Re: A move to Hawaii?

Posted by Angie (143.115.159.54) on 10:06:20 28/08/03

In Reply to: A move to Hawaii? posted by Justa Guy

Take a deep breath... BREATHE! You get your blood pressure that high and you won't even make it Hawaii! (It's all about being laid back brah!)

Ahh Hawaii, the palm trees, the mai tais, the sunsets and the ocean waves. Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? And it is of course. It's those things that have brought us back to the islands every year for almost 10 years. But you don't REALLY think paradise comes without a price, do ya? ;-)

If I were a devious person, I'd say "let him go find out what it's like then talk to him in a year" but since I'm not, I'll lasso that rope around your ankle and pull ya back down to Earth for at least the amount of time you may take to read this. Understand, I am NOT trying to burst your bubble but I think there are some major facts you need to consider before just jumping into moving a place you've only seen in movies and brochures! Excuse the length, I'm not trying to preach, honest!

1) Each island is vastly different from the other in terms of the "vibe" of the island, job opportunities, available housing, etc. Oahu for example has the best job opportunities there and because of that you'll be in fierce competition with the other 85% of Hawaii's population that calls that island home. If you live on Oahu and don't want to commute, it's as bad as living on the mainland as far as traffic, crime, etc. Maui may have your next best options job wise and they steadily decrease from there. (Unless you're in the military and/or have security clearance)

2) You'd think being a pilot would be a plus huh? Well, Hawaiian Airlines is in Chap 11 bankruptcy and is laying off. Aloha isn't doing much better and has a hiring freeze. That knocks out your 2 major interisland carriers. You could always fly commercial of course but then you'd likely not be home very often so what's the point. That pretty much leaves either starting your own business or joining one of the tour companies to fly the cessna's and/or helicopters. This is a good business on the main islands (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai) and I would certainly look into the possibility of openings.

Your wife may be able to find something but her chances would be best on Oahu. And I hate to tell you but while no one is going to send you a postcard from Hawaii saying "dream job waiting for you!", your wife is 100% right about trying to line up a job BEFORE you go! At the very least you should line up interviews. Be prepared, jobs can tend to go to the kama'aina first (as they rightfully should since they were there first). Not to say it ALWAYS goes this way, but it's not uncommon.

Oh and don't think you'll only work one job. More people than not work a MINIMUM of two jobs, some three. It's not uncommon for an attorney to moonlight as a bellhop at the local hotel. Doesn't leave a whole lot of time to enjoy paradise does it? Why would people do this?...

3) Statistically, the cost of living in Hawaii is 38% higher than the mainland and the pay is 20% LESS than mainland jobs. Math doesn't quite equal out, does it? Hence the 2-3 jobs per person scenario. Of course if you're independently wealth, this isn't a problem! ;-) It is not uncommon to pay $5-6 for a gallon of milk, $6 for cereal, heck even pineapple which is grown on some parts of the island is still $5-6. Gas is another thing that's outrageously high. Think gas is California is high? Add $.40 or more to it per gallon in Hawaii. A house here in the midwest (or "Rust Belt" I believe you called it) that is a 2 BR, 1BA with 1000 sq ft would go for about $80-100K would go for $200,000+ in Hawaii. Don't believe me? Hop on any of the island realty sites. (That house on the ocean, you were looking at? It'd be considered an absolute STEAL if you could find it on prime property for $400,000!!! Ocean front property is sold for a minimum of $500,000 into the millions for rich haoles to unload their money! Of course shack or mansion, if a tsunami ever hits, the beach houses are first to go!)

4) There's a reason you hear stories of a friend of a wife's cousin's nephew's girlfriend's babysitter moving there and coming back a year later. It's called ROCK/ISLAND FEVER!! While it seems impossible to fathom anyone getting tired of Hawaii's beauty, even locals need to get away. (It's called Vegas baby!) You can drive Hawaii's Big Island in about 5 1/2 hours in a circle. That is the largest of the islands, the rest going down to about 4 for Maui and Oahu, 2 1/2 for Kauai and 1 for for Lanai and Molokai. Many people can only drive that circle so many times. Even if you typically stay within 2 hours of your house most of the year on the mainland, it's the IDEA that you CAN drive to another state if you want to. Here, you can't. You may very well be the kind of person that can handle that but honestly, you won't know that until you get there.

5) The mother in law. Let's see, if you knew someone who lived in Hawaii that you could mooch a place to stay and eat and only have to pay airfare, don't you think you'd take advantage too? So not likely to stave off mother in law visits but you can reduce the frequency by taking her on drives on Saddle Rd, Hana Highway, the road to Waialeale, Polihua Beach on Lanai, etc.

Those are the major things, not even going into the minor ones like salt air rusting your car and getting used to the flying cockroaches among other things.

I have to STRONGLY urge you to at least vacation there once before you go. You sound like an intelligent man and while the idea of moving to Hawaii on a whim sounds nice, you owe it to yourself and your wife to at least see if you even like it enough to move there. To see what neighborhood you want to live in and on what island. The various island chambers of commerce can be a wealth of statistical information to help you make an informed decision.

If you're saying "screw you lady, I've got the bags packed and I'm LEAVING!" then at least do yourself the favor of purchasing the book "So You Want To Live in Hawaii" http://www.booklines.com/BOOK/BGB/625307.html It completely gives it to you straight and will give you excellent info to think about.

I would just hate to see you go to the trouble of uprooting your entire life and going in wearing rose colored glasses only to end up resenting it. Hawaii is a beautiful place and makes a wonderful home for many people (even us one day!). If you move there an informed couple to the pros and cons as well as a love and RESPECT of the culture and a'ina which is the biggest part of the community on every island, then the little t'ings make livin' deah mo' bettah!

Good luck!
Angie

Follow Ups:

Re: A move to Hawaii? Justa Guy 13:03:08 28/08/03 (3)
- Re: A move to Hawaii? Angie 19:13:12 28/08/03 (2)
  - Re: A move to Hawaii? Justa Guy 01:09:52 29/08/03 (1)
    - Re:Online Pharmacy Sam 18:52:18 07/12/03 (0)

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Comments:	: Take a deep breath... BREATHE! You get your blood pressure that high and you won't even make it Hawaii! (It's all about being laid back brah!) : : Ahh Hawaii, the palm trees, the mai tais, the sunsets and the ocean waves. Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? And it is of course. It's those things that have brought us back to the islands every year for almost 10 years. But you don't REALLY think paradise comes without a price, do ya? ;-) : : If I were a devious person, I'd say "let him go find out what it's like then talk to him in a year" but since I'm not, I'll lasso that rope around your ankle and pull ya back down to Earth for at least the amount of time you may take to read this. Understand, I am NOT trying to burst your bubble but I think there are some major facts you need to consider before just jumping into moving a place you've only seen in movies and brochures! Excuse the length, I'm not trying to preach, honest! : : 1) Each island is vastly different from the other in terms of the "vibe" of the island, job opportunities, available housing, etc. Oahu for example has the best job opportunities there and because of that you'll be in fierce competition with the other 85% of Hawaii's population that calls that island home. If you live on Oahu and don't want to commute, it's as bad as living on the mainland as far as traffic, crime, etc. Maui may have your next best options job wise and they steadily decrease from there. (Unless you're in the military and/or have security clearance) : : 2) You'd think being a pilot would be a plus huh? Well, Hawaiian Airlines is in Chap 11 bankruptcy and is laying off. Aloha isn't doing much better and has a hiring freeze. That knocks out your 2 major interisland carriers. You could always fly commercial of course but then you'd likely not be home very often so what's the point. That pretty much leaves either starting your own business or joining one of the tour companies to fly the cessna's and/or helicopters. This is a good business on the main islands (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai) and I would certainly look into the possibility of openings. : : Your wife may be able to find something but her chances would be best on Oahu. And I hate to tell you but while no one is going to send you a postcard from Hawaii saying "dream job waiting for you!", your wife is 100% right about trying to line up a job BEFORE you go! At the very least you should line up interviews. Be prepared, jobs can tend to go to the kama'aina first (as they rightfully should since they were there first). Not to say it ALWAYS goes this way, but it's not uncommon. : : Oh and don't think you'll only work one job. More people than not work a MINIMUM of two jobs, some three. It's not uncommon for an attorney to moonlight as a bellhop at the local hotel. Doesn't leave a whole lot of time to enjoy paradise does it? Why would people do this?... : : 3) Statistically, the cost of living in Hawaii is 38% higher than the mainland and the pay is 20% LESS than mainland jobs. Math doesn't quite equal out, does it? Hence the 2-3 jobs per person scenario. Of course if you're independently wealth, this isn't a problem! ;-) It is not uncommon to pay $5-6 for a gallon of milk, $6 for cereal, heck even pineapple which is grown on some parts of the island is still $5-6. Gas is another thing that's outrageously high. Think gas is California is high? Add $.40 or more to it per gallon in Hawaii. A house here in the midwest (or "Rust Belt" I believe you called it) that is a 2 BR, 1BA with 1000 sq ft would go for about $80-100K would go for $200,000+ in Hawaii. Don't believe me? Hop on any of the island realty sites. (That house on the ocean, you were looking at? It'd be considered an absolute STEAL if you could find it on prime property for $400,000!!! Ocean front property is sold for a minimum of $500,000 into the millions for rich haoles to unload their money! Of course shack or mansion, if a tsunami ever hits, the beach houses are first to go!) : : 4) There's a reason you hear stories of a friend of a wife's cousin's nephew's girlfriend's babysitter moving there and coming back a year later. It's called ROCK/ISLAND FEVER!! While it seems impossible to fathom anyone getting tired of Hawaii's beauty, even locals need to get away. (It's called Vegas baby!) You can drive Hawaii's Big Island in about 5 1/2 hours in a circle. That is the largest of the islands, the rest going down to about 4 for Maui and Oahu, 2 1/2 for Kauai and 1 for for Lanai and Molokai. Many people can only drive that circle so many times. Even if you typically stay within 2 hours of your house most of the year on the mainland, it's the IDEA that you CAN drive to another state if you want to. Here, you can't. You may very well be the kind of person that can handle that but honestly, you won't know that until you get there. : : 5) The mother in law. Let's see, if you knew someone who lived in Hawaii that you could mooch a place to stay and eat and only have to pay airfare, don't you think you'd take advantage too? So not likely to stave off mother in law visits but you can reduce the frequency by taking her on drives on Saddle Rd, Hana Highway, the road to Waialeale, Polihua Beach on Lanai, etc. : : Those are the major things, not even going into the minor ones like salt air rusting your car and getting used to the flying cockroaches among other things. : : I have to STRONGLY urge you to at least vacation there once before you go. You sound like an intelligent man and while the idea of moving to Hawaii on a whim sounds nice, you owe it to yourself and your wife to at least see if you even like it enough to move there. To see what neighborhood you want to live in and on what island. The various island chambers of commerce can be a wealth of statistical information to help you make an informed decision. : : If you're saying "screw you lady, I've got the bags packed and I'm LEAVING!" then at least do yourself the favor of purchasing the book "So You Want To Live in Hawaii" http://www.booklines.com/BOOK/BGB/625307.html It completely gives it to you straight and will give you excellent info to think about. : : I would just hate to see you go to the trouble of uprooting your entire life and going in wearing rose colored glasses only to end up resenting it. Hawaii is a beautiful place and makes a wonderful home for many people (even us one day!). If you move there an informed couple to the pros and cons as well as a love and RESPECT of the culture and a'ina which is the biggest part of the community on every island, then the little t'ings make livin' deah mo' bettah! : : Good luck! : Angie
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