There certainly are perks associated with living on a beautiful tropical island paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but there are also some risks that come with the territory. From giant centipedes and cockroaches to hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, here are some of the biggest dangers of living in Hawaii, and how to help you be prepared.

1. Giant cockroaches invading your home.
Auntie Teena/Flickr
The cockroaches in Hawaii are huge and absolutely terrifying. We suggest always having a can of Raid at the ready – and maybe making your spouse, roommate, child, or dog the designated bug killer in your house.
2. Being wiped out by a giant wave while having your photo taken.
Yu Mi/Facebook
It’s hard to resist the urge to have your photograph taken in front of a stunning Hawaiian beach, but unfortunately, being toppled over by a large wave is a risk you’ll have to take for that perfect Instagram shot.

Rogue waves are Hawaii dangers you must be aware of any time you're near the ocean, as this CBS News report attests:

3. Falling ill due to the disastrous effects of vog.
Nathanael Coyne/Flickr
Vog, or volcanic smog, wafts over from the Big Island and is killer on the sinuses. We’re talking severe allergy symptoms and sinus headaches. Your best defense while the vog is thick is to stay inside and make sure to keep taking those allergy meds.
4. Being trampled by a mob of tourists.
Thank You (22.5 Millions+) views/Flickr
This may be a long shot, but I would still tend to avoid areas that tourists flock to if you like your personal space.
5. Traffic accidents as the result of driving through anything more than a light rain.
jai Mansson/Flickr
With near-perfect weather year round, many people who live in Hawaii somehow forget how to drive when the sky is producing anything more than a light drizzle.
6. Getting stranded or lost on the top of a mountain – or the middle of a jungle.
Marvin Chandra/Flickr
Hiking is a favorite activity among locals and tourists alike, though anyone can easily get lost on a trail if they aren’t closely following trail markers. We suggest sticking to popular trails until you are more experienced and always packing more water than you think you’ll need.
7. Being attacked by a shark or stung by a jellyfish.
Brian Sterling/Flickr
While few people in Hawaii are actually attacked by sharks, being stung by a jellyfish is one of the dangers of Hawaii that you need to heed. Always check beach reports after a full moon, as that’s when the jellyfish are closest to shore – trust me, it’s not a fun experience.

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8. Heart attack brought on by grocery store prices.
I-5 Design & Manufacture/Flickr
There is no doubt about it – the cost of living in paradise is astronomical, and if you just moved here, the prices you’ll find at grocery stores will make your head spin: $8 for a gallon of milk?
9. Heat exhaustion is a very real risk in Hawaii.
hjl/Flickr
Similarly, dehydration and sun poisoning are also major risks associated with visiting or living in Hawaii.
10. All-powerful hurricanes.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
Hurricanes are common in the Hawaiian Islands – in fact, there have been times when there were three developing hurricanes off the coast of Hawaii at the same time. Unfortunately, being prepared is the only defense against an impending hurricane.
11. Being impaled by a rock while cliff jumping.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr
Many people who visit Hawaii believe that they are completely safe cliff jumping – but the ocean is in control, and a sudden shift in the tide could cause you to impale yourself on a rock. Please, only go cliff jumping if you are extremely knowledgeable about the ocean currents of the area and are a strong swimmer.
12. Volcanic eruptions destroying your home.
U.S. Geological Survey/Flickr
That’s why there’s such a thing as lava insurance in Hawaii.
13. Finding that a centipede has found its way inside your house.
Daniela/Flickr
Centipedes in Hawaii are no joke. They can grow to be up to 12 inches long and an inch in width. Be careful, because these little menaces attack, they tend to travel in pairs, and if you want to kill one, you’ll need some good scissors, because just stomping on them will not work. Oh, and make sure to kill the centipede outside – the scent a dying centipede gives off attracts more centipedes to the area.
14. Dangerous bacteria from freshwater making you sick.
Owen and Aki/Flickr
Leptospira, a dangerous bacteria, is most commonly found in freshwater ponds throughout Hawaii. The bacteria can cause leptospirosis when coming in contact with your eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin, and exhibits mild to severe flu-like symptoms.
15. Getting hit in the head by a falling coconut.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr
Death by falling coconut may sound silly, but rumor has it that a supposed expert claimed in 2002 that falling coconuts kill approximately 150 people around the world each year.

The dangers of living in Hawaii are definitely different from those of other places, but most of us think the risk is worth it. What other risks do we face in our beautiful island paradise? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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Dangers of Living in Hawaii

Tori Jane | July 26, 2022

Is it dangerous to live in Hawaii?  

Overall, living in Hawaii is no more dangerous than most other places; in fact, it’s one of the states with the lowest violent crime rates! The national average hovers right around 403 violent crimes per 100,000 people, but the Hawaiian average is 260 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, making it almost 37% safer than the rest of the nation. Of course, there are other things in Hawaii – both living and simply of nature itself – that command your respect, lest you fall victim to them. Things like... 

What are some of the risks of living in Hawaii?  

...the natural risks of living in Hawaii! You certainly don’t have to worry about man-made problems here as much as you would in many of the states on the mainland, but Hawaii is something else when it comes to the potentially dangerous natural world. Some of the risks of living in Hawaii are the volcanoes, some of which erupt fairly often – and many that haven’t erupted in a long, long time, ensuring their readiness to explode eventually, at a time we may least expect it. The ocean is another dangerous aspect of life in Hawaii, with high tides and the occasional ultra-large rogue wave (which have killed folks in the past by sweeping them out to sea). Other risks of living in Hawaii include flash flooding and dangerous critters like box jellies and Portuguese Man-O-Wars.  

What is life in Hawaii like? 

Of course, you cannot let any of these things affect your life in Hawaii – it's quite wonderful here, and anyone will tell you so. Hawaii prides itself in what we call the Aloha Spirit; it’s a special vibe around here that you simply won’t find anywhere else – not even in other places commonly referred to as “paradise”. There are tons of breathtaking natural wonders in Hawaii that, if you lived here, you would be surrounded by, as well as amazing state parks in Hawaii, incredible geological wonders in Hawaii, and so much more. Life in Hawaii is beautiful – as beautiful as the islands themselves!  

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