Aaaah... paradise. Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, you will find beautiful beaches, mind-blowing scenery, and plenty of shave ice and malasadas, but there are other things you definitely won’t find in Hawaii, and sometimes, that’s a good thing!
Billboards
In 1927, Hawaii was the first state in America to ban billboards- preserving the natural beauty of the islands for decades to come. While visitors may have to deal with heavy traffic congestion, they will always have unobstructed views of the beautiful islands.
An Ethnic Majority
The Aloha State is truly a melting pot of diversity; not only are the islands home to the most multiracial residents in America, but there is no ethnic majority in Hawaii. White Americans make up just 24 percent of the population, whereas multiracial Americans make up 23 percent of Hawaii residents.
Snakes
The only place you’ll find snakes in Hawaii are in a zoo, because they are banned from entering the island chain. Hawaii really is paradise, especially for those afraid of snakes.
Private beaches
With only a few exceptions to accommodate the federal government, all beaches in Hawaii are public. Even in areas where the shoreline is dominated by private homes or beach resorts, county governments and private developers are required to provide public access and parking for anyone to use.
Car horns
Honolulu may be known for having the worst traffic in the country- second only to Los Angeles- but that doesn’t mean you’ll hear car horns on the road. The absence of road noise, even during rush hour, is a constant reminder of the Aloha spirit Hawaiians embody in every aspect of their lives.
Good Mexican Food
If you’re in the mood for burittos and tacos, you’re out of luck. Hawaii is actually known for its sub-par Mexican food. However, some people might argue that there really are a few places to find decent Mexican food.
Major banks
None of our country’s ten major banks have branches in Hawaii-that includes Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Maybe it has something to do with the high cost of doing business there and staffing call centers for the drastically different time zone. Instead, Hawaii residents are loyal to local banks, like Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank.
Daylight Savings Time
Because Hawaii is so close to the equator, daylight savings time simply doesn’t matter here. For comparison, the earliest and latest sunset times for Hawaii differ by only an hour and a half, whereas sunset times in New York City differ by more than four hours.
Affordable housing
The cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical. The typical value of homes in Hawaii is $764,146, and current home values have gone up 14.5% over the past year. Renting is not much better- the average rent in Hawaii is an unbelievable $2,413 a month.
Rabies
While this makes it a pain to transport your pets to and from Hawaii, everyone can be happy about living in a rabies free state. Due to its isolated location, it’s no surprise that Hawaii is the only state in the country without rabies.
More than one area code
All 1.3 million residents of Hawaii have the same area code, which was assigned to the islands shortly after statehood in 1959. That area code is 808, and it’s something many Hawaii residents are proud of.
Hawaii sure is unique, and that's a huge part of its appeal!