@j4gga2 responding here so as not to clutter the other guy’s post.
I’ll start with cons:
Incredibly high cost of housing. My new mortgage is 3x my old one, for a smaller house, on less land. Similar construction quality and age.
High cost of living. Groceries, for example. It’s not 3x or even 2x but it’s enough to make a difference. We almost don’t go to restaurants (there are exceptions, but it used to not be a cost thing - now it is) and I have only bought steak at the grocery store once or twice in 2 years because it’s never affordable.
Crowding. Traffic. Homelessness/trashiness. Combining these to make #3.
Pros:
Gorgeous, with quick access to some of the best beaches in the world, and even some pretty awesome mountain hikes. Surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, swimming, or just hanging out at the beach. I know a beach where I can build a bonfire right on the beach, even. Pristine.
Only 30 miles across. I guess this could be a con, because a) crowding and b) lack of some things you’d be able to drive to on the mainland. But I like that I don’t have to go very far. An hour will get you from anywhere on this island, to anywhere else. When I lived near Houston an hour/60 miles was a pretty common drive, even a daily commute one way in some cases.
Culture. This would be a con for some people here, but for us it’s a pro. People are generally kind, and not in-your-face with some boisterous, strongly held and poorly considered opinion. Semi-rural texas was… not a good place for us in that respect. YMMV.
It’s not for everybody, and I wouldn’t recommend it for the obvious financial reasons.
I wouldn’t recommend tourism here either - I’d much more recommend ANY of the other islands of Hawaii, besides Oahu, because I feel Oahu is way too crowded, overdeveloped, and overpriced for the experience you’d get on a trip. But again, YMMV and everyone’s taste is different. Some like walking around a city trying diverse food. That’s not for me. I want to get AWAY from developed areas, so if it were me, coming from the mainland knowing what I know, I’d visit one of the other islands. More pros, fewer cons.
Opportunity:
This is something my wife and I talk about a lot, as the kids are getting older. There is a good college here… just one… There are jobs here… but it’s not clear what career paths the kids may want or if this state is a good place for them to start. It’s certainly not a place they could afford to be homeowners at 24 like we were.
But, I make 2x the income I made in Texas here, at the moment, because the move forced me to get out of my comfort zone and get creative. And if some of those sources dried up I could probably fill in the gaps elsewhere (I hope) - this state has a kinda shallow, closed talent pool, so if you have an in-demand skill there are people who will pay for it.
OK, fun question. Short question, long answer LOL.
