Costa Rica vs. Hawaii

Since my last excursion was to Costa Rica for nearly 3 months I've been comparing and contrasting the differences in the two places. Even though Hawaii is a state it has the feel of another country.
Keep in mind I've only been around just the island of Oahu for a couple of weeks and spent time in mostly towns of Costa Rica.

Head to head, here's how the matchup is so far:

Beaches: Hawaii, but not by much if you know where to go in Costa Rica

Surf: Hawaii

Ocean water: Hawaii

Potable water: Hawaii has the best tasting tap water I've ever drank. CR's was good as well.

Interior land: Costa Rica by a wide margin. While Hawaii has some amazing views of the ocean from mountaintops along with rainforests and water falls, it is the polar opposite to CR in terms of exotic species observation. There are no mammals native to Hawaii, besides a bat, and most locals have never seen a snake. CR has sloths, monkeys, tree frogs, toucans, parrots, poisonous snakes, huge insects.

Friendliness of locals: Costa Rica by a significant margin. One is unlikely to find people as happy, content, and hospitable in the world as the people of Costa Rica. In the top five of happiest countries on Earth in most lists.

Value: Again Hawaii and Costa Rica are polar opposites here. You can live like a king on 1,000 dollars a month in CR, in Oahu that will last you a week or so.

Food: Hawaii by a huge margin. Costa Rica has a couple of nice dishes but Hawaiin cuisine is so diverse and the portions twice as big. Plus they have cheese here. Cheese was like gold in CR. I will devote a whole entry on Hawaiin cuisine soon.

Reliability: Hawaii. The power went off many times in CR, along with the internet, and roads being closed due to flooding, and no one is in any rush to fix it. Pura vida. Manana.  The roads are obviously nicer here in a state than central america.

Health: Costa Rica. While Hawaii boasts the longest life span of all the states, parts of CR boasts some of the longest in the world. Also, I've read the obesity rate here hovers around 50% and I believe it.

Freedom: Costa Rica. There are places in Costa Rica where marijuana may as well be legal. Many times locals would ask me what I'm doing there if I don't smoke. I saw cops walk right through bars with people smoking weed or blowing coke. That's just how it is. Don't try it as a gringo though.
Hawaii has strict regulations regarding smoking tobacco. You can't smoke inside. anywhere, which is wonderful for me. The smoky bars of Fort Worth I do not miss.
Also, bars close whenever people leave in CR, here they close at 4 am I believe. Alcoholic beverages including liquor is sold til midnight in Hawaii i think.

Price of tobacco: Costa Rica. If you smoke, expect to pay 7-10 dollars a pak in Hawaii. Get your nicotine fix for a dollar of marlboro lights in CR.

Privacy: CR, easily.

Culture and history: Hawaii.

Driving: Hawaii by a huge margin. Once again, polar opposites. Here people drive really slow and are courteous to bikers.
In CR, you better get the hell out of the way, even if you're a pedestrian, they are some of the worst drivers in the world.
I would never ride a bike on some of the streets there.

Military presence:  Hawaii. There is no military in CR, but the cops do carry machine guns. In Hawaii every branch of the world's most powerful military is represented.

Tourist activities: Hawaii. There's only like one dock in CR, so no cruise ships.

Public transportation: Tie. You can go anywhere you want in CR for 8 dollars or so, but the bus is rather slow. Nice comfy seats though. In Hawaii you pay a bit more but there are way more buses and they get you there faster. Also in CR you can take luggage on the bus, not so in Hawaii, though they do have handy bike racks. Cabs are also much cheaper in CR.

Accommodation: Tie. It depends on your budget. For the backpacker, CR has some of the nicest hostels in the world, nicer than some hotels on Waikiki. The hostels in Waikiki pale in comparison to those in CR even in the beach towns.  But if you're a high roller, there aren't as many resorts in CR as Hawaii or luxury condos.