Apartments for Rent in Hawaii

Hawaii

Living on a tropical island paradise is a dream you can only fulfill in the United States by living on one of the islands belonging to the chain that make up Hawaii. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the cluster of islands has perfect tropical weather averaging 80° year round with gentle breezes off the surrounding ocean, prompting many to retire to a Hawaiian apartment from the mainland. It's also culturally and ethnically unusual, with Caucasians being a minority. Almost half of residents are Asian, with another 21% being Polynesian or Hawaiian.

The agriculture that is exported from Hawaii is central to the economy and includes such tropical treats as bananas, pineapple, macadamia nuts and sugar cane. The island is also grows millions of tropical flowers for mainland use and is home to vast coffee plantations. Kona Coffee, grown only in one small region of Hawaii, is considered by many to be one of the world's finest coffees.

Tourism is also a huge slice of the economy. The incredible scenery, rich wildlife and miles of sand and surf all draw mainland crowds as well as many visitors from Japan and China. Hawaii has unique features like volcanoes and a rich Hawaiian cultural heritage that makes it eternally popular with visitors.

Outdoor Attractions

The most famous outdoor activity in Hawaii is, of course, surfing. Millions of visitors rent apartments in Hawaii every year so that they can search for the perfect wave. Competitions and surfing lessons can be found on almost every island. Kayaking, another traditional pursuit, is also enormously popular.

If you love wild life, Hawaii will truly awaken your senses. Six national parks and one of the world's largest federally protected coral reefs are home to wild life not seen anywhere else in the world. Scuba diving and snorkeling are favorite reasons to come to the islands so that guests can commune with whales, sea turtles, tropical fish and dolphins.

For those looking for relaxation, some of the cleanest, purest beaches in the world offer swimming, sunning and miles of evening strolls. If you're more active, explore Hawaii's numerous volcanoes and tropical rainforests.

Colleges and Universities

The University of Hawaii System includes three universities and seven community colleges spread across the seven main islands of Hawaii, offering diversity and hundreds of majors. Private colleges include the Hawaii Pacific University, the University of Nations and Brigham Young Hawaii.

It's interesting to note that for secondary education, all public schools are operated under the umbrella of a state-wide, unified school district. Hawaii is the only state with this structure, which guarantees equitable funding for all schools whether in the city or rural.

Real Estate and Housing

Living in paradise comes at a price – Hawaii apartments are more expensive than housing options anywhere else in the U.S. The most expensive apartments in Hawaii are on the island of Maui, home to perfect surfing. In fact, you may find that there are more seasonal apartments available than year-round rentals. The big island of Hawaii has the best apartment deals, primarily because this island is more residential with less tourist trade.