When I first came to Hawaii in 2004, a plate of lunch was $5.50. Today the same plate of lunch is $8.90, which is $3.40 more. At the same time pay has not really gone up at all. But rent, on the contrary – it went up. Back in 2004, the average rate to rent a room was $500 to $600 per month, and the same room today is at least $800. Of course, it depends on the area where you want to rent, but the overall trend is that the prices go up. There are different reasons why the cost of living in Hawaii is so high, and all of these reasons are connected. Here are some of them:

Everything in Hawaii (or almost everything) has to be imported from the U.S. mainland or other parts of the world. So because of the constant increase of the oil price, this leads to a constant increase of our food prices and other supplies. Supplies in the neighboring islands of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island are even more expensive because the ships first go to Oahu. Then the products have to be loaded on smaller cargo ships, which then have to do another trip to those islands.

Another reason why Hawaii is so expensive is because of its popularity. More and more people want to come and live in Hawaii; therefore, the demand of supplies is rising and therefore their cost. On the island of Oahu, new high-rise buildings are constantly constructed, and if you have been on Oahu just five years ago and you come today you will hardly recognize some of Honolulu’s neighborhoods with all the newly built fancy 40+ floors buildings. Therefore, the population of Oahu is estimated to increase by 20,000 people in the next couple of years.

Another reason why we get less for our dollar is because of the current dollar crisis situation. The weak dollar influences Hawaii resident’s daily life, just like it does everywhere else in the world. That’s why we have to pay more all the time.