Why retire in Hawaii? The weather is magnificent, the ocean is warm, the air is clean and the locals are friendly. Such recreational amenities as beaches, parks and hiking trails are plentiful, and there are more golf courses per capita than in many U.S. mainland coastal areas. Though rush-hour traffic is a problem on some of the state's islands, Hawaii's infrastructure typically is first-rate, with even broadband Internet access widely available. Health-care facilities and physician availability, always a concern for aging residents, are excellent.

Hawaii is made up of several islands of different sizes. There are some very different types of places to live in retirement, even on the same island. Kauai and Maui are very different than the more developed Ohahu (the island where Honolulu is located). The Big Island of Hawaii has a very different feel in its different parts - dry and volcanic on the west and wet and lush on the east near Hilo. The smaller islands of Lanai and Molakai are mostly undeveloped. Weather in Hawaii is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only 2 seasons in Hawaii: summer (called Kau in Hawaiian) from May to October and winter (Ho'oilo) from November to April. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85º F. (29.4 C) while the average daytime winter temperature is 78º (25.6º C). Temperatures at night are approximately 10º F. lower. The islands are an incredible collection of diverse micro-environments, each with its own unique weather, plants, and animals. As a result of the shielding effect of volcanic mountains and the differences in weather found at various elevations, you can find tropical rain forests, cool alpine regions, arid deserts, and sunny beaches - all within the span of just a few miles.

Hawaii is the tropical island paradise where many active adults over 55 dream about making their retirement community. In fact a recent poll asked... if baby boomers had to live somewhere other than their home state, Hawaii is the state where they would prefer to live. The Aloha State offers a year round steady warm climate, some of the greatest scenery in the world, and unlimited things to do. On the downside, living in paradise tends to be quite expensive. It is extremely desirable and that, along with being an island distant from the mainland, makes real estate and almost everything else tend to be high-priced. Travel back and forth to the continental U.S. is also expensive and inconvenient. If those are not insurmountable obstacles, this site will acquaint you with some basic facts about retirement to the best places in Hawaii.