"Ooo you're from Hawaii! You're so lucky!" gushed the cashier as she handed back my rainbow drivers license. I smile as I am reminded that to most people Hawaii is an exotic mecca of sunshine, hula girls, beaches, and pineapple clad drinks. To me, a fourth generation local, Hawaii is simply home. Like any other place it has its ups and downs, but for myself and many others the rewards outweigh the challenges. So what are the pros and cons of living in paradise?

The Cons:

The most obvious downside to residing in Hawaii is the high cost of living. In the main city of Honolulu on Oahu, rent for a decent two bedroom apartment starts at $1000 while purchasing a moderate home will run you upwards of $500,000. Purchasing property in Hawaii can be tricky as a lot of land is owned by trusts dating back to the monarchy and can only be leased. Still, there are a lot of fee simple properties available and it is not overly difficult to obtain the title to a piece of land.

Aside from real estate, basics such as groceries and clothing will also command a high price, especially if you live in a remote area. Groceries tend to be roughly 30% more but can even double or triple in price. Cereals are over $5, a gallon of milk is $7, and if you're a health food store shopper expect to spend a small fortune at the cash wrap. These high prices have locals flocking to Costco and Wal-Mart, and drooling in anticipation for the promised arrival of Target and the gloriously expanded Super Wal-Mart.

Another common complaint in Hawaii is the traffic. More prominent on Oahu, peak weekday traffic hour, or rather hours, are roughly from 7am-9am in the morning and from 3pm-7pm in the evening. During this time your home 20 miles away can take an hour and a half to reach. With over one million people on an itty-bitty island, there are more cars than road space not to mention parking spaces. If there's a traffic accident? Cars move even slower with the possibility of a complete standstill.

Some find the prospect of living on a tiny island intimidating. What if a hurricane washes you away? What if you're stranded? What if a dormant volcano becomes active and the islands turn to molten lava and sink into the ocean? If these possibilities concern you, do not live here. Then there are those who get island fever and need to "get off of this rock". Yes, if you try to take a road trip you will sink into the ocean. Yes, if you have an extramarital affair sooner or later

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