The Hawaiian Islands are as unique as the homes you’ll find throughout across the state. And here in paradise, there are certain things that you will only find in a Hawaiian home — or at least, have a different meaning on the islands. Here are 10 undeniable things you will (most likely) find in every Hawaii home.

1. More beach stuff than you know what to do with.
George Oates/Flickr
Depending on how long you’ve been living on the island — or how frequently you move — you might have an excessive amount of beach towels, four beach chairs, three boogie boards, five snorkels, and various other beach accessories you’ve collected throughout your life. If these items aren't in your house, they're probably in your car — permanently.
2. Sand, everywhere.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Even if you don’t go to the beach very often, sand will find its way into your home. No matter how often I go to the beach, whether it's four times in one week, or it's been months since I stepped foot on the sand (thanks, Covid-19), there will always be a small pile of sand somewhere in the house — even if I vacuumed every day!
3. Geckos — or a variety of insects.
Library_dragon/Flickr
Trust us — you want the geckos because they will usually eat the small bugs before they can grow any larger. I picked up our newspaper the other day and something jumped out. I screamed, thinking it was a cockroach. When I looked closely, I realized it was a gecko, and I gave it free rein of our house. There's also a gecko currently living above our kitchen cabinets.
4. A framed beach photograph.
Wally Gobetx/Flickr
It could be a professional family photo or a picture you took on your iPhone — either way works, but there’s bound to be a Hawaiian beach photo somewhere in your house. After all, most of us aren't lucky enough to enjoy beach views from our homes.
5. A case — or five — of water in the closet for hurricane season.
DJ Waldow/Flickr
This is meant to be a portion of your disaster preparedness kit. You might not ever need this water, but you will keep it all year until you realize that water has an expiration date and you should trade it in for a new case.

Related Stories

Every True Hawaii Local Has Had These 12 Bizarre Experiences At Least Once

Every True Hawaii Local Has Had These 12 Bizarre Experiences At Least Once

 11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Living In Hawaii

11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Living In Hawaii

 21 Thoughts Everyone Has When They Land In Hawaii

21 Thoughts Everyone Has When They Land In Hawaii
6. A shipping box you’ve been meaning to tear apart and recycle.
Stephen Woods/Flickr
Because there is so much we have delivered since shopping options are quite limited, especially when you leave Oahu. If we're being honest, I get more mail from Amazon Prime than everyone else combined.
7. An extra bed — if you're lucky!
ShellVacationsHospitality/Flickr
It doesn’t matter if you have an entire guest bedroom, a pull-out sofa, futon or even just an air mattress in the living room, most Hawaiian homes include a "bed" for visitors — because you will get visitors on a regular basis.
8. Something covered in rust.
Michelle/Flickr
You could live in the middle of an island and your things would still be rusty. Soon enough, the rust on your car, bicycle, or even patio furniture will become something you don’t even care about anymore. It just happens.
9. Kona Coffee.
Mike Petrucci/Flickr
Maybe it’s your favorite blend to drink daily or it’s an expensive bag that you only break out when you have visitors over. Either way, it’s there, making your cabinet smell amazing.
10. Slippahs.
Rosa Say/Flickr
Seriously, what are these flip-flops you speak of? Also, why would you need to own other shoes — except for a pair of hiking shoes.

Do you live in Hawaii? Do you have all of these ten things in your home? So, did I miss anything? What other things will you always be able to find in a Hawaiian home? Sound off in the comments below, then click here to read all about some of the most unique and historic homes in the Aloha State.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Calling Hawaii Hom

Megan Shute | August 10, 2020

Where is the best place to live in Hawaii? 

That depends. Some cities in the Aloha State are better suited for raising a family while others cater to retirees. Taking into account a wide variety of criteria, we have determined the 11 best places to live in Hawaii, which includes the best towns for everyone from families and retirees to surfers, adventurers, and millennials.

Where is the worst place to live in Hawaii? 

Well, that's a subjective question. Just like choosing your ideal place to live, it will depend on your lifestyle. If you abhor the city, I'd stay away from the capital city of Honolulu. If you want access to great amenities, you likely wouldn't enjoy living in a remote town on the island of Maui. The only advice we can definitively give, though, is that no matter where you choose to live in Hawaii, you'll sure to fall in love.

What does it cost to live in Hawaii?

I'll warn you: living in Hawaii can be expensive and rife with sticker shock. The average price of a single-family home in Hawaii is $780,000 and the average price of a condo is $428,000. And that's just the home prices: Hawaii residents can expect to pay more money than Americans on the mainland for pretty much everything, including food, electricity, gas, and household goods.

Related Articles

Explore Hawaii

Featured Addresses
Hawaii, USA