Starting Over in Honolulu, Hawaii
The home of the most famous naval facility in the world, Honolulu, Hawaii is a popular tourist destination. Relocating to Honolulu may require a big wallet or picking up some extra work.
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and the seat of Honolulu County. The citys name means "protected harbor." Considered a cosmopolitan city, Honolulu is located on the southern coast of Oahu near the Koolau mountain range and an extinct volcano. Some famous people are natives, including Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler and golfer Michelle Wie. Honolulu is a major U.S. city with an estimated population of 377,379 residents in 2005. The average age of Hilos citizenry is 42.7 years with 17.7% of people over the age of 65. The Asian community is dominant with 58.6% of the population. White Non-Hispanic residents accounted for 17.5%, only 6.3% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders. The average household size was 2.5 people with 45% of city homes occupied by married-couple families. Poverty affected 12% of Honolulu residents.
All income brackets for Honolulu residents were higher than the U.S. The median income of households was $50,793, about $4,500 above the national average. Per Capita income was $27,661, compared with $25,035 for the average U.S. worker. Social Security benefits were paid out to 32% of city households. Tourism related jobs were top of the list for both men and women in the accommodation and food services industry. The largest single employer is the government with various military installations, including the famous Pearl Harbor. The unemployment rate has been low, just 2.8% for Honolulu County in January of 2005. Honolulu is the Aloha state's center of business, culture, and politics. The sugar industry was once powerful before the fall of Hawaiis monarchy and annexation to the United States. Commercial development is taking root where agricultural fields and plantations have closed. Housing prices neared the half-million mark by 2005 with an average home value of $481,000. There is an upside for people relocating to Honolulu. The city has very affordable property taxes with an average of $1,197 for homes with mortgages. Median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,817, while renters were paying $920 a month for their living space.
Hawaii is the only state with a single, unified school system. With a student to teacher ratio of nearly 17 to 1, the average funding per pupil was $7,455 in 2003. Among those 16 to 19 years old in Honolulu, a mere 1% were dropouts according to U.S. Census data in 2005. The total school enrollment for the city was 82,000. Meanwhile, college and graduate school enrollment totals over 30,000 students annually. In 2005, 34.7% of Honolulu people over 25 reported having a bachelor's degree or higher. Major Colleges and Universities in the city include the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, and Brigham Young University-Hawaii
The roots of Hawaiis monarchy remain in Honolulu with the Iolani Palace. It is the only royal palace in the United States. After relocating into Honolulu, the American government ousted Hawaiis rulers in the last half of the 20th century. Years later, Hawaii was made the countrys 50th state. In recent years, the U.S. has attempted to make amends by acknowledging the Hawaiian sovereignty. Lawmakers want the U.S. government to recognize Native Hawaiians as it does American Indians and Native Alaskans. Among other tourist destinations in Honolulu that act as a symbol of the Hawaiian culture is citys capitol building which resembles a volcano. Pearl Harbor is a major tourist point, with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the National Cemetery of the Pacific.
The beautiful beaches of Waikiki lend to Honolulus popularity, as does a semitropical climate. Temperatures remain warm yearlong, while summer trade winds help to provide relief. Seasonal weather changes in Honolulu are the least noticeable of any U.S. city. The average temperature for August is 81.4 degrees with a yearly average of 77.2. January is the coldest month at 73 degrees. The average annual precipitation in Honolulu is one of the lowest in the islands at 22 inches. Waikiki attracts people who like sailing, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, kayaking, or outrigger canoeing. Game fishing for marlin and tuna are also popular during the spring and summer.
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