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The world's largest expat community

Find Out How to Get a Job and Work in Honolulu

  • Connect with fellow expats in Honolulu

  • Join exciting events and groups

  • Get Information in our Honolulu Guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Honolulu

Discover Events & Make New Friends

If you’re wondering how to navigate the challenges of life abroad, you’re not alone. Join InterNations and connect with a community of like-minded expats in the USA! You’ll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new international friends.

Don’t miss a variety of welcoming online and in-person events. Join groups to pursue your hobbies — from sports to music, there’s something for everyone With InterNations, you’ll quickly feel at home wherever life takes you.

What Members are saying

Everyone should join InterNations to enjoy everything from business events to networking to cultural and travel experiences.

Ranim, InterNations Cairo

InterNations helped me meet many people of different cultures - now I'm more open-minded and happier!

Nicholas, InterNations Yaounde

InterNations Worldwide at a Glance

5M

Members

420

Cities Worldwide

200+

Destination Guides

5M

Members around the world

420

Cities Worldwide

6,000

events and activities each month

6,000

events each month

200+

Destination Guides

  • Brian Norris

    When first moving to Washington, D.C., I didn't know many people outside of the office. InterNations has changed that with some exciting events.

Employment in Honolulu

The Local Economy in Honolulu

As Honolulu is the capital city of Hawaii and also the biggest city of all of the Hawaiian Islands, it is also the center for business, trade, and tourism. There is a big military presence in the city, particularly at the naval base that is still in operation at Pearl Harbor. Tourism is also major economic sector in Honolulu and brings billions of dollars into the city every year, providing many people with their jobs, though many of these are temporary in nature or low-skilled.

As Honolulu is perfectly placed between the East and the West it is also an important center for trade between the two. As such, many international businesses have offices and trading centers in the city.

Job Hunting in Honolulu

Finding a job in a major capital city like Honolulu can be approached in many ways. One of the best ways to find work is to look on local recruitment websites and search for the industry that you are interested in.

Local newspapers such as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Pacific Business News are also an excellent facility, and regularly have job adverts and news about local and international businesses that operate within the city and within Hawaii as a whole.

Work Permits for Honolulu

In order to work within Hawaii your prospective employer must file a petition on your behalf with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Only when and if, your petition is successful will you be able to begin working in Honolulu. It is therefore hard to find casual work within the United States, and it is even more difficult to get a so-called Green Card, i.e. the right to remain for permanent residence.

Hawaii State has quite a low unemployment rate, though expats who wish to work in skilled professions such as medicine may have to take American exams in order to be given the right to practice. Though there are many jobs available in Hawaii in the tourism sectors, these tend to be low-skilled jobs and therefore might not appeal or even be an option for expatriates who are dependent on a worker visa.

Education is also another popular sector for expat employment, with many expats choosing to teach in the city’s colleges and universities.

See all upcoming events for expats in Honolulu

Our Global Partners

  • Brian Norris

    When first moving to Washington, D.C., I didn't know many people outside of the office. InterNations has changed that with some exciting events.

  • Caroline Stiles

    In such an international city such as Washington, D.C. InterNations holds great events for everyone to network and enjoy themselves.

Our Global Partners

Other Communities in United States of America

Like-Minded Expatriates in Honolulu

United States Guide Topics