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Hawaii to Alabama Moving Guide

Updated June 3, 2025

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Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Alabama? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Alabama across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Poke vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (plantation, asian influences vs antebellum, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Poke and Lau Lau, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Pulled Pork
  • Alabama housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
  • Rent in Alabama is 49.73% more affordable than in Hawaii
  • Our top recommended Hawaii to Alabama movers is MoveDaddy

Hawaii to Alabama Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Alabama

ConsHawaii iconHawaii
  • High cost of living
  • Limited career opportunities
  • Island isolation
  • Higher taxes
ProsAlabama iconAlabama
  • Lower cost of living
  • Diverse job market
  • More travel options
  • Lower taxes

Alabama iconAlabama
  • No ocean coastline
  • Seasonal weather changes
  • Less cultural diversity
  • Fewer outdoor activities
Hawaii iconHawaii
  • Beautiful beaches
  • Warm climate
  • Unique cultural heritage
  • Outdoor activities year-round

Pros of moving from Hawaii to Alabama

  • Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
  • Look forward to moving away from limited career opportunities and moving to Alabama with a diverse job market
  • Swap the island isolation of Hawaii for more travel options in Alabama
  • Get ready for lower taxes in Alabama

Cons of moving from Hawaii to Alabama

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with no ocean coastline in Alabama
  • You'll lose out on the pro of the warm climate and have to settle with the con of seasonal weather changes
  • Time to bid farewell to the unique cultural heritage and get used to less cultural diversity in Alabama
  • Swap outdoor activities year-round for fewer outdoor activities

Hawaii vs. Alabama: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Most iconic local food itemPokeBarbecue Ribs
Most popular meat dishLau LauPulled Pork
Most popular street food itemSpam MusubiFried Green Tomatoes
Most popular vegan foodAcai BowlCollard Greens
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Helena's Hawaiian Food
  • Leonard's Bakery
  • Mama's Fish House
  • Saw's BBQ
  • Highlands Bar and Grill
  • Post Office Pies
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Hawaii to Alabama, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Alabama. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Lau Lau and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Alabama residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of Alabama. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Mama's Fish House. After the boxes are unpacked in Alabama, don't wait too long before making your way to Alabama's acclaimed eateries like Saw's BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Post Office Pies.

When comparing lifestyles, Alabama shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alabama compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alabama.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Alabama

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Typical Architecture StylePlantation, Asian influencesAntebellum, Craftsman
Walkability👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban Lifestyle🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingOcean view, lanaiLarge yards, historical charm
  • The Plantation and Asian influences architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Antebellum and Craftsman architecture typical of Alabama.
  • Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanai, Alabama real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and historical charm.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Alabama is less walkable than Hawaii.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Alabama is less bike-friendly than Hawaii.
  • Alabama has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
  • Alabama housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $226,045 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Alabama have increased by 45% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
  • Rent in Alabama is 49.73% more affordable than in Hawaii.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Alabama

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Days of Sunshine per Year☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
Avg. Annual Humidity💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Avg. UV Index🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️
Natural DisastersVolcanoes, TsunamisTornadoes, Hurricanes
Air QualityGoodVaries
Average Summer High/Low (°F)85/7091/72
Average Winter High/Low (°F)78/6357/36
Annual Rainfall (Inches)63.758
Annual Snowfall (Inches)01
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Alabama. Alabama gets 23% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
  • Alabama has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
  • Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hurricanes in Alabama.
  • Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Alabama is 6 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
  • The average winter lows are 27 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in Alabama. Alabama receives 5.7 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Alabama

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Avg. Household Income$92,458$59,674
Cost of Living Index165.791.2
State Income Tax4.4%5%
Avg. Property Tax0.28%0.41%
Avg. Sales Tax4.44%9.24%
Top 3 IndustriesTourism, Military, EducationManufacturing, Aerospace, Agriculture
AffluenceModerateLow
PovertyModerateModerate-high
HomelessnessHighLow
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alabama tend to earn about 35% less than those in Hawaii
  • The COLI in Alabama will be 45% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
  • The state income tax in AL is 5% compared to 4.4% in HI
  • The affluence in Alabama is low compared to moderate affluence in Hawaii
  • The poverty level is moderate-high in Alabama compared to moderate in Hawaii
  • In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Alabama

Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Alabama

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Political Make-upLiberal/DemocraticConservative/Republican
Local PoliticsProgressive policiesTraditionally conservative
ReligionVaried; large Buddhist & Christian communitiesPrimarily Christian, with a strong Evangelical presence
  • Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
  • Alabama, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
  • Alabama's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a strong Evangelical presence
  • Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied with large Buddhist and Christian communities

Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Alabama

ComparisonHawaiiAlabama
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu; Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu; Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa; Auburn University
Auburn; University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsMomilani Elementary School
Pearl City; Maemae Elementary School
Honolulu; Noelani Elementary School
Honolulu
Mountain Brook Elementary
Mountain Brook; Vestavia Hills Elementary West
Vestavia Hills; Madison Elementary School
Madison
Top 3 Middle SchoolsIolani School
Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
Honolulu; Punahou School
Honolulu
Mountain Brook Junior High
Mountain Brook; Liberty Park Middle School
Vestavia Hills; Simmons Middle School
Hoover
Top 3 High SchoolsIolani School
Honolulu; Punahou School
Honolulu; Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Kamuela
Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
Montgomery; Mountain Brook High School
Mountain Brook; Bob Jones High School
Madison
Top 3 private high schoolsIolani School
Honolulu; Punahou School
Honolulu; Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Kamuela
The Altamont School
Birmingham; Indian Springs School
Indian Springs; Randolph School
Huntsville
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsIolani School
Honolulu; Punahou School
Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
Honolulu
Indian Springs School
Indian Springs; The Altamont School
Birmingham; Randolph School
Huntsville
Top 3 School DistrictsHawaii Department of Education (Statewide)Mountain Brook City Schools
Mountain Brook; Vestavia Hills City Schools
Vestavia Hills; Madison City Schools
Madison

Top Hawaii to Alabama Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Alabama movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
MoveDaddy featured image

MoveDaddy

Best moving company overall for Hawaii to Alabama

9.39/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
New Latitude Movers featured image

New Latitude Movers

9.27/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Ewa Moving Co. featured image

Ewa Moving Co.

8.28/10
Very GoodView details