West Virginia to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a interstate move from West Virginia to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round warmth), food & health (like Pepperoni 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 Pepperoni Roll and Venison, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pig
- Hawaii housing costs are 433% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Hawaii is 193.52% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Hawaii movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
West Virginia to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Limited beach access
- Fewer outdoor adventures
- Slower internet speeds
- Limited air travel
- Year-round warmth
- Abundant beaches
- Rich cultural experiences
- Advanced technology hubs
- International airport hub
- Higher housing costs
- Higher tourist traffic
- Limited historical sites
- Less seasonal variety
- Island roads limited
- Lower cost of living
- Family-friendly communities
- Rich coal mining history
- Four distinct seasons
- Connected rural roads
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to year-round warmth
- Look forward to moving away from limited beach access and moving to Hawaii with abundant beaches
- Swap the fewer outdoor adventures of West Virginia for rich cultural experiences in Hawaii
- Get ready for advanced technology hubs in Hawaii
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in West Virginia to live with higher housing costs in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of family-friendly communities and have to settle with the con of higher tourist traffic
- Time to bid farewell to a rich coal mining history and get used to limited historical sites in Hawaii
- Swap four distinct seasons for less seasonal variety
West Virginia vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Venison | Kalua Pig |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog with Chili | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Ramps (wild leeks) | Poi |
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 West Virginia to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Venison and sumptuous Hot Dog with Chili, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pig and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Ramps (wild leeks) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Poi of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Greenbrier, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and Tamarack. 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.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | West 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 | Mountain views, Spacious yards | Ocean views, Sustainability features |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and spacious yards, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainability features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Hawaii housing costs are 433% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Hawaii is 193.52% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | West 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 | Floods, Snowstorms | Volcanoes, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Volcanic areas lower) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 88/75 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/26 | 78/63 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 63-160 (location dependent) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 0 (except mountaintops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 65% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to West Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and snowstorms in West Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and hurricanes in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 3 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 37 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 21 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Hawaii
Comparison | West Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 3% to 6.5% | 1.4% to 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 4% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Mining, Manufacturing | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 70% more than those in West Virginia
- The COLI in Hawaii is 74% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% to 11% compared to 3% to 6.5% in WV
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate affluence in West Virginia
- The poverty level is noticeable in Hawaii compared to significant poverty in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Hawaii
Comparison | West Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Primarily Democrat |
Local Politics | Conservative | Liberal |
Religion | Christian majority | Multicultural: Christian, Buddhist, Shinto, etc. |
- West Virginia tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Democrat
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as multicultural, including Christian, Buddhist, Shinto, and more
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Hawaii
Comparison | West Virginia | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia Wesleyan College | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Weimer Elementary School (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) North Elementary School (Morgantown) | Manoa Elementary School (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle School (Winfield) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) Wheeling Central Catholic High School (Wheeling) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Mountaineer Montessori School (Charleston) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Jefferson County Schools Ohio County Schools | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) |
Top West Virginia to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Country Roads Moving LLC
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Hawaii