Special Report

Where People from Hawaii Are Moving to the Most

unclegene / iStock via Getty Images

Who would ever want to leave Hawaii? With its lush mountains and ocean breezes it’s truly a paradise. Yet some Hawaiians are saying goodbye to the Aloha State. Does the state have one of the best cities for weather?

To determine where people from Hawaii are moving to the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed state-to-state migration flows from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey, revealing the number of people living in other states (or Washington D.C.) in 2019 who had lived in Hawaii the previous year. State population estimates are also from the ACS and are for residents age 1 and older. All rankings are out of a universe of 49 states and the District of Columbia. (See how every state’s population has changed since 2010.)

So why are they leaving? The main reason is financial. To live in paradise, you pay a high price. In a 2019 poll by Pacific Resource Partnership, 45% of the island residents surveyed said they were leaving the state or considering a move. Of those contemplating leaving, 47% named the cost of living as the most important reason.  

Yet when they do relocate, Hawaiians aren’t willing to forgo some of their home state’s advantages, however. They want a warm climate, so California is their most desired destination. In 2019, nearly 12,000 Hawaiians, or about 18% of those leaving the state, made their way to the Golden State. (On the other hand, see where people in California are moving to the most.)

Texas was the second most preferred destination for Hawaiians. It gained 7,000 or 10% of those exiting the state. The Eastern U.S. was apparently a trek too far for Hawaiians, however. Not one moved to Delaware, the District of Columbia, or Rhode Island. North Dakota didn’t welcome any Hawaiians, either, and only two relocated to Vermont.

Click here to see where people from Hawaii are moving to the most

Dana Dagle Photography / iStock via Getty Images

50. Delaware
> People from Hawaii who moved to Delaware in 2019: None reported
> Total new residents from out of state: 38,014 (0.0% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 964,817

[in-text-ad]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

49. District of Columbia
> People from Hawaii who moved to District of Columbia in 2019: None reported
> Total new residents from out of state: 58,879 (0.0% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 697,556

DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

48. North Dakota
> People from Hawaii who moved to North Dakota in 2019: None reported > Total new residents from out of state: 36,668 (0.0% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 750,501

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

47. Rhode Island
> People from Hawaii who moved to Rhode Island in 2019: None reported
> Total new residents from out of state: 34,984 (0.0% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,050,602

[in-text-ad-2]

Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

46. Vermont
> People from Hawaii who moved to Vermont in 2019: 2 (0.00% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 21,212 (0.01% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 617,560

pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images

45. Minnesota
> People from Hawaii who moved to Minnesota in 2019: 30 (0.04% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 106,920 (0.03% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,575,235

[in-text-ad]

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

44. Montana
> People from Hawaii who moved to Montana in 2019: 32 (0.05% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 40,862 (0.08% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,056,994

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

43. Wyoming
> People from Hawaii who moved to Wyoming in 2019: 33 (0.05% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 30,247 (0.11% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 572,884

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

42. Iowa
> People from Hawaii who moved to Iowa in 2019: 71 (0.10% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 72,651 (0.10% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,121,385

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

41. Indiana
> People from Hawaii who moved to Indiana in 2019: 90 (0.13% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 151,443 (0.06% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,656,971

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

40. Arkansas
> People from Hawaii who moved to Arkansas in 2019: 118 (0.17% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 59,723 (0.20% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,989,054

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

39. South Dakota
> People from Hawaii who moved to South Dakota in 2019: 131 (0.19% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 26,934 (0.49% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 872,708

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

38. New Hampshire
> People from Hawaii who moved to New Hampshire in 2019: 153 (0.22% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 50,288 (0.30% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,350,155

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

37. Kansas
> People from Hawaii who moved to Kansas in 2019: 167 (0.24% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 94,648 (0.18% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,879,518

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

36. Louisiana
> People from Hawaii who moved to Louisiana in 2019: 175 (0.26% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 67,640 (0.26% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,595,111

yenwen / E+ via Getty Images

35. Alaska
> People from Hawaii who moved to Alaska in 2019: 217 (0.32% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 34,031 (0.64% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 722,063

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

34. New Jersey
> People from Hawaii who moved to New Jersey in 2019: 218 (0.32% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 149,260 (0.15% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 8,791,672

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

33. Mississippi
> People from Hawaii who moved to Mississippi in 2019: 221 (0.32% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 61,683 (0.36% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,943,737

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

32. West Virginia
> People from Hawaii who moved to West Virginia in 2019: 256 (0.37% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 39,548 (0.65% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,773,280

[in-text-ad-2]

SEASTOCK / iStock via Getty Images

31. Wisconsin
> People from Hawaii who moved to Wisconsin in 2019: 283 (0.41% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 107,973 (0.26% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,760,481

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

30. Maine
> People from Hawaii who moved to Maine in 2019: 372 (0.54% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 36,129 (1.03% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,331,656

[in-text-ad]

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

29. Nebraska
> People from Hawaii who moved to Nebraska in 2019: 438 (0.64% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 46,064 (0.95% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,910,711

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

28. Massachusetts
> People from Hawaii who moved to Massachusetts in 2019: 449 (0.66% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 144,079 (0.31% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,828,110

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

27. Tennessee
> People from Hawaii who moved to Tennessee in 2019: 522 (0.76% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 196,765 (0.27% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,754,461

[in-text-ad-2]

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

26. Ohio
> People from Hawaii who moved to Ohio in 2019: 587 (0.86% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 205,542 (0.29% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 11,556,037

vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

25. Idaho
> People from Hawaii who moved to Idaho in 2019: 599 (0.88% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 78,730 (0.76% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,764,327

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

24. Alabama
> People from Hawaii who moved to Alabama in 2019: 668 (0.98% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 104,780 (0.64% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,849,509

JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

23. Illinois
> People from Hawaii who moved to Illinois in 2019: 767 (1.12% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 190,627 (0.40% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 12,536,539

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

22. Utah
> People from Hawaii who moved to Utah in 2019: 773 (1.13% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 95,608 (0.81% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,162,102

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

21. Kentucky
> People from Hawaii who moved to Kentucky in 2019: 804 (1.18% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 100,057 (0.80% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,421,512

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

20. Missouri
> People from Hawaii who moved to Missouri in 2019: 875 (1.28% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 152,345 (0.57% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,069,697

[in-text-ad]

Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images

19. Connecticut
> People from Hawaii who moved to Connecticut in 2019: 912 (1.33% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 90,044 (1.01% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,531,986

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

18. New Mexico
> People from Hawaii who moved to New Mexico in 2019: 949 (1.39% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 55,545 (1.71% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,073,628

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

17. Maryland
> People from Hawaii who moved to Maryland in 2019: 1,059 (1.55% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 141,766 (0.75% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,979,602

[in-text-ad-2]

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

16. Michigan
> People from Hawaii who moved to Michigan in 2019: 1,124 (1.64% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 132,008 (0.85% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 9,880,758

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

15. South Carolina
> People from Hawaii who moved to South Carolina in 2019: 1,280 (1.87% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 176,008 (0.73% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,092,727

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

14. New York
> People from Hawaii who moved to New York in 2019: 1,301 (1.90% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 254,806 (0.51% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 19,240,920

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

13. Pennsylvania
> People from Hawaii who moved to Pennsylvania in 2019: 1,325 (1.94% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 267,465 (0.50% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 12,670,245

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

12. Oklahoma
> People from Hawaii who moved to Oklahoma in 2019: 1,531 (2.24% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 101,844 (1.50% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,907,258

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

11. Virginia
> People from Hawaii who moved to Virginia in 2019: 1,807 (2.64% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 264,855 (0.68% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 8,439,982

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

10. Georgia
> People from Hawaii who moved to Georgia in 2019: 2,069 (3.02% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 284,541 (0.73% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 10,499,808

[in-text-ad]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

9. Colorado
> People from Hawaii who moved to Colorado in 2019: 2,782 (4.07% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 240,600 (1.16% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,701,658

JPLDesigns / iStock via Getty Images

8. Oregon
> People from Hawaii who moved to Oregon in 2019: 2,798 (4.09% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 129,921 (2.15% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,178,578

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

7. North Carolina
> People from Hawaii who moved to North Carolina in 2019: 2,955 (4.32% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 315,215 (0.94% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 10,371,906

[in-text-ad-2]

mvp64 / iStock via Getty Images

6. Nevada
> People from Hawaii who moved to Nevada in 2019: 3,612 (5.28% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 132,950 (2.72% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,048,602

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

5. Florida
> People from Hawaii who moved to Florida in 2019: 4,103 (6.00% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 601,611 (0.68% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 21,269,409

[in-text-ad]

4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images

4. Arizona
> People from Hawaii who moved to Arizona in 2019: 4,942 (7.22% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 253,295 (1.95% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 7,200,620

benedek / iStock via Getty Images

3. Washington
> People from Hawaii who moved to Washington in 2019: 5,855 (8.56% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 231,956 (2.52% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 7,527,366

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

2. Texas
> People from Hawaii who moved to Texas in 2019: 6,977 (10.20% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 559,661 (1.25% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 28,642,658

[in-text-ad-2]

1. California
> People from Hawaii who moved to California in 2019: 11,985 (17.52% of all outbound Hawaiians)
> Total new residents from out of state: 480,204 (2.50% from Hawaii)
> Population, age 1 and up: 39,084,048

Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE

Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here
you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.


Click here
to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.