Local Information for Hawaii

Hawaii. The Aloha State. Paradise. Hawaii is the dream destination of many people because of its warm tropical climate, its endless beaches, diverse natural wonders, and its seemingly relaxing atmosphere. This small wonder, as it is the US’ 8^th smallest state, has eight main islands, which is accompanied by many more as the state consists entirely of islands. Hawaii is also home to quite a number of volcanoes, although most have been inactive for many years.

The weather is Hawaii is perfect for spending time under the sun or on the beach. A lot of families go out on weekends for swimming, camping, and surfing adventures. It is one of the states in the US where you’ll find people of all ages enjoying the outdoors almost all the time.

Hawaii’s population is a diverse one. There are Filipinos, Japanese, Polynesians, Germans, Irish, English, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Samoans, Italian, Scottish, Koreans, Mexicans, Africans, and Puerto Ricans. You and your family will love mixing with such an interesting crowd of people. This is one of the reasons why a lot of people relocate to the state and build their homes there.

Honolulu is Hawaii’s capital. It is located in the island of Oahu and is a major tourist destination and attraction. It is historically famous because of Pearl Harbor, which was attacked by the Japanese in December of 1941.

Another interesting city in Hawaii is Pearl City. It is a small one (approximately 47,000+ in 2010) and is recognized as a CDP or census-designated place, which means it doesn’t have its own municipal government. Pearl City is located along Pearl Harbor’s north shore.

Hawaii Housing Authority

If you are one of the many who wish to build a home and raise a family in Hawaii, finding an affordable housing option is not difficult because of the assistance of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA). This Hawaii housing authority provides residents with good choices for affordable housing and shelter.

The HPHA has a Federal Public Program for residents 18 years old and above and families with limited income and resources. It also has programs for disabled residents in need of safe and decent housing.

In the city of Honolulu, the Department of Community Services or DCS are responsible for administering state-aided and federally-funded housing programs. It offers home ownership programs and a fair housing program.

Rental Assistance in Hawaii

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority administers the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program for low income residents. However, the program covers the island of Oahu, although the state’s counties offer the Section 8 program to its residents through their country government. Likewise, the city and county of Honolulu offer the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Under the Section 8 Program, a low income resident becomes eligible for the program after an evaluation of criteria. Once approved, he will be given a voucher and will get the chance to look for a home he likes from the private rental community. Normally, landlords that are under the program are listed by the state’s housing authority. When the resident starts paying his rent, he pays only half of it (computed according to his income) and the rest is subsidized by the program.

The state of Hawaii has other federal and state public housing programs aside from the Section 8 voucher. So, you have plenty of options for finding a decent and affordable Hawaiian home for your family. You can also search for rental assistance online. Some will even allow you to view floor plans and photos of the home you have chosen.