Question for current residents of Hawaii

NJMane

NJMane

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I may have a possible job promotion down the pipeline (within a year) that could take me from Florida to Hawaii. I have been getting all kinds of information that is conflicting regarding the prices of goods in Hawaii. For those who currently reside in Hawaii, what are the prices of everyday items/services (milk, eggs, clothing items, dining (fast food/restaurants, etc.)? I have heard everything form a few bucks more to twice as much so it would be great to talk with a local.

If you have any information that could help me plan for the move that would be appreciated.
 
I live in Alaska and it's like Hawaii except without the awesomeness of the beach and ocean. While I can't tell you what prices are like in Hawaii, I would expect them to be similar since both states are isolated and has to have almost everything shipped to them.

Food prices vary, but generally expect to pay nearly twice as much. Some random food prices, bananas are generally around .99 to $1.19/lbs, milk is around $4.00/gallon, might be off since I drink soymilk. Fast food and restraurents averages about 50% then average, and all those special prices you see advertise on tv for $5.00 Dominos pizza or whatever, won't exist.

Clothing, I can't really comment on but I think they're about the same. TVs/games/dvds are about the same prices. It's really the food and gas prices that you have to be wary of. My best advice is to look up the local ad online for a grocey chain they have there and compare it to where you shop at.
 
What I've been told is that anything that needs to be flown in as opposed to ship, which is anything with a short shelf life like meat, is going to be real expensive. My friends there grew up eating a lot of canned meat like Spam.

The cost of living is pretty high across the board there.
 
I was born on O'ahu, and lived there until I moved away for college (at 17 years of age). In comparison, the cost of food and, well, everything is at least twice as much as it would be in the continental U.S. From what my friends and family have expressed, in recent years, prices seem to be always on an incline.

I just found this general guide, from a Google search, that's accurate: http://www.andhawaii.com/hawaii-food-prices/

Good luck with your career! Hawaii can be fun and pretty. :)
 
I don't know Hawaii's info, but I would suggest looking up a few of the cost of living calculators on the internet. There are some good ones that break down the prices of food, health care, transportation, entertainment, etc. and compare on place versus another.

I used it quite a lot when I was flying around interviewing at different places... of course I ended up only about 1.5 hrs away the next state over where the prices are pretty much the same.
 
I don't live there anymore, but I did for a couple of years.

Since everything is imported, the cost of everything is based on its weight and size. For example, cereal costs more because it comes in big boxes and therefore costs more to ship per unit, even though it's light. You'll find that your diet will change to make up the difference. Mangos, papaya, bananas, island fruit is incredibly cheap. I pay quadruple the price for a mango in a mainland grocery store for significantly less quality than can be found on the islands. I can't eat pineapple anymore because they taste like shit on the mainland.

Your quality of life will go up. You'll find yourself spending time doing free activities since that's what everyone does. The beach will be a way of life. Regular treks up the mountains.

Figure out Hawaiian history and culture very quickly. Start now. Hang out where people speak Pidgin so you'll understand it faster. The faster you get that, the faster you'll stop being a haole. And for the love of god, don't call it Ha-why-eeee. It's pronounced Ha-wA-E. Listen and learn.

Hawaii is fucking awesome. Enjoy it.
 
Thanks for all the help. I looked up some ads online for local grocery stores and will keep an eye on them over the next months to know what to expect for weekly grocery trips. This will also help with my compensation negotiations as well.

Any information that can be provided is very much appreciated.
 
My brother lived on Oahu for a few years, and I visited once. Stuff definitely costs more as everyone has noted.

I wasn't a big fan of Oahu personally. Just too crowded with tourist almost everywhere on the island. And I think it would get old fast with how small it is. IIRC it was like 30 minutes to drive from south coast to the north coast, and 2 or 3 hours to drive a circle around the island.

I didn't get a chance to visit any of the other Islands unfortunately.
 
[quote name='dafoomie']What I've been told is that anything that needs to be flown in as opposed to ship, which is anything with a short shelf life like meat, is going to be real expensive. My friends there grew up eating a lot of canned meat like Spam.

The cost of living is pretty high across the board there.[/QUOTE]

Spam is basically its own food group in Guam.

Speedracer's post makes me want to go to Hawaii.
 
[quote name='NJMane']I may have a possible job promotion down the pipeline (within a year) that could take me from Florida to Hawaii. I have been getting all kinds of information that is conflicting regarding the prices of goods in Hawaii. For those who currently reside in Hawaii, what are the prices of everyday items/services (milk, eggs, clothing items, dining (fast food/restaurants, etc.)? I have heard everything form a few bucks more to twice as much so it would be great to talk with a local.

If you have any information that could help me plan for the move that would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Hawaii is expensive. It's not just the food; the gas prices, rent, and shipping costs on everything are outrageous.

Honestly, you might feel like your promotion was detrimental if you come here.

[quote name='Dead of Knight']Spam is basically its own food group in Guam.

Speedracer's post makes me want to go to Hawaii.[/QUOTE]

They actually serve Spam at McDonald's here; it's crazy.

This is a great place for a vacation; it's not such a great place to live unless you're rich...

...or homeless...the weather here is great year round, heh.
 
A friend of mine moved to Hawaii, and she scoffs when I complain of the prices for anything here. Her apartment costs about $500 a month more than mine, and food prices are indeed generally double. You know Coke twelve-packs that can go on sale for $3? Never happens there.
 
Hey Hawaiians, not everyone knows your geographic layout, ok? Don't call me at work and keep saying "da beeg islond, brah!" when I continually ask you where you are contacting me from. And then don't say some island name that has WAY TOO MANY VOWELS IN IT and refuse to spell it, Jesus Christ. That shit is annoying. No $3 Coke twelve packs? Ok, I'll cut you some slack, but damn.
 
[quote name='Viva Las Vegas']I'm curious about the utility rates. How is electric, sanitation, water, gas, etc. In Hawaii?[/QUOTE]
It depends because every island is really different. Oahu, Maui, and most of Kauai has modern everything, along with the North side of Hawaii. Most of the south part of the island of Hawaii doesn't have water pipes (lava flows kill em), they use catchment systems. Electricity is available almost everywhere but is crazy expensive but it didn't matter to me because I hardly used any. Seriously, I would wake up, make some food, and be out the door by 7 or 8am. I'd come crawling back in the house around 10 or so and crash out after swimming/surfing/kayaking/climbing all day. I doubt I used a computer more than an hour or so a week and didn't own a television.

Unless you live in a "city-ish" place*** on the island (and even then), you really have to reimagine life. It's just way different. You wake up. You do what you do to make money. And then you go to the beach. You don't turn on your AC. You get in the water, which is 75 degrees all year. You don't sit and play video games, you go see the lava flow or snorkel. Every weekend, me and 3 friends would pile together about $10 and buy some beef stew meat and carrots and potatoes and aluminum foil and pile into my 1984 Honda Accord and drive somewhere on the island. We'd build a fire and cook the food and bring fruit and water jugs with us. It's just what you do. We'd figure out where we hadn't been yet and go.

My requisite "poke it with a stick" pic:

img_1134.jpg


And one of my favorite swimming spots. You have to watch out for sea turtles because the fatasses will run into you:

img_1192.jpg



***Honolulu is one of those different places. That place is a bonafide city. My description does not fit Oahu at all.
 
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I didn't mean if they had it more of the rates. You answered that saying the electricity was super expensive. What about the water rates, sanitation, etc?

Is that pic of your favorite swimming place on the Hilo side of the big island?
 
[quote name='Viva Las Vegas']I didn't mean if they had it more of the rates. You answered that saying the electricity was super expensive. What about the water rates, sanitation, etc? [/quote]
I remember water being somewhat trivial, but that could have been because my side of the island had over 200 inches of rain per year. For the rain catchment people, there are all free places around the island to get water.

Sanitation was somewhat non-trivial as well, as long as you had pipes. The very vast majority do. Only in the crazy way out there places (past Pahoa) will you see that, but most of "those people" are fully off the grid.

I imagine the rates vary wildly per island though. YMMV.
Is that pic of your favorite swimming place on the Hilo side of the big island?
Click to expand...
Yep, one of em. Can't give em all away. :D

*coughaboverainbowfallscough*
 
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