Will someone tell me about living in Hawaii?

Question

Tell me about the islands, towns, weather, living there if not a local, visiting there for a few months, job oppurtunies...etc. anything would be great. Thank you.

Answer 1

I moved here on an impulse about 10 years ago with a backpack and about $250. in cash. Now I own a house, have a wife, kid and a great job. I love it here. (I am the rare exception. This almost never happens)

You should live here for a while if you can. Even if it's just for a little while. I think it would be a great experience.

However... Making Hawaii you're home is not for everyone & it's a very hard place to plant your roots. Some people absolutely hate it here and leave after a short time. Other people would like to stay, but they just can't make it work. It's not easy.

It can get boring for some people. You might get island fever more quickly if you live somewhere besides Honolulu where there are fewer people and places to go.

The Locals: (Great folks, easy going, honest and kind people)

It's laid back and that's great on vacation, but it seriously bugs some people, especially "Type A" people who work fast, are on time and expect the same from others.

People say that people in Hawaii hate Caucasians. It's not true. Everyone is a minority. I am a Caucasian and I've never had a problem.

However... There is a lack of trust with people who are new to the islands though. This is usually misinterpreted as racism.

Many of the locals have known their friends all their lives. It can be hard to make new friends because most people have enough friends that they relate to as if they were a big extended family. It can be difficult to break into such closely nit groups of people.

It can be confusing... Many Caucasians who recently arrive believe this lack of trust, inability to assimilate with the locals and make friends is due to racism, but from my experience, it's not.

It is like moving to a foreign country. Everyone speaks English but it's just different. It's hard to explain.

Visualize what it would be like for an English speaking guy from India who moves to a small town in Texas or wherever. Even though everyone speaks English... The new guy from India might not be able to make friends very easily with the locals, not because of racism but simply because he has nothing in common with the locals. That's just the way it is sometimes.

Some people have culture shock. No people who can relate to you, your music, food preferences, life experiences, etc, etc, etc... It's a drag for people who are not open to new things.

If you're a flexible type of person, you'll probably love it. If you're set in you're ways... You'll probably want to leave after a while so you can surround your self with others who share your preferences, tastes and have had more similar life experiences.

Getting a Job:

It's hard to get your foot in the door. People are understandably very reluctant to give newcomers a chance. It can be very difficult to get any kind of job at first for an outsider. Every employer and landlord has been burned by someone who got island fever and left as soon as they were getting good at their job.

Same with landlords. People pay rent once, get homesick, can't find a job or whatever and never pay again until they are evicted and move back to the Mainland.

It can lead to a "Catch 22". No job means no apartment. No apartment means no job.

Here is one way to create the illusion of stability.

First... Get a mail box at a UPS Store or a Mail-Boxes Etc, or someplace like to create the illusion that you have a real address. It won't say P.O. Box #. It will have a street address with a suite number. The suite number is the mail box number but it looks like a real address.

Then... Get a local cell phone. Now you have a local address and a local phone number to give on job applications.

You can stay at a Hostel in Waikiki for about $25 per night. You might run into a few people like yourself there and find a potential roommate.

I lived in a rental car for a while. It took me several weeks to find an apartment and about two months to get my first crappy job telemarketing.

After that... it was smooth sailing. Being able to say that I had a job, but was looking for a better one was 100% different than saying that I just got off the plane and was looking for my first job. (World of difference)

Wages are low and rent is expensive. I needed to work two jobs for years. Not anymore though. I do alright now. It's all good.

But anyway... I love it here. My boy loves it here. Hawaii is a great place to live and grow up as a kid, but it's not for everybody and it's a better place to live for people who were born here than for people like me who move here.

Aloha,
Dave.

Answer 2

Oahu is the main island, businesses are all here on Oahu at least i would say 90% if not more. Some people like it and some dont, most people who dont like it just cant stand living on a rock and have a laid-back lifestyle, boring in some cases.

Cost of living is higher defnitely since everything has to be flown in or shipped in.

Biggest cost would be rent. be prepared to easily spend $800 on a studio... and I am being generous already. And that is if you can actually find an available reasonable appartment.

Luckily, we currently have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country so you should be able to find a job.

People are great here, VERY VERY diverse. No doubt you will be able to know what Aloha really means, people are warm and very hospitable

Answer 3

Hawaii is an interesting place to live. The island chain is so small, but boasts probably one of the most diverse populations in the world.

The cost of living here now is high. I wouldn't have said this 4 years ago. What you could have bought for 200K 4 years ago is now pushing 550-600 in certain areas.

Bugs, got plenty of them. There's cockroaches everywhere and watch out for the nasty centipedes. Mosquitos are a year round pest, so get used to it.

Food - Oh, got choke food. Be prepared to have a liberal palette. You can go for the traditional plate lunch consisting of something (usually fried) with 2 scoops rice and 2 scoops mac salad. You've got plenty of Asian choices. I prefer the fast Korean places like Yummy bbq. Get Kalbi (side cut beef ribs) with a selection of different cold sides like Kimchee, Dicon radish, and long rice. Very ono.

There's other things, but you're mainly looking at Pacific rim and Asian influenced meals. There's choke ramen places!

Job market is one of the best in the nation. Unemployment is at about 2-3%. Pay isn't one of the best things about Hawaii, but consider the trade for where you live. Also, I've heard many places are cheap on family benefits.

Weather in the winter can be wet and humid. Summer, hot and humid. So, there you go.

..the one thing you need to keep in mind while you are here is simply having an open mind. The culture here is different and its wonderful to embrace it. Slow down, wave while you're driving, and say hello to someone you've never met before. Enjoy the Aloha.

Answer 4

Wow Dave, nicely said.
Yeah- everything he said...
In a nutshell- Good Job!

Come visit- try it out. You either like it or you don't. Then you can say "Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!"

Answer 5

I HEARD THE COST OF LIVING IS HIGH THERE , ALOT WORRIES ABOUT THE WEATHER !