Michigan to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Michigan to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round warmth), food & health (like Pasties vs Poke), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pasties and Detroit-style Coneys, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pig
- Hawaii housing costs are 258% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in Hawaii is 102.17% more expensive than in Michigan
- Our top recommended Michigan to Hawaii movers is Pro-Low Moving
Michigan to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Pothole-filled roads
- Limited beaches
- Slower pace
- Year-round warmth
- Scenic drives
- Beautiful beaches
- Active lifestyle
- High cost of living
- Limited breweries
- Missing autumn leaves
- Isolated cities
- Low cost of living
- Great breweries
- Vibrant fall colors
- Diverse city life
Pros of moving from Michigan to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to year-round warmth
- Look forward to moving away from pothole-filled roads and moving to Hawaii with scenic drives
- Swap the limited beaches of Michigan for beautiful beaches in Hawaii
- Get ready for an active lifestyle in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Michigan to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Michigan to live with the high cost of living in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of great breweries and have to settle for the con of limited breweries
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant fall colors and get used to missing autumn leaves in Hawaii
- Swap diverse city life for isolated cities
Michigan vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pasties | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Detroit-style Coneys | Kalua Pig |
Most popular street food item | Fried Pickles | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reubens | Acai Bowl |
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 Michigan to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Pasties of Michigan for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Detroit-style Coneys and sumptuous Fried Pickles, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pig and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reubens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Acai Bowl of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like Zingerman's Delicatessen, Selden Standard, and Slows Bar BQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Roy's Hawaii Kai.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you're used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and Hawaii
Comparison | Michigan | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, Spacious yards | Ocean view, Eco-friendly features |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and spacious yards, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and eco-friendly features.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Hawaii is less walkable than Michigan.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Michigan.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Michigan.
- Hawaii housing costs are 258% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in Hawaii is 102.17% more expensive than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and Hawaii
Comparison | Michigan | 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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes | Volcanic Eruptions, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79Β°F / 58Β°F | 85Β°F / 70Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 17Β°F | 78Β°F / 63Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32.76" | 63.70" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.66" | 0" (except mountaintops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 64% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Michigan, 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 6 degrees warmer than in Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 46 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 30.9 more inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and Hawaii
Comparison | Michigan | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 1.4% - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.54% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 4% |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Average | Below Average |
Homelessness | Manageable | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 38% more than in Michigan
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 82% higher than what you are used to living in Michigan
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% to 11% compared to 4.25% in MI
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Michigan
- The poverty level is below average in Hawaii compared to average in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Michigan and significant in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Michigan | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with a mix of Democratic and Republican influences | Strongly Democratic, with a history of supporting Democratic presidential candidates |
Local Politics | Varied, with both conservative rural regions and liberal urban centers like Detroit | Local politics are heavily influenced by indigenous and environmental concerns |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a significant presence of Catholic and Protestant communities | Diverse, with a notable presence of Buddhism and Pacific Islander spiritual practices |
- Michigan tends to lean a swing state with a mix of Democratic and Republican influences in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic, with a history of supporting Democratic presidential candidates
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a notable presence of Buddhism and Pacific Islander spiritual practices
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a significant presence of Catholic and Protestant communities
Education Guide When Moving from Michigan to Hawaii
Comparison | Michigan | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Harlan Elementary School (Birmingham) Okemos Public Schools (Okemos) Musson Elementary School (Rochester Hills) | Mililani Mauka Elementary School (Mililani) Momilani Elementary School (Pearl City) Aina Haina Elementary School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Grand Rapids Middle School (East Grand Rapids) West Middle School (Rochester Hills) Boulan Park Middle School (Troy) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) City High Middle School (Grand Rapids) Troy High School (Troy) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | Okemos Public Schools Troy School District East Grand Rapids Public Schools | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) Kamehameha Schools (Private) 'Iolani School District (Private Honolulu) |
Top Michigan to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.