If you think you'd be happier in Hawaii, why aren't you doing it right now?
You live in a cold, gray city. You spend your mornings in traffic with 5 million other people, all in a hurry to get somewhere they don't want to be. You deal with crowds, chaos, and the occasional person yelling at a parking meter. And yet you stay.
It's a free country. No law says you have to live in North Dakota in January. Nobody is making you stay in Los Angeles traffic. You can pick any city you want, and you can pick it **today**.
## I Used to Be You
I used to drive through Los Angeles with 5 million other people. It was crowded, loud, and exhausting. Now I see the ocean every day and get in the water a few times a week. I'm just happier, and I don't think that's a coincidence. I've been in Hawaii over 20 years, and I think it's the best place on Earth.
## You Only Get So Many Years
Take your life expectancy and subtract your age. That's roughly how many summers you have left. In June 2026, I had a massive heart attack and nearly died, but by the grace of God and the skill of the heart surgeon, I got 2 stents and get to live a few more years on this Earth.
Most of us spend our years chasing the next raise, the next title, the next square foot of house. Then we wonder why we feel burned out. Life is short, and you could be in Hawaii tomorrow, swimming in warm water and watching the sunset instead of the brake lights in front of you.
Take it from me - you're not guaranteed another day of life, so live it while you can.
## Why Hawaii Wins on Lifestyle
- **Perfect weather.** Mostly 70s and 80s year round. No snow shovels, no ice scrapers, no "polar vortex."
- **The ocean is your backyard.** Surfing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming, or just floating and doing nothing.
- **Hiking with ridiculous views.** Diamond Head, Koko Head, Manoa Falls, and the Lanikai Pillbox hike are all close to town.
- **Fresh, local food.** Poke, plate lunches, farmers markets, and tropical fruit that tastes like fruit.
- **Aloha culture.** People are generally friendlier and more relaxed, and the pace of life is slower.
- **Whale watching in winter.** Humpbacks visit every year, and you can see them from shore.
- **Outdoor living.** Beach days, sunset BBQs, and weekend adventures replace sitting inside.
## The Big City Problem
Big cities have perks, but they also come with a cost people don't always count:
- Long commutes and constant noise
- Crowds everywhere (restaurants, freeways, grocery stores)
- Higher stress and less time outdoors
- Less connection to nature and neighbors
Hawaii has its own challenges, but on the measures people care about, it tends to look good:
- **Violent crime:** According to data from USAFacts using FBI reporting, Hawaii's violent crime rate is 218 offenses per 100,000 residents, which is 39.4% lower than the U.S. average. Much of the violent crime is focused in a few small areas, and when you look deeper at locations and victims, a lot of it among the homeless against each other in certain parts of Honolulu.
- **National Ranking: Hawaii ranks among the safest states in the nation for violent crime (ranking around 42nd highest / low in overall violent crime). [1]
- **Well-being:** Hawaii has repeatedly ranked at or near the top in national well-being and happiness surveys.
- **Depression:** National surveys show lower reported depression rates in Hawaii than in many mainland states.
## "But Hawaii Is Expensive!"
It is. Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and I won't pretend otherwise. But here's the secret: **you can make it work if you simplify.**
Think about how our expectations have changed over the last few decades:
- Homes keep getting bigger, but families keep getting smaller.
- Two cars, three streaming services, and a closet full of things we barely use.
- We expect a lifestyle our grandparents would have found wild.
Your grandparents lived in smaller homes, owned fewer things, and spent their free time with family and friends. Many were quite happy.
Here's how people make Hawaii affordable:
- **Live smaller.** A condo or small home is plenty when your "living room" is the beach.
- **Cut the needless spending.** Skip the subscriptions, the impulse buys, and the upgrades you don't need.
- **Spend on experiences, not stuff.** Hiking, swimming, and sunsets are free.
- **Share housing or start modestly.** Many people begin with a room, a small rental, or a roommate and grow from there.
- **Drive less.** Some neighborhoods in Honolulu are walkable, and the weather makes biking easy.
The trade-off is simple: a smaller place and fewer things in exchange for a better life.
## "What if I get island fever?"
Buy a one way ticket, then buy a round trip ticket to visit home. When you first arrive, it won't feel like home, but if you stay in Hawaii for about 6 months, then take a trip home and come back, I bet you'll feel more at home than when you were here before visiting home.
There is something that happens once you go home as a "visitor." You might suddenly feel like you don't belong there anymore, and when you arrive back in Hawaii, you'll feel like it's home. I've seen this hundreds of times with my clients who move here.
## The Bottom Line
You can keep working toward a bigger house in a place you tolerate. Or you can choose a simpler life in a place you love. The ocean is waiting, and you're allowed to go.
**So, what are you waiting for?**