This is a guide to the benefits you receive during your first 60 days on island.

Have a question? Ask the Facebook Group.

The Good News: You Make Good Money While House Hunting

Here’s a little secret about benefits while house hunting in Hawaii:

• Hotel cost is reimbursed for a maximum of 60 days
• Per diem covers meals for up to 60 days
• Cost of living allowance (COLA) starts when you arrive
• Full housing (BAH) entitlement starts as soon as you arrive

You get all of these benefits at the same time. Since you live in a hotel while house hunting, your BAH is pure extra cash that you can use to help you get started on the island. Add in any per diem you save back while house hunting, plus COLA, and it’s reasonable to make an extra $1,400 every 10 days while looking for a home.

It’s surprising that TLA, COLA, and BAH are paid at the same time, but it is perfectly legal. I’ll cover each of these allowances in detail below.

Side note: If you are moving to Hawaii you should check out the Amex Platinum card which offers free access to airport lounges, hotel upgrades, and many other travel benefits, but the annual $550 fee is waived for military. See my post on it here!

The Bad News: You May Need the Extra Money

The only “bad” news is that may need that extra money if you decide to live off base. Let’s say you rent a home for $2,500 a month. Your landlord will likely require one month’s deposit, plus first month’s rent up front.

So within 30 days of arriving on island you may have to pay $5,000 to move into your house!

That’s a big expense. We personally used the extra money to pay back the cost of shipping our second car from South Carolina, as we had already saved up for a security deposit. The military only pays to ship one car to Hawaii, unless you are a dual military couple.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) Explained

TLA is an OCONUS allowance provided to offset “more than normal” expenses while searching for a home. It is provided in 10-day increments and is based on number of dependents and current per diem rates.

Check in with your base housing office to start TLA. They provide a checklist to track homes you look at while house hunting. To continue receiving TLA, you need to show you are actively looking for a home on or off base.

TLA Formula

1.  Determine your TLA percentage using the table below

2.  Multiply that percentage by the local per diem rate. For  2017 it is:

Current per diem rates: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm

Example TLA Calculation

If you are married and have two children under age 12, your total percentage is 150%. So you would receive:

$265.50 per day for lodging (177 * 150%)
$184.50 per day per diem (123 * 150%)

When calculating per diem use Local Meals + Local Incidental.

Of course you will only be paid actual lodging costs. So in this case, $265.50 is the max.

Note: If your assigned quarters contain facilities for preparing meals (e.g. small kitchen with a stove), your per diem (not lodging) is reduced by 50%. Something to keep in mind!

When Does TLA End?

Base Housing: If you are assigned base housing but cannot move in for three weeks, then your TLA will continue until base housing is available.

Renting a Home: Once you have the keys to your home then TLA ends. If you sign a lease, but the home is not available for 10 more days due to cleaning or old tenants moving out, then your TLA will continue until you can actually move in.

Purchase a Home: If you purchase a home you can use TLA until you get the keys and move in. So if you purchase a new home and it is not available for three weeks, you should receive TLA until it is available.

Not actively searching: If the housing office feels you are not actively searching for a home, then they can terminate your TLA. You need to show you are looking at reasonable homes. The maximum available time to search for a home is 60 days. I’ve heard that some housing offices complain as you approach the 60 day mark.

Assigned to Barracks: If you are assigned to on-base barracks you may not receive TLA at all if quarters are available when you show up.

Should you stay on or off base while house hunting?

Most military will need a base lodging non-availability letter to seek a hotel off base. I would definitely stay off base if it is an option. You can’t beat getting paid to stay on the beach at a hotel such as the Hale Koa or Hilton Hawaiian Village.

However, there are a few drawbacks to staying off base. High food costs at the hotels in Waikiki will eat into your per diem. In addition, parking could cost you around $18 to $30 per night! You will not be reimbursed for parking; it will come out of your per diem. Finally, driving in and out of Waikiki is a pain and can add a lot of time on the road while looking for a home, or driving to your workplace once you report in.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

COLA is an entitlement while stationed in Hawaii to help offset the high cost of living. It ranges from about $500 – $1,500 a month and is determined by rank, time in service, number of dependents, and whether you are assigned to barracks. Overseas COLA (which includes Hawaii) is NOT taxed.

Enter your options into the overseas COLA calculator to see your allowance: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/colaCalc.cfm

The example screenshot below shows that an E-7 with 12 years of service, and three dependents (wife and two kids) receives $389.00 each pay period, or $778.00 per month in COLA. COLA is adjusted once a year, so it may change during your assignment.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) vs Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)

While in Hawaii you receive standard BAH rates for a US zip code (Pearl Harbor is 96860). Though sometimes considered an “overseas” move, you do not receive OHA while stationed in Hawaii.

The chart on the next page shows BAH rates for the island of O’ahu, where almost all Hawaiian military bases are located (Pearl Harbor, Hickam AFB, Schofield, MCB Kaneohe, Fort Shafter). BAH in Hawaii has gone up significantly over the last five years. An E-7 with dependents received $2637 in 2012, but will receive $3075 in 2014.

If you stay on base, privatized housing will take your entire BAH as payment for base housing. If you are dual military, they will take dependent rate BAH, and provide a single rate payment for the lower ranking spouse. Of note, if you are promoted while in base housing, they will take the higher BAH for the next rank as well.

As a side note, base housing in Hawaii is a good deal money-wise. Utility costs are very high in Hawaii. Receiving free electricity and water on base saves you a lot of money.

Summary

I hope you found this guide useful. Scroll below to see the BAH and TLA charts.

Please contact me if you see any errors or this document, or have a different experience with one of the benefits. Email with any questions on moving to Hawaii. I’m happy to help.

Appendix 1 Oahu, Hawaii BAH Rate Chart

Current rates at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

Appendix 2: TLA Pay Chart

TLA Pay Chart as of 1 Jan 2017

Have a question? Ask the Facebook Group. 

1. Can I ship both of my cars to Hawaii?

The government will only ship one of your cars for free. You will have to pay to ship the second vehicle. We used Pasha to ship our car and it cost $2,000 from South Carolina to Hawaii.

2. Is living in Hawaii expensive?

Yes, but between your BAH and COLA you will be covered fairly well. The biggest expense I see is housing, utilities, fuel, and groceries. The BAH covers your housing, COLA covers your extra fuel cost (and hopefully your utilities), and the commissary helps reduce your grocery bill. Trust me – you have it much better than the locals when it comes to this stuff.

3. Does XM radio work in Hawaii?

Yes

4. Does Amazon Prime work in Hawaii?

Sort of. You get free shipping on most items, but cannot ship two-day for free like you normally can.

5. Is it expensive to fly back to the mainland?

Yes. Tickets back home are around $800 per person, but much cheaper if you’re only flying to California.

6. Should I live on base or off base?

If you wan to save money, live on base. You will save a lot on utilities, which are typically $200 – $300 per month for electricity and $100 for water. The schools on base are known to be better as well, a lot of public schools off base have bad reputations. However, living off base will probably get you a bigger, nicer house.

7. How long do I have to look for a home in Hawaii?

Maximum 60 days. You have to check in with your housing office when you arrive on island. They will give you a form to fill out which shows you are looking at homes. You have to check in every 15 days and show that you are trying to find a home, by showing the list of homes you’ve looked at. I’ve heard that the 60 days can be extended but takes some work and extra approval.

8. How much money do I get while looking for a home?

A lot. BHA + TLA + COLA. More details here.

9. What’s so great about living in Hawaii?

My favorite part is the weather, which is almost constantly at 78 degrees. My kids play outside every day after school with neighborhood kids. They ride their bikes around with shorts and t-shirts on while I sit outside and BBQ. I like BBQ’ing in the evening, or getting together with neighbors to drink a beer.

Of course, the beach is amazing. We used to go once a week but now go maybe once a month. Everybody is very friendly here and relaxed. I love wearing flip flops all the time! Get a nice pair of Reef sandals, they are so comfortable.

10. What do you not like about Hawaii?

My commute to work is tough and involves a lot of traffic. It’s expensive to fly home, so we can’t see family on the mainland as often as we would like (although they do visit us more often!). It’s hard to find good schools for my kids, and private schools are plentiful but expensive. Shipping is expensive, so you have to try and buy more things local rather than through the internet. Most neighborhoods are a bit crowded.

11. Best places to live off base?

Nicest, affordable homes: Ewa Beach or Kapolei. Downside to these areas is a bad commute, and more expensive utilities due to the homes being in a hotter area (need to run A/C).

Best schools, somewhat affordable homes: Mililani

Nice area, good commute: Kaneohe, Kailua. Homes here are expensive for what you get.

12. Can I ship all my stuff to Hawaii?

Yes. You can ship your full weight allowance, just like you are moving within the mainland. As an extra benefit, you can choose to put some items in government storage. I did this with my riding lawn mower. You do not need a riding lawn mower in Hawaii!

13. Are military discounts available on the island?

Yes! Check out Great Life Hawaii to find lots of deals from ITT. Some of my favorite deals: Hanauma Bay is free for military. Hilton Hawaiian Village has great deals for local residents. Try to stay in the Rainbow Tower, and stay on Friday night so you can watch the fireworks at 7:45PM.

One of the best military benefits on the island is the Hale Koa. Even if you don’t stay there, the parking garage is cheap and gets you into Waikiki for the day. I also love their pool, which is near the beach and is free to military any time, even if you don’t stay there. The Barefoot Bar nearby has drinks much cheaper than the Hilton or surrounding hotels.

14. Are the schools bad?

From what I’ve heard (my son is just starting Kindergarten) public schools in Hawaii do not challenge kids. They will likely study at a lower level than kids in the mainland. Some of the schools are crowded and are on a multitrack schedule, which means rather than have a summer off, kids attend year-round and have breaks during different parts of the year.

One thing I was surprised is that many schools do not have air conditioning. The schools can get hot, and teachers encourage kids to bring a bottle of water in their backpack.

Private schools are all over the island, but are expensive. We looked at a couple (such as Island Pacific Academy) that were $14K per year.

15. Is there a lot to do on the island?

Yes! However, don’t see everything in your first week on the island. Spread out visiting the big sights or wait for family to visit so you can see them together. For instance, I waited for my Dad to visit before seeing the USS Arizona. It was great seeing it together for the first time rather than running through it a second time.

After a year or so you’ve probably visited all the big sights. You can then visit different beaches, go on one of many hikes, take a boat tour, or find a new restaurant. Finally, if you’re really tired of the island, you can go visit another nearby island!

16. Do you ever get “island fever”?

My wife and I have never experienced this. The island is fairly big and there is a lot to do. A mountain divides the island in half, so if you’re ever bored you can drive to the other side, and it feels like a different area. Kailua looks a lot different than Honolulu, and the North Shore looks much different when compared to Ko Olina.

Before moving to Hawaii I heard about two problems: the traffic and the schools. Well I’m here on the island and I’m going to tell you the ground truth. Yes, O’ahu has bad traffic during certain times of day, in certain areas. But it’s not all bad!

Why O’ahu Has Bad Traffic

All of the affordable housing on O’ahu is near Ewa Beach, Mililani, and Kapolei, which are on the west side and central part of the island. But most of the jobs are near Pearl Harbor, Hickam AFB, and Honolulu.

Every morning commuters travel from the affordable housing to their jobs, and back home in the evening. The choke point for this traffic is the H-1 and H-2 merge.

There is little room for accidents or breakdowns on Hawaii’s freeways. So a simple flat tire involving a tow track can slow traffic significantly. Since that car takes up an open lane, all the cars have to merge over to get around the stuck vehicle.

Is it always bad?

Here’s the good news. Traffic in Hawaii is packed during the morning and evening commutes, but is very clear the rest of the time.

So if you live in Ewa Beach and need to pick up a friend from the airport at 9Am, you will have an easy drive. Likewise, driving on the weekend is fast and convenient to most parts of the island.

The bad traffic is mostly confined to H-1 and the portion of H-2 flowing into H-1.

Choosing a Home Based on Traffic

You only need to be concerned about the traffic if you’re considering living in the following areas:

Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani, or Waikiki

AND you’re commuting to Hickam AFB, Pearl Harbor, Camp Smith, Fort Shafter, or Tripler Medical Center.

If you’re stationed at Schofield Barracks or MCB Kaneohe, you’re lucky. Schofield has some great housing near by (Mililani), that is very close to base. MCB Kaneohe has expensive housing nearby, but we’ll save that for another article – this is about traffic, and I don’t think folks at MCB Kaneohe are stuck in traffic very often.

Morning Commute from Ewa Beach or Kapolei

This commute is known as the worst on the island. It’s bittersweet because this is where all the beautiful, affordable homes are! It’s a tough drive. Whether it is worth it is up to you.

If you want to beat the traffic for this commute you have to get up early! The traffic pattern works like this:

• Before 5:30AM you can drive anywhere on the island with minimal slowdown
• At 5:30AM traffic starts to slow on H-1E near exit 7 by Waikele, adding about 10 minutes to your commute
• By 6:00AM the traffic slows down by Ewa Beach, adding 20 minutes to your commute
• Between 6:00AM and 7:30AM the traffic adds at least 25 minutes to your commute

Commute from Mililani to Hickam/Pearl Harbor

This commute is slightly better than coming from Ewa Beach. The merge onto H-1 will slow you down, adding 20 or more minutes to your commute time between 6-7:30AM.

Commute from Kaneohe to Hickam/Pearl Harbor

Due to the construction of the H-3 freeway, the commute from Kaneohe or Kailua to the other side of the island is a breeze.

You can expect this drive to take around 35 minutes. It’s a better drive than Ewa Beach because there is rarely any traffic. The only traffic I’ve ever heard of is the tunnel getting blocked due to an accident. Besides that, it’s smooth sailing.

Oh, and the scenery along this raised freeway is amazing!

Traffic Near Waikiki

There is no easy way to get in and out of Waikiki, so expect it to take an hour to get there from most locations on the island. But there are no military bases in this area, so going to Waikiki is more of a splurge.

If you live at the Hale Koa while house hunting this may impact you. But come on, you’re at the Hale Koa! There’s not much to complain about.

How to Decrease your Commute Time

Hawaii has a “zip lane” that is open in the morning from 5-8:30AM. They allow cars with 3 or more passengers, motorcycles, and buses. A giant truck moves blocks into the west-bound lane, taking one of the lanes to make H-1E wider.

For most military it’s not that useful because it’s tricky to organize three people to leave and come home at the same time every day. But if you drive a motorcycle it’s a slick way to bypass the traffic and get to Hickam or Pearl Harbor or the other bases in that area.

If you can organize a few folks, DoD has a great program that gives you a free van with gas to use as a commute car.

Useful Links

Hawaii Traffic Cameras – Best one to view is H-1/H-2 merge

Final Note: Speeding on O’ahu

I got a speeding ticket during my first week on the island. The top speed limit on the island is 65mph. But most areas on H-1 are 55.

The police like to hide on curves or on the incline of a hill. They park their motorcycle and stand near it with a radar gun. The first time you see this you will think a motorcyclist is pulled over on the road! The police are out checking for speeders often.

The police seem unforgiving and wrote me a ticket for the exact speed I was over. In addition, I forgot to put my insurance card in my glove compartment after I picked it up from the shipping company. So I got a ticket for that as well!

Friendliest Drivers in the US?

You may find crowded traffic in Hawaii, but what you won’t find is rude drivers or hostility. You rarely hear a car horn on the island. I used it once when the driver in front of me failed to move at a green light. Everybody looked at me like I was an asshole!

Hawaiians are friendly when dealing with merging traffic, and usually take turns letting people in rather than blocking cars in a merging lane. You’ll often see the “shaka” sign when you let someone in your lane, as a thank you.

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