LIHUE — For Corey Cruzada, a Native Hawaiian who just gave birth to her first child, there is a lot to be happy about.
Her home state offers an abundance of things to do, and she said she can’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be.
“I like the culture here and plan to stay in Hawaii. I love to hike and run,” the new mother said.
For years, Hawaii was the happiest state in the union, at least according to Gallup poll surveys. But Gallup’s latest poll dropped Hawaii to eighth place — the first time the state hasn’t been ranked No. 1 in five years.
Who dethroned Hawaii?
North Dakota, actually, the state in the midst of an oil boom, whose unemployment numbers have been minuscule going on years now.
But like others who live on the Garden Isle, cost of living is a concern, Cruzada said. Still, the benefits outweigh the challenges, regardless of the recent ranking.
“I’m still happy here,” she said.
But Hawaii is still smiling, right? After all, top-ranked North Dakota averages 51 inches of snow a year.
A retired trucker, Robert McClurg of Kalaheo, wasn’t surprised the happiness ranking dropped here.
He complained about land usage, landfill issues, the lack of property available for locals and tax increases.
“The government is no longer for the people,” he said. “It’s for the rich.”
Karen Hobson, of Kapahi, moved to Kauai from Durham, N.C. with her husband a year ago because of her husband’s job in the hotel industry. She divides her time between two jobs to make ends meet.
“It’s super expensive to live here,” she said. “The food and household costs are double what they were on the Mainland.”
Due to a budget, their twice a month restaurant excursions have been replaced by taking in the natural beauty and free activities.
“We love to go hiking. There’s a lot of free stuff to do here like going to the beach. All you have to pay for is the gas,” says Hobson. “It is country living but we don’t have to worry about snow and ice.”
Melissa Olstad is a transplant from the cold country of Minnesota and Wisconsin. In line with the Gallup survey, she is less happy living in Kapaa than when she moved to Hawaii four years ago.
“Everybody here in Hawaii, it seems, has to work three jobs to make ends meet,” she said. “I work more now and see less of the sights I used to love to see.”
Olstad remarked about the abundance of activities on the island including snorkeling, biking and gardening year round. There just isn’t enough time to enjoy them all because she works 24/7.
“My boss knows I don’t feel appreciated,” she said. “I need more time off and more money.”
Several variables considered in the Gallup poll rating of 176,000 Americans included work environment, physical and emotional health, accessibility to basic necessities, and overall satisfaction with how people are faring now and their expectations down the road.
“Kauai is still a really good place to live,” said a longtime island resident who relocated years ago from New York to the Eastside.
“I try to go outside every day and enjoy the beauty,” said the transplant, who asked not to be identified. “But the soul of Kauai is fading. The island is losing its balance. People are forgetting to treat others as they would want to be treated.”
But Olstad said the secret to making Hawaii feel like home is the key to happiness.
“Make your own Hawaiian family here,” she said. “When you have no family here, you bond with the locals like they are your family. It’s really important to make those kinds of connections to be happy. That is what I have done.”
