Tennessee to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Tennessee to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs ocean breezes), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Poke), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pork
- Hawaii housing costs are 170% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Hawaii is 74.43% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Hawaii movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Hawaii
- Humid summers
- Limited beach access
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Landlocked
- Severe storms
- Ocean breezes
- Beautiful coastlines
- Endless outdoor adventures
- Tropical islands
- Consistent weather
- High living expenses
- Less seasonal variety
- Active volcanoes
- Isolated location
- Limited space
- Low cost of living
- Four seasons
- Rich cultural heritage
- Strong local communities
- Varied landscapes
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to ocean breezes
- Look forward to moving away from limited beach access and moving to Hawaii with beautiful coastlines
- Swap the fewer outdoor activities of Tennessee for endless outdoor adventures in Hawaii
- Get ready for tropical islands in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Tennessee to live with high living expenses in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of four seasons and have to settle for the con of less seasonal variety
- Time to bid farewell to rich cultural heritage and get used to active volcanoes in Hawaii
- Swap strong local communities for an isolated location
Tennessee vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Kalua Pork |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | 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 Tennessee to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit 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 Tennessee eateries like Pancake Pantry, Hattie Bβs Hot Chicken, and Jackβs Bar-B-Que. 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, Ono Hawaiian Foods, and Matsumotoβs Shave Ice.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Hawaii
Comparison | Tennessee | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, proximity to nature | Ocean views, outdoor living spaces |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to nature, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Hawaii housing costs are 170% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Hawaii is 74.43% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Hawaii
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Tornados, Floods | Volcanic Eruptions, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Good | Excellent |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 85/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 78/63 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 31% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential volcanic eruptions and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 4 degrees colder than Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 33 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Hawaii
Comparison | Tennessee | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 1.4%-11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 4.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health Care | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 42% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 86% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer, by moving from TN to HI, you'll now have a state income tax of 1.4% to 11%
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Hawaii compared to low poverty in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Tennessee | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservatively inclined | Liberally inclined |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated state government | Democrat-dominated state government |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a significant presence of Baptist and Methodist communities | Diverse, with a mix of Shinto, Buddhism alongside Christianity |
- Tennessee tends to lean conservatively inclined in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as liberally inclined
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a mix of Shinto and Buddhism alongside Christianity
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a significant presence of Baptist and Methodist communities
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Hawaii
Comparison | Tennessee | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Belmont University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lockeland Elementary (Nashville) Scales Elementary (Brentwood) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) | Puu Kukui Elementary (Wailuku) Momilani Elementary (Pearl City) Maemae Elementary (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle (Brentwood) Meigs Magnet Middle (Nashville) West End Middle (Nashville) | Waikiki Elementary (Honolulu) Kaimuki Middle (Honolulu) Ewa Makai Middle (Ewa Beach) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic (Nashville) MLK Jr. Magnet (Nashville) Central Magnet (Murfreesboro) | President Theodore Roosevelt High (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High (Honolulu) Kalani High (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Bell Buckle) Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Island Pacific Academy (Kapolei) Trinity Christian School (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge City Schools | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) |
Top Tennessee to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Hawaii