Movers

Hawaii to DC Moving Guide

Updated June 20, 2025

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Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs broader job market), food & health (like Poke vs Half-smoke), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs federal, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Poke and Loco Moco, but get your taste buds ready for Half-smoke & Mumbo Sauce Wings
  • DC housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
  • Rent in DC is 18.17% more affordable than in Hawaii
  • Our top recommended Hawaii to DC movers is Bookstore Movers

Hawaii to DC Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to DC

ConsHawaii iconHawaii
  • High cost of living
  • Limited career options
  • Isolation
  • Tropical storms
  • High export costs
ProsDC iconDC
  • Broader job market
  • Rich in museums and culture
  • Vibrant urban scene
  • Mild weather seasons
  • Diverse dining experiences

DC iconDC
  • Heavy traffic
  • Cold winters
  • High humidity in summer
  • Fast-paced environment
  • Dense urban landscape
Hawaii iconHawaii
  • Beautiful beaches
  • Warm climate year-round
  • Unique culture
  • Relaxed lifestyle
  • Rich natural beauty

Pros of moving from Hawaii to DC

  • Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to a broader job market
  • Look forward to moving away from limited career options and moving to DC with its rich museums and culture
  • Swap the isolation of Hawaii for the vibrant urban scene in DC
  • Get ready for mild weather seasons in DC

Cons of moving from Hawaii to DC

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with heavy traffic in DC
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a warm climate year-round and have to settle with the con of cold winters
  • Time to bid farewell to the unique culture and get used to high humidity in the summer in DC
  • Swap the relaxed lifestyle for a fast-paced environment

Hawaii vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Most iconic local food itemPokeHalf-smoke
Most popular meat dishLoco MocoMumbo Sauce Wings
Most popular street food itemSpam MusubiJumbo Slice Pizza
Most popular vegan foodAcai BowlVegetable Chili
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Helena's Hawaiian Food
  • Leonard's Bakery
  • Matsumoto's Shave Ice
  • Ben's Chili Bowl
  • Zaytinya
  • Rose's Luxury
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Hawaii to DC, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Half-smoke of DC. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Loco Moco and sumptuous Spam Musubi, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Jumbo Slice Pizza 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 Vegetable Chili of DC. 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 Matsumoto's Shave Ice. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury.

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

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and DC

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Typical Architecture StylePlantation, ModernFederal, Victorian
Walkability👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban Lifestyle🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingOcean views, LanaisProximity to metro, Historic charm
  • The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of DC.
  • Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the metro and historic charm.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than Hawaii.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
  • DC has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
  • DC housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased 8% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
  • Rent in DC is 18.17% more affordable than in Hawaii.

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

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Days of Sunshine per Year☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
Avg. Annual Humidity💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Avg. UV Index🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️
Natural DisastersVolcanoes, tsunamisSevere storms, hurricanes
Air QualityGoodModerate
Average Summer High/Low (°F)85°F / 70°F87°F / 71°F
Average Winter High/Low (°F)78°F / 63°F47°F / 28°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)63.740.8
Annual Snowfall (Inches)015.5
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to DC. DC gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
  • DC 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 severe storms and hurricanes in DC.
  • The average summer high temperature in DC is 2 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
  • The average winter lows are 35 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 22.9 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and DC

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Avg. Household Income$92,458$101,027
Cost of Living Index165.7140.1
State Income Tax4.4-11%4-10.75%
Avg. Property Tax0.28%0.55%
Avg. Sales Tax4.5%6%
Top 3 IndustriesTourism, Defense, AgricultureGovernment, Education, Technology
AffluenceHighHigh
PovertyModerateModerate
HomelessnessHighModerate
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 9% more than those in Hawaii
  • The COLI in DC will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
  • The state income tax in DC is 4-10.75% compared to 4.4-11% in HI
  • The affluence in DC is high compared to high in Hawaii
  • The poverty level is moderate in DC compared to moderate in Hawaii
  • In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in DC

Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. DC

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Political Make-upDemocratically dominatedHeavily Democratic
Local PoliticsFocus on environmental and indigenous rightsEmphasis on federal government presence and policies
ReligionChristianity, Buddhism, ShintoismChristianity, Non-religious
  • Hawaii tends to lean democratically dominated in its political climate
  • DC, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Democratic
  • DC's religious environment can be described as Christianity
  • Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism

Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to DC

ComparisonHawaiiDC
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of Hawaii at Manoa
Pacific University
Oregon State University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Howard University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsMomilani Elementary School
Pearl City | Noelani Elementary School
Honolulu | Manoa Elementary School
Honolulu
Janney Elementary School
Washington | Lafayette Elementary School
Washington | Mann Elementary School
Washington
Top 3 Middle SchoolsIolani School
Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools
Honolulu | Punahou School
Honolulu
Deal Middle School
Washington | Hardy Middle School
Washington | Stuart-Hobson Middle School
Washington
Top 3 High SchoolsIolani School
Honolulu | Punahou School
Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools
Honolulu
School Without Walls
Washington | Banneker High School
Washington | McKinley Technology High School
Washington
Top 3 private high schoolsHawaii Preparatory Academy
Kamuela | Le Jardin Academy
Kailua | Mid-Pacific Institute
Honolulu
Georgetown Preparatory School
North Bethesda | Sidwell Friends School
Washington | The National Cathedral School
Washington
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsPunahou School
Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools
Honolulu | Iolani School
Honolulu
Sidwell Friends School
Washington | Georgetown Day School
Washington | Maret School
Washington
Top 3 School DistrictsHawaii Department of Education (statewide)District of Columbia Public Schools

Top Hawaii to DC Movers

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

TOP PICK
Bookstore Movers featured image

Bookstore Movers

Best moving company overall for Hawaii to DC

9.60/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Mic's Moving featured image

Mic's Moving

9.60/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Ewa Moving Co. featured image

Ewa Moving Co.

8.28/10
Very GoodView details