8 Unexpected Truths About Living in Hawaii
Posted by Maris on 22nd Apr 2024
I came into a pamphlet offering students the opportunity to "swap" institutions for a semester and attend any other state school for no additional cost while I was a sophomore in college. At the time, I was a student at Portland State University. I brought the brochure to my advisor's office and requested to go to Hawaii after 10 days in a row of overcast skies and rain.
I relocated to the Big Island a few months later in order to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Even after living in Hawaii for over ten years, I still consider those days to be some of the happiest of my life.
These are eight startling realities about living in Hawaii that I discovered firsthand, along with an explanation of how they all work together to create the unique and enchanted state that is Hawaii.
Life is centered on the ocean.
Living on an island in the midst of the Pacific means that, naturally, the ocean plays a bigger role in your life than it would, say, for someone who lived in South Dakota. However, the importance of the ocean in this context cannot be overstated. It's a place of spirituality, a force of nature deserving of respect, and a hub for community activities; parties and social gatherings are always held at the closest beach.
The entire island is impacted by the mood of the ocean on any given day. There were instances when, for no apparent reason, class would end 30 minutes early. I had to finally inquire why as the other pupils hurried out of the classroom.
My professor was packing his books when he cast a quick peek up. "Excellent waves today," he remarked as he hurried outside to get his board.
Surfboards are the most widely used piece of gear.
Speaking of which, there aren't many spots in Hawaii where you won't see a surfboard fastened to a car's roof or leaning against a wall. Excellent restaurants, parking lots for grocery stores, classrooms, and convenience stores. They are just as commonplace in Portland as raincoats or fancy handbags are in Los Angeles.
There are several really costly items.
Hawaii has a notoriously high cost of living. Home values appear to increase dramatically every year, and the rental market is highly competitive and pricey. You may spend fifteen dollars on a simple trip to the grocery store for milk and bread. There are methods to save costs, of course, but there are costs associated with living in a place as stunning and alluring as Hawaii.
However, the best products are really reasonably priced.
Hawaii is known for having a high cost of living, but there are also a ton of incredible things that are far more reasonable here than they are elsewhere. Are these the juiciest mangoes and papayas you've ever had? accessible at the neighborhood farmers' market for almost nothing. Shave ice with cream and azuki beans? A few dollars from a roadside vendor. A day spent at the picture-perfect beach you've ever seen? Completely free.
There is a lot of rain.
Although I may have traveled to Hawaii to avoid the rain in Oregon, rain does fall in Hawaii as well. A great deal. (Perhaps the whole "tropical rainforest" thing should have given me a hint? Sorry.) Just a few miles can separate radically different climates and terrain in Hawaii, so the amount of rain you can expect varies greatly depending on the season and the specific location on each island. However, you can expect some significant downpours (and the rare hurricane) mixed in with those wonderful bright days.
Not at the pricey restaurants is the best food served.
Hawaii's tourist destinations are teeming with upscale resorts and fine dining establishments that serve guests. You have to venture a little bit off the beaten route to discover the best food in Hawaii, even if these restaurants are certainly beautiful. That little ramen place tucked away in a suburban strip mall? Proceed there. The slightly dilapidated deli where locals wait in line for plate lunches, a staple in Hawaii that include pork, rice, and macaroni salad? Step into that queue. That street corner food vendor serving steam buns? You'll thank me later if you order a few of those.
Time to "talk story" is never too short.
People who relocate here from other locations may find it quite challenging to adjust to the slower pace of Hawaiian culture. Compared to the mainland, Hawaii is more relaxed and slower-paced, and connections and relationships are valued more highly. Here, people engage in meaningful conversation with one another in a way that is becoming less and less common. Here, exchanging tales with both new and old friends is a highly valued activity. That's okay if it means that occasionally the bus is running late because the driver has to pull over and "talk story" with an old friend on the side of the road.
Hawaii is far more than just a beach state.
Hawaii is often thought of as a tropical postcard come to life, and while the state does have sugar sand beaches, it is far more intricate and varied than that. Every Hawaiian island has its unique ecology, economy, and culture; in fact, there are locations that feel like whole distinct planets that are just a short distance apart. In addition to the stunning beaches, there are huge cities, suburbs, frigid mountain villages, small farming communities, active volcanoes, deep rainforests, and traffic congestion. Because Hawaii is unlike anywhere else, living there is an adventure of a lifetime. If you ever get the opportunity to try it, I wholeheartedly suggest it.