Westcoastwild
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2016
If you live on the west coast period, you've got a good chance of eventually buying that beauty eventually. I thought I'd never even try spam. But strangely rice and teriyaki makes it alluring!
Moving to Hawaii
- Thread starter KennyLovesAriel
- Start date
If you live on the west coast period, you've got a good chance of eventually buying that beauty eventually. I thought I'd never even try spam. But strangely rice and teriyaki makes it alluring!
Westcoastwild
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2016
For some reason I couldn't add to the previous post.
Anyway- I was going to say, I had family who lived there for years and then moved back. The reason they gave was that the husband had some precancerous spots and was concerned about his health. I don't really think that bit is entirely true- there were some worrisome rumors about their finances for years afterwards.
But: I know a huge strain on their marriage is that the wife could not afford to come and visit family and friends as much as she'd like. I mean, we saw her every three years or so. I think that's something you want to consider; I know the reason I never visited them was that even from the west coast, that's a lot of money. So unless you can already afford to fly places several times a year, I wouldn't consider it. In the Midwest, you can at least drive or take trains to the lower 48, Mexico and Canada. I do not think I could handle being limited by living on an island like that.
And as some others have said- high cost of living, high poverty. I applied to college there, but I found out a lot of Hawaiian high school students come over to West coast state schools because CA, OR, WA, etc. have better programs at lower prices.
Anyway- I was going to say, I had family who lived there for years and then moved back. The reason they gave was that the husband had some precancerous spots and was concerned about his health. I don't really think that bit is entirely true- there were some worrisome rumors about their finances for years afterwards.
But: I know a huge strain on their marriage is that the wife could not afford to come and visit family and friends as much as she'd like. I mean, we saw her every three years or so. I think that's something you want to consider; I know the reason I never visited them was that even from the west coast, that's a lot of money. So unless you can already afford to fly places several times a year, I wouldn't consider it. In the Midwest, you can at least drive or take trains to the lower 48, Mexico and Canada. I do not think I could handle being limited by living on an island like that.
And as some others have said- high cost of living, high poverty. I applied to college there, but I found out a lot of Hawaiian high school students come over to West coast state schools because CA, OR, WA, etc. have better programs at lower prices.
nkereina
Last chance to lose your keys.
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
This is a great point. I have a friend who moved to Oahu for a job opportunity two years ago. He's young, single, no kids, nothing to tie him down so to speak. However, over the last two years, life has happened and he's had to fly home to the east coast a few times - best friends' weddings, funerals, etc. Flying from Hawaii requires a lot of money and time - not only for the commute but to adjust to time differences. He also has not had anyone visit him yet just due to what a big trip it is for people. And speaking of the time differences, its a 6 hour difference from the east coast, so its sometimes hard for him to connect with family and friends over the phone.
Cannot_Wait_4Disney
The Colombo of Cippolini.
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
It's the same stuff they use on sushi. Seaweed.
We've had a few family members who have moved to the islands--all of them move back to the mainland in 2 years or less. It's hard to live on an island-for a lot of different reasons.
One issue that surprised me was medical care- they have great medical care (and much of it is universal) BUT my uncle had something a little more complicated so he had to fly to LA for treatment every month-in a typical situation it would have been maybe a 4 hour drive for most people to get to a facility that could handle him. It was expensive and a real hassle to fly so often for care.
There is a lot of poverty and low level crime, and things are really expensive. If you are moving out of normal tourist areas for housing savings you do run in to a lot of reduced public services that can be surprising to someone who lives in a typical city/suburb.
It is beautiful though....
One issue that surprised me was medical care- they have great medical care (and much of it is universal) BUT my uncle had something a little more complicated so he had to fly to LA for treatment every month-in a typical situation it would have been maybe a 4 hour drive for most people to get to a facility that could handle him. It was expensive and a real hassle to fly so often for care.
There is a lot of poverty and low level crime, and things are really expensive. If you are moving out of normal tourist areas for housing savings you do run in to a lot of reduced public services that can be surprising to someone who lives in a typical city/suburb.
It is beautiful though....
Westcoastwild
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2016
That last paragraph is what I've heard too, and generally what discouraged me. I've live in both places with great services (cities) and places with not so great services (rural Idaho). A lot of the stuff I was hearing about in regards to Hawaii was similar to stuff I'd encountered in northern Idaho. Beautiful, but high poverty, high cost of living, and few local services. That's one of the reasons I wouldn't move back to Idaho. I loved it, but I love having great local infrastructure and services more. It definitely makes a difference in terms of quality of life- you don't really notice having those resources until you move somewhere that DOESN'T.
monsterkitty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
Adding to the medical aspect - I have a friend who is a doctor for Kaiser. He was going to transfer to the Big Island but decided against it for some reason. In talking to him, he said that while all of the islands have medical facilities, they don't all have specialists. So you may have to go to one island to see one specialist and another to for something else.
That said, the Big Island and Kauai are our favorite islands!
That said, the Big Island and Kauai are our favorite islands!
Cannot_Wait_4Disney
The Colombo of Cippolini.
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
If you live on the west coast period, you've got a good chance of eventually buying that beauty eventually. I thought I'd never even try spam. But strangely rice and teriyaki makes it alluring!
Believe it or not Spam now markets Terriyaki spam for Musubi i.
LMAO.
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DisneyOma
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2015
I lived there (as an intern) for a month - would have stayed, but I ran out of money 
I was in Honolulu though, which is just like any other big city, but warm and green all the time.
I'd move back there in a second if we could afford it - but I'd aim for Maui and get in on the tourist trade. I've worked in/beside the tourist industry, and also in education, so I'm pretty flexible with job skills.
You've got to downsize a lot there - shipping in things is $$$, property is $$$, everything is $$$!
I was in Honolulu though, which is just like any other big city, but warm and green all the time. I'd move back there in a second if we could afford it - but I'd aim for Maui and get in on the tourist trade. I've worked in/beside the tourist industry, and also in education, so I'm pretty flexible with job skills.
You've got to downsize a lot there - shipping in things is $$$, property is $$$, everything is $$$!
Cannot_Wait_4Disney
The Colombo of Cippolini.
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
Some things to think about before moving to Hawaii.
1. It's expensive. Housing prices are through the roof. In a desirable spot in Honolulu, you could be paying as much as in San Francisco and New York. And it doesn't stop there. Hawaii is very oil dependent. So you'll be paying a lot more for heating and gasoline than you are used to. Food is expensive too. Most of what Hawaii eats, it imports. You'd think fish would be cheap right? Locally caught? Nope. Expensive. And much of it is frozen and shipped in. Yes Hawaii has a big cattle industry. But these are breeding ranches. Once the cattle are weaned, they are shipped to the mainland to be raised on corn.
2. Good, meaningful jobs are in short supply. Hawaii is very dependent on Government, Military and tourism. For cutting edge jobs, people send their kids to the mainland.
3. Hawaiians can be indifferent or hostile to mainlanders, especially if they think you don't respect the place. It is important to know that living on Hawaii does not make you Hawaiian. But once people get to know you, you can make friends and they will come to see you as a local in time.
4. Drugs are a problem.
5. The islands are small and isolated. As a tourist, you can cover even the big Island in about 3 days. You could probably see everything there is to see on the island in a week or two if you were there that long. That means living in Hawaii doesn't provide road trips and the like. There are the other islands to go to for weekenders and the like. But it's a long flight to get pretty much anywhere. It can feel isolated and after about a month to a year there, it can hit hard. You will probably see more friends come and go there as people move in and move out frequently.
8. Traffic is terrible in Honolulu. Not quite as bad on some of the less populated Islands. But at least there aren't any billboards.
9. The resorts are beautiful, but where people actually live is often not quite so beautiful.
10. Away from Oahu, entertainment options can be very limited. Big concerts are few and far between. The club scene isn't much. No Disneyland or major theme parks.
11. If you like Mexican food, uh you're going to have to go without. It's just lousy there.
12. Switch your license over as quickly as you can. You'll get cheaper prices on some hotels and restaurants by having a Hawaii license.
13. Bugs and critters. Uh flying Ka Ka Roaches, centipedes, jellyfish etc. Sea Urchins. Be careful.
14. The south has its meat and three. Hawaii has the plate lunch. Some sort of meat with rice on the side and usually macaroni salad. It usually has a polynesian flavor. Quite good. try a place that has em.
15. They have a dish called Poke. It is Po kay. It's a raw seafood salad. Yummy stuff. Most small markets have a handful of varieties and bigger ones may have a dozen or more. But it's best fresh.
16. As stated above resistance is futile. You too shall become one with the Spam.
17. Life in Hawaii is slower. Much slower. Dental appointment? I'll see ya in three weeks type slow. Oh you need an estimate for roof repair. How bout week after next? type slow.
18. Rust. Everything rusts. And fairly quickly too. You'll find yourself repainting a car 1-2 times during its lifetime. It's worse if you're on the windward side of an Island.
19. The big island gets this thing called Vog. At first glance it may look like smog. But it's Vog.
20. Want to bring your pet over? Fido has to have a microchip. He has to have two rabies shots at least 30 days apart and your vet has to do a blood test at least 120 days before arrival but not more than three years. Oh and if he doesn't scan Fido's microchip.... Too bad. Not valid. Failure to do this means a 120 day quarantine for Fido. Hawaii is a rabies free state and they're serious about keeping it that way. Obviously puppies can't meet the requirements. So it's 120 days in jail for these juvenile offenders. And if your pet happens to be an exotic pet, he may not be allowed in at all.
1. It's expensive. Housing prices are through the roof. In a desirable spot in Honolulu, you could be paying as much as in San Francisco and New York. And it doesn't stop there. Hawaii is very oil dependent. So you'll be paying a lot more for heating and gasoline than you are used to. Food is expensive too. Most of what Hawaii eats, it imports. You'd think fish would be cheap right? Locally caught? Nope. Expensive. And much of it is frozen and shipped in. Yes Hawaii has a big cattle industry. But these are breeding ranches. Once the cattle are weaned, they are shipped to the mainland to be raised on corn.
2. Good, meaningful jobs are in short supply. Hawaii is very dependent on Government, Military and tourism. For cutting edge jobs, people send their kids to the mainland.
3. Hawaiians can be indifferent or hostile to mainlanders, especially if they think you don't respect the place. It is important to know that living on Hawaii does not make you Hawaiian. But once people get to know you, you can make friends and they will come to see you as a local in time.
4. Drugs are a problem.
5. The islands are small and isolated. As a tourist, you can cover even the big Island in about 3 days. You could probably see everything there is to see on the island in a week or two if you were there that long. That means living in Hawaii doesn't provide road trips and the like. There are the other islands to go to for weekenders and the like. But it's a long flight to get pretty much anywhere. It can feel isolated and after about a month to a year there, it can hit hard. You will probably see more friends come and go there as people move in and move out frequently.
8. Traffic is terrible in Honolulu. Not quite as bad on some of the less populated Islands. But at least there aren't any billboards.
9. The resorts are beautiful, but where people actually live is often not quite so beautiful.
10. Away from Oahu, entertainment options can be very limited. Big concerts are few and far between. The club scene isn't much. No Disneyland or major theme parks.
11. If you like Mexican food, uh you're going to have to go without. It's just lousy there.
12. Switch your license over as quickly as you can. You'll get cheaper prices on some hotels and restaurants by having a Hawaii license.
13. Bugs and critters. Uh flying Ka Ka Roaches, centipedes, jellyfish etc. Sea Urchins. Be careful.
14. The south has its meat and three. Hawaii has the plate lunch. Some sort of meat with rice on the side and usually macaroni salad. It usually has a polynesian flavor. Quite good. try a place that has em.
15. They have a dish called Poke. It is Po kay. It's a raw seafood salad. Yummy stuff. Most small markets have a handful of varieties and bigger ones may have a dozen or more. But it's best fresh.
16. As stated above resistance is futile. You too shall become one with the Spam.
17. Life in Hawaii is slower. Much slower. Dental appointment? I'll see ya in three weeks type slow. Oh you need an estimate for roof repair. How bout week after next? type slow.
18. Rust. Everything rusts. And fairly quickly too. You'll find yourself repainting a car 1-2 times during its lifetime. It's worse if you're on the windward side of an Island.
19. The big island gets this thing called Vog. At first glance it may look like smog. But it's Vog.
20. Want to bring your pet over? Fido has to have a microchip. He has to have two rabies shots at least 30 days apart and your vet has to do a blood test at least 120 days before arrival but not more than three years. Oh and if he doesn't scan Fido's microchip.... Too bad. Not valid. Failure to do this means a 120 day quarantine for Fido. Hawaii is a rabies free state and they're serious about keeping it that way. Obviously puppies can't meet the requirements. So it's 120 days in jail for these juvenile offenders. And if your pet happens to be an exotic pet, he may not be allowed in at all.
Last edited:
nkereina
Last chance to lose your keys.
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
@Cannot_Wait_4Disney - great points! With regard to #10, even as a tourist there, we felt everything was dead after sunset. Even in Waikiki, we never found a whole lot to do at nights and were often in bed by 10-10:30pm. Nightlife definitely was lacking in the areas we visited.
I'll also mention that many places we visited and ate at catered just as much to Asian visitors as it did to visitors from North America. Many places had signs and menus in Japanese, buffets had a section dedicated to Japanese food, etc. At times in Waikiki, we felt like we were IN Japan because there were more Japanese folks around us than anything else. I'm sure this is more prominent in the tourist areas, but it was a cultural adjustment for us coming from the east coast where we don't have much exposure to Asian customs, foods, etc. Not a problem at all of course, just very different than what we were used to back home.
I'll also mention that many places we visited and ate at catered just as much to Asian visitors as it did to visitors from North America. Many places had signs and menus in Japanese, buffets had a section dedicated to Japanese food, etc. At times in Waikiki, we felt like we were IN Japan because there were more Japanese folks around us than anything else. I'm sure this is more prominent in the tourist areas, but it was a cultural adjustment for us coming from the east coast where we don't have much exposure to Asian customs, foods, etc. Not a problem at all of course, just very different than what we were used to back home.
Tikitoi
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2006
To the OP I was watching the show Hawaiian Life on HGTV and while these couples are looking at more costly type homes, it seems another of their concerns was the really really big bugs...Can't really remember what type they were...But they also love that heat...
Hawaii2Dis
Aloha From Hawai'i
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
Hey just wondering what island you are thinking of moving to? Just know some islands may have houses/land that are cheaper but do not have jobs. This would be Moloka'i and Lana'i.
And also the most important thing is that you need to have a job before you come here. $ goes fast. Things here are expensive, just because everything is imported.
I was born on O'ahu, raised on the Hawai'i Island (Big Island), my boyfriend was born & raised on Kaua'i. We lived on O'ahu for two years together and then moved to Maui. LMK if you have any Questions!
And also the most important thing is that you need to have a job before you come here. $ goes fast. Things here are expensive, just because everything is imported.
I was born on O'ahu, raised on the Hawai'i Island (Big Island), my boyfriend was born & raised on Kaua'i. We lived on O'ahu for two years together and then moved to Maui. LMK if you have any Questions!
KennyLovesAriel
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2013
Mission accomplished! Hawaii is off the list
I can't imagine ever eating Spam, much less coming to like it. Thanks! DH and I recently took one leap of faith, and it's had its ups and downs, but mostly convinced me that there is fun in the adventure, and we will survive even if things don't go according to plan. It's left me more open to considering this world of possibilities.
Thank you for this practical information! While living "off the grid" wasn't a driving force, I'll admit it did start to sound appealing, but I had not considered practical concerns like the difficulty of keeping water clean. I was mostly thinking about solar though, not water -- but a few of the houses I saw did have the large catchment.
Thank you for sharing your experience! As we have aged we have become less attached to things in general and the desire to downsize is strong. I think we will do that even if we decide Hawaii is not the place for us. I feel like we are coming at it from the same direction -- this isn't about a lifelong dream to live there, it just hit so many of the things on our checklist that we decided we should consider it.
Good luck!!
It seems a lot of people move there for 2-3 years and then return, for various reasons. I've also read many people online say that they wish they'd stuck it out and that moving away is one of their biggest regrets. DH and I were thinking we needed to prepare to stick it out for at least 5 years and see if we can "get over the hump"
This thread has given me a lot to think about. I do worry a bit about the isolation. I tell myself I don't care - and I believe I mean it -- but it might get old over time. We are also looking at areas of Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and New Mexico. But So California and New Mexico are the only locales on that list that are hot enough for my tastes, to be quite honest, and each come with their own issues. If only there were a perfect location and limitless resources
KennyLovesAriel
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2013
Big Island. a job at UH-Hilo would be my goal.
LisaR
<img src=http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/silver.jpg>
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2000
I've never been to Hawaii so keep that in mind. I have a "friend" who moved to Hawaii about two months ago. We are only friends online so also keep that in mind. They are white and claim they are being bullied because of it. Apparently it is a thing there. Her kids are being bullied in school and were told that on the last day they kill one of the haoles (slang term for white people). I had to look it up because I didn't believe it. She had so many responses to her post where people agreed with her and it definitely seems to be a thing. No clue how widespread it is or anything like that, but just throwing it out there because I didn't even know it existed.
wenrob
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
Oh yeah, it's a thing. My stepfather's family treated my mother like the crap on their shoes.
Hawaii2Dis
Aloha From Hawai'i
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
OH thatʻs awesome! I am from the Kona side, but Hilo is actually cheaper for housing! Hope all works out for you!
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