A lot of people dream of one day moving to Hawaii. What stops so many of them? Money.  

 If you’ve ever looked at flight costs or budgeted for a Hawaii move, it might feel like you need a lot of cash to make it happen. We’re not going to lie to you: The Aloha State can be an expensive place to live.  However, a move to Hawaii shouldn’t break the bank. If you’re willing to get creative, there are a few ways to move to Hawaii with very little money.  

Intrigued? Keep reading, and we’ll share our best tips with you. 

Flight attendants boarding via stairs

#1: Get Your Job to Move You to Hawaii 

If you’re willing to play the long game and be a little patient, there are a number of jobs that can take you to Hawaii. Some involve training, and others may require you to work for a certain period of time for an employer. Either way, these ideas will get you started thinking about how your skills—and your job—can help you get to Hawaii. 

Become a Flight Attendant

If you love to travel, becoming a flight attendant might be the perfect job for you. However, if you join a mainland-based carrier, it might be a while until you’re allowed to hop on a Hawaii route.

However, why not consider going to the source and applying to a Hawaii-based airline like Hawaiian Airlines? You might have to pay your way to come out for the interview. (We’ve got some ideas on how to defray that flight cost below!) However, if you get the job, you could spend your time flying around the Hawaiian Islands for free.

  • Factors that increase your chance of getting hired by Hawaiian: If you’re multi-lingual and speak English and either Japanese, Korean, French or Samoan, you might qualify as one of the airline’s Language Qualified Flight Attendants, who are in higher demand.

  • Factors that may keep you from getting hired: Visible body art (including tattoos), facial, multiple or upper ear piercings, gauge piercings or extreme hair colors. These aren’t permitted while in uniform or while in any physical position in public areas.

If becoming a flight attendant doesn’t feel quite right, test out this next idea.

Get a Hospitality Job

Hawaii runs on hospitality, and there are often plenty of open positions open at resorts owned by major mainland brands.  

Sure, you could pay your way out here and snag one of those jobs—but what if one of those hospitality brands would pay for your move? 

For example, after 12 months of service, Four Seasons employees are eligible to apply for a transfer to another resort, including their four locations in Hawaii. Relocation compensation is provided for eligible positions.  

Other major hospitality companies, including Marriott and their brands like the Ritz-Carlton and Sheraton, also cover employees’ relocation packages. In return, you may need to agree to stay with the company for a number of months, but a relocation package to Hawaii seems worth it to us! After all, if Hawaii has been a lifelong dream, what’s a few months in exchange for a free ticket to paradise? 

Travel Nurse

This option obviously requires a little more time and money since you’ll need a nursing degree. However, if you happen to already be a nurse, it can be a great way to move to Hawaii! Additionally, if you love the idea of traveling as a lifestyle, you can parlay a nursing career into opportunities all over the place. 

Every travel nursing contract is different. Before you agree to an assignment from a staffing agency, make sure you review the contract carefully. Pay special attention to travel reimbursement, as well as your housing stipends so you know exactly what’s covered for your time in Hawaii. 

Additionally, healthcare specialists—such as CT technicians, ultrasound technologists, and CathLab techs—are often in demand in Hawaii. Agencies specializing in allied health travel can connect you with these jobs. If you happen to fill a niche at a healthcare facility in Hawaii, you may also get to enjoy a free trip to Hawaii. 

However, let’s say you’re just starting out with little to no experience. There are still a few ways to move to Hawaii on the cheap. 

farm in Hanalei Valley Kauai, Hawaii

#2: Become a WWOOFer

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) connects organic farmers with people who are passionate about organic farming and sustainable living. If the idea of living on a farm and working in exchange for housing and food sounds like the kind of lifestyle you’d love, WWOOF might be perfect for you. Plus, right now, the WWOOF USA database has more than 160 hosts listed in Hawaii, with options on all four major islands: Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui.

You will need to pay your way out to the organic farm of your choice. However, once you get there, you’ll find a lot of your needs taken care of, including shelter and many of your meals. Your job responsibilities and your perks will vary by location, so choose your hosts carefully.

Note that a WWOOF membership is $40/year. However, this membership fee instantly connects you with hosts all over the Hawaiian islands—and includes access to online forums so you can get all your questions answered by fellow WWOOFers.

Now, if you need some help with that airfare . . .

three credit cards laying on table

#3: Let an Airline Credit Card Get You to Hawaii 

If you’ve never signed up for one of those airline credit card offers, now might be the time! With careful planning, you might be able to turn those bonus enrollment points into a round-trip ticket to Hawaii. Plus, if you cancel before the year is out, you won’t even have to pay the yearly fee. (Just make sure you consider your credit score before ditching your card!) 

Credit card offers change all the time, but here are some of the best deals we found right now: 

Get up to 80,000 bonus miles when you sign up for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard. Flights are as low as 20,000 miles between Hawaii and the West Coast, so that could be enough for two round trips to Hawaii. 

Get up to 60,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you transfer those points to British Airways or United, you could be looking at a free round-trip ticket to Hawaii from the mainland. 

Get up to 40,000 bonus miles when you sign up for the Alaska Airlines credit card. We found flights from Seattle to Honolulu for 15,000–25,000 miles, so you can squeak out a round-trip flight for free with some careful planning. 

Making Hawaii Your Reality—on the Cheap

If you decide to use one of our tips to make the plunge—or you use some creative budgeting to make it work!—we can’t wait to welcome you to Hawaii. If you’re moving here without a ton of cash, we’ve got three quick tips to keep you afloat while you’re in the Aloha State.

  1. Become a master of the happy hour and the kamaaina discount. There aren’t a ton of bargains to be found in Hawaii restaurants, but every now and then, you’ll stumble on a particularly excellent happy hour deal. Half-priced apps? $2 beers? Keep those places close, and leverage them often. Also, keep your eyes out for the kamaaina discount, which is for Hawaii residents. Once you get your Hawaii driver’s license, you’ll be eligible for these local discounts, which include things like 10% off your food bill at certain restaurants and more.

  2. Try to use public transportation, if possible. While all four islands all have their own public bus system, TheBus on Oahu is probably the most extensive. As you figure out where you’re going to live, keep bus routes in mind. If you’re able to make the bus work for your commute, it will save you a ton of cash, both in terms of buying a car and paying for gas, insurance, etc.

  3. Be ready to take on a second job. A lot of people do it here if the first one isn’t paying the bills. For example, some people wait tables at night and teach yoga in the morning. While we’re not suggesting you work yourself to the bone in paradise, having a second gig can mean you’ve got enough cash to truly enjoy your time in Hawaii.

And, last, if you decide you want to move your possessions with you to Hawaii, get a free quote from us. We’ve got the best rates on DIY moves to Hawaii. Plus, with three decades of experience under our belts, we’ll make sure your move is done right.

Tell us about your move!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.