Virginia to Hawaii Moving Guide
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Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a interstate move from Virginia to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs tropical climate), food & health (like Ham 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 Ham and BBQ Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Spam Musubi
- Hawaii housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Hawaii is 60.21% more expensive than in Virginia
- Our top recommended Virginia to Hawaii movers is ARS Movers

Top Virginia to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

ARS Movers
Best moving company overall for Virginia to Hawaii
A Change of Place Movers

Matthew's Nationwide Moving
Virginia to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Traffic congestion
- Limited beaches
- High property taxes
- Tropical climate
- Laid-back lifestyle
- Stunning coastlines
- No state income tax
- Higher cost of living
- Isolated location
- Limited job market
- High import costs
- Rich history
- Four seasons
- Job opportunities
- Cultural diversity
Pros of moving from Virginia to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to tropical climate
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Hawaii with a laid-back lifestyle
- Swap the limited beaches of Virginia for stunning coastlines in Hawaii
- Get ready for no state income tax in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Virginia to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Virginia to live with a higher cost of living in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of four seasons and have to settle for the con of an isolated location
- Time to bid farewell to job opportunities and get used to a limited job market in Hawaii
- Swap cultural diversity for high import costs
Virginia vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Pork | Spam Musubi |
Most popular street food item | Peanuts | Shave Ice |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetarian Chili | 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 Virginia to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ Pork and sumptuous Peanuts, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Spam Musubi and Shave Ice to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Chili 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 Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Lemaire Restaurant, and Zynodoa. 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 Mama's Fish House.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | Virginia | 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 | Historic details, Ample yards | Ocean view, Sustainable features |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference historic details and ample yards, Hawaii's real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainable features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Hawaii housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Hawaii is 60.21% more expensive than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | Virginia | 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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Volcanoes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 88/75 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/27 | 78/63 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 32% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 2 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 36 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 19 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 5.75 | 8.25 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80 | 0.28 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3 | 4.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Government | Tourism, Agriculture, Military |
Affluence | Comfortable | Wealthy |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Severe |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 8% more than those in Virginia
- The COLI in Hawaii is 72% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in HI is 8.25 compared to 5.75 in VA
- The affluence in Hawaii is wealthy compared to comfortable in Virginia
- The poverty level is high in Hawaii compared to moderate in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and severe in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed/competitive. Democrats have performed well in recent statewide and federal races, while Republicans remain strong in many rural and exurban areas. Control can shift between parties across election cycles. | Solidly Democratic. Democrats typically hold the governorship, congressional seats, and large majorities in the state legislature; Republican representation is limited. |
Local Politics | Focus on transportation and congestion, K-12 education and school boards, taxes and cost of living, land use and suburban growth, tech and defense-driven economic development. Urban-rural priorities often diverge. | Focus on housing affordability, cost of living, tourism management, environmental protection and water resources, Native Hawaiian rights and cultural stewardship, disaster resilience, and agriculture. County governments play a central role. |
Religion | Predominantly Christian (large Protestant and Catholic communities), with a growing share of religiously unaffiliated and active Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities, especially in urban/suburban areas. | Religiously diverse. Christian denominations are present alongside comparatively larger Buddhist and Shinto communities, Native Hawaiian spiritual traditions, and a sizable unaffiliated population. |
- Virginia tends to lean mixed/competitive in its political climate. Democrats have performed well in recent statewide and federal races, while Republicans remain strong in many rural and exurban areas. Control can shift between parties across election cycles
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as solidly Democratic. Democrats typically hold the governorship, congressional seats, and large majorities in the state legislature and Republican representation is limited
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse. Christian denominations are present alongside comparatively larger Buddhist and Shinto communities, Native Hawaiian spiritual traditions, and a sizable unaffiliated population
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with large Protestant and Catholic communities and a growing share of religiously unaffiliated and active Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities, especially in urban and suburban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Hawaii
Comparison | Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (Top 3) | University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Tech Blacksburg James Madison University Harrisonburg | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meridian Elementary School Crozet Spring Hill Elementary School McLean Kings Park Elementary School Springfield | Manoa Elementary School Honolulu Moanalua Elementary School Honolulu Kahala Elementary School Honolulu |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Robinson Secondary School Fairfax Glasgow Middle School Alexandria Longfellow Middle School Falls Church | Moanalua Middle School Honolulu Kaimuki Middle School Honolulu Niu Valley Middle School Honolulu |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria McLean High School McLean Langley High School McLean | Punahou School Honolulu Iolani School Honolulu Mililani High School Mililani |
Top 3 Private High Schools | Episcopal High School Alexandria Madeira School McLean Norfolk Academy Norfolk | Punahou School Honolulu Iolani School Honolulu Hanalani Schools Mililani |
Top 3 Private K-12 schools | St. Anne's-Belfield School Charlottesville Flint Hill School Oakton Norfolk Academy Norfolk | Punahou School Honolulu Iolani School Honolulu Mid-Pacific Institute Honolulu |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Prince William County Public Schools | Hawaii Department of Education Honolulu District Leeward District |