Mejask’s Inside Report: A Hawaii Retirement

I am American and my husband first generation Japanese, so we seriously considered retiring there and went to Honolulu to check it out. Since we have been living in Manhattan for over 40 years, we thought perhaps Honolulu would be best. We saw 4 continuing care communities, but felt we were not ready for that yet. And then we considered how far it would be for our family to visit from the East Coast. In the end, we decided that we enjoyed NYC, the NY Philharmonic, the variety of restaurants and the pace of the big city. So we're still here.

Fabulous article! Thank you so much for sharing. Would love to articles like this from retirees from every state!

We visited Hawaii twice as tourists -- once in the mid-80s and again about 5 years later. We were young and completely enthralled with the Islands (visited Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai the first time and last was Maui, so I have mostly idealistic memories. But for the past 20 years we also have had good friends who are Hawaiian native, so we learn a lot that way also. Mary Ellen's comments fit in very well. As she indicates, some level of "Hawaii aloha" idealism is probably needed if you want to retire there. Though I spent years trying to get a job with the thought of a permanent move to Hawaii, realism eventually revised all that.

But I can certainly comment on Jean's statement about "how far" it is. Unless you visit, you can never appreciate the length and time shift involved in that trip. Our native friends talk about visiting the west coast rather casually -- that is only a half day flight. But in all these years, they have only made it to the east coast 3 times and we have not made it to Hawaii again in all that time despite our interest. I can also say that while Honolulu is in Hawaii, it is NOT Hawaii. The essence of Hawaii does not lie in the bustling city -- and note that Mejask no longer lives in Oahu and does not frequent the other islands. For residents, there is a level of isolation that is larger than the isolation of simply being alone.

We vacationed in Kailua-Kona several years ago and just loved the Big Island. Thanks for this insider's look from a retiree's perspective...it certainly gives us some food for thought!

I've been living on Maui since 1983 (with a few intervals in California). What I think is crucial to mention that many who retire in Hawai'i may wish to buy a house or condo. On Maui, there's nothing below $500,000 for a house, unless it needs major work and is not on desirable real estate property. Typically, house prices begin at $600,000. Condos are a little less, but then again, you'll have huge HOA fees to contend with.

Bottom line, we could *not* have a afforded to make Hawai'i a retirement destination if we were considering it as a place to move to in 2017. (Do note that Kaua'i and the Big Island may be a little less expensive, but there are payoffs - so do research.)

Hope this helps, because a discussion of real estate prices may be the most important one to have first.

Aloha,
Michae

sorry, Michael, not Michae :-) Plus, it's not May 18, 2018 (see top). :-)

Thanks Mejask for all the info about Hawaii. I enjoyed my visit to Honolulu but found it too urban for me. I currently live in CT but eager to leave due to very high property taxes and too much snow. Just returned from visiting North and South Carolina and loved the friendly people and beaches out there. I can't decide whether to retire in Carolinas or San Diego! Meanwhile I am driving my husband crazy as he drove me almost 3 thousand miles from Connecticut through the Carolinas and back. Next vacation is San Diego. Don't know if we will be able to afford a house in San Diego so Carolina is more affordable and realistic for our budget I think.

That's Kauai, not Kaui. Take that fundamental fact into consideration when reading this short-timer's advice. Here in Hawai'i we call longtime mainland transplants "kama'aina", particularly if they have absorbed local knowledge and the culture of the islands. I moved here to O'ahu in 1960, left for California for about 27 years, and returned in 2003. People in Hawai'i resent the presence and culture of mainlanders, who are called "haole," or foreigner, because of their pushy/grabby, individualistic, consumeristic, materialism, and the historic subjugation of natives for the purpose of self-enrichment. If you choose to move to Hawai'i you are well advised to abandon the cultural baggage your were raised and steeped in and learn to acquire a less materialistic lifestyle if you want to enjoy the real "aloha" spirit, which is defined by the importance of considerate relations with family, friends, and community rather than the status conferred by the value of ones possessions and conspicuous consumption...

Last I looked, it's still 2017. Having live in HI (Oahu) for the past 33yrs, we were thinking about retiring here or on a less crowded isle. Housing prices, even on the outer islands ARE very expensive & as stated, anything under $500,000 will be a fixer-upper, usually 4 bedrms+, & UNDER 1800 sf. Materials used are very cheap (I'm not talking cost).
Also, the politicos are so blatantly corrupt/nepotistic, it doesn't matter. Money is wasted & tossed around like confetti! I could go on, but I hope u do your research before deciding to move to Hawaii.

I have only visited Hawaii once - on a cruise in 2006 that started and ended in Honolulu, with stops in Maui, Hilo and Kona (on the big island), and Kauai. It's a beautiful place, but it's outrageously expensive - both the real estate and food prices. Milk was $4 a gallon - when it was on sale!

Here's the thing that stuck with me the most. We had tour bus drivers on two different islands (the big island and Kauai) tell us the same thing. People from the mainland come to Hawaii on vacation, fall in love with it, and decide to retire there. They last about six months, then they move back. If you are outside of Honolulu, everything closes down at 5:00. There is no nightlife (other than perhaps at the resort hotel bars) and not that much to do. They have trouble adjusting to the slower pace of life with fewer options and they miss their families and friends.

When you go there (or to any popular vacation destination) for just a week, you're probably staying in a hotel or resort on the beach. It's luxurious and it's a great change of pace for a week. It's no wonder that you love it and you can daydream about living like that all the time. But if you move there, you probably won't be living on the beach, nor will you go to the beach or do other touristy things every day. Day-to-day life is much different than being on vacation, and the novelty will wear off quickly.

Vacation destinations rarely make good places to live full-time in retirement.

Dave Hughes
RetireFabulously.com