1) Hawaii has a High Cost of Living

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in. However, as a member of the military PCS’ing to Hawaii, there are loads of ways to manage this burden. Not only will you get BAH but you’ll also receive COLA.

If you’re concerned about finances, you may want to consider buying over renting. While buying a home is a large financial undertaking, there are a few advantages to buying here in Hawaii. For starters, the VA Home Loan limit in Hawaii is $765,600 with 0% down. But first-time loan users and those with fully-restored entitlements have no limit on their VA loan.

Homes on Oahu are continually appreciating in value, so if you buy, you gain equity that you could get back when you sell. If you choose to rent, your BAH goes straight to a landlord. Additionally, because you’re in the military, you can actually MAKE money while you’re in escrow. You’ll start receiving BAH and COLA while you’re living in TLA. Once you find a home your first mortgage payment will not be due until 30 days after closing – that’s one month of extra income!

2) Always Carry Your Military ID

As we mentioned, Hawaii’s expensive. Good news! As a member of the military you’ll have access to a variety of discounts at hotels, restaurants, and attractions across the state. There are some places you’ll even get in for free! Be sure to ask for military discounts at gyms and shops too. Being that Hawaii has large military presence, there are even mom-and-pop stores that offer discounts to our men and women in uniform. Just be sure to have your military ID as proof.

3) Remember You’re on an Island

Once you’re here, you’ll see a lot of comforts and conveniences that are familiar from the mainland. We have Walmart, Target, Costco – we even have Whole Foods! But, certain things are not available to ship here or shipping takes longer. Yes, you can get your Amazon Prime deliveries, but expect it to take about a week to get here.

It’s also important to consider this distance when traveling. It takes roughly five hours to get to Los Angeles, seven hours to get to Dallas and ten to eleven hours to get to New York. As you plan leave, you’ll want to consider this. While traveling to the mainland might take some time, inter-island travel is really convenient. You can also consider traveling to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand while you’re stationed here – travel times are long, but the flights are much shorter to get to these places compared to flying from the mainland.

4) Only Ship One Car

When you’re PCS’ing to Hawaii, the military will allow you to ship one car. If you are a multi-car household and you’re considering shipping your other vehicles, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Not only is it really expensive to ship a car, but there are a few options you have here in Hawaii. If there’s a vehicle you have your heart set on, you can most likely get it on island -- we even have a few Tesla stores. For a more affordable option, you can take a look at one of the lemon lots on base. No, this doesn’t mean the car’s gone sour, these are generally sold by people in the military that are PCS’ing off island and need to sell their cars. These are great options that allow you to avoid the hassle of shipping a vehicle at your own expense.

5) Dress Casual – And No Need for Winter Clothes

It might seem silly to say, but there’s little need for winter clothes while you’re here. Temperatures range from mid 70’s in the winter to mid 80’s in the summer. Of course, there are some days where you might want jeans and a sweater, but heavy winter coats will just take up space. You can find storage on island or, if your kids will grow out of their winter clothes while you’re here, consider donating!

While we’re on the topic of clothes, Hawaii has its own dress code and as you may have expected it’s way more laid back than mainland styles. There are a handful of restaurants where men have to wear clothed-toe shoes, pants and collared shirts -- most of the time sandals and aloha shirts suffice. For women, summer dresses and sandals do the trick almost all-year round!

Oh, and p.s., we call flip-flops slippers and we take off our shoes when we enter people’s homes.

6) Live Aloha

The word aloha is used as a greeting and send-off, but it’s actually so much more than that – it’s a way of life. The direct translation of the word is love, compassion and peace. This is the way in which we treat each other and our islands. We spread kindness and positivity to keep the aloha spirit thriving. To truly embrace living in Hawaii, share your aloha -- learn about the state’s unique culture; care for our beaches, parks and hiking trails; say mahalo and throw up a shaka; and lend a helping hand.

Six Things to Know Before Moving to Hawaii | PCS To Hawaii