thinking of moving to Hawaii. I was in Kauai last year and loved the lifestyle. Yeah it was a vacation,but...?

Question

I loved the opportunities. I will probably work in banking, and realize it's expensive to live there. Housing is tight. I'd be a rent. What advice can you give (those who have made the move)? Where should i look for a job? Apartment? I'm thinking Honolulu is a good place to start, but Waikiki area might be nice. I'm not going to have a car.

Answer 1

What kind of banking experience do you have? My sister in law works for a local bank and makes a ton of money. As far as transportation you can catch the bus to and from work with no problem. Check out monster.com and some other sites to see what kind of jobs are available out there. Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.

Answer 2

My husband's dad and step-mom went to Hawaii on vacation 3 times and fell in love with Kauai as well. They decided to move there. After selling everything and moving, they had a really hard time adjusting to living in Kauai. The cost of rent ant the cost of living were both extremely expensive. Also, there's very little to do in Kauai when you're not on vacation. Being in the building industry, he had a hard time finding work. The Hawaiians have been held down for so long, that they don't like to hire non-Hawaiians to their businesses. If Hurricane Iniki hadn't come through, I think they would have come back to the mainland with nothing. But, as a builder he was kept busy for the next year. Also, he became good friends with the local Hawaiians because he kept the insurance companies from screwing them over with their "legalese." He still came back to the mainland after living in Kauai for about 2 years...It just wasn't the constant vacation he was expecting.

Answer 3

Yes, it is very expensive, but look around and you can find something cheaper. Look around the areas where the US military are stationed and talk to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. As they make less than others, they have to find the most affordable places. Usually, this means in an apartment building 30 floors up with absolutely no view of the beach, as if you can see water or beach, the price doubles.

Answer 4

In addition to the cost of living issues, you will be working full-time. Based upon personal experience, when you work full-time in Hawai'i, sometimes you don't even FEEL like you're in Hawai'i. Where I work we have so many "mainlanders" with their aggressive and self-centered habits that they (inadvertently, of course) squelch nearly all local traditions, values, and customs (i.e., aloha, lokahi, ha'aha'a, etc.). Living in Hawai'i is a sacrifice. Storage units are coming up like dandruff on a dry scalp b/c our living spaces are tiny and so many folks move here with a container of furnishings that can't fit in to their living apt. (forget about renting/buying house unless you have a trust fund!!) Not to bum you out, but think twice. Where I work, a lot of folks from the "mainland" have been quitting recently and moving back to the continental u.s. Not only b/c of our overpriced real estate but because our public schools aren't doing that well (nothing against the teachers or students!), and you'll pay a ransom to get your kid in to a private school. On the good side, we have a terrific public transit system. Google TheBus for routes. Best wishes to you on your decision.

Answer 5

I agree with royal pain. I know 2 people who moved to Hawaii and within 2 years they moved right back home. It's outrageously expensive. I would seriously reconsider.

Answer 6

The best is the tropical weather.
The worst:
the cost of living, the traffic and you will soon get island fever.
Think twice or maybe three times
Visiting is not living living there

Answer 7

Have you looked into the cost of living?

Its terrible