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So You Want to Live in Hawai'i

About 40,000 mainland U.S. citizens move to Hawaii each year. More than half of them return to the mainland in two years or less. Will you "make it" in Hawaii? Can you find satisfying work? Will your family be content? Do you have the flexibility and perseverance to succeed in this incredibly beautiful paradise? Filled with facts and stories from people who have moved here, this book will help you answer those important questions.


People: What are real lives like here? Who will you meet and how will they react to you? Good advice for malihini.

Work: Will you find the work you want? And if not, what are your alternatives? Which occupations are looking for workers? What are the average pay rates?

Bring your own business: For many reasons, Hawaii is a great place to start a business. Would your idea, your plan, succeed?

Our high prices: On an average food costs one-third more here. Rents can be triple those in some states. How do we manage? You'd be surprised.

The military: For many reasons, if you maintain the right attitude, your stay here should be fine. Military facilities are among the best anywhere and there's plenty of help to settle in.

The children: We cherish our toddlers, but shortchange our school kids. Teachers are underpaid, classes are mostly large. Will your child have to attend costly private schools? Tips for helping your children adjust to our unique cultures.

Retirement: Josephine Falk was poorer than most retirees when she moved to O'ahu. And she never regretted a minute of it. Here's her story. You can expect to live longer here, and be more active, but there are a few things you should know.

Which island? Next to deciding to move here at all, your most important decision is which island to move to. Each island has distinct offerings. Here's a mini-guide with complete maps.