Hear Hawaii calling? Holly Ross has. She sent this reply to a recent blog post :

After a week on Oahu and discovering Haleiwa, I am irrevocably changed and having a hard time back in SF. I had never been so relaxed and at peace. Going back in January – already looking at houses and jobs.

Like Holly, I remember when I first fell in love with Hawaii almost 20 years ago. I fell hard, eventually uprooted my life and moved here, shining the Mainland grind forever. Before nearly everything was online, I had to learn about island living the hard way. Now it’s easy to pass along tips to make the transition from the Mainland easier.  Here are a few that I’ve discovered.

Consult this book, So You Want to Live in Hawaii (2nd ed) by Toli Polancy. It’s a great place to start learning about all of Hawaii’s cultural quirks. Just because it’s the 50th state doesn’t mean living here is like the Mainland. Oh yeah, that’s the point.

Also, check out Matson for shipping cars and belongings across the ocean. For moves between islands, you’ll need the help of Young Brothers shipping.