Royal Hawaiian Movers
Helpful Articles - Living in Hawaii

Updated: 11/29/2021 What’s the difference between August and January in Honolulu? About five degrees Fahrenheit and three days of rain. In other words, yes, it’s a little cooler in Oahu in the winter months, and you’ll likely see a little more precipitation. That said, you can still soak up plenty of warm weather and sunshine, so you can enjoy most of the same Oahu activities whether it’s August or January. But don’t think that the winter season passes in Oahu with barely a word! Oahu hosts a number of winter activities that give the winter season a festive, holiday air. If you’re thinking of moving...

Last edited 11/15/2021 When you decide to relocate to Hawaii, you’ll have a lot of choices to make: what to take, what to leave behind, when to make the move, whether to hire moving help, and—the biggest decision of all—which island to make your home. Many people on the Mainland refer to the entire island chain by the single name “Hawaii.” However, the islands that make up the Hawaiian archipelago offer surprisingly diverse lifestyles. You’ll get a taste of “island life” wherever you decide to live, but you’ll soon discover that each island offers its own unique take on the concept. If you’ve got your...

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own home in Hawaii? If you’ve browsed real estate listings in the Aloha State, you may have encountered a small detail that says: “Land Tenure: Leasehold.”  You’ll often see this note in listings for condos, especially those in and around Honolulu. The other thing you’ll notice is that these properties are significantly less expensive than comparable ones listed as “fee simple.”  Initially, you might think the low price is a typo. That’s not the case. When you agree to a leasehold arrangement, you’re getting something a little different than an outright sale.  We’ll show you exactly what it means to enter into a leasehold agreement—and who this unusual situation might be right for.  Understanding Leasehold vs. Fee...

Wailele is the Hawaiian word for waterfall. The literal translation—leaping (lele) water (wai)i—gives you a good sense for the majesty and ethereal beauty of these natural phenomena.  On the Big Island, you’ll find the majority of the island’s waterfalls on its eastern side. Hawaii’s tradewinds blow from the East and Northeast, which means that the damp, ocean air makes first landfall on the eastern coast of the Big Island. As it meets the slopes of the volcanoes that created the island, the air forms condensation and, eventually, rain. All this precipitation has made Hilo and its surrounding areas into a lush, verdant landscape, dotted by botanical gardens and, of course, waterfalls.ii  If you’re spending your time near Hilo and you’d like to see...

You’ll find the town of Hilo on the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, nestled in the South Hilo district.   Many people will tell you that Hilo is the rainiest city in the U.S.i—but that doesn’t tell the whole story.   In fact, Hilo sits in the “tropical rainforest” designation of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification System. In other words, there’s no dry season in Hilo.ii As a result, the landscape in the North and South Hilo districts is one of the most verdant on the island. Think waterfalls and plentiful plant life in vibrant shades of greens, pinks, reds, yellows, purples—almost every shade imaginable.   Additionally, Hilo holds the distinction of being the seat for the County of...

There’s a reason they call it the Big Island. As largest island, Hawaii clocks in at a whopping 4,028 square miles. (It’s almost as big as Connecticut, which measures 4,842 mi2!) In fact, the Big Island has more land area than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined.i   Considering the Big Island’s substantial size, visitors sometimes decide to focus their time in one area, such as the Kona side. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to move to the Big Island, you’ll have as much time as you like to explore!  If you’re spending your time on the Kona (or western) side of the island, you’ll find it hotter, drier, and sunnier than the Hilo (eastern) side. As a result, there are a several activities...