Where Hawaii Families Actually Move on the Mainland

How should you compare destinations?

Before looking at places, decide what you're optimizing for. Most families weigh five things: being near family, a job or school, housing they can afford, a climate they can live with, and a community where island ways are understood. Write down your top two. They'll settle most close calls.

The table below is a starting point. It describes general patterns, not figures. Use our cost of living comparison tool and each destination guide for sourced detail.

Tax treatment changes. Verify current rates — figures change.

Why is Las Vegas called the Ninth Island?

Las Vegas has drawn Hawaii residents for decades. Downtown hotels have long catered to island visitors, and over time many families followed relatives there for work, retirement and lower housing costs. Today you'll find plate lunch spots, island grocery items, hula halau, canoe clubs and Hawaii civic and church groups across the valley.

The trade-offs are real. Summers are very hot and dry, which is a different kind of heat from humid island warmth. The job market leans heavily on hospitality and gaming, though healthcare, construction and logistics are growing. Nevada doesn't tax wage income, but check housing, insurance and utility costs for the neighborhood you want. Read our Las Vegas guide for the details.

Why do Hawaii families choose Washington?

Washington draws Hawaii families through jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma region, military assignments around Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and established Pacific Islander communities in King and Pierce counties. Flights home are relatively direct. Washington has no state income tax on wages, though sales taxes are high and Seattle-area housing can rival Honolulu.

The adjustment is mostly sky and light. Western Washington winters are long, gray and damp. Many people find that good rain gear, outdoor habits and vitamin D make the difference. See our Washington guide.

What draws people from Hawaii to Oregon?

Oregon appeals to people who want green landscapes, the ocean nearby and a slower pace, especially around Portland, Salem and Eugene. There are Hawaiian civic clubs, halau and island food in the Portland area. Oregon has no general sales tax but does have a state income tax, so take-home pay matters more than the price tag at the register.

Winters are wet and cool, summers mild and dry, with growing wildfire smoke seasons. Read our Oregon guide.

Is Arizona a good fit for Hawaii families?

Arizona, mostly the Phoenix and Tucson areas, attracts families with newer housing, warm winters and growing job markets. Island communities are smaller than in Las Vegas or the Northwest but present, often connected through churches and Polynesian cultural groups.

Summer heat is the dealbreaker for some: Phoenix summers are among the hottest of any major U.S. metro. Air conditioning is essential, and electricity use peaks in summer. Arizona has a flat state income tax. See our Arizona guide.

Why are more Hawaii families moving to Texas?

Texas draws people with jobs, more house for the money in many suburbs, and no state income tax. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin each have Hawaii and Pacific Islander groups, and military bases bring island families through on assignment.

Property taxes are high in many Texas counties, which offsets some of the income tax savings, and home insurance can be costly. Summers are hot and humid, with severe storms, hurricanes on the coast and occasional hard freezes. Texas is also far from West Coast ports, so moving costs more. Read our Texas guide.

Why does Utah have such strong island communities?

Utah has some of the country's most established Tongan and Samoan communities, along with Native Hawaiian families, many with church ties, around Salt Lake City and Utah County. For families whose faith community is central, that can make Utah feel familiar quickly.

The climate is the opposite of home: real winters, dry air and altitude. Utah has a flat state income tax and fast-growing housing costs along the Wasatch Front. See our Utah guide.

Is California still a common choice?

California has the largest Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population of any state outside Hawaii, according to the Census Bureau, along with the shortest flights home and the ports where most Hawaii shipments arrive. Southern California and the Bay Area both have long-standing island communities.

Cost is the catch. Coastal California housing can match or exceed Honolulu, and the state income tax is high at upper incomes. Many families look inland, to the Inland Empire, Sacramento or the Central Valley, for more space and lower costs, trading some of the mild coastal climate. Read our California guide.

How do you find community after you move?

• Hawaiian civic clubs and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs network on the mainland.
• Hula halau, outrigger canoe clubs and Pacific Islander festivals.
• Churches with island congregations.
• Island restaurants and markets, which often know about local groups.
• School and university Pacific Islander student associations.
• Friends and family from home who've already made the move. Ask them what they wish they'd known.

Settling in takes time. Our Arrive phase guides cover the first months, and the pros and cons of moving to the mainland can help you weigh the decision honestly.

What should you do next?

Narrow it to two places, price a real rental in each, and if you can, visit in the season you'll find hardest, such as August in Phoenix or January in Seattle. When you're ready to price the move itself, our quote form connects you with a partner mover for a free, no-obligation estimate to your chosen city.