How we Moved to Hawaii With Little to no Money and no Plans

Since moving to the island of Oahu Hawaii, I have had so many questions from friends, family, and followers about how exactly we did it. How did we decide to move to Oahu, how did we find jobs and how did we create a life we love. I’ve decided to answer some of the most common questions I get asked about how we moved to Hawaii and have managed to survive here for over a year.

Why Hawaii?

Yes ya’ll, this is a serious question I get from people and my honest answer is always, “why not?” But on a more realistic note, Hawaii has always been a destination on my list. I have suffered from depression for a majority of my adult life. Living in Michigan where it is cold and muggy 75% of the time was not helpful to my mental wellbeing. After living in Florida for eight months during my Disney College Program, I realized that I thrive in warmer weather. My attitude is way better and my outlook on life is way more positive! I knew that after college I wanted to move and preferably somewhere warm all year around.

Kyle and I also want to be as self-sufficient as possible. Both of us dream of living in a tiny house, on a huge plot of land, gardening our own food while living off solar energy. Yes, we can achieve this dream pretty much anywhere, but Hawaii offers the perfect climate for farming and some amazing land to do this on.

Plus, it’s a tropical island…so there’s that too.

How Much Money Did You Save Before You Moved?

Not a whole lot actually. Kyle and I had both graduated from college right before we moved so luckily we got some money from our graduation. After the plane tickets were bought we both left Michigan with about $3,000 each. For the first two weeks on the island, we rented out an Airbnb with my brother who came along for a vacation. I am so fortunate to have a loving family that supports me and my crazy endeavors and did not have to pay a cent for the Airbnb. That being said, there are some awesome Airbnb’s on the island for a super low rate, especially if you’re willing to “rough it” out and glamp somewhere more secluded.

What About A Job?

Neither Kyle or I had a job on the island before we moved. We had applied to tons of places while we were back in Michigan, but most places in Hawaii prefer to hire someone already living on the island. The cost of living is high and island fever is a real thing, a lot of businesses would rather hire from the pool of fish they already have because it’s easier to hold onto an employee who already knows what the island life is like.

Once we moved, however, finding a job was much simpler than I expected. I was lucky enough to get a seasonal job at a local Lululemon store and eventually secured a permanent position. Kyle applied for multiple jobs through Indeed.com and landed a job as a zip line tour guide on the west side of Oahu. If you take one full day to explore and apply to every job you pass then something will find it’s way to you, and it may be better than you expected!

Keep in mind that if you’re moving to the islands, or anywhere really, and you don’t have a job you will most likely have to settle for whatever opportunity presents itself first. Kyle and I moved for the experience, not for the jobs so as long as we make enough money to survive and have time to explore, we are happy to work wherever!

How Did You Find Housing?

Online! There are so many residential buildings here in Hawaii and because land and housing are so expensive to buy, there are tons of places to rent. We found an apartment online, went to a showing, and ended up meeting a realtor who had an even better apartment for rent that wasn’t advertised on the internet. Luckily we were able to secure our spot quickly and move into the apartment right after our time at the Airbnb was up.

Oahu is littered with housing because it is the most populated island. That being said, not all housing is good housing and not every area on the island is a good choice for mainlanders to live right away. Make sure you do your research wherever you decide to move. Get the low down on the place from local people who live there and learn what areas are safe and convenient.

Craigslist is also a great resource for housing, furniture, and vehicles, especially here on the islands. It is so expensive to ship things to Hawaii so most people would rather buy something old and used if it’s in good shape. Craigslist is so big in Hawaii, you really have to check it every day multiple times a day in order to snag a solid place to live, but it definitely can be done. Just make sure you’re smart and don’t fall into a scam. If the person won’t meet you, let you see the house, or asks for money in advance then don’t give them money! Sometimes I feel like that’s obvious…but scammers still scam so I had to throw it out there!

Isn’t it Expensive?

Yes. Hawaii is a really expensive place to live. The tourism, importing and shipping costs inflate the prices of food and produce. The little amount of land and the high population of Oahu means renting and buying land/housing will cost a pretty penny. However, it is most definitely doable to afford life on the islands and save a little bit of money for your future.

Every place I have worked on the island has offered more than the minimum wage. Of course, I have to work more here than I did back home in Michigan but all things considered it’s not that bad. Having higher expenses makes me more accountable with my money and personal obligations. While it’s not always convenient living here, it definitely is doable.

Luckily Oahu also houses tons of farmers and locals who are pretty self-sufficient. Farmers markets have been a lifesaver in terms of buying affordable produce, and there are plenty of hikes on the island with fresh fruit growing that can easily be picked and saved for later.

How Can I Move To Hawaii Too?

The only answer I have for this is to just do it. Take a leap of faith, buy a one-way ticket and travel while you can. Realistically you can live anywhere so long as you’re willing to step outside of your comfort zone. You may not start off with a job you love, you may live in a tiny run-down apartment, you might even revert back to a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle for the first few months. You have to be ok with the unknown. Stop dreaming about a better life and start creating one for yourself. Nothing will change if you don’t take the first step.