A study out today has prominently featured Hawaii’s popularity, and it got our attention, largely due to your prolific comments. It is from YouGov, an “International research data and analytics group headquartered in London.”
What YouGov said about Hawaii is this. Your opinion of our state, and we’ll add of our Aloha, relate largely to your political views. We honestly hadn’t thought about that much. But that got us thinking because of so many politically inspired comments, which we’ve received by the tens of thousands since COVID.
YouGov said that “Americans have strong opinions on the best and worst states in the country, but… many of the stances are driven by partisanship.” That sure appears to be true from our observations.
The YouGov survey was intended to find the best and worst states. Americans were asked to choose “the better of two states in a series of head-to-head matchups.” What they found was there was wide-scale partisanship involved in people’s thinking. Political party affiliation was largely the determining factor.
Hawaii wins the best state for some.
Hawaii won with 80%, according to Democrats. California and Oregon followed that. YouGov found that “Every state in Democrats’ top 17 voted for Joe Biden in the presidential election.”
Hawaii came in 18th for others.
Republicans did not prefer Hawaii but chose Florida as the best state with a resounding 82% win. That was followed by Arizona and Alaska.
Of interest to us, wherein Rob is a statistician by training was the YouGov methodology. “1,211 US adults were asked to choose the better of two states… in a series of head-to-head matchups… We would like you to select the state that you think is the better state. … Data was weighted to be nationally representative of all US Adults, 18+. The survey was conducted between March 12 – 15, 2021.”
Do you think they had enough survey participants to reach this conclusion? You can see their entire study here.
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I’m with Phil L & Paul E here. Though my own philosophy skews left, I think that as an American I can happily find a home anywhere, without letting politics dampen either my curiosity or appreciation for diversity of culture. The beauty of Wyoming and vistas of Big Sky Montana are a gift that we all are participants in. The indigenous peoples stewarded this land a millennium before we arrived at our 21st-c. polarizations, and I’ll have none of that directing the breadth of a thoughtful life.
Coming from the UK I am familiar with this organization and indeed have participated in several studies. There is an inherent skew in their results as they are solely recruiting from those who at least semi IT literate, This results in a left leaning sub thirties strong bias. The phrasing of questions and methodology employed would indicate a subconscious bias so I would approach any of their surveys with caution. They are useful for color but need to be balanced by surveys that attempt to be more inclusive of the complete population. Of course doing it there way is much cheaper which is why they do it and their advertisers are only interested in the younger age group IT early adopters. So take it with a pinch of salt as they say in UK. Personally I am rather glad if students want to go to Florida to get drunk rather than Hawaii but then I have had my fun as a youth when I did my dumb stuff…..
Hi Rich.
Thanks for that input on this study. We appreciate your more than 100 comments.
Aloha.
I’m a republican and really like living in California and visiting Hawaii. Happy to be the outlier.
Aloha,
I think Hawaii and specifically Kauai did exactly what they needed to do to keep their citizens safe and reduce spread of Covid-19. People’s lives outweighs those who feel entitled to do whatever they want. I applaud the taking care of the citizens over tourism during the past year.
Yes, I am a Democrat who has lived in a Red state for too many years and we would agree with the list and yes there is partisan divide. We are looking to retire and Hawaii, California, and Oregon are our choices. We have gone to Hawaii most years since 1987 for vacation and to visit family. We don’t ever visit and would never live in Florida, Texas, or Alaska. Those states are too discriminatory for us to feel safe. Hawaii we always thought of as home and it’s time to come home for good.
An interesting study and thanks for sharing. My opinion of the better or worse of two states in a head-to-head survey would differ from a question of would I prefer to live there or visit. As I prefer to keep the government out of my life (since I am an adult and can manage fine fine, thank you) I would prefer living in a state that politically supports freedom over mandates/legislative approaches. My opinion of beauty and relaxation opportunities would/could change that choice, i.e., TX vs. HI.
BOH,
I have loved all of Hawaii since R&R from SE Asia in the early 70’s. Had a home on Maui for ten years in the 90’s. My daughter and her family (2 grandkids) live on Kauai. As for politics I dislike liberals/democrats BUT fly back and forth to Kauai to visit family multiple times per year – except for COVID. If my family did not live in the islands I would be inclined to visit Texas or Florida for vacations. This especially because Hawaii monetizes EVERYTHING they can stick to “tourists” without the necessary Aloha spirits. I’m surprised that walking on a beach does not come with a $5 fee.
Thank you and, yes, we did cancel our annual March trip because of your governor and his inability to govern. My first since 1989.
Many of the residents on Maui are sick of not being heard and inaction by the state to make their daily lives easier regarding the HUGE impact that tourism has. Too many cars on two lane roads with slow speed limits, no turn outs and no promised Paia bypass are the biggest for Northshore residents.
Start charging a fee to tourists to use beach parking lots, do a toll road to Hana for all rental vehicles and tour vans that is electronically charged at the junction of Kaupakalua Road to Ulupalakua. Charge $10 per vehicle then fund the bypass and other county projects with it. Add the turnouts and passing lanes.
If tourists want to come here they will regardless of these small charges and the residents would finally feel valued by the state. If you want The Aloha to continue here, then give some to your residents. Maui and the other islands aren’t Disneyland. It’s becoming ridiculous. Ive been here since the 80s and at times want to leave because of these issues.
Aloha BOH.
You didn’t mention the margin of error, and I have not yet visited the Yougov. methodology. That 1200 sample size is not much different than Gallup U.S. sampling with ~3% margin of error. I would assume that theirs is similar. These snapshots in time only hint at where the U.S. population stands at the moment, but I would say that the disparity (almost inverse relationship) between R’s and D’s, relative to FL compared with HI indicates that political affiliation does have a causal relationship between state preferences.
Also, was the study one that sought responses to “visiting” vs. “moving”?
Only 1211 people participated in the survey. Seems like a very small sampling size. It also depends if they have ever been to a different state and if they can afford to visit/move to the state. I would assume that demographics plays a huge role too (race, income, ect). Politics alone is not a significant factor. I suspect most people can’t afford to live in HI but can afford FL.
1211 for a survey isn’t really considered a small sampling size. Many surveys fall within 500-1500 people. They weight the results to equate what the population looks like. The political party aspect could throw things off as now adays self identifying Republicans tend to be less likely to answer polls (or so the analysis of the 2020 election polling identifies anyway).
Yougov is not known to be a good pollster. I’d have to check, but pretty sure they get a B or C rating by Nate Silver on accuracy etc.
Thank you for this report but I do believe it was slightly misrepresented in how it was written. You have a travel site and your headline mentions “Best” state. I live in California which I love, and also love to vacation in Hawaii. I am a staunch Conservative and certainly would not vote for either of them as “Best” state. I read Beat of Hawaii every time it’s in my inbox. What you have written over the past year, and with your State affiliation, has not come close to me appreciating your state in so many ways. Let’s face it, Hawaii, California and Alaska, your winners, probably won because location, not how they function as a state. I do believe that either the angle you presented the study was skewed or the study lacked specificity. Having said that, I can’t wait to return to Hawaii, my favorite vacation destination.
They weren’t HIS winners. They were the winners from the YouGov Survey. Beat of Hawaii has NOTHING to do with this poll other than reporting on it. I’m lost at what your point is.
I love visiting my family on Kauai and friends on Oahu. I used to go there every year for 2 weeks un until my Mom sold her lovely and secluded Kailua Oahu home and moved to The Villages FL. Then I started going to visit her in The Villages FL 2003 – 2021, until she passed away this past Dec. I love Hawaii. It;’s my spiritual home, but the politics of today has taken over the islands. If the state requires a vaccine passport to visit, I will not go there, and I have to bury my mom’s ashes next to her mother’s and grandfather’s graves on Kauai. The ashes may never get there. I refuse to take the shot, as it is not a vaccine but a genetically modified DNA splicing technology using CRISPR tech. I may end up putting her ashes in the Pacific Ocean.
So, the governmental leadership of Hawaii has to make some serious decisions. Do they follow the fraud of Fauci and the Democrat Party’s scar tactics =, or do they actually follow the facts, data and research and do the right thing and completely, without restrictions, open up the state like Tx, FL and other states have done, and without issues. Lockdown your state to only vaccine passport users and you’ll lose your economy faster than the Coyote loses the cash for the proverbial Roadrunner.
I’m sure the Florida vs Hawaii debate will grow on here but the vaccine debate should be framed with
the fact that the vaccines are saving thousands and thousands of lives vs some pretty questionable conspiracy plandemic/Mercola etc
perspectives arguing against all those lives saved.
As far as politics go, Florida has had 34,120 Covid deaths to date and Hawaii has had 471…..Hawaii’s approach vs Florida’s saved a lot of lives any way you shake it.
Personally Greg I would put my Mother’s wishes above politics, you can always just take a test before you come.
Aloha
Aloha Greg.
Please feel free to make your own decisions about vaccine and travel, but please understand better the actual technology of mRNA. RNA differs significantly from DNA. DNA determines your lifelong characteristics (e.g. eye color)and is the repository of the instructions necessary for the growth, development and reproduction of each individual, inherited from parents to their descendants. It is contained in the nuclei of our individual cells, organized in chromosomes: each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes.
RNA, in this case a “messenger” RNA participates in the synthesis of proteins and in the transmission of the information contained in the DNA.
In the case of Pfizer and Moderna, the spike protein wrapped in a lipid barrier signals to the natural defenses in the body to be on the lookout for the spike protein of CV-19 and apparently most variants.
In NO WAY does this technology actually edit a gene (CRISPR).
Thank you for your succinct, and accurate, clarification!
Aloha,
Sue
Hello. To claim that Texas And Florida have fully reopened ‘without issue’ is a wildly inaccurate statement. Thanks.
Thank you Greg for your comments. I feel the same as you. I lived on Kauai for 8 years and Oahu for 6 years prior to that. I still own property on Kauai and Big Island and I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see Kauai again as long as Ige, Green, and the idiotic Mayors are calling the shots (no pun intended). They have destroyed lives, Hawaii’s economy, and have turned locals against visitors.
Hello. Thank you for this interesting article.
I agree with the very first comment indicating that the question should have read your favorite State to vacation, and your favorite State to live in as a full time resident.
I am an open-minded conservative, and live in Florida. It’s a wonderful state. I just returned from Kauai, after a 9 month stay, and will be going back in June. I can love Hawaii, without always agreeing with the politics. Thank you.
Hi Laurel.
Thanks for your input on this study.
Aloha.
Yes! Partisanship for sure. The mask mandates should be lifted! If the mandates are not lifted, Alaska, Arizona, Florida and Texas, to name a few, would be ideal places to visit. My opinion, though! Thanks!
This bodes very well for the future of Hawaii tourism. If people that promote conspiracy theories and are comfortable with Florida’s politics vs ours stay away we will all be better off and Hawaii’s special standing as representative of the Aloha spirit will be enhanced. I don’t mean that to pick on any individual and I have no problem with anybody from anywhere on the political spectrum…….until they feel the need to aggressively flaunt hate and anger and support aggressive white nationalism….those people do not belong in Hawaii…..and no not all Republicans are like that, but the many ones that are will be happier in Florida.
Thanks for your succinct, brilliant observation. I am Malahini since childhood, having lived in rural Hawaii for two decades. I enjoy people (tourist) watching and have also seen the relocating Malahini come and go over those years. Hawaii is truly magical and different than any of the 49 states (Alaska, sorry…) I have visited. She tends to accept those who love her and spit out those who for whatever reasons can’t live aloha. I am thankful every morning to her and the universe for blessing us.
Just paddle out into the line-up as a visitor and you can also witness all the hate, anger, and aggressive Hawaiian nationalism. And no, not all Hawaiians are like that. Unfortunately there is plenty of hate, anger, and aggressiveness on both sides of the political and racial isle.
Guy your surfing analogy is a great one. If you paddle out into most lineups and show respect you will likely have a great time.
If you paddle out and start trying to aggressively snake waves? Not so much.
It’s kind of like an extreme version of the tourist vs local debate on here. As it pertains to this article the tourists who have embraced the perspective of a very narcissistic man who prioritizes self interest over the welfare of all will never really understand what Aloha means.
They would be much happier swatting flies on the beach at Mar Lago.
In my experience , respect got me nothing but these are our waves and stay out of the way. I love Kauai! I’ve gone there at least once a year for the last 19 years. Just saying that aloha doesn’t live in every Hawaiians heart like we are led to believe.
The question should have been, what is the best state to live in and what is the best state to visit.
Thanks for including this survey on today’s Beat of Hawaii. I am one of the panel members of Yougov. (Although was not chosen for this survey) and I can completely concur that the findings are likely statistically correct. We just returned from a 2 week vacation on Oahu and Maui and my observation from the compliance on mask wearing and other COVID related requirements demonstrated that the vast majority followed the rules (my sense that means that they were Democrats). We love Hawaii and would rather vacation there every other year than take a vacation to Florida. Obviously we are Democrats 😀
We will be back in 2023.
Bev,
Florida and Hawaii differ in so many ways other than politics. East coast vs West. Big flat state vs Island. Even the type of terrain, heat, and weather! Fortunately I can afford to step away from the politics others prioritize! Owning two homes in California and one in Kauai, we soon will sell one more California home that is smack dab center in the area ruined with ONE party monopoly rule. Already Cashed out a “rent control” California rental for a retirement home in Kauai. The Bay Area Primary residence is next! Leaving most of the CA Taxes, rent control, and the cancel culture. Kauai will be our primary home, but we’ll keep the far Northern California Plumas County home for seeing our family here. People in some parts of CA still support free speech. Being in Kauai October 2020 just before the election showed it too to be less about party lines than the Kauai community. A different politics. Your assumptions are right on target since you were in Oahu and Maui. Honolulu is no less left than SF? Keep going there! About your judgement about(not) wearing a mask. I instead found Kauai mask wearing more about island cultural Aloha courtesy after getting off the plane and out of the airport.
Aloha
You… and over 6 million other people.
I live in Texas near the Gulf Coast and readily travel to Hawaii for my beach time relaxation. My family loves Hawaii. I always go through minor depression as I am driving back to the airport on my final day on island. I can’t express how excited I am to be heading back to Kauai in August.
I think you answered your own question. You can see from the comments over the last year that the views on how Hawaii was handling COVID were VERY much partisan. None of this surprises me, we have become a country that is divided along political lines. These divisions run deep and affect nearly every view that people hold. However, things have become more pronounced over the last 4 years, that’s for sure. Specifically when it comes to “what’s the better state” this isn’t anything new either. Conservatives always view states that are overall “conservative” as “better”, and they view states that are more “liberal” as “socialist hellholes”. The same tends to be true of liberals as well. They view more liberal states like Hawaii and California as “better” than the “fascist hellholes” of conservative states like Texas and Florida.
@Joerg, I would like to offer a correction. The comments over the last year were often deeply partisan. However, Hawaii’s handling of the pandemic, with the Covid-19 lowest death rate of any state in the union, was based on science.
Hawaii also has the lowest number of people….there is a correlation. I value my freedom, and although I lived there for 16 years and want to return, I won’t be part of an experimental human clinical trial that won’t provide immunity to a virus that has a 97.8% survival rate. I am over 70…but believe in immunity and good health.
It really has nothing to do with politics…it is health freedom (as in the Nuremburg Code)
Elizabeth, I believe in good health as a great first line of defense against dying from Covid, not a guarantee, of course but certainly an important one. You are also right in that most people do not die from Covid. That said, the decision not to get vaccinated has ramifications for others. Unvaccinated people are far my likely to be in a position to spread Covid then vaccinated people., and make no mistake, it can be devastating if contracted.
I got vaccinated for two reasons, it’s nice to not feel I likely won’t deal with the form of Russian Roulette that Covid is and in addition I am contributing to the safety of everyone else regardless of what they have decided. This isn’t about me or you, it’s about society as a whole. Some people cannot get vaccinated, some people are victims of conspiracy theories and some people are just frightened of many things. Whatever, we are all in this together and the sooner the Covid threat gets reduced the sooner we can start the recovery from the devastation this virus has caused for so many people.
Joerg,
Have you walked the streets of SF, Berkeley, and Oakland? How about Los Angeles? Portland, Seattle…..Who politically owns it?
Clearly the fires, trash, needles, tent cities are visible. It’s not a accusation or a ideology judgement!
Labeling of Texas and Florida is a liberal tool of “crying WOLF!”, “FIRE!”, or RACIST!
Hawaii handling Covid was a very different politics than New York, California, Michigan…..
I live on the east coast in NC. I’m a republican. I absolutely love Hawaii. I like Florida, but no way I pick Florida over Hawaii. Hawaii is paradise.
Exactly Phil! What’s to compare?
BTW – I love NC with friends there but family is on the west coast.