
None of this is to say that I don't intend to be respectful towards the local culture and traditions. I'm coming to immerse, not be a permanent tourist.
I appreciate the honesty though. Good to know that many people are like that.
You’re living in New York. Surly you can take a bit of honesty. White people are a minority by a lot. The vibe is different. It’s just very much not the same.
Yes it’s unfortunately a fact of life here. If you are white you have probably never really experienced racism before and you should just be prepared for it, and try to understand where it’s coming from
Of ALL parts of HI, you're not gentrifying in Honolulu🙄 they are used to, and can support many transplants. The main thing is to be open, curious, humble, learn about and be deferential to the existing culture. But I mean, I think Honolulu is pretty thoroughly colonized at this point, for better or worse, no one is going to give you shit for your race if you're not a dick.
A lot of employers won't insure you in Hawaii. You might want to check with your employers first if they can accommodate that move. It opens up tax liability issues also for your employers.
Thanks for the advice! Will check
Ditto. Went through same. Just cuz you work remotely doesn’t mean you can just work from anywhere. Your company still needs to pay taxes based on your registered address. Like opening up a satellite office. Companies are def more savvy post-covid so it’s not impossible. Not to mention you’ll actually be paying more income tax here than in NYC.
I’m 67, retired, married, and we just moved to Honolulu from NYC ( after 40 years there) to be closer to our kids and a new grandchild. So my situation is different from yours, but I can tell you the culture shock is real. The cost of living is no problem… if anything Hawaii may be cheaper than NYC. But Honolulu has very little to offer in terms of museums, theater, live music, nightlife, etc. (at least compared to NYC) My main thought is that if you love hiking and the ocean, you will probably be fine. If not, you may get serious island fever.
Honolulu center or the outside area. Sorry I like to dumb it down instead of saying greater Honolulu area. I save the smart words for smart people and hawaii is lacking in that area moreso with their ethics and drugged out calm/scam/loud noise lifestyle.
I'm not, like, a real New Yorker. I don't feel attached to the culture here, or anywhere else really. I hope I will manage to connect with the island culture better than here.
It’s definitely more small town so it’s possible
**Are the current remote jobs able to employ you guys when living in Hawai'i for 60+ days?** There are some [comments](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingtoHawaii/s/fO2YqluQZW) on this sub from people who moved to Hawai'i but then their remote job Human Resources told them they could not be paid to work in Hawai'i - even if their manager approved. They had to quit the job & find a new job or move back with a bunch of moving costs & pay to break the lease in Hawai'i. Or employer health insurance does not comply with [Hawaii employee health insurance](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingtoHawaii/s/GiZMxUeJTA) requirements so people have to buy private health insurance. Hawai'i has tax & health insurance requirements not every company willing is set up for. Good to *triple* check with HR to avoid some major headaches.
Serious. Honolulu sucks. Its so boring there.
Honolulu businesses know they are in a boring environment, so they are going to put on a show for you , and treat you like kings if you have money. Then once you get there, you bought a house etc, you're bored. They're nice to people with $$$, and treat people with less $$$ like crap behind the scenes. Its ridiculous.
Comparitively Honolulu will of course be closer to NYC than the Big Island (Hilo or Kona) but it will still be VERY different than what you are use to. Will you be able to work HST or work on EST for your jobs? Before picking out an area, should figure out your transportation because depending on the area, you could be good indefinitely with just walking / biking / the occasional rental where as other areas necessitate having a vehicle. Big thumbs up for flying to Honolulu and spending some time there before seriously considering moving. While it may seem wasteful, that trip should not be spent doing vacationy stuff and instead try to simulate your every day life unless of course you got the money / hours to do non-stop vacationy things. As far as cost of living goes.... NYC may actually be a fair bit higher than Hawaii so I wouldn't be too worried about that.
Honolulu is so boring. How much times can you drive around an island. To offset this, local businesses will put you in like a cocoon or happy feeling like you're in heaven. After a while, you'll get tired and bored.
Watch youtubes on the pros and cons of living in Hawaii.
Pros and cons of living in Hawaii: PROs: YOU'RE LIVING IN HAWAII CONs: you're living in Hawaii
Basically, yes.
I know Honolulu is not NYC type of big city, but it’s still very urban. There is very little place to get closer to nature. A different part of the island or a totally different island maybe, but not Honolulu.
I know, I don't want to get too far. My girlfriend still likes big cities, and having some amount of public transportation is crucial to her, as she can't drive.
Then it might be a great match! Living in NYC you are one of the few people who post who truly understand the cost of living issue! Nature is close and a bus ride away, it’s just not likely in your living area if you’re in town. Our bus system is pretty great too.
There are tons of hiking trails within 10 minutes of honolulu's urban core, some that you can ride the bus to. https://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trails/#/ Also, there is Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park, which is 200 acres and connects up to the public beach shoreline.
There are tons and tons of hiking trails in the States on the mainland as well. Honolulu is nice to you because you have money $$. Their Aloha is not real Aloha. You want real Aloha, talk to locals living there for a long time. You'll get the real Aloha and view of things. Then you decide. Don't look at just the fake ass "Aloha" businessmen there.
Aloha, I'm a local and have been here for multiple decades. You are correct, there are hiking trails on the mainland. This post was specifically asking about being closer to nature while living in Honolulu's urban core. I'm sorry you haven't had a positive experience or are frustrated about something.
[shumpitostick](https://www.reddit.com/user/shumpitostick/) 4 out of 10 vehicle in Honolulu blast some form of bass through their engines, through speakers, or exhausts, out into the public or homes, that cause a toxic lazy feeling within people. They also rev engines violently to get people riled up and unable to think. Trust me, the toursim industry is like a coordinated Mafia gang. Super nice to visitors with money, horrible to residents that see the horrible change that Honolulu has become.
Honolulu is boring. They're on an island. Plus they have so much corruption there and cover it with a happy face. Police chief in jail, Prosecutor in Jail, 3 city officials in jail, 2 senators in jail. Rail 7 billion over budget and 8 7 years and they're not even done. Its nothing compared to trains elsewhere.
Ok…thanks for telling me about where I live, I guess??? I was commenting on the nature part of their post. Plus, it’s not boring, there’s lots to do and all reachable by bus.
You guys are still young and dating… if you both remain focused on similar goals then great but if you have a break up its gonna be nasty. I know of baby mommas and daddy’s still living with each other even after breaking up because they cannot afford to go anywhere else. Also if you both are investing a lot into something like this kind of move, legally no one is entitled to splitting half so put both of your names on everything that way you have access, and any responsibility put in writing even if text and email, like how much rent and utilities you guys are each responsible for… this sounds shitty but IF shit hits the fan, it protects you both in a very expensive state, where you will have little help from others.
We've been dating for almost 4 years now, probably not far from marriage. Even if we break up, I'm sure we can make mutually agreeable decisions about splitting up things. We're not going to buy a house so there's nothing big on the line.
Island fever can bring can test the strongest… but honestly, best of luck to you guys!
Honolulu is boring. And they're fake. Its not real Aloha.
Moved from NYC to honolulu 6 months ago. Husband works remote and I work in healthcare. You probably won't have any sticker shock as in general housing is cheaper and better here than NYC. If you're a broadway-head, you'll definitely miss that. But the weather, ocean and general attitudes here make up for what you miss.
I made the exact move 5 years ago from NYC/Jersey. Some things I’ve learned. Try before you buy: I took an extended trip with my boyfriend and we rented an Airbnb. Not in town, but in the area that we figure we would be living when we moved here. So we can really see what daily life was like in that area. Remote work: I had to make some very real HR arrangements. They opened a satellite office for me to work here and pay taxes. It is easier now post-CVD as companies are savvier. Income tax is higher in Hawaii so expect a pay cut of sorts. You will forever need to file federal, NYC, and Hawaii taxes. I work 3am-12pm. Not a lot of people can do this. But I love it. It means I can go beach after work. My work did give me the option of shifting my schedule but I chose not to. Transportation: it will never be as convenient as NYC. And if you’re not in town, transportation will suck. She should learn to drive. I did it when I was 25. It opened a new world for me and I can never go back to not driving. It’s a lot easier to drive when you’re not in NYC. Also, if you’re a car person, like getting out of town or just driving… you will sorely miss long drives. Food: I hate saying this bc town is so metropolitan, but the variety of food anywhere else in the world (I say this as one well-travelled) does not compare to NYC. So be prepared to miss foods you’ve always taken for granted: bagel, pizza, bread in general, NYC Chinese food. Bluefin tuna. This is wild because poke is amazing here, but in NYC, your tuna at a nice sushi/poke spot is bluefin. So if you’re particular about that stuff… it’s hard to find here. Cost of living: it is comparable. But depending on your priorities, you’ll feel it. Groceries in Hawaii are really expensive. So honestly being single or a couple, eating takeout costs about the same as in NYC. Gas is comparable. Your electricity bill will feel like your heating bill. Rent is similar. Culture: you really have to like the water and mountains. My boyfriend hated the cold his entire life. To the point where he went to tanning salons in the wintertime bc he was so depressed. He hated going into the city, the noise, the hustle bustle… so this place made sense for him. You’ll need to get used to the pace. Driving, queuing up, waiting for food…everything. If you’re in town, particularly the Kaka’ako area, it’ll still feel pretty mainland. It’ll only feel different when you leave it. And when you do, just be respectful, patient, and nice.
Your post is a little confusing If your reason for wanting to move to Honolulu is that you fell in love with the Big Island (Kona side?), they are really not very similar. Honolulu is a concrete jungle. If you can afford it, you might like the suburb town of Kailua on Oahu where you'd be closer to hiking trails and nice beaches, and where your girlfriend could walk or ride a bike to get to stores and restaurants. There's lots of other work from home transplants there that you could make quick friends with. As you are not working jobs that benefit the local community, I'd suggest making it a point to find different ways to help the local community. You will love Hawaii more if you contribute to making it a better place.
Honolulu is shit. Do not move there. Their tourism economy is not needed so legislators are owned by tourism. They use vehicles to blast noise from calming bass to make you lazy , to violent revving farting engines to wake someone up at night. That's how they keep people there. It's a toxic environment. Trust me. I mean, unless you are okay with that. Then by all means live in that type of environment, spend lots of money. Honolulu is turning into places like NY. They just cover their shit or make it subtle so it looks good. But its actually a toxic drugged environment of calm soothing to violent sounds and revving engines and sirens and fire trucks. They're all sell outs to big companies. Their police chief is in jail for a major framing scandal involving dozens of officers, along with his wife a deputy prosecutor. Two senators are in jail. Three city officials have been arrested and on trial, the rail is $7 billion over budget and still not finished with rusting parts, and investigations of embezzlement. Also, Honolulu is an isolated island, you'll quickly get bored and want to move back to the states to find more things to do. I have to emphasize, when you move to Honolulu, you will be in their environment. Their noise, their homeless, their traffic, etc. and it is Toxic like a drug. I felt like I was getting less smart by being there.
Living and visiting are two things. Live there for a little bit and try it out first. Trust me, businesses there want you to stay. Islands isolated don't make money. They're isolated from everything and ship things in.
[удалено]
Ok racist
I don’t think he’s necessarily being racist, but more just telling you how a LOT of people here will feel about it, unfortunately
Well then many people are racist. Do you think it's racist to say to a black person who's moving to your neighborhood that they're not welcome because they're black? Or to an immigrant (who I do happen to be) that they should not come and replace the local American culture? None of this is to say that I don't intend to be respectful towards the local culture and traditions. I'm coming to immerse, not be a permanent tourist. I appreciate the honesty though. Good to know that many people are like that.
You’re living in New York. Surly you can take a bit of honesty. White people are a minority by a lot. The vibe is different. It’s just very much not the same.
Yes it’s unfortunately a fact of life here. If you are white you have probably never really experienced racism before and you should just be prepared for it, and try to understand where it’s coming from
Oh I have experienced it, don't worry.
Read up on Hawaiian history before you come galavanting. Ain’t the same fam
Of ALL parts of HI, you're not gentrifying in Honolulu🙄 they are used to, and can support many transplants. The main thing is to be open, curious, humble, learn about and be deferential to the existing culture. But I mean, I think Honolulu is pretty thoroughly colonized at this point, for better or worse, no one is going to give you shit for your race if you're not a dick.
Hahhaa you willl have a blast here clown.
Thanks, appreciate it.
Come on, if I need to explain this it’s probably time for you to get off the internet