Hawaii is a state in the Pacific Ocean, over 2,000 miles off the coast of California. It is the only state composed entirely of islands. Over 137 islands spread over 1,500 miles make up Hawaii and it has a total population of almost 1.5 million people.

The state capital of Hawaii is Honolulu on the island of O'ahu. With a population of almost 400,000 people, Honolulu is also Hawaii's largest city. Hawaii often ranks highly on lists of best places to live in America because of its tropical environment and easy-going lifestyle.

What's life like in Hawaii?

Living in Hawaii is a dream for lots of people in mainland America. A tropical paradise of green mountains, blue bays, and white-sand beaches give Hawaii an aura of being paradise. While there are plenty of advantages to living in Hawaii, it isn't all paradise.

Island fever is a real thing, according to people who live there and the isolation of the place can feel overbearing at times. The high cost of living is also quite shocking to some people as regular food items and gas can cost substantially more than the mainland.

However, the laid back lifestyle, supremely good weather, and beautiful culture can make up for the difficulties of living in the middle of nowhere.

Work in Hawaii

Since 1959, tourism has been the largest industry in Hawaii, contributing to over a quarter of the gross state product (GSP). Due to the shipping distance to viable markets, Hawaiian exports like food and clothing only make up a small percentage of the state's economy.

Hawaii's economy employs around 680,000 people. The largest industries are restaurants and food services, construction, and schools. The most common jobs in Hawaii are cashiers, teachers, and retail salespersons.

Major Attractions of Hawaii

Here are some of the top attractions that make Hawaii a great place to live and work:

• Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: A national park located on the island of Hawaii encompassing two active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
• Haleakala National Park: Located on Maui, the park covers over 33,000 acres, including the Haleakala Volcano and Pools of Ohe'o.
• Diamon Head: A dormant volcano and iconic landmark on the island of O'ahu, known to locals as Le'ahi.
• Hanauma Bay: A popular marine preserve located on O'ahu, famous for its white sands and turtles.
• Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park: Located on Kaua'i, this 6,000-acre state park showcases some of Hawaii's most impressive mountains.

Pros and Cons of Living in Hawaii

Pros:

• Incredible weather – Hawaii probably has the best weather of all of the American states with guaranteed warm weather all year round.
• Incredibly warm and welcoming culture – Residents of Hawaii have a reputation for being extremely friendly and welcoming to tourists and new residents alike.
• The Great Outdoors – Hawaii is an awesome place to live if you like the outdoors. It has some of the best snorkeling, diving, and surfing in the world.

Cons:

• Cost of living – Because of its remote location, Hawaii has a higher cost of living in general compared to many other American states.
• Local amenities and services – Because Hawaii is made up of isolated islands, services like mail delivery and trash collection might not be available to everyone.
• Isolated – Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and is over 2000 miles from the coast of California. It takes a long time to get anywhere from Hawaii.