Maine to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Maine to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs warm all year), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Poke), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and Lobster, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pig
- Hawaii's housing costs are 119% more expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in Hawaii is 61.43% more expensive than in Maine
- Our top recommended Maine to Hawaii movers is SC Moving Services
Maine to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Limited job markets
- Remote location
- Lack of diversity
- Warm all year
- Diverse economy
- Tropical landscapes
- Cultural richness
- Higher cost of living
- Limited housing options
- Expensive groceries
- Frequent rain showers
- Quiet lifestyle
- Coastal beauty
- Fresh seafood
- Vibrant Fall Foliage
Pros of moving from Maine to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to warm weather all year
- Look forward to moving away from limited job markets and moving to Hawaii with a diverse economy
- Swap the remote location of Maine for tropical landscapes in Hawaii
- Get ready for cultural richness in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Maine to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the quiet lifestyle in Maine to live with a higher cost of living in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal beauty and have to settle with the con of limited housing options
- Time to bid farewell to fresh seafood and get used to expensive groceries in Hawaii
- Swap vibrant fall foliage for frequent rain showers
Maine vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster | Kalua Pig |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Shave Ice |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Blueberry Pie | Taro Dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Maine to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Maine for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Lobster and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pig and Shave Ice to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Blueberry Pie 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 Maine eateries like Eventide Oyster Co., Fore Street, and Duckfat. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Alan Wong's Restaurant, Roy's Hawaii, and Leonard's Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and Hawaii
Comparison | Maine | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Acreage | Ocean View, Sustainable Features |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and acreage, Hawaii's real estate listings often highlight features like ocean view and sustainable features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- Hawaii's housing costs are 119% more expensive than they are in Maine with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in Hawaii is 61.43% more expensive than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and Hawaii
Comparison | Maine | 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 | Snowstorms, Cold Waves | Volcanic Eruptions, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70-80Β°F / 50-60Β°F | 85-90Β°F / 70-75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 20-35Β°F / 10-20Β°F | 78-82Β°F / 65-70Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 63" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 50-70" | 0" (except mountaintops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Maine to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 38% more sunshine days than Maine.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential volcanic eruptions and hurricanes in Hawaii.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 15 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 55 degrees warmer than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 18 more inches of rain compared to Maine.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maine and Hawaii
Comparison | Maine | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,543 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.5 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 5% - 7.15% | 1.4% - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.25% | 0.27% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5% | 4% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture | Tourism, Government, Defense |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 33% more than those in Maine
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 42% higher than what you are used to living in Maine
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% to 11% compared to 5% to 7.15% in ME
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Maine
- The poverty level is low in Hawaii compared to moderate in Maine
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maine and moderate in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Maine | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed urban-rural political issues | Focus on indigenous rights and environmental issues |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a notable non-religious population | Diverse: Christian majority with significant Buddhist and non-religious populations |
- Maine tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse with a Christian majority and significant Buddhist and non-religious populations
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian with a notable non-religious population
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to Hawaii
Comparison | Maine | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Bates College Bowdoin College | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cape Elizabeth School Falmouth Elementary Yarmouth Schools | Mililani Mauka Elementary Momilani Elementary Noelani Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Yarmouth Middle School Falmouth Middle School Cape Elizabeth Middle School | Ewa Makai Middle School Kaimuki Middle School Iolani School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Yarmouth High School Falmouth High School Cape Elizabeth High School | Iolani School Punahou School Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus |
Top 3 private high schools | Waynflete School Portland; John Bapst Memorial High School Bangor; Hebron Academy Hebron | Iolani School Punahou School Hawaii Preparatory Academy |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waynflete School Portland; New School Kennebunk; Hebron Academy Hebron | Iolani School Punahou School Le Jardin Academy |
Top 3 School Districts | Falmouth School Department Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools | Hawaii Department of Education Kamehameha Schools Mid-Pacific Institute |
Top Maine to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maine to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.