20 Things That Are Actually Really Frustrating About Living In Hawaii
With countless captivating beaches, near-perfect weather year-round, and panoramic views everywhere you look, it’s hard to argue that Hawaii is anything other than a tropical island oasis, but that doesn’t mean everything about living in Hawaii is ideal. Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely fallen in love with the islands over the years, but every once in a while, even those who live in paradise need to complain a little.
With so many phenomenal beaches, how do you choose just one? An indecisive attitude will ruin you in Hawaii. By the time you finally make a decision, you've wasted half the day!
Because there is a limited about of developable land in Hawaii, and island life is quite desirable, housing costs in Hawaii are astronomical. You will also find that food costs approximately 50 percent more than it does on the mainland, and utility costs are almost 70 percent higher.
Yes, sun guilt is a real thing, and it sucks. Sometimes, all you want to do is stay inside and binge watch Netflix. But enjoying a lazy day at home can be hard when you feel guilty about not enjoying the weather and taking advantage of exploring Hawaii’s magnificent landscapes whenever you get the chance.
Did you know that Hawaii has consistently been rated as one of the worst places for traffic in the country? At least on Oahu, there are few options for varying your route, making a long commute even harder when there's an accident or construction.
5. Despite the amount of time spent driving in Hawaii, the radio stations are generally a few months behind the mainland in terms of new music.
In Hawaii, there is no hiding that holiday weight gain under a bulky sweater. Plus, if you’re a woman, you will never have a break from shaving your legs.
Many people move to the islands for a good ol' adventure and then head back to their mainland reality. While this means that you can constantly make new friends, there will always be people who are leaving.
Vog, or the volcanic smog, that wafts over from the Big Island when the trade winds die down, is absolutely killer. We’re talking itchy eyes, sinus headaches, and more. Plus, it’s unpredictable.
Oh, you love live music? Well, you’ll never see a big concert again. Even when a major artist makes a stop in Hawaii, tickets are expensive and extremely hard to come by.
While it is fun to play tour guide for your closest friends and family members, when you’re hiking Diamond Head for the zillionth time this year, you’ll wish you could ditch that guest bedroom so no one would come to visit.
15. You will — quite possibly — live on a street with a name no one can pronounce.
Not only will your mainland friends not be able to pronounce your street, some online data entry forms won’t accept your address as it is because it’s too weird.
16. You must rely on your Starbucks cup — or your Facebook friends — to tell you what season it is.
How else are you supposed to know it’s winter when it is 80 degrees and sunny year-round? If you moved to Hawaii from the mainland, you probably miss wearing boots and sweaters sometimes.
17. When you’re online shopping and fall in love with something only to put it in your shopping cart and realize that it won’t ship to Hawaii.
Or — equally as frustrating — that the shipping will cost more than the item you want to buy. Amazon Prime is almost a necessity for anyone who lives in Hawaii, but forget about those advertised two-day shipping times.
While no one expects you to get more dressed up than a sundress and your "fancy" slippahs, you might grow to miss your days of wearing high heels, blazers, and ties.
It’s easy to go stir crazy when you live on a small island, especially when the only road trip you can take is the drive around the island, and your weekend getaways consist of visiting a neighboring island.
20. You’re not allowed to complain — about anything, ever.
You definitely won’t be getting any sympathy for your problems when your friends have just been caught in a blizzard. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve tried to vent about something only to be told, "Relax. You live in Hawaii. Life is good."
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Living In Hawaii
April 20, 2020
Megan Shute
What is it like to live in Hawaii?
Like anywhere, there are certainly pros and cons to living in Hawaii. If you're new to island living, you might find yourself experiencing a bit of culture shock — after all, as the most isolated population center on the planet, the Hawaiian Islands are unlike anywhere else in the world. From the islands' culture and history to our traditions, favorite foods, and strange habits, everything about living in Hawaii is a little bit, well, different.
Is Hawaii a great place to live?
Despite this list about all of the frustrating aspects of life in Hawaii, there's nowhere else we'd rather call home than the beautiful Aloha State. Across the Hawaiian Islands, life is a little slower, and we choose to embody the Aloha Spirit in everything we do. When thought of in conjunction with our incredible natural beauty and world-class beaches, it’s no wonder why so many mainlanders dream of moving to — or at least vacationing in — Hawaii.
What are the best things about living in Hawaii?
From the stunning, panoramic views and that intoxicating tropical ocean breeze to the mouthwatering local food and an emphasis on ohana, there are so, so many things to love about living in Hawaii — but everyone has their own opinions. I think we can all agree that the rest of America could learn a thing or two about life from the islands, though.
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With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
