When I first moved back to Hawaii in 2009, I thought I was returning to the paradise I remembered from my youth. The beaches, the culture, the food all of it still had that magic. But after a few years, the reality of living here on a fixed retirement income started to hit hard. Groceries, electricity, even a modest home cost far more than I ever expected. I was spending two or three times what I would on the mainland just to live comfortably.
On top of that, taxes kept climbing especially with projects like the Honolulu rail running over budget. My withdrawals from retirement accounts were getting taxed at some of the highest rates in the country.
As much as I loved the people and the land, the financial strain became too much. Leaving in 2018 was heartbreaking, but it was the only way to make my savings last.
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