Hawaii Local Expert
Matt Rott
“He owns 40+ surfboards and still believes the next one will complete the set.”
See full bio
Your Hawaii to IL Relocation Guide: Red State, Blue State — What Really Changes
Trading ocean breezes and year-round warmth for Midwest winters and landlocked living is a bigger adjustment than most people anticipate. Hawaii and Illinois sit on opposite ends of nearly every spectrum, from climate and cost of living to culture and commute times. The relaxed island pace of life in Hawaii gives way to the fast-moving energy of Chicago and its surrounding communities, and the financial picture shifts dramatically once you leave one of the most expensive states in the nation. Our Snappy Scout team (Matt & Hannah) dug into the real costs, logistical challenges, and lifestyle changes waiting for you on the other side of this cross-country move so you can plan with confidence before the first box gets packed.
Who's Behind This Guide
The Drive from HI to Illinois: What to Plan For
Average distance
4,250miles
Typical route
No driving route is possible between Hawaii and Illinois. Travel requires a transpacific flight from Honolulu (HNL) or another Hawaiian island airport to a mainland hub, typically Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), or Seattle (SEA), followed by a connecting flight to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or Chicago Midway (MDW).
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Honolulu, HI → Chicago, IL
~4300 miles
Kahului, HI → Chicago, IL
~4300 miles
Kailua-Kona, HI → Rockford, IL
~4350 miles
Hilo, HI → Springfield, IL
~4350 miles
Lihue, HI → Aurora, IL
~4250 miles
Should You Move From Hawaii to Illinois Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Illinois from Hawaii is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
How Much Do Local Movers Bill from HI to Illinois?
Moving 4,250 miles from Hawaii to Illinois will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
5–12days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Is Relocating to Illinois from HI Right for Me?
Well, it depends. If you're a Tech Bro, Stay at Home Mom, or College Student, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a Surfer Dude, Retired Snowbird, or Cowboy, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Hawaii to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from HI to IL
Tech Scene
Hawaii
4
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
Blue Startups energy, small scene, no SoMa scale
Illinois
Gaining
1871, Cameo, and tasty lunch at Au Cheval.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Tech Bros
Fulton MarketRiver North
Hawaii
4
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Stay At Home Moms
Hawaii
5.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
Safe, beautiful suburbs but cost of living stings
Illinois
Gaining
Playdate heaven, quaint downtowns, Metra into Chicago.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
HinsdaleBarrington
Hawaii
5.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
University Life
Hawaii
7.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
UH Manoa green, HPU waterfront, BYU Hawaii beach scene
Illinois
Gaining
UIUC, Northwestern, UChicago campuses buzzing with life.
Recommended IL cities/areas for College Students
Champaign-UrbanaEvanstonHyde Park
Hawaii
7.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Surfing
Hawaii
9.5
/10
Illinois
3
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
Pipeline, Duke Kahanamoku statue/Waikiki, Ala Moana Bowls
Illinois
Gaining
Closest waves are windswell on Lake Michigan, sorry brah.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Surfer Dudes
Indiana DunesMontrose Beach
Hawaii
9.5
/10
Illinois
3
/10
Snowbirds
Hawaii
8.5
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
Warm winters, Kona sunsets, Kihei walks, Poipu golf
Illinois
Gaining
Charming summers, but Lake Michigan winters chase you south.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
GalenaSpringfield
Hawaii
8.5
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Cowboys
Hawaii
5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Hawaii
Giving up
Paniolo heritage, Parker Ranch rodeos, upcountry charm, not Texas
Illinois
Gaining
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Cowboys
SpringfieldRockford
Hawaii
5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Illinois?
You'll know you're in Illinois when locals start discussing corn sweat season! You smell it in the air and feel it on your skin... and unfortunately it's not sweet like the corn in fall. Corn sweat is essentially humidity season and the closer you are to a corn field, the worse this humidity - and your allergies - flare.
– Hannah Swieczka
Illinois Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Hawaii and living in Illinois
HawaiiIllinois
How the Way Locals Eat Changes When You Move from HI to Illinois
Eating Like a Local in Hawaii
For a classic plate lunch, try chicken katsu with mac salad and two scoops of rice. The best traditional Hawaiian grinds include poi, laulau, lomi salmon, pipikaula, and squid luau. Finally, nothing beats an ahi limu poke bowl for a quick lunch—don't forget the furikake.
Matt RottHawaii Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Illinois
While Chicago is all about deep dish pizza and Italian beef, Illinois has a much more mature palate. Depending on which exact city or suburb you find yourself in, the locals may eat differently. Rule #1, avoid chain restaurants (with the exception of Chicago-based chains, such as Portillo's Hot Dogs). Otherwise, find the mom & pop restaurant and trust your instinct! Any place named after a person won't steer you wrong.
Hannah SwieczkaIllinois Local ExpertFrom HI to Illinois: How Your Tax Burden Shakes Out
Hawaii
Illinois
HawaiivsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive brackets, roughly 1.4% to 11% top rate, thresholds vary
Flat 4.95% statewide
Hawaii
Progressive brackets, roughly 1.4% to 11% top rate, thresholds vary
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesNation's lowest effective rate, Honolulu tiered classes, Maui and Kauai higher on second homes
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Hawaii
Nation's lowest effective rate, Honolulu tiered classes, Maui and Kauai higher on second homes
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
The Values, Beliefs, & Politics Landscape of HI vs Illinois
Hawaii
Illinois
HawaiivsIllinois
People
Peoplewarm, aloha spirit, laid back, proud of local culture, protective of the aina (land)
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Hawaii
warm, aloha spirit, laid back, proud of local culture, protective of the aina (land)
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
deep blue statewide, union-friendly, Honolulu progressive, neighbor islands pragmatic, Hawaiian sovereignty activism visible
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Hawaii
deep blue statewide, union-friendly, Honolulu progressive, neighbor islands pragmatic, Hawaiian sovereignty activism visible
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
Religiona pluralistic mix, many unaffiliated, Christian majority, notable Buddhist population, some Shinto, folk religion, LDS
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Hawaii
a pluralistic mix, many unaffiliated, Christian majority, notable Buddhist population, some Shinto, folk religion, LDS
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
The Weather Difference Between HI and Illinois
SUMMER
Hawaii
Permanent beach day vibes (westside sizzles, Kona side extra toasty)
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
Hawaii
Barefoot hoodie weather; mauka (mountains) can be chilly, Mauna Kea occasionally gets snow.
Illinois
Face-numbing cold (lakefront stings)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Illinois
Memorial Day in Illinois is the official start of summer! With so many activities dependent on the weather, Illinois doesn't wait for the solstice. Summer here runs from Memorial Day (or Memorial Day Weekend - "MDW") to Labor Day Weekend ("LDW"), no questions asked. MDW marks the opening of many beaches, parks, and seasonal restaurants, plus that first real stretch of weekends where everybody suddenly remembers how to be outside. It's when grills reappear and the propane is refilled, lake plans are penciled in planners, and the whole state has one discussion regarding our winter experiences.
Hannah SwieczkaIllinois Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Illinois
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Hawaii, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Illinois. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Illinois local experts.
Moving toAurora
Prepare for Cornfields, Metra Commutes, and Taco Runs
Moving toChicago
Dibs, Divvy, Chicago Dogs
Moving toBolingbrook
Prepare for Strip Malls, Suburbs… and the Weirdly Persistent UFO Stories
