anyone doing remote work from Honolulu long-term?

[u/OrchidValuable2408]

I run a small SaaS business from the East Coast and have been thinking about spending a month or two in Honolulu to work remotely. Not a vacation thing, more like actually getting work done somewhere that isn't Jersey. My wife's job is flexible on location so we could make it work logistically.

What I'm wondering is whether the remote work setup is actually decent there. Reliable internet for video calls, coworking spaces that aren't just hotel lobbies, coffee shops where you can sit for a few hours without getting side eye from the staff. I've heard mixed things about cost of living and how locals feel about more remote workers coming in. Not trying to be that person who moves somewhere and makes things worse for everyone. The timezone difference could actually work in my favor with my customers but that's a separate issue.

[u/Massive-Power8047]

the internet situation here is fine, fiber is available in most of town and i've never had issues with zoom calls. coworking spaces are not like the east coast though, there's a handful but they fill up and some have waitlists so look into that early

as for the side eye, it's not really about coffee shops, it's more the housing part. a month or two is whatever, people come and go, but the tension you're hearing about is from folks treating the island like a playground while locals get priced out. just be mindful of where you rent, maybe avoid airbnb if you can find a sublet instead

[u/Chazzer74 → u/Massive-Power8047]

What coworking spaces are left? I heard Box Jelly and Hub closed up?

[u/a_rob → u/Chazzer74]

there used to be one in Chinatown that I saw advertised at the Daley and/or Pizza Mamo, not sure if that's still around

[u/lostinthegrid47 → u/Chazzer74]

The sandbox, tree house, a few others.

[u/TheMapleMaiden]

Long long term can be tricky because there are laws in Hawaii that make it a hard place for employers to support remote work so I’d check w your spouse’s employer to see if they meet Hawaii’s laws for remote workers. Also I did east coast hours from Honolulu for a while and felt like I didn’t get to enjoy Hawaii due to all the 3am meetings. The time difference gets rough. If your hours are more flexible that would help.

[u/shootzbalootz]

You alone are not going to make things worse especially for a month or two, you're basically a tourist. But locals don't really care for outsiders in general, remote worker or not. But that's a very expensive "not a vacation thing" work trip.

[u/m6514309]

I'd be real leery about doing this, even for a single month. I knew someone who worked in finance and they had to basically live on Eastern time for a season because of some big all-hands project, and they were ready for the asylum by the end of it. Waking up at 2am, trying to get to sleep by 6pm? No social life at all.

[u/AerieEnvironmental84]

The hours make it miserable. Working 3 or 4am every day isn't enjoyable. But getting off around 12 and having the rest of the afternoon to explore when everyone is working is a huge benefit. Also very pricy for a hotel or Airbnb.

[u/HumphreyWoof]

If this is something you and your wife want to explore I say go for it. The time difference is hard, but Honolulu offers a very pleasant quality of life in an urban environment. Great parks, restaurants, museums, movies etc plus the beach and the ocean right there.

[u/a_rob]

I work remote, but not temporary, and one thing I will say: the time zone difference can be a challenge. My schedule is west coast, which is mildly offset, but a 9 to 5 day on the East Coast equates to 3 am to 11 am in Honolulu, so unless you're able to flex your work schedule, you're basically going to have to separate yourself from normal human hours while you're doing this.

[u/123supreme123]

Make sure your company allows it. Many wont because there's out of state implications for payroll. If you're the owner, do whatever you want.

But for east coast meetings, expect to conduct them all in the morning Hawaii time, which is afternoon east coast time.

Just work out of your home, whether its an airbnb or hotel. Wifi exists, as well as 5g.

Nobody cares if you're a remote worker in a short term rental. Hawaii is full of transients.

[u/PridonRddt]

There are some co working facilities. Internet/wifi is
. Maybe be a little tough to find short term rental. Hotels PCs high, but you can find some older ones about : blocks seaway from the beach that are reasonable.

You might want to google coworking spaces in Hawaii.

Public transport is clean , safe and reliable and Uber/Lyft also. Rental cards and parking are unaffordable, but you can reach almost anywhere on Oahu by bus for about $3.

Weather is fantastic.

[u/laurala808]

You also need to check Hawaiʻi's income tax laws because I am not a tax professional, but from what I've read the state considers remote workers to be domiciled in Hawaiʻi for tax purposes and doesn't have a "short stay" exception.

[u/nian2326076]

If you're planning to work remotely from Honolulu, it's a good idea to check the internet speeds first, as they can vary by area. Look for coworking spaces ahead of time; they can be nice but might cost more than on the mainland. Coffee shops are usually open to remote workers, but try to avoid peak times when locals are also looking for space. LandOffer.ai lists jobs across professions, including non-technical roles.

[u/buttermilkmeeks]

do the coworking spaces here require proof of paying Hawaii state income tax?

if not - they should...

[u/a_rob → u/buttermilkmeeks]

they do not. AFAIK the majority of people in co-working spaces aren't out of state workers, they're creatives without a regular office; at least that was the case a few year ago when I tried it out

[u/uteman1011]

I have an employee on the big island and he has no issues with Internet.

[u/dlmcdowell]

Getting reliable high speed internet in an air bnb should be easy. I know mine has it. Feel free to message me for info.

Also note hawaii does not change time so difference will only hlbe 5 hours in a couple weeks.