Moving to Hawaii is different from moving anywhere else in the country. The logistics are more complicated, the cost of living is higher, and the local service landscape — who to call, who to trust, how things work here — takes time to learn. This guide covers the practical side: the local businesses and services that new residents consistently wish they'd found sooner.
Healthcare: find a primary care doctor before you need one
Hawaii's healthcare system is among the most comprehensive in the country — the state has mandated employer-provided health coverage since 1974, longer than anywhere else. But the physician shortage is real, particularly on the neighbor islands. Waitlists for new patients at established practices can run months. The move to make when you first arrive: get on the waitlist for a primary care physician immediately, before you have a reason to need one. Urgent care clinics fill the gap in the meantime and are widely available across Oahu and on the neighbor islands.
HMSA and Kaiser are the two dominant insurers in Hawaii. If your employer offers both, the choice often comes down to whether you prefer a network model (Kaiser, where everything runs through their own facilities) or more flexibility in choosing providers (HMSA). Browse Health & Medical listings to find physicians, urgent care clinics, dental providers, and specialists across all islands.
Banking and financial services
The mainland big banks — Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo — have limited or no presence in Hawaii. First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of Hawaii are the dominant local institutions, with branches across all islands. Central Pacific Bank and Territorial Savings Bank round out the local options. Credit unions, including Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, are popular for competitive rates. If you're arriving from the mainland, plan for a period where your existing accounts work fine but ATM fees add up — setting up a local account early saves friction.
Find local financial services, tax professionals, and accounting firms in the Financial directory.
Housing and contractors
Hawaii's housing market is among the most expensive in the country. Oahu median single-family home prices regularly exceed $1 million. The rental market is similarly tight. If you're buying, a local real estate agent who knows the specific micro-market you're targeting — the difference between Kailua, Kaneohe, and Hawaii Kai matters more than most newcomers expect — is worth the time to find. If you're renting, move fast: good units at reasonable prices go within days.
Once you're settled, home maintenance and improvement work runs at Hawaii prices — higher labor costs, materials that have to be shipped in, and a smaller pool of licensed contractors than comparable mainland markets. Get referrals from neighbors before you need work done. Browse licensed contractors across all islands including plumbers, electricians, roofers, and general contractors.
Shipping: getting your stuff here and sending things back
Moving your belongings to Hawaii means either shipping via container (the standard for full household moves) or using a freight forwarder for smaller loads. Matson and Pasha Hawaii are the two main container shipping lines. For regular ongoing shipping — getting packages from the mainland, sending local products home — services like LBC and local shipping companies bridge the gap that sometimes makes standard shipping to Hawaii expensive or unavailable. Browse Shipping & Moving listings for local providers.
Getting around
A car is essentially required on Oahu outside of the urban Honolulu core. TheBus system is genuinely good by island standards but doesn't serve the timing and geography of most work commutes efficiently. On the neighbor islands, a car is non-negotiable. The Skyline rail system on Oahu is operational between East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium, with eventual extension to downtown Honolulu and the airport — useful context if you're deciding where to live relative to where you'll work.
For vehicle needs — purchase, registration, insurance, repair — browse the Automotive directory.
The one thing most newcomers get wrong
They treat Hawaii like a vacation for the first few months. The beaches are beautiful, the food is good, the weather is extraordinary. But building actual community — finding your neighborhood, your regular spots, your local service providers — takes intentional effort. The businesses in this directory are a starting point for that: local, established, and serving the community that lives here year-round.
Browse the full Hawaii Business Online directory by category and island to find the local services that make island life work.