When you think of Hawaii, the word “paradise” always comes to mind because, indeed, Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with all the greeneries, pristine waters, panoramic views, and scenic landscape coupled by the warmth of the sun and the comfort of the island. It’s the perfect vacation destination to unwind and escape from the busyness of the urban cities of the mainland — to take a step back and to slow down.
It’s beautiful that when you step into the island state, the thought of living here and starting anew crosses your mind. Still, you are still hesitant because taking the one-way ticket to Hawaii will mean leaving your job — your source of income. You began to ask: Is it worth the risk? Why should I leave my job and work in Hawaii?
And really, why should you work in Hawaii?
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Low Unemployment Rate
As of August 2018, Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate in the United States at 2.1. The figure is even lower than the national average of 3.9.
Favorable Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Hawaii, which is at 10.10 US Dollars per hour, is higher compared to the minimum wage in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. Although it is lower than the hourly minimum wage in California, New York, and Washington, the wages in Hawaii are favorable.
The mean hourly wage across all occupations in Hawaii is at 25.02 US Dollars, based on the May 2017 State Occupational Employment & Wage Estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, the annual mean wage across all occupations amounts to 25,050 US Dollars.
No Daylight Saving
If you work in Hawaii, you save yourself from the confusion and hassle of having to change your clock by daylight saving time or the practice of advancing the time on your clocks during the summer months to make evening daylight last longer.
Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time since abandoning the Uniform Time Act in 1967. The state, which is one of the two states along with Arizona not to practice daylight saving time, is close to the equator where the sun rises and sets almost around the same time every day making the idea of daylight saving unnecessary and redundant.
Hawaii is a Happy State
Hawaii is the “happiest state” in the United States. According to a survey conducted by personal finance website WalletHub, people in Hawaii ranks number one regarding emotional and physical well-being and have low instances of adult depression.
Efficient Public Transportation
The only public transportation available in Hawaii is buses. Still, they work efficiently, considered as one of the best transit systems in the world. Buses service more than 75 million bus riders every year on 518 buses in 110 routes.
Tropical Paradise
The beauty of Hawaii will draw you in, no doubt. Although it still has the busyness of the urban and suburbs, the good thing about Hawaii is you need not go far to see nature. The freshness of the grasses and the clarity of the water are easily accessible and viewed right out your window.
It has a year-round warm temperature in most areas. Still, chilly weather also comes on the island as 11 of the 13 climate zones on Earth are found here.
Moreover, it teems with a lot of recreational activities you can enjoy while taking a break from your hectic schedule.
Relaxed and Laid-Back Lifestyle
If you are tired of the hectic city life, Hawaii is a good place slow down. The island is peaceful, calming, and everything is a little slow. Additionally, life is simple in Hawaii.
Ohana
Working may tire you down and having the comfort of your family or friends is helpful. If you decide to move to Hawaii and leave your family and friends behind, you need not worry about being lonely. In Hawaii, people are friendly and accommodating. They value relationships, giving you a new family or ohana in the Aloha State.
Still, along with the pros of living and working in Hawaii, there are some drawbacks about it as well.
“Island Fever”
If you are used to being surrounded by land and buildings back home, you may have to program yourself to set aside the thought of everything interconnected. Being an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii can feel secluded and isolated.
Expensive
Hawaii’s minimum hourly wage may be higher than the national minimum hourly wage, but the cost of living in Hawaii may be too heavy on the pocket especially when it comes to housing.
According to the personal finance website MoneyRates, the average cost of living on the island is two-thirds higher than the rest of the country that four rolls of toilet paper can cost 6 US dollars. Gas prices in Hawaii are also the priciest in the country.
The high prices of goods in the state are driven by it being an island where transportation of goods can take up expenses.
Traffic
When they said, everything is a little slow in Hawaii, that included traffic. In fact, it ranked as the 19th worst traffic in the nation in 2018, which is a lot better than its 2012 ranking of number one city with the worst traffic. Despite the improving ranking of Hawaii particularly Honolulu, the traffic condition is not still favorable for people who want everything fast. According to the study by Inrix, drivers spend 37 hours per year in traffic during rush hours.
So, will you work in Hawaii?
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