Hawaii to California Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to California? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs California across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more varied job market), food & health (like Poke vs California Roll), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs modern, spanish), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for California Roll & Tri-tip
- California housing costs are 9% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in California is 7.03% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to California movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
Hawaii to California Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to California
- High cost of living
- Geographic isolation
- Limited cultural diversity
- Strong local economy reliance
- More varied job market
- Numerous travel options
- Diverse multicultural community
- Diversified industries
- Coastal congestion
- Busy, hectic lifestyle
- Less traditional culture
- Seasonal weather variations
- Beautiful beaches
- Relaxed pace of life
- Unique Hawaiian culture
- Year-round warm weather
Pros of moving from Hawaii to California
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to a more varied job market
- Look forward to moving away from geographic isolation and moving to California with numerous travel options
- Swap the limited cultural diversity of Hawaii for a diverse multicultural community in California
- Get ready for diversified industries in California
Cons of moving from Hawaii to California
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with coastal congestion in California
- You'll lose out on the pro of a relaxed pace of life and have to settle for the con of a busy, hectic lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to the unique Hawaiian culture and get used to a less traditional culture in California
- Swap year-round warm weather for seasonal weather variations
Hawaii vs. California: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | California Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Tri-tip |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Taro-Based Dishes | Avocado Toast |
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 Hawaii to California, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious California Roll of California. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Spam Musubi, California residents know they have tasty Tri-tip and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Taro-Based Dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of California. 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 California, don't wait too long before making your way to California's acclaimed eateries like Chez Panisse, n/naka, and The French Laundry.
When comparing lifestyles, California shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in California compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in California.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and California
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Modern, Spanish |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Solar panels, Eco-friendly |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Spanish architecture typical of California.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, California real estate listings often highlight features like solar panels and eco-friendly items.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. California is more walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. California is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- California has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- California housing costs are 9% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $783,666 compared to Hawaiiβs $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in California have increased by 42% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in California is 7.03% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and California
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | 278 | 284 (varies by region) |
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 | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies widely; Major cities: Moderate to Unhealthy |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 70Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F to 85Β°F / 65Β°F (varies by region) |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 78Β°F / 63Β°F | 55Β°F / 40Β°F to 70Β°F / 50Β°F (varies by region) |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17-40" | 10-50" (varies by region) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" (except mountain tops) | 0-400" (varies greatly by region) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Hawaii to California. California gets 2% more sunshine days than Hawaii.
- California has lower 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 earthquakes and wildfires in California.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in California is 10 degrees colder than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in California are 23 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in California. California receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and California
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $91,551 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 136.4 |
State Income Tax | 1.4% - 11% | 1% - 13.3% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.76% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 8.68% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Technology, Agriculture, Entertainment |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | High | Severe |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in California tend to earn about 1% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in California is 18% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in CA is between 1% and 13.3% compared to 1.4% and 11% in HI
- The affluence in California is high compared to moderate in Hawaii
- The poverty level is high in California compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and severe in California
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. California
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic | Democratic |
Local Politics | Moderately liberal, strong Democratic control in urban areas | Liberal, with Democratic stronghold in major cities |
Religion | Christianity, Buddhism, Shinto | Christianity, unaffiliated, other religions |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- California, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- California's religious environment can be described as Christianity, unaffiliated, and other religions
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity, Buddhism, and Shinto
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to California
Comparison | Hawaii | California |
---|---|---|
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 California Los Angeles; Stanford University Stanford; University of California Berkeley Berkeley |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary Honolulu; Noelani Elementary Honolulu; Maemae Elementary School Honolulu | Montemalaga Elementary Palos Verdes Estates; Westwood Charter Elementary Los Angeles; Old Orchard Elementary Valencia |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus Honolulu; Punahou School Honolulu | Miller Middle School San Jose; Egan Junior High School Los Altos; Carmel Valley Middle School San Diego |
Top 3 High School Schools | Iolani School Honolulu; Punahou School Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus Honolulu | Henry M. Gunn High School Palo Alto; California Academy of Mathematics and Science Carson; Troy High School Fullerton |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School Honolulu; Punahou School Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus Honolulu | The Webb Schools Claremont; Harvard-Westlake School Studio City; Polytechnic School Pasadena |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy Kailua; Island Pacific Academy Kapolei; Assets School Honolulu | The Athenian School Danville; The Thacher School Ojai; Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Santa Monica |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) | Los Altos School District Los Altos; San Marino Unified School District San Marino; Palo Alto Unified School District Palo Alto |
Top Hawaii to California Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to California movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to California
Honolulu to California
- Honolulu to Anaheim
- Honolulu to Bakersfield
- Honolulu to Chula Vista
- Honolulu to Corona
- Honolulu to Elk Grove
- Honolulu to Escondido
- Honolulu to Fontana
- Honolulu to Fremont
- Honolulu to Fresno
- Honolulu to Garden Grove
- Honolulu to Glendale
- Honolulu to Hayward
- Honolulu to Huntington Beach
- Honolulu to Irvine
- Honolulu to Lancaster
- Honolulu to Long Beach
- Honolulu to Los Angeles
- Honolulu to Modesto
- Honolulu to Moreno Valley
- Honolulu to Oakland
- Honolulu to Oceanside
- Honolulu to Ontario
- Honolulu to Oxnard
- Honolulu to Palmdale
- Honolulu to Pomona
- Honolulu to Rancho Cucamonga
- Honolulu to Riverside
- Honolulu to Sacramento
- Honolulu to Salinas
- Honolulu to San Bernardino
- Honolulu to San Diego
- Honolulu to San Francisco
- Honolulu to San Jose
- Honolulu to Santa Ana
- Honolulu to Santa Clarita
- Honolulu to Santa Rosa
- Honolulu to Stockton
- Honolulu to Sunnyvale