HAWAII: AMERICA’S ISLAND PARADISE

Nickname: The Aloha State
Motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono – “The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness.”
Population: 1,431,603 as of 2015
Capital‎: Honolulu
Official languages‎: ‎English, Hawaiian
Largest city‎: ‎Honolulu
Area: 10,931 square miles
Population Density: 214 people per square mile

Hawaii’s climate is typical for the tropics, although temperatures and humidity tend to be less extreme because of near-constant trade winds from the east. Summer highs usually reach around 88°F (31°C) during the day, with the temperature reaching a low of 75°F (24°C) at night. Winter day temperatures are usually around 83 °F (28 °C); at low elevation, they seldom dip below 65 °F (18°C) at night. Snow, not usually associated with the tropics, falls at 13,800 feet (4,200 m) on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii Island in some winter months. Snow rarely falls on Maui’s Haleakalā. Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauaʻi has the second-highest average annual rainfall on Earth, about 460 inches (12,000 mm) per year. Most of Hawaii experiences only two seasons; the dry season runs from May to October and the wet season is from October to April.

Since statehood in 1959, tourism has been the largest industry, contributing 24.3% of the gross state product. Hawaiian exports include food and clothing. These industries play a small role in the Hawaiian economy, due to the shipping distance to viable markets, such as the West Coast of the contiguous United States. The state’s food exports include coffee, macadamia nuts, pineapple, livestock, sugarcane, and honey.

Colleges and Universities:
Graduates of secondary schools in Hawaii often enter directly into the workforce. Some attend colleges and universities on the mainland or other countries, and the rest attend an institution of higher learning in Hawaii. The largest is the University of Hawaii System, which consists of: the research university at Mānoa, two comprehensive campuses at Hilo and West Oʻahu, and seven community colleges. Private universities include Brigham Young University–Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University, and Wayland Baptist University. Saint Stephen Diocesan Center is a seminary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. Kona hosts the University of the Nations, which is not an accredited university.

Public Schools:
Hawaii has the only school system within the U.S. that is unified statewide. The Department of Education is divided into seven districts; four on Oʻahu and one for each of the other three counties. The main rationale for centralization is to combat inequalities between highly populated Oʻahu and the more rural neighbor islands, and between lower-income and more affluent areas. In most of the U.S., schools are funded from local property taxes. Educators struggle with children of non-native-English-speaking immigrants, whose cultures are different from those of the mainland, where most course materials and testing standards originate.Public elementary, middle and high school test scores in Hawaii are below national averages on tests mandated under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Private Schools:
Hawaii has the highest rates of private school attendance in the nation. During the 2011–2012 school year, Hawaii public and charter schools had an enrollment of 181,213, while private schools had 37,695. Private schools educated over 17% of students in Hawaii that school year, nearly three times the approximate national average of 6%.

A move to Hawaii requires much more planning than a move within the United States proper due to geographic, logistical, and economic challenges. You should secure a job and a place to live before moving to Hawaii.

Oahu: The most populated island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Oahu is home to the capital city of Honolulu. Oahu offers the best chances of finding employment with the highest salaries. Most jobs on Oahu are either tourism or construction based. Oahu also offers the most numerous options for entertainment.

Maui: Maui is slightly larger than Oahu, but is far less populated. Maui is ideal for people who prefer a slower lifestyle. Tourism and agriculture form the base of Maui’s economy. Unfortunately, due to the smaller population, Maui has fewer jobs available. Although less hectic than Oahu, Maui still offers much in the way of entertainment.

Hawaii: The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It offers a similar lifestyle to that of Maui and even Oahu in areas. Most jobs are tourism based, but there are also many agricultural jobs on the Big Island. Most of the entertainment and tourism spots can be found on the Kona Coast, the west side of the island.

Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai: If you are looking to get away from it all, these small islands may be the ticket for you. Due to their isolation and low opportunities for employment, very few people seek to relocate to them. Their economies are based almost exclusively on the tourist trade with a small number of state and federal government positions being available.

Housing in Hawaii is much more expensive by the square foot than it is on the mainland. As such, you may want to consider moving into an apartment or condo rather than a house. Though the U.S. housing market has reduced in price in recent years, it is still more economical to rent than purchase a home in Honolulu. Homes are more affordable on the less populated islands, but employment is harder to find.

Being a state, American citizens may enter Hawaii with any U.S. government-approved form of identification. Global visitors should contact local government about obtaining a U.S. visa before booking flights and making travel arrangements.

As an island, Hawaii is extremely vulnerable to invasive species. As a general rule, no live animals (other than traditional pets) or plant specimens allowed. Fresh fruit or vegetables are not allowed into Hawaii and don’t try to take any away unless you ship them through an approved agency.

If you are moving to Hawaii with a pet, tell your vet at least 30 days out, and begin to assemble the necessary paperwork. Your pet should have all necessary vaccinations before arriving on the island. You must have a Health Certificate and proof of rabies vaccination.

Hawaii is a rabies-free state. Your pets will have to remain in quarantine following your arrival. The quarantine period can last anywhere from five to one hundred and twenty days depending on the age, breed and species of your pet.

Compass isn’t just your average moving company. Moving to or from Hawaii requires more than packing boxes and transporting them.

Rely on our years of moving families like yours. Ask us for advice, tips, and information. From planning your move to adjusting to life in or outside of Hawaii, we’re always here to listen and help.

Hawaii – Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii