Faremax: Travel Forums

I have heard that Hawaii is more of a tourist spot because their income depends mostly on tourism.
And because of this, their standard of living is higher compared to most States in the US.
I wonder if this is true?

They also have big military bases on Hawaii and many people are employed there from what my cousin tells me ( who travels there regularly).  I do know things are more expensive in that state as well.

Thanks for that, Melos.  A little confirmation is a good help.

I hope others will  reply on this thread and give us their own ideas of the Hawaiian standard of living.

Ooo, what an interesting topic. I'd also like to know this.

From what I learned while visiting, the standard of living is considerably higher.  But that also depends on the standard you are used to.  A single family home on Maui is going to be extremely expensive, especially near any of the main tourist attracting cities.  Twenty miles out however, where there is nothing but ocean and a few scattered homes, the costs decrease a little.  Not alot mind you, but just a little. :-)

Melos is right about things being more expensive there.  Almost everything, including food, has to be brought in from elsewhere.

i've never lived there, but my husband did in the 90's and has nothing but stories of unemployment, sever salary cuts (which were gratefully taken in leiu of loosing their job altogether), and sky high prices for most everything.  i think there might be a real disparity between the standard of living of the samoan populations and those who come in from the outside -contactors, the military, those working in the tourist industry.  "ice" (crystal meth?) has become a real problem in lower-middle class areas too.  i think you pretty much need to come in with money to enjoy living there.   

In a weird way Dog The Bounty Hunter's show kind of gives an insight into the standard of living

My aunt was stationed there for a while, when she was in the marines and she always complained about how expensive everything was especially since she got the same pay as back home.  I think most touristy areas are like this and always will be.  Look at hollywood, for example.