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Home is where the military takes you. And if that home happens to be a tropical paradise, you’ve hit the jackpot.

If Uncle Sam has recently decided to have you relocate to Hawaii, you will need more than sunscreen and a surfboard. You will need a place to live, a place to call home.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about relocating to and living in Hawaii.

Military Bases in Hawaii

If you’re moving to Hawaii as part of a military move, you’ll be in great company. In total 11 different United States military bases call Hawaii home. You will find Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases at various locations across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Home Ownership by Island

Your home and apartment options depend on which island you’re stationed on. Prices will vary on each island as will the amenities and topography.

Oahu

Oahu is the third-largest island and home to the capital, Honolulu. All of the islands have a tropical feel to them, but the city of Honolulu is a little different. It feels the most like a mainland city compared to other communities in Hawaii.

So if you prefer a mainland feel but with some island charm, look into buying a home in Honolulu.

Oahu also has the most famous and beautiful beaches of all the islands. Take long walks along pristine white sand beaches, or picnic in tiny private coves. You can find a beach anywhere you go in Oahu.

Plus, Oahu has a variety of real estate. You can purchase a home in the city, a condo on the beach, a beach-side house, or a combination of any of these things.

A home on Oahu averages around $735,000.

The Big Island

The big island of Hawaii is twice as big as all of the other islands. It also has the biggest variety of dense foliage and intricate topography of the islands. Kona on the west is hot and dry, a favorite tourist destination, while Hilo on the east is humid and caters to the local populace.

A home on the Big Island will cost $330,400 on average, significantly less than when you’re near Honolulu. Plus, the Big Island has an excellent variety of landscapes. You need only get into the car for a short ride to see the variety of beauty that Hawaii has to offer.

Maui

Known as the Valley Isle, Maui is the second-largest island. It also hosts diverse geography from the hot and dry climate in the southwest to the cool upcountry farther north. Hotels and tourists scatter across the southern part, so if you’re looking for a more isolated so, go north.

If you like the ocean, look for a place in Maui. Most, if not all of the homes are near the ocean in Maui. Like much of Hawaii, Maui’s culture is laid back and relaxed. It features spectacular ocean sunrises and sunsets as well.

You can expect to pay $620,000 on average for a home in Maui.

Kauai

Kauai is the smallest of the islands. It carries a small-town feel and a lush, green, landscape.

This small island offers a respite from the busy lifestyle on the mainland. Kauai is the polar opposite of Oahu in that it’s mostly a country setting, with few urban areas.

Often people settle in Kauai to enjoy a calmer pace of life. The natural landscape offers shoreline fishing, surfing, hiking, and regular trips to the beach. Most of the stores are charming mom-and-pop stores.

Expect to pay around $625,500 for a home in Kauai.

Affording a Home

The cost of homes in Hawaii may seem high, but the trade-off you get in lifestyle is worth every cent. The long-term health benefits of a Hawaiian lifestyle are priceless. If you dream of owning a home in this tropical paradise, now is the time to invest.

In each of these islands, you can purchase a home using your veteran’s benefits. In particular, look into buying a home with a VA loan for some quality investment both a retirement place or as something to sell when the military decides to relocate you again.

It’s easy to fall in love with paradise. You can purchase a home and make plans to move back once you retire. What better place to spend your aging years than in a land with constant sun and a laid-back culture?

Hawaii Cost of Living

Living in Hawaii can be slightly more expensive than elsewhere, but with some planning, you’ll soon adjust your budget. The cost of living doesn’t have to have the final say in your decisions.

You can look forward to waking up to gorgeous weather, constant sunshine, and balmy temperatures. You will leave the frosty days of your northern military assignments behind and get to experience paradise every day.

For such a small location, Hawaii has a broad range of topography from white sand beaches to tropical mountains to clear blue ocean. You also can experience the barren regions of volcanos. Your weekends will take you on all kinds of adventures without traveling many miles.

Relocate to Hawaii With Sun and Surf

If the military has decided to have you and your family relocate to Hawaii, you’ve been given a gift. Make it your home and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Embrace the lifestyle, enjoy the surf and sun as you live in paradise, and get to call it your own.

If relocating to Hawaii is on your horizon, contact us. We can help you find the perfect home for your family.