Honolulu, Hawaii

What's the cost of living in Honolulu, HI?

Living in paradise will cost you. In the city proper, many people rent rather than own their home given that the median sale price for a home in Honolulu exceeds $500,000. Unfortunately, Honolulu is also one of the most expensive places to rent in the country.

Honolulu has one of the country's largest unsheltered homeless populations, but with efforts by the city to combat this issue, homeless service providers are working to place people in shelters more quickly.

What's the best way to get around Honolulu, HI?

One thing that continues to surprise first-time visitors and new residents is the area's traffic congestion. Honolulu's perfect storm of narrow roads, limited space and increasing number of vehicles results in daily rush-hour backups. Despite its relatively small size, Honolulu has some of the worst traffic in the country.

The region's TheBus fleet services Honolulu and many other parts of the Island of Oahu. Despite this, most Honolulu residents continue to brave the city's traffic and high parking prices, opting to drive solo, carpool or even dodge between cars on a scooter.

Honolulu International Airport is within easy reach of downtown; however, many Honolulu residents choose to avoid long-haul and expensive flights by taking advantage of Hawaii resident deals (known as kama'aina – meaning local – discounts) on local hotels and entertainment. 

Who lives in Honolulu, HI?

Honolulu is a true melting pot of races and cultures, with Polynesian, Chinese, Japanese and a bevy of other influences leaving their mark on the area. A walk through historic Chinatown – home to a mix of hongwanji Buddhist temples, Vietnamese fusion restaurants and Irish pubs – will illustrate this mix quickly.

The high cost of living and lack of national corporations headquartered in the area is causing millennials to seek work off the island. Still, young immigrants from Asian countries are increasingly finding a home alongside the growing population of retirees.

Honolulu is a family-centric place, and a majority of households qualify as family households.

Despite lots of families living under the same roof, the metro area is not very religious, with less than 40 percent of residents identifying with an organized faith.

What is there to do in Honolulu, HI?

Honolulu features a number of excellent beaches for swimming, surfing, sunning and exploring.

In addition to providing residents access to beautiful shorelines, Hawaii's location in the Pacific Ocean has made it a gathering point for Asian, American and Polynesian communities, all of which have had a hand in shaping life in Honolulu. The metro area's history is on display at a number of museums such as the Bishop Museum and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and during cultural festivals like Lei Day in May and the Aloha Festivals in September.

Honolulu is also home to a number of historic sites, including Iolani Palace and Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. Away from the coast, nearby state parks and nature preserves offer opportunities to hike.