Hawaii
Hawaiian Cities Where You Need a Salary Over $200K To Live Comfortably
If you’re thinking about making a move to Hawaii, you’re probably already aware that it’s among the most expensive states in the United States. It may even be the most expensive, depending on which statistics and categories you check out.
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To help you figure out which locations may be the best for your salary, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in Hawaii to find the salary needed to live comfortably as a single person. Here’s a look at some of the most expensive ones, where the salary needed to live comfortably is over $200,000. The household median income and total cost of living annually are also listed.
If $200,000 is out of reach for you, check out the full study to find out where you might be able to make your home.
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Kaneohe
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Population: 35,493
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Household median income: $120,451
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Total cost of living annually: $101,694
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Salary needed to live comfortably: $203,387
Find Out: See What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State
Honolulu
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Population: 348,547
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Household median income: $82,772
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Total cost of living annually: $112,875
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Salary needed to live comfortably: $225,751
Kihei
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Population: 22,247
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Household median income: $89,892
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Total cost of living annually: $118,915
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Salary needed to live comfortably: $237,830
Kailua
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Population: 40,323
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Household median income: $138,363
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Total cost of living annually: $127,857
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Salary needed to live comfortably: $255,714
Ways To Cut Back
If you want to live in a more expensive location but your salary isn’t quite there, you might want to think about ways to cut back on spending.
Track Your Spending
According to Debt.org, one of the first steps to take is to figure out where your money is going. That means tracking your spending habits, including fixed and variable expenses. While fixed expenses pretty much stay the same each month, variable ones may fluctuate month to month.
Create a Budget
Once you track your spending, it’s time to create a budget and stick to it. “This is where the mind-shifting begins,” according to Debt.org. “Write down how much money you make and how much you spend every month.”
Review Your Subscriptions
Take time to look at all the subscriptions you’re paying for each month or for the full year. The most obvious choices may be streaming and entertainment subscriptions. You may be able to cut back on some or even all of these. Look at your other subscriptions, as well, to make sure you need all those services.
Shop Smarter
Per Forbes, one simple way to cut back is to buy sale items and generic brands at the grocery store. If it works for your budget, perhaps buying in bulk may help save you money.
You could also try making fewer trips to the store to potentially buy less and spend less on gas money.
Eat Smarter
It may not only be better for your budget to eat at home more, it may help improve your health. You can make healthy choices, because you’re in charge when you prepare your meals. When you do eat out, per Forbes, you can choose water and smaller portions to save money and make healthier decisions.
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed cities in Hawaii to find the salary needed to live comfortably as a single person. GOBankingRates found cities in Hawaii. For each city, total population, total households, population 65 and over and median household income were all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, the average single-family home value was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index, and the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. With the cost-of-living indexes and using the national average expenditure costs as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for a single person, the average cost of expenditures was found for each city. With the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost was calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. Using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the cost of living comfortably. Using the household median income and the total cost of living comfortably as a single person, the leftover savings were calculated for each city. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 18, 2024.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Hawaiian Cities Where You Need a Salary Over $200K To Live Comfortably
Hawaii
Gov. Green responds to lawsuit challenging Hawaiian Homes program | Maui Now
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
Hawaii
Bystander video shows damage after concrete falls at Ala Moana Center
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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