Many gays and lesbians visit Hawaii for vacation every year. It’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in the U.S. and the world. But what about moving there? Gay and lesbian real estate agents will tell you that you’d better have a good amount of money set aside if you want to make the move to Hawaii. Just the cost of international movers and shipping of all of your belongings or re-buying the basics once you arrive will cost you a good amount, and that’s not even considering the cost of renting or purchasing a home. It’s expensive to live in Hawaii, there’s no doubt about that.
But what about the culture in Hawaii? With influences from a number of Asian cultures that accept same-sex relationships and the importance of aikane, the Hawaiian term for LGBT pairings, it should come as no surprise that the islands are fairly welcoming. Hawaiian history states that chiefs often had same-sex lovers who were held in high regard by others.
Today, Hawaii has included sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws, so LGBT individuals cannot be fired or discriminated against for being gay. Sexual preference and gender are also included in specific hate crime laws, further protecting the state’s LGBT population. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Hawaii since December of 2013 when the state legislature passed the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act. Marriage, civil unions, and reciprocal beneficiary relationships are all offered and recognized in the state.
Hawaii has several major LGBT community organizations. Joining one of these groups can be a good way for gays and lesbians who are new to the area to meet new friends. Many of these groups, including the LGBT Student Services Office at the University of Hawaii, are based in Honolulu. The state’s capital is home to many different LGBT communities and businesses, many of which can be found on Waikiki Beach.
If you’re looking to move to a gay neighborhood, Hawaii has a number of gay and lesbian realtors on hand to help you find the perfect home. You might want to consider the city of Pahoa, which has several very friendly LGBT communities. Puna, for example, is one of the largest gay havens in Hawaii. The city of Wailea also has a gay neighborhood: Maui Meadows. Just be warned that Maui Meadows is a luxury community that sits on the beach, and housing costs in this area are fairly expensive even by Hawaiian standards.