When you think of paradise, you think of the tropics. And most people think of Hawaii when they think of the tropics! Have you been considering moving to Hawaii? Here are some of the pros and cons.

As far as good things, these can be fairly obvious. Moving to a warm climate like Hawaii means that you will see sunshine and warm weather year round. Who can argue with that?

Tropical places feature access to the ocean, palm trees, tropical fruits and other tropical vegetation. The hit ABC television show “Lost” is about crash survivors on an island. The island in the fictional story is not supposed to be Hawaii; however, the show itself is actually filmed on location in Hawaii. Many of the actors in the show and the crew have moved to Hawaii since the show began filming several years ago!

Tropical climates also tend to see a lot of rain, but when you consider how much sunshine you get, it’s worth it.

Some of the disadvantages of living in Hawaii, in particular, are actually quite negative. For example, don’t forget that it is an island. That means a lot of limitations.

For one thing, if you want to leave the island of Hawaii, you must do so by boat or plane. That’s fine if you don’t travel much. But if you want to travel to the US inland states or anywhere else, you’ll be in for a major expense; whereas, if you live in an inland state, you can just “road trip it,” as we like to say.

Another drawback of Hawaii is that the cost of living is significantly higher than elsewhere. The reason is most likely because so many people want to live there (high demand) and yet there is only so much space for inhabitants on one small island (low supply). Thus, it would not be a good place to go if you have not established a lucrative career that will help you keep up economically. You may find yourself, instead of living by the beach, living ON the beach (without a home!). That would not be good, now would it?

Many other amenities you have come to expect, and almost need, are not as readily available in Hawaii. Anything that you get that is not already on the island has to be shipped in, again by air or by sea. That means exorbitant prices on items and supplies that aren’t sold in the local stores in Hawaii. Even every day products can be more expensive.

Safety is also a concern. Tropical areas also are prone to tropical storms, including hurricanes. If a tsunami ever came through (Heaven forbid), shelter would be limited, and that could be a major disaster you would not want to be a part of.

Another safety issue relates to the ocean itself. Everyone knows that oceans have more dangerous animal life, such as stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks. Although the chances of an injury from one of these sea creatures is rare, it is still a risk that should be considered seriously before choosing to live by the ocean (as opposed to by a lake).

Clearly, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful destinations on planet earth. Go visit and see what it has to offer, and also experience its limitations first hand, before you make the decision to move there. It may be for you, after all, but then again, it might not.