Oregon to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Oregon to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunny beaches), food & health (like Dungeness Crab vs Poke), real estate & housing (craftsman vs plantation), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Dungeness Crab and Portland Beef Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pork
- Hawaii housing costs are 72% more expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in Hawaii is 66.09% more expensive than in Oregon
- Our top recommended Oregon to Hawaii movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Oregon to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to Hawaii
- Rainy weather
- High state taxes
- Earthquake risk
- Long commutes
- Cold winters
- Sunny beaches
- No state tax
- Tranquil atmosphere
- Island simplicity
- Tropical climate
- Limited nightlife
- Import reliance
- Higher expenses
- Tsunami warnings
- Seasonal tourism
- Local breweries
- Foodie scene
- Cost of living
- Proximity to forests
- Rich history
Pros of moving from Oregon to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to sunny beaches
- Look forward to moving away from high state taxes and moving to Hawaii with no state tax
- Swap the earthquake risk of Oregon for a tranquil atmosphere in Hawaii
- Get ready for island simplicity in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Oregon to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from local breweries in Oregon to live with limited nightlife in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of the foodie scene and have to settle for the con of import reliance
- Time to bid farewell to the cost of living and get used to higher expenses in Hawaii
- Swap proximity to forests for tsunami warnings
Oregon vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Dungeness Crab | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Portland Beef Brisket | Kalua Pork |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reuben | Laulau (Vegetarian version) |
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 Oregon to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Dungeness Crab of Oregon for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Portland Beef Brisket and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Laulau (vegetarian version) of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, and Salt & Straw. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helenaβs Hawaiian Food, Hukilau CafΓ©, and Matsumoto Shave Ice.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and Hawaii
Comparison | Oregon | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Plantation |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listings | Eco-friendly features & outdoor spaces | Ocean views & proximity to beaches |
- The Craftsman architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with the Plantation architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and outdoor spaces, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and proximity to beaches.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Oregon.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Hawaii is less bike-friendly than Oregon.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Oregon.
- Hawaii housing costs are 72% more expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in Hawaii is 66.09% more expensive than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and Hawaii
Comparison | Oregon | 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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Hurricanes, Volcanic Eruptions |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Generally Good) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F/55Β°F | 88Β°F/75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F/35Β°F | 80Β°F/65Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 43" | 63" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25" | 0" (except mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oregon to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 88% more sunshine days than Oregon.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and volcanic eruptions in Hawaii.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 8 degrees warmer than in Oregon.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 30 degrees warmer than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 20 more inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and Hawaii
Comparison | Oregon | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.75% - 9.9% | 1.4% - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.10% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 4% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Tourism | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Prominent | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 22% more than in Oregon
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 50% higher than what you are used to living in Oregon
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% - 11% compared to 4.75% - 9.9% in OR
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Oregon
- The poverty level is low in Hawaii compared to moderate in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is prominent in Oregon and significant in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Oregon | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal-leaning, especially in urban areas like Portland | Strong Democratic lean, with a history of supporting Democratic candidates |
Local Politics | Local politics may vary by county, with urban areas leaning Democrat and rural areas more Republican | Local issues often focus on indigenous rights, environmental conservation, and tourism impacts |
Religion | Less religious overall, with significant numbers of unaffiliated individuals | Diverse religious landscape, including Christianity, Buddhism, and indigenous spiritual practices |
- Oregon tends to lean Liberal-leaning, especially in urban areas like Portland in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as having a strong Democratic lean, with a history of supporting Democratic candidates
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, including Christianity, Buddhism, and indigenous spiritual practices
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall, with significant numbers of unaffiliated individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to Hawaii
Comparison | Oregon | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ainsworth Elementary (Portland) Findley Elementary (Beaverton) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) | Mililani Mauka Elementary (Mililani) Momilani Elementary (Pearl City) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Rosemont Ridge Middle School (West Linn) Conestoga Middle School (Beaverton) | Washington Middle School (Honolulu) Kaimuki Middle School (Honolulu) Ewa Makai Middle School (Ewa Beach) |
Top 3 High Schools | Corbett High School (Corbett) School of Science & Technology (Beaverton) South Eugene High School (Eugene) | President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) President William McKinley High School (Honolulu) Moanalua High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy Andover (Andover) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) St. George's School (Middletown) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools KapΔlama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Delphian School (Sherwood) | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) Parker School (Kamuela) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District West Linn-Wilsonville School District | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) not fragmented into districts like many other states |
Top Oregon to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Oregon to Hawaii