So, you're eyeing a travel assignment in Hawaii? Palm trees, beaches, and sipping mai tais after your shift? Yeah, it sounds like paradise—but getting a contract there can feel more like Survivor: Nurse Edition. Trust me, a lot of nurses crash and burn trying to land a gig on the islands.

Want to avoid being one of them? Read on.

First, About That License...

Hawaii offers a “walk-through” license, which means you could, in theory, arrive, get your license, and jump right into your assignment. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, hold up—there’s a catch.

The Hawaii Board of Nursing is about as predictable as a coconut falling from a tree. Sometimes things go smoothly, but other times? You’ll find yourself tangled up in red tape. And if you're competing for a job against a nurse who’s already got that license in hand? You're toast.

Pro Tip: Don’t Leave Your License to Chance

If you can swing it, get your Hawaii license before you go. This isn’t a “wait till the last minute and pray” situation. It takes about two months to get licensed, so plan ahead. My advice? Start applying for that license at least 90 days before your planned start date. If you’ve got more time, go for 120 days. Better to have it and not need it than need it and get stuck in bureaucracy limbo.

And when you’re ready to apply for jobs? Flex a little: tell recruiters you have your license in hand. This could give you an edge when hospitals are trying to fill a spot fast.

Choosing the Right Agencies—Where Most Travelers Mess Up

Alright, you’ve got your eyes on a job in Hawaii. Your next step isn't to go knocking on your old recruiter’s door or browsing the same tired job boards. Here’s the deal: Hawaii’s a unique beast.

I spoke to a nurse recently who was gunning for an ER job on Oahu (ideally day shift, but hey, she'd settle for nights). Here’s the strategy I gave her, and now I’m giving it to you.

The Game Plan:

Google Maps is Your Friend Pull up a map of Hawaii, zoom in on Oahu (or whichever island you’re interested in), and filter for acute care hospitals. You’ll find that there are 8 acute care hospitals on Oahu.
Do Your Homework Make a list of those hospitals. Then, figure out which agencies have direct contracts with each one. This changes over time, but here’s a cheat sheet based on current data: Hospital Direct Contract Agency Example Hospital 1 AMN Example Hospital 2 Medical Solutions Example Hospital 3 [Agency Name]
Medefis: The Wild Card You’ll notice some hospitals list “Medefis” as the contact source. What’s Medefis? It’s a Vendor Management System (VMS). In other words, they don’t recruit nurses—they work with agencies that do. So if a hospital uses Medefis, multiple agencies could have access to that job. Sounds fair, right? Eh, not really. Some agencies get the inside scoop faster than others. But for simplicity’s sake, I’d suggest sticking with AMN and Medical Solutions for Medefis jobs. It’ll save you the hassle of juggling too many agencies, and they’re usually solid players in the game. (Want to dig deeper into how VMS systems work and why they’re not always as “fair” as they seem? Read this.)

Recap: Here’s Your Action Plan

Get Licensed Early – Ideally 90-120 days before your start date.
Tell Recruiters You Have Your License in Hand – It could be your golden ticket.
Research Which Agencies Have Direct Contracts – Don’t waste time with agencies that don’t even have access to the job you want.
Consider the Medefis Factor – Use agencies like AMN and Medical Solutions to cover more ground, but keep your expectations realistic.

Final Thoughts: The Hawaii Dream Is Within Reach

Getting a travel nursing contract in Hawaii isn’t a walk on the beach—but if you play it smart, it’s totally doable. The key is planning ahead and knowing which agencies to trust. And remember, don’t treat this like your usual job search. Hawaii's got its own rules—follow them, and you’ll be watching the sunset from Waikiki before you know it.

Good luck, and aloha! 🌺