Hawaii’s Utilities score is 158.4, down from 184.6 in the second quarter of 2021. All things considered, utility bills range from $550 to $700 per month. This is an average for the entire state, although I mostly work with clients in Oahu who are on the top end of the pay scale. As a result, as of February 2021, I’ve broken down the costs you might see in those categories. While utility prices on the mainland have risen, they have remained largely steady in Hawaii.
The price of power, which ranges between $0.26 and $0.30 per kWh, is one area where the pricing disparity is most evident. This is slightly more than the national average of $0.13/kWh. Hawaii has a monthly average of 515 kWh, or roughly $150, while residences in the locations I service use between 1400 and 1600 kWh. On the low end, this works out to around $400 to $424 per month. On the higher end, I’ve had clients with average electric expenditures of around $1,700 per month.
Natural gas is another area where prices are higher than on the island, costing between $225 and $250 per month. Water and sewage costs for a home with a pool and excellent landscaping might cost anywhere from $160 to $180 per month.
The cost of cable and internet varies greatly depending on where you live on the islands. Bundles with promo rates in Honolulu can cost as little as $90 for cable and internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, or as little as $50 for just the internet. On the other hand, Fiber options are being installed throughout Honolulu, with download speeds of up to 1000 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 300 Mbps. As you move further out, costs and availability can vary dramatically depending on your community, so double-check everything for every home you look at.
If you want to work from home, you won’t have to worry about internet connectivity, and because our temperatures are relatively mild throughout the year, you won’t have to worry about losing electricity to the internet due to an ice storm or other extreme weather.
This equates to a monthly utility expense of approximately $875 to $1,000. Many of these prices can be greatly reduced using a variety of techniques. Properly constructed solar panels that charge a battery bank during the day, for example, can cut your long-term electricity expenses in exchange for a greater upfront installation and purchase cost. Solar water heaters and energy-saving appliances, for example, can reduce it even more.
In Hawaii, how much does water cost?
Hawaii residents spend an average of $587.79 each month, according to a recent survey.
Residents spend an average of $110.76 per month for electricity, $72.10 per month for natural gas, $70.39 per month for water, $85 per month for cable TV, $60 per month for internet, and $14 per month for garbage and recycling. The average cost of cable is $60, but as more people cut the cord and move to streaming services, this may change.
On Oahu, what is the average water bill?
If you’ve never visited Hawaii, be prepared for a whole different way of life, one that you can’t help but fall in love with. Hawaii was granted statehood in 1959. If you’re coming from the United States, you won’t need a passport or a visa. We utilize US currencies and have some of the finest water on the planet. The same postage prices apply as on the mainland. Airmail is used for all first-class mail, and the price difference between airmail and surface for packages is minimal.
Almost all visitors to Hawaii arrive by plane. Honolulu is where the majority of planes land. Some mainland planes do, however, land on Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. There are three inter-island airline companies that fly between the islands on a regular basis. Visit one of our “neighboring” islands to get away from the rush and activity of Oahu.
The population of Hawaii are the healthiest in the country, with Oahu being dubbed the “Medical Center of the Pacific.”
People in this state live on average 81 years longer than those in other states, compared to 75 years across the United States. Hawaii’s people also enjoy access to some of the greatest health-care programs in the country, with 95 percent of the population covered by health insurance. In Hawaii, there are eight major private health-care programs.
In Hawaii, clothing is tailored to the weather. To work, most men wear hawaiian shirts or sports shirts. At night, only a few eateries demand jackets. Women’s clothing is equally casual, and summer dresses can be worn throughout the year. Many companies allow muumuus to be worn in the workplace.
Oahu is The Gathering Place
Honolulu is the seat of the state government. The moniker, “Because Oahu is the Pacific’s hub of business, politics, culture, and entertainment, the name Gathering Place is appropriate. It has a diverse range of attractions, including world-class restaurants and well-known surfing sites.
Oahu is 40 miles long, 26 miles broad, and has a total size of 608 square miles. It is surrounded by 112 miles of coastline, the majority of which is gorgeous white sand beach. Oahu is also home to 953,207 people, making it the most populous island in Hawaii (2010).
If you enjoy anything from opera to polo, Oahu is the place to be. In the case of a “Oahu, in a nutshell, has the charm and attraction of the other islands while also being a cosmopolitan, metropolitan metropolis. This diverse island is home to some of the world’s most expensive and luxury real estate.
Weather
Hawaii has some of the most pleasant weather on the planet. Temperatures range from the low 70s at night to the upper 80s during the day from April through October. From November to March, temperatures are typically colder, ranging from the mid-60s to roughly 80 degrees. Showers in the evenings and early mornings are typical throughout the year, and it rains more in the winter. In Honolulu, it’s a rare day when the sun doesn’t shine at all. The trade winds generally blow at 515 miles per hour from the northeast. We do, however, occasionally get “kona” winds from the south. The weather is normally highly humid at these times, and a storm is almost always present. We’ve had a handful of hurricanes, but they’re not that common.
Food and Dining
Italian, Mexican, French, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Hawaiian cuisines are all accessible in Honolulu’s markets and restaurants, just as they are in any other U.S. metropolis. Bubba Gump’s, Hard Rock Cafe, Red Lobster, Sizzler, and California Pizza Kitchen are among the chain eateries. Local family-style restaurants like Zippy’s and fast food joints like McDonalds, Burger King, Jack In The Box, Taco Bell, and others are, of course, included on the menu.
Activities
Basketball, football, and baseball at the University of Hawaii are all well-supported. Its Women’s Volleyball Team has a history of being ranked nationally. It also has a strong and devoted fan base. Hawaii’s population are also big fans of high school sports.
Everywhere you look, youngsters can have a good time. The Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Sea Life Park, the new Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, and the Children’s Discovery Center are all popular attractions. Above all, don’t forget about the beach!
Museums
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and the Punchbowl National Cemetery are two of Hawaii’s most popular tourist sites. Each year, approximately a million people visit these attractions.
Museums dedicated to Hawaiian history include:
- Bishop Museum is a state-run national and cultural history museum.
- The narrative of Hawaii and the ocean is told at the Hawaii Maritime Center.
- Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil, was previously the home of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.
- The Hawaiian language was first printed in the 1820s at the Mission Houses Museum.
The permanent collection of the Honolulu Academy of Arts includes one of the country’s best collections of Asian art, American and European paintings and decorative art, as well as a long history of hosting notable national and international visiting exhibitions.
From 1940 to the present, the Contemporary Museum has a small but increasing collection of works in many media. David Hockney’s lovely walk-in, garden-like atmosphere is a highlight of the collection. There are also rotating exhibits of contemporary art.
Theatres
Throughout the year, the beautifully renovated Hawaii Theatre hosts a variety of community activities, including Hawaiian shows, concerts, dramatic plays, and other festivals.
Diamond Head Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre, and Kumu Kahua Theatre all have a diverse season of productions ranging from musicals to plays. At Fort Shafter, there is also an Army Community Theatre.
Shopping
The Ala Moana Center in Hawaii is one of the country’s major shopping malls. Chanel, Christian Dior, and Gucci are among the high-end stores. Sears and Macy’s, as well as Sharper Image, Warner Brothers, Nature Collection, and Crazy Shirts, are department stores. Small, local businesses, as well as the enormous Food Court, offer a sense of the islands, as does the large Food Court, which serves cuisine from throughout the world. On Oahu, there are also a variety of smaller shopping centers in various communities.
Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, Home Depot, K-Mart, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, Target, Office Depot, and Office Max are just a few of the big box businesses on Oahu.
Sports and Recreation
Because Hawaii’s environment allows for a variety of outdoor sports, the state hosts numerous local, national, and international athletic events throughout the year. The Sony Open Golf Tournament, the Pro Bowl, the Honolulu Marathon, and the Pipe Masters, surfing’s most prestigious event on the World Championship Tour, are just a few examples.
Water sports, of course, are at the top of the list. Surfing and canoe paddling were invented by the ancient Hawaiians. Swimming has always been a part of Hawaii’s culture. In Stockholm in 1912, Duke Kahanamoku won Hawaii’s first Olympic gold medal in the 100-yard freestyle. Due to World War I, the 1916 Olympics were canceled; nonetheless, Duke went on to win medals in the 1920, 1924, and 1932 Olympics.
The Cost of Living in Paradise
Because practically everything has to be imported, Hawaii is more expensive than most places on the mainland, as you’ve surely heard. If you’re coming from San Francisco or New York, there won’t be much of a difference, but if you’re coming from the Northwest, Midwest, or South, you’ll most likely experience “sticker shock.” We don’t have a self-sustaining economy, and housing expenses in Hawaii are among the highest in the country. The good news is that Oahu has some of the nation’s lowest property tax rates!
Because of our pleasant year-round temperature, you won’t need winter clothing and won’t need to heat or cool your home. There are also a plethora of low-cost or no-cost entertainment options. Beaches are free and open to the public. Hiking, barbecues, and concerts under the stars are popular year-round activities, as are snorkeling, scuba diving, shell hunting, sailing, and surfing.
Tourism and government spending account for over half of Hawaii’s gross domestic product. All areas of the economy are affected by small changes in visitor numbers or military spending. Despite the fact that Hawaii’s economy had been stagnant for the previous decade, the tide has turned as visitor numbers have risen and federal spending has remained stable.
In contrast to the plantation economy of the first half of the twentieth century, the majority of workers in the private sector work for small enterprises. On Oahu, self-employment is quickly expanding, with an increasing number of entrepreneurs working from their homes or small workplaces. The average wage in Hawaii is $49,910, while the median family income on Oahu is $81,600*. Honolulu is the second most expensive city in the US (San Francisco is first).
Transportation
You will most likely arrive by flight. As the plane descends over Oahu, take in the overhead picture of the island, including the mountains, shoreline, high-rises, and residential clusters. It’s a breathtaking sight.
Once on the ground, you’ll most likely join Oahu’s 816,738 automobile owners. No matter where you live, there is traffic, and Hawaii is no different. Morning and evening peak hours are frequently congested6:00 a.m.8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.6:00 p.m.
If you’d rather be a passenger than a driver, you’ll be pleased to learn that Honolulu has earned the national title for the greatest bus system in the United States for multiple years. There are about 60 routes and 4,000 bus stops available. You may also travel across the entire island of Oahu for a pretty modest bus cost if you have four hours to spare.
On the islands, directions are rarely stated using east and west, north and south, or even north and south, though these signs can be found; instead, landmarks are used.
On Oahu, the directions “toward Diamond Head (East) or “Ewa (West) or “mauka (toward the mountains) or “makai” are frequently heard (toward the ocean).
H-1, which runs from Diamond Head to Ewa, is one of the highways that runs through Oahu.
The H-2 highway runs through Central Oahu, passing via Mililani and Wahiawa. On the Windward side of the island, the Pali, Likelike, and the new H-3 run across the Koolaus to Kailua and Kaneohe.
Vehicle Registration
You must apply for a Vehicle Permit within 10 days of your vehicle’s arrival in Hawaii if you intend to bring it with you. To register your vehicle, you’ll need to bring the following items:
- Certificate of Registration from the previous state.
- Bill of Lading (BOL) from the shipping company.
- A copy of your “no-fault” insurance policy. (Before you may get a vehicle safety inspection certificate, you must first have a “no-fault” card from your insurance company.)
- Certificate of Safety Inspection from Hawaii.
- If a lien holder does not own the property, the certificate of ownership is required.
- Application for registration has been submitted in its entirety.
- You’ll also need a Verification of Vehicle Identification Number if your car was constructed before 1981. (VIN).
The Vehicle Permit can be obtained at the Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing (DMV) or any of Oahu’s nine Satellite City Halls via mail or in person. For further information, call the DMV between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (808) 532-7700.
Licenses
For one year, or until your Mainland plates expire, you may use your Hawaii Vehicle Permit with your existing license plates. You can also keep your out-of-state driver’s license until it expires (but anyone under the age of 18 must apply for a Hawaii driver’s license right away). DON’T LET IT PASS YOU BY. A written driver’s exam, an eye exam, and perhaps a road test are all necessary. If you let your license lapse, though, you must take a road test. A 158-page compendium on Hawaii’s driving laws, as well as a sample written exam, can be purchased or reviewed online for $4.65 at any bookshop or Longs Drug store. A license can be obtained by anyone above the age of 15 who has parental or guardian authorization.
Parking
Finding a parking spot might be tough at times. There are, however, numerous parking facilities downtown that provide daily and monthly prices. Except in some areas during peak travel hours, metered street parking is also available. A fine for an expired meter is $30.00. On Sundays, holidays, and after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, most street parking is free. Keep an eye out for signage indicating parking restrictions. Some metered parking lots demand meters to be fed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Utilities
Hawaiian Telcom provides the principal telephone service throughout the state. You can set up service by contacting (808) 643-3456 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. You can apply in person at one of the Phone Mart locations near you, as well as buy or rent your phone there. Depending on whether or not you currently have phone jacks installed, a deposit of $60 to $120 may be required. Installing new phone jacks incurs an additional cost. A local call is one that is made within the same island. The area code for the entire state of Hawaii is 808. (808). The basic service costs around $20 per month. The cost of installation is around $45.50.
On Oahu, all electricity is provided by Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). To begin service, a $50 deposit is required, as well as a one-time $15.00 new account fee. After one year of service, the deposit is reimbursed. If a new resident can provide a letter of credit from a recognized Mainland utility company, the deposit may be waived. If you contact early enough, service can be established in one day, and possibly the same day (a $10 fee applies for same-day service). Call (808) 548-7311 for more information. You will be charged on a monthly basis. The average monthly residential bill is around $80.
For information and service, new clients should call The Gas Company at (808) 535-5933.
A refundable deposit of $100 is required, as well as a letter of credit from any utility company.
(Your deposit, plus 6% interest, will be returned to you at the end of the year.) Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is the business hours. It is possible to get same-day service if you contact before noon. Make a list of all the gas-powered appliances you own.
Water- The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, as well as each county Board of Water on neighboring islands, provides water to the majority of Oahu. Private systems have been developed in several vacation communities. Hawaii, while being surrounded by water, relies on winter rain to replenish its subsurface aquifers. Remember that water is limited, therefore preserve it wherever feasible. To get started, call (808) 532-6510 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is possible to get same-day service if you contact before noon. After-hours requests for same-day treatment may be subject to a $10 fee. If the water is already turned on, simply contact to have the service switched to your name. (Water may be included in the rent if you are renting.) For two months of service, the typical water bill, which includes the sewer rate, is around $75.
Residential neighborhoods are serviced twice weekly for refuse collection. Private collection is contracted for some townhouse and condominium buildings. Call (808) 523-4424 for information about waste pickup and schedules. In Honolulu, there is no additional price for garbage collection. Note: You can recycle newspaper, glass, and aluminum cans at recycling stations located across the island. Many of them are in public schools. For further information, call (808) 527-5335.
Schools
Hawaii is the only state in the United States with a statewide public education system. There are 240 public schools in the city, including elementary, middle, and high schools. The educational system is run by a superintendent and an elected Board of Education, with practically all of the financing coming from the state. Kindergarten through sixth grade are covered by public elementary schools; seventh and eighth grade are covered by intermediate schools; and ninth and twelfth grade are covered by high schools. Academically, certain schools are considered higher than others. You can write to the Department of Education at Department of Education, P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804, or visit its website for more information about Hawaii’s public schools.
A birth certificate, a certificate of release and proficiency from the last school attended, proof of medical examination within 12 months prior to school enrollment, proof of immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, and rubella, and a negative tuberculin test or chest x-ray are all required to enroll your child in school.
In Hawaii, there are over 100 private schools, with 92 on Oahu. These are approved by the State Department of Education and must provide teaching that meets the state’s basic requirements. Despite the fact that a private school education costs between $6,000 and $10,000, one out of every five pupils on Oahu attends one. You can visit the state’s website for more information on private schools in Hawaii.
The University of Hawaii Manoa, with its 20,000 students, is located on the island of Oahu. The average cost per credit hour for residents is around $40. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is well-known for its astronomy, oceanography, and scientific research programs. It also operates a four-year campus in Hilo, Hawaii, as well as six two-year community colleges. Additionally, the state has three private colleges: Chaminade University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus, and Hawaii Pacific University, all of which are located on the island of Oahu.
Libararies
Hawaii is the country’s only state with a statewide library system. A library card can be obtained at any branch. On the island of Oahu, the University of Hawaii Manoa maintains two libraries: Hamilton and Sinclair. The Bishop Museum, like the Mission Houses Museum, has a library. The State Archives are also open to the public.
Hospitals
- 640 Ulukahiki St. (Pali Hwy. near Waimanalo junction), Castle Medical Center, 263-5500.
- Kahuku Hospital, 293-9221, in the Kahuku neighborhood on the North Shore.
- 3288 Moanalua Rd., 834-5333, Kaiser-Permanente Moanalua Medical Center.
- 1319 Punahou St., 973-5967, Kapiolani Women’s and Children’s Medical Center.
- Kuakini Medical Center is located at 347 N. Kuakini St. and can be reached at (808) 536-2236.
- 1301 Punchbowl St., Queen’s Medical Center, 538-9011.
- 547-6011, St. Francis Medical Center, 2230 Liliha St.
- 888 S. King St., 522-4000. Straub Clinic and Hospital, 888 S. King St., 522-4000.
- 621-8411, Wahiawa Genereal Hospital, 128 Lehua St.
