It's easy to make a case for the reasons why you'd want to move to Hawaii. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth, the weather is a dream, the waters are pristine, and there's rainbows everywhere. The history and culture are enthralling. This place is pure magic.

But there are plenty of things about living here that aren't pure magic. Things you don't realize until after the enchantment wears off and you've schlepped you're entire life across the world and spent a lot of money doing it. So I'm here to keep it real and tell you the things you need to know before moving here.

We have bugs. A lot of them. It's the tropics. Geckos too. You can find them outside. You can find them inside. It's a guarantee we will see roach, dead or alive, at your final walk through. So if that's going to be a problem for you, then you might want to reconsider.
Landscaping costs a lot. See this beautiful hillside of green lusciousness? Have you ever thought about why it's so green? I'll tell you. It rains. It rains every day. Some areas more than others. But fauna grows quickly and it's either going to take your time and energy to care for it, or your pocketbook. A lot of people are shocked when they find out the price of landscaping. Sometimes people will find a cheaper rate, and there will be a reason for it. So just know, that if you want a piece of land - even if it's only an acre, it's going to cost you something to take care of it.
Respect the culture. This is a big one. I highly highly encourage you to read some history books, watch documentaries, do your google research on the history and culture of these islands. It is rich and incredibly fascinating. There is a deep deep respect and connection with it here. So while I don't want you to be the brand new transplant schooling others about all of the things you know about Hawai’i in the post office line, I do want you to understand and respect the story of the people here.
Health care. It’s not great. If you need a specialist, you’ll be flying to Oahu. There’s limited options for everything. It takes a while to get an appointment. Several medical professionals are ready to retire. Urgent care is not so urgent.
It’s expensive - property, food, gas, vendors. I know, you're like yeah yeah. Food is expensive in California too. You've vacationed here and you've seen the prices. But you haven't felt the compounding affect of coughing up a bunch of money month after month, year after year. There is nothing cheap about Hawai'i except the free outdoor activities available. The wages that the jobs offer don't support the cost of living. So you either need to have plenty of money in the bank or get strategic on how you're going to make it work.
Mail takes forever and shipping is a bi*ch. If you're use to same day delivery or even two day delivery, it is not going to happen here. Even if the vendor says it will arrive by May 10th, there's a 80% chance it will arrive 3 weeks after that. Packages somehow get lost in this no man's land where the last time it was scanned was in Sacramento a month ago and nothing registers until one day, out of the blue it's reached Honolulu. Another 10 days after that, you'll have a package slip in your mailbox and then you'll have to stand in line for 20 minutes and get mean mugged by every employee of the postal service to pick up your package. Oh, and there's a good chance it will arrive damaged :)
If convenience culture is important to you, this might not be the best fit. This is not a convenient place to live. We are at least 10 years behind the mainland on so many different levels. The infrastructure wasn’t built for the amount of people currently living here. The (3) stores we have often sell out of products and you have to wait a week (or two) until we get another shipment. Holiday supplies sell out weeks before the actual holiday. Vendors are booked out for at least 6 months. If you want cabinets or an appliance you'll be waiting 2-3 months for it to arrive. Furniture is hard to come by. Be ready for war when you head into Costco and plan 30 minutes to wait in line for gas (or a hot dog!). And if you like to travel, I hope you also like jet lag and have a large budget, because it's not as easy to do a quick weekend getaway to anywhere, except maybe inter-island.

I realize this post may seem...overwhelmingly negative. It was comical for me to write. I love this place more than anywhere on Earth and I will do whatever it takes to live my days here. But everything has its downsides. And I'm going to tell you what they are.

Hawai’i is an incredibly challenging place to live. But every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Do we really need same day delivery? Haven't humans lived centuries without it? I'm pretty sure we've lived centuries with bugs too. And getting your hands dirty to tend the Earth is good for your mind, body, and spirit. I find these things about Hawai'i endearing. It's what contributes to a slow pace of life and makes you reevaluate what's actually important. For me, it's being with family and friends. Being outdoors surrounded by nature. Taking care of the land and each other. That's what Hawai'i is all about.