I once asked myself, ‘Should I move to Hawaii?’ Five months later, I am living on Maui with my husband and dog. But this wasn’t an easy decision to make, and I suggest that you read my article on the ten reasons why you shouldn’t move here because there are MANY. You can find the link in summary. But first, here’s why I decided to move:
1. Perfect Weather All-Year Round
I don’t know about you, but I look forward to summer all year long. If you don’t, you’ll hate Hawaii because it is basically always summer here, at least at lower elevations. No more snow, no more chilly fall or spring weather that makes you wonder when you can finally hit the beach. Did you know that living by the beach can even help you live longer?
Even though your body will acclimate, you might feel chilly at a temperature that would typically have you in shorts and t-shirts; it is still beach weather almost every day of the year. Despite it being hot and sunny practically every day, you can still enjoy the snow most winters if you go to the island’s highest points – people will even sled, ski, or snowboard here!
2. A Slower Pace of Life
Island life is slower no matter what island you are on; Hawaii is no exception. People here are more relaxed, rush less, and have a better outlook on life. When I lived in Hilo nine years ago, I experienced this first-hand when I tried to catch a bus that ran on aloha-time. I waited two hours for a late bus but made great friends at the bus stop.
After living here, going back to the mainland or even Europe seems like a lot. We’ve met several people who left Hawaii for financial reasons but returned because they didn’t want to go back to the dog-eat-dog pace of “the real world.” Taking it easy has many health benefits too.
3. Endless Hiking Trails, Beaches, & Natural Wonders to Explore
City dwellers may feel like there isn’t much to do on the island as far as restaurants, clubs, concerts, etc. But that’s not what Hawaii is all about. It is literally a natural paradise that you can’t get bored of exploring. There are over 30 miles of beautiful beaches on Maui and endless hiking trails.
Other natural wonders to enjoy on Maui:
- Cliffs
- Swimming near sea turtles and fish
- Bamboo forests
- Waterfalls
- Volcanoes
- Lakes
- Desserts
- Rainforests
You could spend every day exploring the best natural hotspots here and have a lifetime of new experiences! Just make sure you talk to a local before exploring places that may be in dangerous areas or on private property.
4. The Food is Really Good & Diverse
Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures, with many Asian cuisines making a culinary impact on the islands. There are so many unique dishes to try! On my birthday I visited the famous Mama’s Fish House. I tried their Antarctic Toothfish caught 6,000 ft deep under Glacier 51, and it was absolutely scrumptious. It was also expensive, but not all good food here breaks the bank.
Maui is littered with food trucks that offer up a smorgasbord of flavors. We’ve seen typical Hawaiian cuisine serving loco moco, Indian meals, falafel, seafood, Mexican, and so much more. There aren’t too many types of foods you can’t find here, but there is plenty here that you can’t get anywhere else!
5. Flights Between Islands Are Affordable
I like to travel, hence the whole The Travel Bug Bite website and YouTube channel dedicated to this hobby. Unfortunately, leaving the state of Hawaii is expensive, with $2,000 flights to Europe and $600+ to the mainland. Then again, a round trip flight to other tropical destinations in the Pacific is more affordable. Where else can you get a $1,000 round trip to Fiji or Tahiti?
However, flights between islands are around $100 year-round. I can’t wait to have some time to visit the Big Island where I lived for four months. Or Kauai, or Oahu, or one of the smaller Hawaiian islands. You’d be surprised how different each island is!
6. People Here Are Generally Happier
There must be something in the water here. I’m not kidding; it probably IS the water. If looking at a never-ending ocean on the horizon doesn’t make you happy, then many other aspects of Hawaii life will. The slower pace of life helps you relax and be more content in general. Plus, other people being nice and happy is infectious. The sun and the sea are great for the soul – after all, humans are basically plants with more complex emotions.
7. See Shooting Stars Every Night, & the Milky Way
There is a lot less pollution in Hawaii. In addition to clean water and clean air, there is also less light pollution here than in most cities. If you like stargazing, you will fall in love with Hawaii. Although the best views are from the peaks of volcanoes, I can literally see the milky way most nights from my front porch in Haiku.
There are so many stars to see it’s almost overwhelming. You can see a shooting star every 10 seconds; sometimes, there are multiple ones simultaneously. You can also clearly see satellites and planets. I highly recommend the Night Sky app if you have an iPhone. It even works on Apple Watch and can help you identify the stars you see! Although I haven’t tried it myself, I heard that Star Walk 2 is an excellent choice for Android users.
8. It Never Gets Too Cold for Comfort
Sweater weather is cozy, and Hawaii does have it, depending on your location. It’s just September, and it is already starting to get nippy at night where we live in Haiku. It also gets chilly in the winter at night in warmer areas, but it never gets downright cold. The coldest it gets here on Maui is 50, and that’s at night on top of Haleakala, the volcano. Since it’s never too cold, you can swim almost every day of the year!
9. Co-Exist with Exotic Wild Animals
Isaac, my husband, is a teacher. He was telling his first-grade students about our beach trip and said we were lucky to have seen sea turtles. The kids were confused and asked him why that is lucky; this is because they grew up on this fantastic island where sea turtles are as common as pigeons.
There is also whale season, an extraordinary variety of fish for snorkeling and diving fans, and seals. If you go hiking, you are sure to see even more cool species of animals, birds, and insects. Luckily, there aren’t too many dangerous animals here. Except for the tourists that mistreat wildlife and do stupid evil things like step on turtles – don’t do that and speak up if you see it; it will help protect this wildlife so that we can all keep enjoying it.
10. The Aloha Way of Life
Aloha doesn’t just mean hello and goodbye, and honestly, I’m not the right person to explain it to you. Hawaii and its people are all about aloha, which is love, respect, and so much more. Since I’m still learning about it, here are two great resources if you want to read more about it:
Don’t worry if you don’t quite understand it or have the principles or values memorized. You will feel it just by being here. Here’s a video that explains it well:
Summary
My decision to move to Hawaii was personal, and I thought long and hard about it. I also understand that it was super selfish of me to move here; please read my Should I Move to Hawaii – NO, Here’s 10 Reasons Why article on the ten reasons why you shouldn’t move to Hawaii and watch the video below to learn more about it. I find it difficult to justify my move, but I will be working hard to give back while I live here.
I’d also like to point out that both my husband and I had jobs lined up to move here, and we have a small business that helps us be able to afford living here. I also lived here for four months in the past, so I knew what I was getting myself into. I do not recommend that anyone moves here on a whim.
If you are considering it, do more research than just reading articles like this and think hard about your move’s impact on the local community. I also recommend coming for an extended stay during a less desirable season to get a better feel for what real life here is like. If you do decide to move here like I did, try and find ways to give back to this one-of-a-kind community.
There are many ways you can help Hawaii:
- How to be a better tourist in Hawaii, according to locals
- Traveling Responsibly in Hawaii
- Helping Hands Hawaii– 30 Volunteer Ideas in Hawaii
The Aloha Bug Bite 
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