Finding the right living space in Hawai’i is one of the most challenging things about moving to Hawai’i. Ideally you’ll find long-term housing before you arrive or a short-term rental. One of the best ways to find housing is through Craigslist.org. This is a free classifieds advertising site that allows visitors to both post and view for free. (You’ll want to check out this site for anything you might want to sell on the mainland.) Bookmark this site because you’ll find yourself visiting Craigslist for housing, furniture, household items, cars, and more.

To access the listings go to http://honolulu.craigslist.org. In addition to their long-term rentals this site features rooms shared if you’d like a roommate, short term and vacation rentals. You may also post a request under housing wanted. If you are going to be living on an outer island, click on the name of your island at the top of the page.

There are many different housing options. Here’s an example of our cottage in Hawaii that I found on Craigslist. We also found all of our furniture for under $1,000. Click on the front door to see just one of the many possibilities.

You can also find real estate listings by visiting the daily newspapers. We have two Oahu newspapers, each with a classifieds section.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com
http://www.starbulletin.com

Outer islands have their own newspapers with classified ads.

Hilo (Big Island)
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com

Kona (Big Island)
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com

Maui
http://www.mauinews.com

Kauai
http://www.kauaiworld.com

Molokai
http://www.molokaitimes.com

Another source to find a roommate is through http://www.roomates.com.

Realtors can be a great source of help in finding the right housing situation. On Oahu you might want to contact Judy Awaya at Century 21. She specializes in island-wide rentals and can be reached at 808-233-7000