Hawai‘i Named America’s Happiest State

In a recent study conducted by WalletHub, Hawai‘i ranked as America’s happiest state in the union. This comes as no surprise to those of us who live here. With Hawai‘i’s ideal climate, abundant natural beauty, and genuine aloha shared between family, friends, neighbors, and communities, it’s no wonder Hawai‘i residents are some of the happiest people in the country.

Snorkeling in the crystal clear Hawai‘i ocean. Pictured above, Hawai‘i Life agent & Maui adventure lover Lena Stroheker.

We are also are some of the healthiest and have the best longevity, according to many studies. Hawai‘i residents have the longest life expectancy of any of the 50 states. We are thriving and enjoying life for an average of more than 82 years.

You may be thinking: Are there actually folks who study happiness? Yes. Their field: happiness research. Do they eat ice cream all day while swinging in a hammock to test their theories? No. But we do. (Joking: we actually get some work done between hammock swings.)

Happiness research examines environmental factors that are linked to a person’s well-being and fulfillment in life. Economic, emotional, physical, and social health are all contributing factors to our overall happiness, according to happiness research.

WalletHub drew upon these findings and looked at 32 key metrics to determine which states enjoy the greatest levels of well-being. These included rates of depression, job satisfaction, divorce, income growth and unemployment, among other factors. In 2020, the study also included positive COVID-19 testing rates to determine their final rankings.

Hawai‘i ranked #1 overall, and #2 for factors contributing to emotional and physical well-being. The Rainbow State came in third place for community and environmental factors, and in 16th place in the work environment category. Hopefully, with so many of us working remotely this year (read: not commuting), that last category will see improvements by 2021.

Photo Credit: Hawaii Life real estate pro Anna Severson of Maui. Read her recent blog here.

Hawai‘i ranked:

• #1 Overall
• #2 in Emotional and Physical Well-Being
• #2 in Lowest Share of Adult Depression
• #4 in Lowest Divorce Rate
• #5 in Highest Income Growth
• #16 in Work Environment

Loving her work environment and work-life balance on Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i Life agent Christian Weis.

Weirdly, we ranked #50 in getting adequate sleep. I guess there’s just too much sun, surf, beach time, hiking, biking, watersports, boating, and natural beauty to enjoy. Most Hawai‘i residents wake up stoked to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful beaches and trails.

Fun Fact: Hawai‘i Life staffers have been working remotely or using a flex-time approach to the workweek for years. We understand that work-life balance is part of a healthy, happy Hawai‘i Life. For us, that means having the flexibility to enjoy quality time with friends and family and to de-stress by spending time in nature.

Bamboo Forest Pathway