Hawaii to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs prairie, craftsman), 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 BBQ Ribs & Smoked Brisket
- Kansas housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Kansas is 62.58% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Kansas movers is American Movers
Hawaii to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Kansas
- High cost of living
- Limited space
- Isolation from mainland
- Traffic congestion
- Hurricane threats
- More affordable housing
- More open land
- Central location
- Less traffic
- Fewer natural disasters
- Cold winters
- No ocean access
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited seafood options
- Limited winter activities
- Tropical climate
- Stunning beaches
- Diverse culture
- Fresh local seafood
- Outdoor activities year-round
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Kansas
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from limited space and moving to Kansas with more open land
- Swap the isolation from the mainland of Hawaii for a central location in Kansas
- Get ready for less traffic in Kansas
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the tropical climate in Hawaii to live with cold winters in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of stunning beaches and have to settle for the con of no ocean access
- Time to bid farewell to the diverse culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Kansas
- Swap fresh local seafood for limited seafood options
Hawaii vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | BBQ Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Poi | Seitan BBQ |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Kansas. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Kansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and BBQ Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Poi they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan BBQ of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Honolulu Grill, and Leonard's Bakery. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Slap's BBQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Kansas
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Prairie, Craftsman |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, lanai | Spacious backyard, storm shelter |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Craftsman architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and storm shelters.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kansas is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Kansas is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Kansas has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Kansas housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Kansas is 62.58% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Kansas
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; generally moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85/70 | 91/69 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78/63 | 44/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7" | 28.9" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 19" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Kansas. Kansas gets 17% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Kansas 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 severe storms in Kansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 6 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Kansas are 43 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 34.8 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Kansas
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 1.4 - 11.0 | 3.1 - 5.7 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28 | 1.41 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.0 | 6.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 25% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in Kansas is 45% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in Kansas is 3.1 to 5.7 compared to 1.4 to 11.0 in Hawaii
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Kansas
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal, with a focus on environmental and native rights. | Conservative, agrarian-focused with strong support for small businesses. |
Religion | A mix, with a strong presence of Buddhism and Christianity. | Primarily Christian, with a range of denominations. |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a range of denominations
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix, with a strong presence of Buddhism and Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Kansas
Comparison | Hawaii | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary - Honolulu Noelani Elementary - Honolulu Punahou School - Honolulu | Briarwood Elementary - Overland Park Corinth Elementary - Leawood Blue Valley North High - Overland Park |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School - Honolulu Punahou School - Honolulu Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus - Honolulu | Leawood Middle - Leawood Indian Hills Middle - Overland Park Lakewood Middle - Overland Park |
Top 3 High Schools | Punahou School - Honolulu Iolani School - Honolulu Moanalua High School - Honolulu | Blue Valley North High - Overland Park Blue Valley West High - Overland Park Shawnee Mission East High - Prairie Village |
Top 3 Private High Schools | Punahou School - Honolulu Iolani School - Honolulu Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus - Honolulu | Bishop Miege High School - Roeland Park St. Thomas Aquinas High School - Overland Park The Independent School - Wichita |
Top 3 Private K-12 Schools | Punahou School - Honolulu Iolani School - Honolulu Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus - Honolulu | The Independent School - Wichita Wichita Collegiate School - Wichita Cair Paravel Latin School - Topeka |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education - Statewide | Blue Valley School District - Overland Park Shawnee Mission School District - Shawnee Olathe District Schools - Olathe |
Top Hawaii to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.