How can I live in Hawaii???

Question

Can I work there? what kind of job can I find there?
Is it possible? too expensive?
Thank you!
I dont mind being away form home... or If I am poor...
Im studying psychology right now...but hey I would work in anything else.... serious answers please!

Answer 1

Well, I actually live here so I will give it a shot. There is NOT a lot of crime (unless you watch Dog the Bountyhunter). It is VERY expensive, and you would need to room with a number of people...you can use Craigslist to find share situations fairly easily.

I would budget $800 for rent with utilities for a share, $1500 for living alone (per month). You can get $10 an hour jobs very easily, such as restaurant work in Waikiki. There is very low unemployment here, but most available jobs are in the lower end--and you could be working the week you arrive if you are presentable and seem fairly sane. But, Hawaii has high state income tax, so more of your paycheck goes to taxes than in many other states (similar to California and New York).

After one year you can register at University of Hawaii, which has reasonable tuition rates. It's a very pretty campus and the psych department is decent.

Answer 2

I live in Hawaii and there are actually a lot of young people who do exactly what you are considering. Most of our jobs out here, deal with tourism. Since you probably have computer skills since you are a student, you could work the front desk at a hotel or reservations agent, answering calls. You could get paid $15/hr with full medical-they take care of their employees w/benefits. If you want to be where all the excitement is, I would encourage you to work at a restaurant on Front Street in Lahaina or Honolulu. You could work as a hostess or busser and then move up to server, they get paid $150-$200 in tips, if the plates are about $20-$25. The hotels and restaurants at the major resorts get paid the best on the island because they are busier. So try and work there.
Since you are a student, you should probably stay on Oahu, that way you can go to school at the university. If you want to pay the Hawaii resident tuition, you need to live there for one year. You need to show proof that you have lived there a year. Therefore, right away get a Hawaii state ID, keep all your pay check stubs, anything to show proof. They are very strict with that.

Answer 3

It is also possible to do a student exchange for the University of Hawaii, depending on which school you attend on the mainland. I think that would be an excellent way to get a feel for the place with only a short term commitment to the islands.

People have been correct in warning you of the high cost of living. It doesn't mean that you can't make a go of it here, but it does mean that you should probably lower some of your expectations in terms of lifestyle. If you are big into "things", you may want to reconsider, as you probably will not be able to afford the latest & greatest. But there is a lot about living here to compensate for cutting back on the material stuff.

Answer 4

That's a question a lot of folks who live in Hawaii ask themselves often. In recent years, many Native Hawaiians have moved to Las Vegas because Hawaii has gotten too expensive.

The HIDOE employs a great many people with psychology backgrounds as School- or Grade-level Counselors, Behavioral Health Specialists, School Psychologists, and Clinical Psychologists. Several of those positions require masters degrees or PhDs.

As a rule, though, they aren't paid as well as their mainland counterparts, and the rents are more expensive. Median home price on Oahu last month was $610,000, but houses and yards tend to be tiny. You would be able to afford a much higher standard of living in North America with the same qualifications.

People who live in Hawaii rarely invite people into their home. Most folks don't have air conditioning, and while opening the windows makes the houses livable (apartments less so, because of the lack of thru ventilation in most of them) putting extra bodies in the house pushes everybody outside their comfort zone. So local folks tend to party on their carports, at the beach, or at parks.

Once, at a Thanksgiving dinner in a garage, I heard somebody say, "Folks on da mainland got big garages. Dey nevah have parties in 'em!" Such a waste.

As far as other jobs go, you may actually be preferred in hiring over a local person because, for example, you speak standard American English. But there aren't a whole lot of professional-level jobs for folks without specialized training, since the economy here tends to be based on tourism.

Local folks, too, would make more money on the mainland, but they stay to be close to family--so close to family! Many of them live with their parents well into their thirties, even if they have children of their own, because they can't afford their own place, even on a professional income.

By the way, the establishments mentioned a few answers back are lounges that employ exotic dancers.

Answer 5

If you are willing to pay $800-$1000 rent for a one-bedroom then you are of to a good start. Gas and milk are also more expensive. Then there is the culture change. There are several different cultures here in Hawaii. They all have slightly differing rules and practices you will have to learn these.

If you need to get back home (let's say any farther then Nevada) in case of an emergency there is the extra cost of fly back to the mainland.

Answer 6

Going to college and living in Honolulu is going to be tough. It's very expensive and cost of living is crazy.

If you're going to be a student, try get a job at one of the big hotels. The pay is pretty good for under-grads, in my opinion. Other than that, not many good paying jobs.

Answer 7

One alternative is to consider attending school/college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and sign up for the student dorms, get work on campus and apply for residency as soon as you can.

I know one gal from Texas who came here, like it enough to do just that but she was a graduate student.

Answer 8

I was just in Hawaii for the first time this year.
It was not as I expected. I would encourage you to visit first and then decide if you'd like to stay more long term.
Another option (since you are a college student) would be to enroll in summer school classes through University of Hawaii. Check with your school to make sure the credits will transfer first. Good luck.

Answer 9

Real estate is very pricey, and COL(cost of living ) is also.
Maybe getting roomates and dividing costs will help. As far as a job, check Monster.com or something to check jobs in the area.
Getting a job temporarily in the hotel industry will get your foot in the door for later.

Answer 10

Join the Navy or Marine Corps and get stationed in Kaneahoe Bay or Pearl Harbor. You'll get to live there for 3 years and still go back home and decide if you liked it there.

I lived in Sicily for 3 years in the Navy. I know now that I want to live there for the rest of my life.