HNN Documentary: Priced Out of Paradise

HNN presents a special documentary, "Priced Out of Paradise."
Beckoned not by the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip but the lure of financial freedom, Hawaii natives have flocked to the Ninth Island in droves over the last decade - building a welcoming Hawaii oasis in the desert.
Because while a lower cost of living might have brought them to Las Vegas, islanders in Sin City say it is the rich efforts to perpetuate island cultures and customs there that convinced them to stay. Transplants in Vegas hold cultural festivals, open plate lunch and poke eateries, and dance with thriving halau.
Watch this HNN special to learn about the exodus of Hawaii residents, what transplants find in Las Vegas and what the state and organizations are now doing to convince people to stay.
Visit our special Priced Out section here: HawaiiNewsNow.com/Priced-Out
For more Local News from Hawaii News Now: HawaiiNewsNow.com
Follow HNN: / hawaiinews

[@cpl6305]

My heart sinks to see the growing kupuna population especially those still having to work to survive.

[@The.Hawaiian.Kingdom]

It’s kūpuna, not kapuna.

[@W11l]

Same. Too many kūpunas working until they hit the grave because they cannot afford to retire in Hawaii. It is sad to see them pay rent and never being able to afford a home. As technology and science advances, low-skill jobs like retail and food service becomes less necessary. The cost-of-living increases in Hawaii, but wages aren't catching up... But also the skill levels aren't catching up either. Hawaii is too focused on the tourism industry rather than STEM. Many of Hawaii locals in STEM have to leave Hawaii for better opportunities.

[@ttran3444]

VERY SAD to see Hawaiians pushed out of their Paradise islands

[@8Bitretro]

Taxed out of paradise. Thanks to Hawaii inept government

[@Sch2155]

What taxes exactly are talking about? Like property taxes? Income tax? Sales tax? Or just how much buying a house is? Always the government never the people moving here, gentrifying neighborhoods driving up prices therefore leading to higher demands on infrastructure repair and maintenance. Complaining about how expensive it is vs. the the mainland...

[@joeyguam]

HNN, thank you for this Eye Opening Documentary. I hope you continue and breakdown, the Phrase, “Priced Out Of Paradise”, when did it start and what are contributing factors. Great work 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@bitcoinski]

🏝From island paradise to a brutal unforgiving desert...my heart goes out to the natives of Hawaii. 🏝

[@Sch2155]

Las Vegas is such an unforgiving place... Prime Rib $10.99 vs. Hawaii, $100... How does this differ from the occupation of Native American lands i.e. all of America and their displacement? From free plains to occupation of Native lands.... Tragic indeed.

[@islandsnow]

The reality is…though vegas is “cheaper” than hawaii, it’s not cheap. Same with Hawaii, so many people moving here and investors, everything is going up. If your main goal is to own a home ok sure it’s more affordable in vegas. But quite a bit of things are more expensive here like property tax, sales tax is double, car registration and insurance is higher, gas prices are almost as high as hawaii. Weather… can you handle 115 degrees or 35 degrees? Need to really think before just assuming everything is better here.

[@W11l]

Yes. Some things are more expensive in Las Vegas than in Hawaii, but the majority of things are cheaper in Las Vegas than in Hawaii. You have to look at things overall. When you look at everything overall: The cost of living is much cheaper in Las Vegas than in Hawaii. While the temperature in Las Vegas is more hostile than in Hawaii, there are benefits to it. The heat drives the homeless people away, which is a good thing. It drives away the illicit drugs, mental health issues, and a lot of the crimes. Perhaps this is also why there are also less graffiti and trash laying around in Las Vegas and Henderson area compared to Oahu, Hawaii. I feel safer in Las Vegas and Henderson area than in Oahu, Hawaii. To be honest, most Hawaii residents rarely ever go outside and explore the nature. They work so much in order to pay bills that they do not get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They are not missing much by moving to Vegas.

[@grantponciano9386]

What about Healthcare? Gas prices? grocery store prices? Average monthly Rent rates? Just being able to survive? Not the luxury things obviously.

[@TheBigUSO-ROB]

The day cost of living went up in Hawaii in left asap , you not playing me 😂

[@sarabeth8050]

Property in Hawaii should only be bought and sold by tax residents. Foreigners and mainlanders can rent until they become tax residents.

[@erikh9991]

Most can buy, few can afford the upkeep. Have you ever owned a house?

[@W11l]

Property on the mainland should only be bought and sold by tax residents (on the mainland). Foreigners and Hawaii residents can rent until they become tax residents (on the mainland).

[@Golgibaby]

An option of hope and a peek of a quality of life...worth being curious about. Hope is ... stay mo betta den despondency. Mahalo for the perspective!

[@BobbyHo2022]

Just got to make your happiness, whereever it is. If you leave Hawaii, only gonna be more difficult to come back unless you inherit one house.

[@W11l]

A lot of Hawaii locals move to the mainland in order to find more job opportunities, get a higher-paying job, increase their network, and save money so that it is easier to buy a home later in the future, which is something that they may not have been able to do if they had stayed in Hawaii. It is often harder to buy a house if you live in Hawaii. Many Hawaii locals pay rent until they meet their graves and aren't able to provide a house for their kids.

[@Sch2155]

What are the net worth though of those coming into the state vs. those leaving? What about the opportunities for high paying jobs when they oppose the building of the 30 meter telescope? What opportunities exactly are the looking for? Please clarify.

[@michaelfirestone7440]

MAHALO, MOVED HERE FROM OAHU IN THE LATE 90'S. IF I COULD HAVE, "SHOULD" HAVE KEPT MY HOME IN MILILANI.

[@michaelfirestone7440]

NOW WORTH OVER A MILLION $$$$$$$

[@emichin7010]

In August, the temperature is 120F° in Vegas. No thank you.

[@TheBigUSO-ROB]

Texas is worse lol

[@W11l]

The heat drives the homeless people away, which is a good thing. It drives away the illicit drugs, mental health issues, and a lot of the crimes. Perhaps this is also why there are also less graffiti and trash laying around in Las Vegas and Henderson area compared to Oahu, Hawaii. I feel safer in Las Vegas and Henderson area than in Oahu, Hawaii. To be honest, most Hawaii residents rarely ever go outside and explore the nature. They work so much in order to pay bills that they do not get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They are not missing much by moving to Vegas. There are a lot more attractions and places to take the family out on the mainland than in Hawaii. I'd want my kids to have more life experiences than just the beach. Living on the mainland makes it more accessible and affordable to go places like Disney Land, Universal Studios, and many other places.

[@MrJearley6]

Thank you for this topic. This is just my opinion. It’s kind of sad that the native Hawaiians or anyone born and raised in Hawaii is leaving and going to the mainland. I wish you was some kind of way that the people that are there will stay and maybe even the other people that have left will come back to the islands because that’s their home or maybe some people leave for a better opportunities but we don’t want to wear. Everybody leaves the islands. Because the people from the mainland are going to ruin something that is wonderful on all eight of the islands. They just haven’t done it yet or maybe they have especially on Oahu. Last but least I’m from Los Angeles but I own property on the big island and I don’t want any of those people to leave the island because everybody is so nice that I have encountered. I don’t know about other people, but I have not had any problems on the big island. I don’t know what it’s like to live on the other island, the island of Hawaii and Hilo. I love it over there. Thank you for this story and I will say Mahalo.🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@gabriellearboleda1985]

Minute 18:18 - Interesting - Texas had more Hawaii transplants than any other state. The Lone Star State.😯

[@user-xd7zr5zy8k]

grass in not always greener on the other side

[@manateemilk1]

Believe me it is in this case…

[@Kopaahale]

What happens when you get priced out of Vegas?

[@Hughug88]

Foreal. Not sure where we could all go. They're turning this place just like they did back home. Lots of Vegas locals having a hard time surviving now. Gotta grab a piece a land while you can before houses turn to 1 mil as they're predicting

[@W11l]

You move somewhere else. If you are priced out of Vegas then for sure you are priced out of Hawaii. You could also find a higher-paying job or gain skills (such as by going back to schools or doing certifications) to make yourself more marketable on the job market. Unfortunately, in Hawaii, even with a doctorate degree, you will struggle. If your kids have a doctorate degree, they will need to find a partner who is also has a doctorate degree. I fear that eventually "love" will need to be based more on earning potential than on the content of their character... which is a weak foundation for marriage and is set up to fail.

[@wilfredmotosue2615]

Why not move to Hilo?

[@The.Hawaiian.Kingdom]

Mold and a lack of jobs?! Plus Hilo home prices is going way up too.

[@bruddahgabe]

Because its Hilo.

[@erikh9991]

Always an excuse. They just need to build.

[@GruneD]

Hawaii is expensive as nearly every product comes from other places. Freight for a container from the mainland hovers around $10K. People from other wealthy states like California buy and normally overpay for property there so there’s many issues. It’s an island after all. Puerto Rico is sort of the same way.

[@HMFK_Aquatics]

End the Occupation.

[@W11l]

I think most Hawaii residents would prefer American occupation over Chinese/Russian/North Korean/Iranian Occupation. Given Hawaii's huge dependency on imported goods and services, I don't believe the "occupation" will end anytime soon.

[@lamarplacido5343]

That’s not the 9th island I don’t like that saying because it’s not still mainland always

[@raiderfrankdatank]

I'd love to move as well.

[@sandraessman3205]

Sad, but you gotta do what's best for you and your families future! Happy the 9th Isle is just one flight away!

[@michaelfirestone7440]

LOOKIN GOOD SANDRAE

[@testtube9423]

Embrace the shift people! This video makes me feel like I'm being walked into a dark place.

[@erikh9991]

In the 80’s I sure felt sorry but not now. My state has the same issues. My son can’t buy a home on the salary of a teacher. It’s the unchecked immigration.

[@bruddahgabe]

Get more Hawaiian food places around me than the entire Big Island of Hawaii

[@lorenzoferguson7055]

Cool video but just a reality how depressing a cost of living is in Hawaii….

[@kahoonei_strong]

Kaumaha

[@ponoboi9148]

in the 18th and 19th century many Kanaka married Europeans due to the large influx related to trading and low mortality rates of our people. While it is true that many "haoles" have come here to enjoy our island we need to accept our ancestors contributed to the current problem as well. Many of those mnarriages resulted in obtaining land on our islands through marriage, which in my opinion is part of the root of the problem as well. Had this not occurred, our people may have retained a much larger portion of the land current Hawaiians are being pushed out of. There is also a huge problem with wealthy foreigners purchasing all these new condos to "park" their money so they actually get tax write offs instead of being taxed on the money they have. We all must accept our Kuleana to our land as well.

[@anonobot3333]

I moved from wa state to Vegas in 2021, wayyy cheaper here. Dramatic.

[@JustSayItBruh]

THEY THRIVING AND SURVIVING, GIVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS. ITS OKAY TO MOVE FROM HAWAII AND NOT FEEL GUILTY. HAWAII IS JUST ANOTHER STATE IN THE UNION NOTHING SPECIAL AS EVERYONE CLAIMS IT TO BE. THEY SHOW MORE ALOHA TO EACH OTHER THERE THAN HERE IN HAWAII. \w/

[@mr808steelers]

I dunno about you, but my local braddahs and sistahs give plenny Aloha!

[@mr808steelers]

Dunno bout you, but I see plenny Aloha from my local braddahz and sistahz!

[@W11l]

​@@mr808steelers. I see many mainlanders who have more Aloha than people in Hawaii. When the cost of living is high and everyone is struggling to survive and find any penny they can, they are less willing to work collectively as a society and are more likely to look out for only their best interests. Perhaps that is why I see more Hawaii residents being more entitled, selfish, and greedy. It is sad when I see Hawaii locals backstabbing and stepping on each other, including their own family members, in order to get financially ahead. People are different when they are on survival mode. They are less generous and giving. They are more likely to think about their best interests before the best interest of society as a whole... And I think that is why I see communism being more favored in Hawaii than in Vegas.

[@michaeld2716]

When I lived in Hawaii, ( howly ), I was accosted at work by a Phillipino Hawaiin. I was told that all he needed was a white blonde wife, and that if it wasn't for me, he would be on the beach fishing. Well, there you go.

[@jimhanle2971]

It’s the same in the mainland now. Better be willing to work hard and invest or you’ll be out in the street

[@sarahdavidson8527]

LMFAO....so if you cant afford Hawaii....well there's this. Promo for relocation to the mainland. Getting so bad, cant even save up to leave anymore.

[@Aleamae_Mokae]

50% right of the top of all all hawai’i revenue goes to USA military industrial complex for starters. Then 1.8 million acres seized by illegal occupation to boot. Not even getting into our resources, #wahipana , and #iwikupuna desecration 🤷🏽‍♂️priced out of Hawai’i is one way to put it. #noannexation #notreaty #notitle #noconsent #lakuokoa still exists. And #westillhere #standing #fighting #keikiokaaina

[@314Thethirdeye08]

I hate that they have had to move. I’m angry that they have let so many Asian ppl and businesses buy up most of Hawaii. It makes me furious, and not want to go back.

[@erikh9991]

I am white but if I said that I would be a racist. It’s happening everywhere!!! They need to build but they won’t.

[@W11l]

Hawaii politicians allowed it to happen because these politicians benefited from it financially. Hawaii residents voted for these politicians and will continue to vote for them. They dug their own graves and have no one else to blame except the person they see in the mirror.

[@kuuipoburton3077]

But but ….. we keep voting for these politicians who make all these policies who are enjoying the fruits of …say…your labor… thank you Democrats 😅

[@michaelfirestone7440]

DEMONCRATES

[@W11l]

Hawaii sheeples will continue voting Democrat. Hawaii is a lost cause.

[@dan749]

Stop it. Make it happen. Always excuses 😊😊

[@pkodani72]

11.99 for poi LOL

[@chiaka707]

propaganda