If the allure of swaying palm trees, warm tropical breezes, and stunning beaches leads you to wonder if relocating to Hawaii is a good idea for a telecommuter, you’re in luck! This handy guide with Hawaii Remote Work Resources will help set you up for remote work success in the “Paradise of the Pacific.”
About Hawaii
Hawaii or “The Aloha State” is known around the world for beautiful oceans, abundant natural resources, rich culture, hula dancing, surfing in clear blue waters, and a diverse international population. Located approximately 2,000 miles west of California and the contiguous United States, this remote island chain is perfect for tourists seeking a relaxing escape from their everyday lives. The enchantment that the eight islands of this volcanic archipelago possess is what makes the 50th state a favorite vacation destination.
With volcanoes, jungles, coral reefs, waterfalls, more than 1,800 species of flowering plants, 680 species of fish, and an abundance of wildlife, the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, and Hawaii (known as the Big Island) allow visitors to have adventures and explore to their heart’s content. Even visitors who aren’t that enthralled by nature have a plethora of restaurants, shopping centers, and activities to enjoy. Some options include visiting the memorial at Pearl Harbor, watching a surfing competition on the North Shore of Oahu, attending a luau, visiting the Dole Pineapple Plantation, taking a sunset helicopter tour, learning some history at the Polynesian Cultural Center, or simply sipping Mai-Tai’s by the pool. It’s no wonder that many new residents of Hawaii started as tourists.
“Hawaii is paradise. It sounds cheesy to say it, but there’s music in the air there.” – Bruno Mars, recording artist and Hawaii native
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, the average mean wage for the state of Hawaii is $52,900. This total comes out to $25.43 per hour. Yet numerous industries offer higher salaries to their workers. The highest-paid professions in the state are in healthcare, finance, legal, engineering, and IT.
Remote Work Incentives in Hawaii
Hawaii doesn’t currently have any remote work incentives, but it does have a variety of business incentives and tax credits to help grow the economy for business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors who meet specific criteria.
The Motion Picture, Digital Media & Film Production Income Tax Credit provides a refundable tax credit between 15% and 20% for a company producing a qualified film, television, commercial, or digital media project. For telecommuting digital creatives, this credit is something they might want to look into.
The Enterprise Zones (EZ) partnership aims to stimulate certain types of business activities and job creation and preservation initiatives in areas where they are needed the most (such as Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island) and can help reduce state taxes and provide other county benefits for up to seven years. Companies with activity in information technology design and production, biotechnology research, call centers, training programs, medical research and clinical trials, and telecommunications are some of the sectors eligible for this program.
Remote-Enabled Companies with Hubs in Hawaii
For remote workers searching for telecommuting opportunities in “The Aloha State,” remember to explore the following companies that are headquartered or have secondary offices or hubs in the state of Hawaii.
Caliber Home Loans, Inc.
Caliber Home Loans, Inc. is a full-service national mortgage lender with a network of retail branches. This company specializes in providing a variety of home loans and refinancing options, including FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, new construction, second home, and investment property loans. Headquartered in Coppell, Texas, with offices in Wailea, Hawaii, this remote-friendly company offers roles for loan consultants.
Destination Hotels
Destination Hotels is a Colorado-based company with properties in Hawaii. Operating 40 independent, luxury, and upscale hotels and resorts featuring spas, restaurants, bars, and golf clubs, it is the largest independent hospitality management company in the country. The company is a subsidiary of Lowe Hospitality Group and has a mix of mountain, beach, and city properties.
Honu Services Inc.
Honu Services Inc. is a business services firm. This company delivers operational support to small businesses, including human resources, staffing and recruiting, payroll management, benefits management and compliance, information technology, personnel security support, and business development strategies. Headquartered in Kailua, Hawaii, the company also sponsors programs through Na ‘Oiwi Kane to help empower Hawaii’s at-risk population.
Kumu Inc.
Kumu Inc. is a privately-held software development firm. This company develops a data visualization platform that helps organizations track, visualize, and leverage relationships and organize complex information into interactive relationship maps. Located in Oahu, Hawaii, this telecommute-friendly employer not only actively encourages staff to have a healthy work-life balance but also has a mandatory vacation policy and hires only the most-qualified remote professionals.
Staffing Solutions of Hawaii
Staffing Solutions of Hawaii is a workforce recruiting company that specializes in recruiting, evaluating, and matching qualified candidates with Hawaiian employers. This company is a certified Women-Owned Small Business and a certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business, enabling the firm to serve as an access point for GSA contracts. Headquartered in Honolulu, this company provides full-time, part-time, direct-hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary placement services for professionals in a variety of roles.
Hawaii Coworking Centers for Remote Work
A coworking center is a casual work environment dedicated to freelancers, remote workers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. With a wide variety of amenities, these spaces can help increase productivity for remote workers who love the freedom of working from their homes, but also enjoy the company of other people every now and then. A bonus of coworking centers is the privacy and accessibility that they provide since it might be challenging to find a quiet place to work or focus at a busy coffee shop or public Wi-Fi location.
According to Hawaii Business magazine, there are at least 22 coworking and maker spaces spread across the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and “The Big Island.” Below are some of the major coworking centers of the state:
You’ll find even more Hawaii remote work resources and stats in our infographic below! You may also view the Hawaii Remote Work Resources Infographic as a PDF, which will allow you to access the URLs hyperlinked throughout the image as well as the links attached to the Virtual Vocations logo and social media icons.
How Virtual Vocations Can Assist You in Your Hawaii Remote Job Search
For Hawaiian residents who don’t work in the tourism industry, available careers may seem limited. Enter remote work. Virtual Vocations, Inc. has a database with more than 20,000 vetted job leads. With more than 50 different industry categories and a variety of travel and telecommuting levels, Hawaiian remote jobseekers can enjoy their island paradise while discovering a plethora of jobs available without a location requirement.
With remote work, jobseekers everywhere can enjoy a healthy work-life balance while finding the career of their dreams. For jobseekers new to telecommuting, Virtual Vocations, Inc. also has several e-courses, tools, certifications, resume writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, and resources to help them find job search success.
With a job board full of remote, vetted listings, career and employment services, and access to the telecommute toolkit, a Virtual Vocations membership is just what you need to start your remote career in Hawaii.
Are you searching for a Hawaii remote job, or are you a current remote worker in Hawaii? Share your story when you connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook and Twitter. We’d love to know your thoughts about our Hawaii remote work resources!
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