Anyone else feel this way? I'm a teacher here and It's a a mid-size city city with about 346K people. Crime rate is something to consider — Urban Honolulu sits at 232.1 per 100K. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Am I overthinking this? The city has invested a lot in new development. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
53 upvotes
5 Replies
rylee_mama
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Springfield) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
39 upvotes
Grayson Campbell
Moved here last year, no regrets.
38 upvotes
Kayla P.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Everett S.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Teresa J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
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