Moving to Honolulu in 2024 – Your Ultimate Guide

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi conjures images of swaying palm trees, picturesque beaches, balmy weather—in short, paradise. If you’re thinking of moving to Honolulu, we’ve put together the following tips from our Honolulu-based team to make sure your dreams of paradise match your reality.

Armed with all of these insights, you’ll be perfectly positioned to make a smooth and simple move to Honolulu.

Where’s the Best Place to Live in Honolulu?

First, a quick orientation: You’ll find the city of Honolulu on the southeastern side of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. The city is big enough to require 41 zip codes. (!)

(Note: Don’t confuse “Honolulu” the city with the “City and County of Honolulu,” which refers to the entire island of Oʻahu, as well as a number of outlying islands.)

Within Honolulu, you’ll find a number of different neighborhoods, each with their own particular character. Ideally, you’ll give yourself the opportunity to visit all the areas you’re interested in so you can find the perfect match.

We’ve shared a few of our favorites below to kickstart your research.

The Best Neighborhoods in Honolulu

• Waikīkī: Waikīkī is the island’s central hub for tourism, and you’ll find a number of hotels and resorts stacked along Waikīkī‘s beaches. If you love being in the center of the action, Waikīkī might be the right spot for you. Keep in mind that many properties in Waikīkī may be leaseholds, so it’s important to understand this particular arrangement before making a commitment.

• Kaimukī: Although this neighborhood is close to Waikīkī, it feels worlds away. You’ll enjoy a much quieter atmosphere in Kaimukī and a strong local community spirit.

• Mānoa: Popular with families and students attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, this neighborhood offers a tranquil, tropical feel. Restaurants, shopping, and amenities are also close at hand.

• Kakaʻako: Once an industrial area, this trendy neighborhood is on the rise. In Kakaʻako, you‘ll be surrounded by hip restaurants, eye-catching street murals, and cozy coffee shops. In recent years, sleek high-rises have sprung up in the area, offering plenty of options for incoming residents.

• Waiʻalae-Kāhala: This tranquil neighborhood features beach-front luxury estates, alongside charming single-level homes just a short walk from the ocean. While the real estate here comes at a premium, many are drawn to the relaxed atmosphere and stunning ocean views.

Renting vs. Buying in Honolulu

If you’ve fallen in love with Honolulu—or with Hawaiʻi life overall—you might be thinking about buying a house on Oʻahu. Alternatively, maybe you just want to try out life in the Aloha State, in which case renting might be right for you.

Let’s take a look at both renting and buying in Honolulu, so you can choose the right option.

Renting in Honolulu

One of the big pros of renting in Honolulu is that you’ll get the chance to test drive your neighborhood without committing to a mortgage. (You’ll also get the chance to see whether Hawaiʻi life is right for you and your family!)

If you plan to rent, don’t focus too much on securing a long-term Honolulu rental before you arrive:

• Unfortunately, rental scams do happen in Honolulu. To avoid falling prey to a scam, never hand over money for a place sight unseen. The only exception? If you’re working with a reputable Oʻahu real estate agent.

• Additionally, many Honolulu landlords and property managers won’t rent to tenants until they’re actually on Oʻahu. Some want to meet potential tenants in person. Others have been burned in the past by people who say they’re moving to Oʻahu and change their mind at the last minute.

Your best bet? Find temporary accommodations in a hotel or an Airbnb first. Then, you can start your rental search once you arrive on Oʻahu.

Don’t forget to ask around through friends or family! Some of the best rentals never even hit public sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Instead, they get passed between friends, family, coworkers, etc. Don’t be afraid to work your network.

Buying Real Estate in Honolulu

If you’re ready to make a bigger commitment to living in Honolulu, buying a place may be the right move.

If you’re coming from the mainland, there are a couple of things to be aware of when looking at Honolulu real estate:

• If you see a condo offered for a low price, it might be a leasehold. Check the listing carefully. If the listing says “fee simple,” that’s the more traditional form of ownership you’re likely familiar with.

• You’ll also find condotels and ʻohana units in Honolulu, both of which may be unfamiliar to you. For all the details, check out our complete guide to Oʻahu real estate.

And finally, the right Hawaiʻi real estate professional can make your life a ton easier. Select someone who has local experience on Oʻahu, ideally on the south shore. They’ll know the Honolulu neighborhoods, procedures, and zoning regulations to help you navigate the market like a pro.

Is It Expensive to Live in Honolulu?

Hawaiʻi is often considered the most expensive state in the U.S. The findings at NerdWallet back this up, which place Honolulu as the second-most expensive city in the website’s database of 269 cities.

It’s important to plan your budget carefully for your move to Honolulu. Check out the following cost of living figures to get a baseline:

Honolulu/Oʻahu

Cost of Living Numbers

Average Oahu home value

Average Honolulu home value

Honolulu fair market rent (1 BR)

Average Hawai’i household electricity bill

Basic O’ahu food cost per month, 1 adult

Average cost for a gallon of gas in Honolulu

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 

You’ll need to weigh all these costs carefully before deciding whether relocating to Oʻahu is right for you. 

Getting Around Honolulu: Shipping Your Car, Public Transportation, and More

Do you need a car to get around Honolulu? Consider this: Oʻahu has the most extensive public transportation system in the Hawaiian Islands. TheBus serves a number of locations in Honolulu—and beyond. With the addition of Skyline, the Honolulu rail system, even more locations on Oʻahu are accessible by public transit.

But if you really want to take advantage of everything that Oʻahu has to offer, you’ll likely want your own car in Honolulu. You can either:

• Ship your car to Honolulu by boat.
• Sell your car at your current location and buy a new or used car when you arrive.

How do you decide whether to sell your car or ship it to Honolulu? Ask yourself how much longer you plan to keep your car. If you’d consider selling it in a year or two, you’re probably better off selling it and buying here on Oʻahu.

For more answers to your questions on moving your car to Honolulu, check out Shipping Your Car to Hawaiʻi: Your Biggest Questions Answered.

What Is There to Do in and Around Honolulu?

If you love being outdoors, you’re going to love living in Honolulu. Daytime temperatures hover in the 80s for most of the year, making it comfortable to enjoy outdoor adventures during all seasons. 

Honolulu Weather

Average highs

Average lows

Of course, you’ll have the whole island of Oʻahu to explore, but if you’re looking for activities in Honolulu, consider:

• Catching a Wave – All along Waikīkī Beach, you’ll find surf breaks for surfers of all abilities. If you’re new to surfing, check out Canoes, a surf break that’s right out in front of the Royal Hawaiian Resort—the pink hotel on the beach. If you’re a bit more advanced, you’ll have your pick of spots all along the south shore.

• Taking a Hike – Of course, you can head up to Diamond Head State Monument, but you also might want to try out the Koko Head Stairs trail. The climb can be intense, but the view is worth it.

• Learning More About Hawaiʻi’s History and Culture – The Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art, and ʻIolani Palace are all located in Honolulu. All three can deepen your understanding of the history and culture of the Native Hawaiians, which will give you useful context for the culture you’ll find in Hawaiʻi today.

• Eat, Drink, and Enjoy – You’ll find some of Hawaiʻi’s most innovative chefs in Honolulu, as well as breweries and cocktail bars.

For more ideas, check out our list of the top 8 things to do in Honolulu and the top 10 things to do on Oʻahu.

Cultural Considerations When Moving to Honolulu

In Hawaiʻi, you’ll meet people from a number of different heritages and ethnicities, including descendants of the original human inhabitants of these islands—the Native Hawaiians.

Hawaiʻi’s human history is complex. Taking some time to understand Hawaiʻi’s history will give you a much deeper understanding of how the islands work, as well as the people you’ll meet.

Additionally, educating yourself about Native Hawaiian culture will help you appreciate many of the traditions and practices you’ll see in Hawaiʻi—and find your place in your new home. To get yourself started, check out the following articles:

• 12 Hawaiʻi Traditions That Make Hawaiʻi’s Culture Truly Unique
• Respect the Culture: Dos and Don’ts When You’re in Hawaiʻi
• The Fascinating History and Meaning of Hula in Hawaiian Culture
• The Meaning of “Pono” & Its Impact on Hawaiian Culture

What Are the Schools Like in Honolulu?

Moving to Honolulu with your family adds another layer of decisions to the mix. How you handle your children’s education is a personal decision that only you can make, and exploring your options is the first step toward finding the best fit.

You’ll have three main options for schools in and around Honolulu:

Public School

Hawaii’s educational system ranks 35th in the U.S., according to WalletHub—a little bit lower than the middle of the pack.

Public schools in Honolulu fall under the Honolulu District. You can see a complete list of the public schools in Honolulu on the state Department of Education website.

Private School

Honolulu also has a number of private schools to choose from, including ʻIolani School and Punahou, President Barack Obama’s alma mater. To learn more about Honolulu’s private schools, visit the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools website.

Homeschooling

Some families in Honolulu choose to homeschool their kids. If this is an option you’re considering, review the Hawaiʻi state requirements for homeschooling. That way, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running once you arrive. 

Is It Hard to Find a Job in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi?

How tough it is to find a job in Honolulu all depends on the type of job you’re seeking. Tourism is one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest industries, so if you’re willing to work in accommodations/hotels, food and beverage, retail—any of the sectors fueled by the millions of visitors to Hawaiʻi every year—you may be able to secure a job pretty quickly.

Moving to Honolulu without a job? Check out our job hunting tips:

Some People Do Move to Honolulu Without a Job

It can be tough to secure a job before you move to Oʻahu. Some Honolulu employers prefer to only hire people who already live on the island. In some cases, they may prefer to interview potential employees in person. Others may have been burned in the past by people who never actually made the move to Oʻahu. Either way, you’ll meet plenty of people who moved to Honolulu without a job. 

Know the Job Market

To maximize your chances, familiarize yourself with the types of jobs available in Honolulu. Below, you’ll find a list of the biggest industries on Oʻahu. Jobs in these sectors will be most plentiful:

• Leisure and hospitality, including hotels, restaurants, bars, and tour companies
• Trade, transportation, and utilities, which also includes retail shops
• Federal, state, and local government
• Educational and health services
• Professional and business services

Work Your Personal Network

When you arrive to Honolulu, make sure to let your friends, family, and connections on Oʻahu know you’re looking for a job. In Hawaiʻi, relationships are key, especially in business. A recommendation from someone you know can be just the edge you need to open doors.

Can I Move My Dog, Cat, or Other Pet to Honolulu?

Hawaiʻi has a few restrictions for bringing pets to the island, designed to protect the islands’ unique ecosystems and keep Hawaiʻi rabies-free. In the past, this meant that pets had to spend time in in a state-run quarantine facility.

Today, though, if you follow our guide to moving your pets to Hawaiʻi—and complete the checklist—you may be able to bring your dog, cat, or other pet home right from the airport. (Also known as direct release.)

If your pet is more exotic than a dog or a cat, check out the list Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture’s list of conditionally-approved species. Pets like hedgehogs, ferrets, and hermit crabs are not allowed into the state.

Safety Tips for Living in Honolulu

If you’ve ever wondered “Is Honolulu safe?” here’s one data point for you: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection named Honolulu the safest city to travel to in the world in 2024.

By and large, staying safe in Honolulu boils down to common sense: Avoid walking alone in isolated areas at night. Don’t leave your belongings on display in your car, and don’t leave your items unattended in a public place.

As a Honolulu resident, there are a couple of other risks you’ll want to be aware of, including:

• Tsunamis – Read more about tsunami safety for Oʻahu residents.
• Hurricanes and Other Severe Storms – Read more about hurricane risks on Oʻahu.
• Wind, Wildfires, and Flooding – It’s also important to stay vigilant for these risks on Oʻahu.

Once you move to Honolulu, consider signing up for local emergency alerts so that you can stay informed as events unfold.

How You Move to Honolulu Is Up to You: Shipping Containers and Other Options

Ask your fellow Honolulu residents how they moved to Oʻahu and you’ll get all kinds of answers. Some people simply pack two suitcases on the plane and start fresh. Others pack a 40-foot container of all their belongings.

Where your Honolulu move is concerned, you can easily customize it to fit your goals. Let’s review your options:

• If you’re a minimalist: Check two suitcases for your flight to Honolulu. (And maybe send a few “if it fits, it ships” USPS Priority Mail boxes with some extras! If you’re sending books, make sure to ask about Media Mail service.)

• If you want to bring it all: Fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container with all your favorite items. (And decide whether to ship your car, truck, or SUV to Honolulu.)

• If you’re somewhere in between: Create a custom-tailored solution for your Honolulu move. Your moving company can help you pack your belongings into sturdy wooden crates called “lift vans.” These will get loaded into a shipping container headed for Honolulu. This option can be an affordable alternative to shipping an entire container to Honolulu.

Keep in mind: If you hire a moving company to assist with your move, ask if they offer packing services. If you’re short on time—or simply looking for the most convenient option for your move—packing services can add significant ease to your Honolulu move.

Making a Simple, Smooth Move to Honolulu

Armed with these tips, you’re that much closer to making an easy move to Honolulu. All that’s left is to make your final decision, take the plunge, and schedule your relocation. On behalf of our Honolulu team, we look forward to welcoming you to Oʻahu!

Need some help with your Honolulu move? We handle household moves of all sizes. Whether you want to move a 40-foot container, a 20-foot container, or something smaller, we’d be happy to custom-tailor a solution for you. Just reach out to our Honolulu team for a complimentary quote.