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Top Tips in Moving to Hawaii

Top Tips for Moving to Hawaii

Ever wondered what it’s like to turn your vacation destination into your home? Let’s dive into the vibrant world of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and discover how to make this paradise your backyard!

WHY KONA?

Kona to us was really wonderful because everything seemed so raw. It had a small town feel but yet if we wanted more of a high end experience, everything was all there to accommodate that (Waikoloa Beach Resort area). The weather is perfect all year long: between 85 to 75F year long. The humidity is not bad at all when compared to Houston TX, which is where we lived. It almost never rains in Kailua-Kona, especially at sea level.  Check weather here.

What about events? We have it some here also, but definitely on a smaller scale than most big cities on the mainland:

  • Kona Coffee Festival & Half Marathon
  • Beer Festival in April, Mai Tai Festival
  • Kona Ironman World Championship every October
  • Lots of Canoe competitions on the Kona Bay on Saturdays
  • Billfisher competition every fall too – super fun event where they weigh in big marlins like 500-700 lbs

WHAT ABOUT HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE?

Real Estate in Kona is expensive. No way around that. Hawaii is a destination and people are willing to pay a higher price to live here. Some save and dream of living all their life, and move to retire here. A typical single family home on average is $1.2 million today in Kailua-Kona. Now condos vary in price depending on their ability to do short term vacation rentals aka Airbnb. The entry level price for 1 bedroom condos differ from $400k to $550k if they can do short term rentals.

Renting long term in Kailua-Kona or even Waikoloa is really hard. A 2 bedroom 2 bath condo rents for about $3600/month. A 3/2 house around 1200sqft rents for $6,000 per month. A small studio rents for about $1800/month. And if you have pets it’s even harder to rent. Most people are not pet friendly.

The reason long term rentals are so competitive on the Kailua-Kona coast is because there are no multiplex apartment buildings. Most long term rentals are through word of mouth, or occasionally through property management websites. They are all privately owned and most of the time, the owner selects who they want as their tenant. The other reason why it’s so competitive, is because tenant laws in Hawaii are tenant friendly. Very different from some other states, like Texas, which are more landlord friendly.

COST OF LIVING?

As you can imagine, because it’s an island it’s more expensive to live here. Everything needs to be imported. Gas is $6/gallon, Electricity is 56c pkw. Food is significantly more expensive. I recommend you go to local grocery stores & casually compare prices to what you currently pay to budget for your monthly expenses.

WHAT PREPARATIONS YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU ARE MOVING TO KONA?

This is my advice to all my clients to whom I sold a home or condo: decide to either sell everything or bring everything from the mainland. It’s not that it’s hard to source locally, it’s just costly.

You will either pay a higher cost for every single item here in Hawaii & have limited options. Or you will pay to ship it all here & realize it may not be exactly what you’re looking for/fits your place. It’s all going to depend on the sentimental value of your items & how unique they are.

I recommend going to Restoration hardware, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel – whatever is your favorite store & bringing a copy of the floor plan of your new place to the store. They typically have interior designers on staff who will work with you for free to furnish your new place with their items & ship everything in a shipping container at a discount to the Big Island.

In today’s prices, it costs about $6,000 for a 9.5ft x 40ft shipping container to ship from Los Angeles to the Kawaihae Harbor which is in South Kohala. Most of my clients use Matson or Young Brothers to ship everything, including their cars.

We also moved with 2 dogs. That is a subject for a whole other blog of its own. But the quick run down is: you have to check out the requirements to bring pets in Hawaii & start the procedures at least 4 months before moving.

HOW TO ADAPT THE ISLAND LIFE?

Once you are here, my best advice is be nice to people & join clubs or events of your interests/hobbies. For example, I love playing tennis. So, I joined the Royal Kona Tennis Club, met tons of amazing people & created a great network of friends. There are tons of local clubs at no cost or very little cost. The other thing you can do, if you like nicer things, is you can sign up for the newsletters at the local hotels & country clubs. They will regularly have James Beard or Michelin star chefs as guests. Or they have special events featuring local businesses or wine tastings from specific regions of the world. We like attending these events. The costs vary depending on the location. Mauna Kea and Four Season events are definitely worth going in my opinion.

Master Gardening clubs for those wanting to know more about local vegetation. Diving groups, fishing, hiking, so many opportunities! And my favorite wine clubs!

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS TO KNOW?

It’s important to note that Hawaii has a shortage of doctors, and not all medical specialties are available on the Big Island. If you have a medical condition that requires frequent visits, a certain specialty, you may have to reevaluate whether you want to live here & really take a look at what your lifestyle would be like.

For example, I have a friend who had a heart attack on the tennis court. He had to be flown out to Honolulu to have a specialist operate on him that day. Luckily, he is fine & happily playing tennis weekly. And he had the right kind of health insurance that covered all his medical expenses besides the basic out-of-pocket premium. The point being that his procedure was not available to do locally on the Big Island.

Another essential to know is public schools. There are public & public charter schools in Kailua Kona. Innovations & Konawaena being the most popular public schools I would say. There are 2 private schools in Waimea (Parker being the more reputable one).

Please do not be mad at me local readers, but the public schools do not have the greatest ratings when compared to mainland schools according to US News Best Schools’ Rating. That’s not to say that your children can’t have a wonderful education & blossom as individuals. That’s absolutely possible. It’s just not the same level & not as many opportunities. That can all be compensated for in other ways, as you choose. It’s something to think about prior to moving here.

The third thing I would recommend you ponder prior to moving here is to evaluate your lifestyle & social life. It is a slower paced island living. The largest age group on the Kona side is 55+. We personally love it & never had island fever. Some people have an urge to leave after 2-3 years. We remediate this island fever with frequent travel to the mainland every 3-4 months. We really enjoy living here because we wanted to be in this type of setting.

WHAT ARE THE LEISURE AND LIFESTYLE THAT AWAITS YOU?

There’s plenty of stuff to do, with historic and cultural landmarks to explore and several natural waterways and beaches to relax in and romp through.

There are also numerous ways to enjoy local fare, from cuisine to coffee and from cocktails to chocolate.

You can spot marine wildlife both in the wild and in facilities that protect and conserve them.

You can explore the wilderness or the oceans.

You can watch performances or peruse galleries.

FINAL TIPS AND ADVICE!

  • Manage Your Utilities
  • File a Change of Address Online with USPS
  • Do Your Civic Duty
  • Update or Cancel Your Auto Insurance
  • Change Your Address with Your Bank—or Close Your Account, if Necessary

Whether you’re moving from the Mainland, relocating from another island or simply transitioning from another part of the Big Island, Kona has a lot to offer: sunny beaches, easy access to many of the island’s conveniences and plenty of activities to keep you busy. And although we’re sure the age-old “Kona vs. Hilo” debate will never truly get solved, by making your home in Kona, we can tell which side you’re on.

If you need more help in finding your FOREVER home in Kona, do not hesitate to contact me 808.365.3528. I can help you navigate through this tough real estate market to buy or sell your home in Kailua-Kona

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