Get a Free Flight and Work Remotely From Hawaii
If you’re a remote worker who’s tired of the same dark corner of your home, why not pack up and move to Hawaii? The government program offers remote out-of-state workers free round-trip tickets to Oahu for those who wish to live and work there and contribute to the state’s economy.
The temporary residency program, known as Movers and Shakas , is accepting its first group of applicants until December 15th. You can apply here . Fifty people will be selected initially, but later applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. The program also offers discounts on accommodation and jobs.
According to the program’s Frequently Asked Questions, the ideal candidate is “a full-time person capable of working anywhere, living in the spirit of Aloha and looking to invest in the community they choose to call their home.”
What’s the catch?
This is not really a gimmick, but if you are chosen, you will have to join the state’s Promise Our Keiki program, which includes volunteering for a few hours a week to improve the local community with the help of local non-profit organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii or Girl. Hawaii Scouts. Hawaii has been hit by a pandemic due to the disappearance of tourism ( unemployment rate is 14.3% ), so the idea of the program is to invest money and skills in the local economy.
“Beyond contributing valuable dollars to our local business, the real value lies in attracting talented knowledge workers to help build our communities through volunteer work and make our economies more resilient, ” Richard Matsui, founder of the program, told CNN . …
Requirements and other considerations
In addition to sharing your time and skills, there are a few other requirements or considerations in the program to think about before applying.
- You must be a remote U.S. worker and at least 18 years of age.
- The program does not support people working in the United States on work visas.
- If this option is selected, you will have less than a month to move to Hawaii.
- Participants must be in Hawaii for at least 30 consecutive days.
- Although Hawaii has the lowest COVID infection rate per capita in the country, travel restrictions still apply. A 14-day quarantine is required upon arrival, although a negative test provided to the state prior to departure may allow visitors and residents to circumvent the quarantine requirements.