Yes.
A comprehensive study by WalletHub has ranked Hawaii as the worst state in which to drive. They evaluated four key dimensions, citing 31 relevant metrics, and this is how they ranked Hawaii specifically:
-
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 49.
-
Traffic & Infrastructure: 39.
-
Safety: 4.
-
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 46.
The department in charge of improving traffic and infrastructure responded by claiming this data doesn't reflect recent improvements. The actual data shows that very little improvement has been made since WalletHub's 2022 study.
The total cost of ownership and maintenance is unlikely to ever meaningfully improve due to the persistently monopolistic nature of the area.
For example, a local dealer refused to repair my family vehicle because OEM parts aren't available. This is the same dealer that previously installed an aftermarket part because they found a lifetime warranty, and now that this exact part needed to be changed again, they refused to honor the warranty. The solution they recommended is to purchase a new vehicle.
Another repair shop fixed this issue in very little time, but this involved paying for the same part again. If the dealer replaced the part, the distributor would have most likely swapped the part for free because this part had no heat, water, or fluid damage.
Hawaii has a lot of roads that are in terrible condition. They're severely neglected. It feels like I'm riding a jackhammer in some locations. To make matters worse, the residents in one county voted out the person who was aggressively repairing these roads.
The main problem that I have with this state is the clown drivers. I'm virtually guaranteed to witness someone speeding past the red light, going significantly over the speed limit, and/or intimidating a pedestrian.
To make matters worse, the drug addicts are always walking on the road looking for insurance money. Nothing is being done because it's the same group of individuals repeatedly walking in the roadway.
Sources:
- "Best & Worst States to Drive in (2026)." Adam McCann. wallethub.com. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 22, 2026.