Alabama to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Alabama to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot humid summers vs mild tropical climate), food & health (like Barbecue ribs vs Poke), real estate & housing (antebellum, craftsman vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue ribs and Pulled pork, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua pig
- Hawaii housing costs are 280% more expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in Hawaii is 98.93% more expensive than in Alabama
- Our top recommended Alabama to Hawaii movers is MoveDaddy
Alabama to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Hawaii
- Hot humid summers
- Limited coastlines
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Less tourism appeal
- Conservative culture
- Mild tropical climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Diverse adventures
- Iconic tourist spots
- Diverse multicultural setting
- Higher living costs
- Isolation from mainland
- High housing prices
- Higher taxes
- Busy tourist influx
- Southern hospitality
- Rich cultural heritage
- Affordable housing
- Lower taxes
- Calm rural lifestyle
Pros of moving from Alabama to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to hot humid summers and hello to a mild tropical climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastlines and moving to Hawaii with beautiful beaches
- Swap the fewer outdoor activities of Alabama for diverse adventures in Hawaii
- Get ready for iconic tourist spots in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Alabama to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern hospitality in Alabama to live with higher living costs in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural heritage and have to settle for the con of isolation from the mainland
- Time to bid farewell to affordable housing and get used to high housing prices in Hawaii
- Swap lower taxes for higher taxes
Alabama vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue ribs | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork | Kalua pig |
Most popular street food item | Fried green tomatoes | Spam musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Taro dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alabama to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic barbecue ribs of Alabama for the equally delicious poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful pulled pork and sumptuous fried green tomatoes, Hawaii residents know they have tasty kalua pig and spam musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the okra stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the taro dishes of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Highlands Bar & Grill, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, and Gulf Seafood. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Roy's Hawaii Kai.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Hawaii
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Craftsman | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Garages | Ocean views, Sustainability features |
- The Antebellum and Craftsman architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, Hawaii's real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainability features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Hawaii housing costs are 280% more expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Hawaii is 98.93% more expensive than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Hawaii
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Hurricanes | Volcanoes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 88Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 80Β°F / 65Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58" | 63" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 0" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alabama to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 32% more sunshine days than Alabama.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alabama.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and hurricanes in Alabama, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 2 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 29 degrees warmer than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 5 more inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Hawaii
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 5.0 | 11.0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.41 | 0.28 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.2 | 4.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Automotive | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Pronounced | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 55% more than in Alabama
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 82% higher than what you are used to living in Alabama
- The state income tax in HI is 11.0 compared to 5.0 in AL
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is moderate in Hawaii compared to pronounced in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alabama and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative majority | Liberal majority |
Local Politics | Strong Republican influence | Strong Democratic influence |
Religion | Evangelical Protestantism dominant | Diverse; No single dominant religion |
- Alabama tends to lean conservative majority in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as liberal majority
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse with no single dominant religion
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestantism dominant
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Hawaii
Comparison | Alabama | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mount Laurel Elementary (Birmingham) Meadow View Elementary (Alabaster) Greystone Elementary (Birmingham) | Mililani Mauka Elementary (Mililani) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Liberty Park Middle (Vestavia Hills) Homewood Middle (Homewood) Berry Middle (Hoover) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High (Mountain Brook) Bob Jones High (Madison) | President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) President William McKinley High School (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Randolph School (Huntsville) The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) | Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools Madison City Schools | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) |
Top Alabama to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.