BIG ISLAND: I visited the state 12 times (2 weeks a trip, two trips a year) before finally finding a place (a farm in Kona). The Big Island was the most affordable and I had done my homework. I created shopping lists and compared mainland to Big Island prices. There are some things that seem expensive but are not, for example.

Electricity is expensive but I don't really use heating or cooling but rather adjust the windows. Because I have a farm, I am on AG rate for water. Taxes are low but because my particular farm is a leasehold, I have some fees for that but still pretty cheap. GEICO considers me in a rural area for insurance.

Some food can be expensive because it is shipped in, but there are many farmers markets and then again, you can grow almost anything you want. I have lots of citrus and coffee! My neighbors are doing hydroponic lettuce and tilapia. Many of us take advantage of COSTCO and have extra freezers or refrigerators. Costco also has the cheapest gasoline.

Although on our island we can lose power at times, I have a propane/gas generator and a propane grill. You can cook outside any day of the year.

Many of my neighbors have parties and some of us gather at Two Step every Friday for a pot luck. There are many activities if you want to get out and do things. We get some name-brand bands here and every few years a taping of Wheel of Fortune. I like attending because I have done radio and TV shows in the past and that is in my blood.

You can get high speed internet and VOIP to work from the islands. My contacts are all on the east coast so there is a 5-6 hour time difference.

On the Big Island, Verizon cell service seems the best.

I have a mainland Credit Union that accepts checks by cellphone upload. This keeps me from having to go to a physical location, but I also have a different local Credit Union.

As I said, I did my research and stayed on various islands. Many of my friends and old co-workers have visited me here. I decided I was moving for the long term. I make a trip back to the mainland every year or two either to a casino, to visit friends or for a High School reunion.

I have been a resident for 18 years so far. I find that friends and neighbors here tend to help each other as we are far from the mainland and support systems there.

Each island has pluses and minuses which you discover when you visit them. Oahu is small and crowded but has most of what you need, if you can afford to live there. Maui and Kauai are also small and expensive. The Big Island is, well, big and has various weather patterns and activities and is pretty rural over most of the island.

As others have said, test the waters and keep your eyes open for costs. Don't look at things from a tourists viewpoint. See the stores, see what you miss getting and can't find. Try different restaurants (the cheap ones and the local ones). I know some people stay here at a resort and never leave the property. They are used to expensive places; not me!. Go to Walmart or Dennys. Get local real estate books and see prices. See what hobbies you have currently or what you want to do in the future. You may find that you want to dump a current job and pursue something else if even on weekends.


Unless you have Kaiser, which flies you there on their nickel (well, it is part of your plan).
I have had two major operations over there and recommend Kaiser!