Currently negotiating a salary on a job offer in Honolulu. They seem to really want me, so if I can get the salary I want I think I'll do it.
I have visited HI once about 20 years ago when we cruised the islands, so to say I know very little is an understatement. I probably know more about HI from the three episodes of 5-0 that I've seen.
How do I ship a car there? Or is it better to just buy on the island?
Good parts of town/bad parts of town? Thoughts? Ideas?
According to one Thomas Magnum, the place is "paradise."
I hear it's expensive, as in very.
That's all I've got.
I used a cost-of-living comparison. The $35k I make here translates ot $86k there. Yikes.
But... Hawaii.
Everything I know about Hawaii is from friends that moved there when I was a kid, then moved back a few years later. They said the following about it:
1: If you're not native to the islands, it is hard to get accepted and you'll get treated as an outsider.
2: everything was really berkeleying expensive
Now, for you? I'd do it. Single dude who is easy going, why not give it a shot? Aside from being "enterprising" and able to make gold out of E36 M3, you really have nothing to lose. Not forever, see what happens.
EDIT: Oh, the other thing I have heard about it: It is common for people to be homeless. They'll literally work 2 jobs, one of which they can shower at. Probably in tourism. The weather is nice enough that you basically never have to worry about exposure, so they're able to sleep comfortably outside and/or in their cars.
Housing is mega expensive. It is really heavy into the nanny state style of govt. Lots of cool old jdm cars.
Curtis said:I used a cost-of-living comparison. The $35k I make here translates ot $86k there. Yikes.
But... Hawaii.
Of all the people here on this board you probably have the best chance of fitting in. Its a completely different culture and well if your not native or at least on the island for a number of years then your not going to have a good time. Someone like you who is relaxed and not bothered by the little stuff will do fine.
Housing is not terrible if you don't want to live on the water and you have realistic expectations for your living arrangements. The people who do the best and can stay there understand that not everything will be perfect in a home and spend most of the time outdoors anyway. Its just a place for your stuff in the end.
There is ZERO car stuff to do. There is car culture that is for sure but with the limited roads its slow driving with the top down. If you still have a jeep that is the one to bring.
It's been a long time since I was there (I saw an episode of Magnum, P.I. being shot, if that gives you an idea), but I traveled there numerous times. Honolulu was, and probably still is, the only vaguely cosmopolitan place in the islands. Tourists everywhere downtown. Everywhere else is pretty small town or straight-up rural. Whatever salary they're offering isn't enough. I always loved visiting, but I never wanted to live there.
wearymicrobe said:Curtis said:I used a cost-of-living comparison. The $35k I make here translates ot $86k there. Yikes.
But... Hawaii.
Of all the people here on this board you probably have the best chance of fitting in. Its a completely different culture and well if your not native or at least on the island for a number of years then your not going to have a good time. Someone like you who is relaxed and not bothered by the little stuff will do fine.
Housing is not terrible if you don't want to live on the water and you have realistic expectations for your living arrangements. The people who do the best and can stay there understand that not everything will be perfect in a home and spend most of the time outdoors anyway. Its just a place for your stuff in the end.
There is ZERO car stuff to do. There is car culture that is for sure but with the limited roads its slow driving with the top down. If you still have a jeep that is the one to bring.
At some point, it's good to think of a place like Hawaii as just a place- it happens to be in the middle of the Pacific and a place tourist really like to visit. But it's also just a place to live and work.
When I go and visit my MIL in Puerto Rico- I'm constantly correcting people when they are "impressed". This isn't vacation, it's taking care of MIL. Picture where your parents live, and it's hot and humid.
IMHO, if you can get to that, it will help finding a place to live that isn't hyper expensive. For sure, its a series of islands- you can always visit the greatest spots.
I have a friend who worked for one of the island hopper airlines there, another who was stationed there, and we did some work at Barking Sands.
On the plus side:
If you grew up in a resort community, you would probably fit right in.
I have a brother in law who has lived there since the 80s. Went to visit last year, the views are stunning. Just when you think you've seen the most beautiful scenery ever, you turn a corner and see something even more jaw dropping.
Everything is expensive, especially housing and petroleum. Prices are a bit above southern California/san Francisco bay area for both. Pretty sure you can find whatever you want automotive on the island, plenty of cool cars, didn't check prices but after shipping it should be a wash. Traffic is a nightmare in and around Honolulu, it's better outside the city, but never lke you see on Magnum where the streets are empty for the car chases.
Better get the most money you can, there is a problem with young people having to leave the island for jobs on the mainland because you simply cannot survive there on an entry-level income.
The people are friendly, but they are leery of outsiders. They still hold a grudge at being made a US territory, they view the annexation of the islands as a coup. Having said that, I don't think you will have any problems fitting in. Life moves at a different pace there, hard to explain but you can tell the difference once you get away from the tourist traps. Kind of freaky to see chickens and goats roaming free range along the highway(!) Frankly, if I could afford to move there myself i'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd never get tired of being around this:
EDIT: took me too long to post, but I think you get the picture 
Oahu, specifically Honolulu, is what I like to call the "Los Angeles in the middle of the pacific". The traffic can be very bad near downtown (not LA bad, but bad for most people). In general, it's a pretty crowded place (especially the Honolulu area). Gas / utilities / supplies are rather expensive (sadly gas is cheaper then California now!).
80 degrees, humid, rain. That is pretty much the extent of the weather. Oh.... every once in a while there is... HURRICANE!
There is some aspects of "locals" vs others, but that will only be a thing (as with most places) in the sketchier neighborhoods. There is a strange dynamic there between the "locals" (who almost entirely are not really natives), the wealthy "mainlanders" who have come in with their money, the foreigners (China / Japan etc) who come in with their money, the tourists and (for Oahu) the military.
Island Fever is a real thing. If you have not lived on an island, it might get to you eventually.
If you are not making a long term commitment and can find someplace somewhat near to work (likely small / expensive anywhere near Honolulu) I say give it a shot. It won't be paradise (to keep your expectations low), you are not likely to save a lot of money, but if you appreciate outdoor activities, you will certainly enjoy yourself and have some nice experiences. The guy I know who lived on the big island says he really misses not being able go down to the marina in the morning and paddling (he was on a team for a while) and having a nice breakfast at the cafe.
My wife's parents grew up on Oahu, I have been there a number of times and I have a friend who worked on the big island for a number of years (national parks). Honestly, the big island is probably the most "Hawaiian" of the islands (excluding Niihau of course).
Stay away from Waikiki. Ugh.
The big island was fantastic, as was Maui. I haven't spent much time around the non-Honolulu parts of Oahu.
mad_machine said:If you grew up in a resort community, you would probably fit right in.
Well, I grew up on a corn and chicken farm, but I've lived in multiple big cities and everywhere in between... including significant amounts of time in a retirement resort in FL.
I make it a habit of living simply, so I could live in a camper in the mountains if that is a viable thing down there.
I would ask for garenteed housing with job offer. Of course, if the job ends then so does the house??
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/02/15/ihs-homeless-people-hawaii-just-got-here-somewhere-else/
Hawaii has a huge problem with the "working homeless." Employed but not meeting the coat of living. Lots of hotels but working hospitality in a hotel will not pay the bills.
Island life is different. With time the island gets smaller and smaller and you tire of paying three times the cost compared to mainland residents.
If it is anything like PR where I spent a lot of time as a kid, family matters a lot more than it does to mainlanders. Families tend to be quite close and extended and you will not be a part of that culture. Not that they are not friendly, but blood being thicker than water and all that applies...It IS possible to get "adopted" if you are the right kind of person.
Living in PR left me with a lifelong disdain of the tourist industry. I knew what the locals thought of the tourist and I saw how the tourist treated the locals: "Ambulant wallets vs Peasants".
Cars rust like crazy.
By the time I left at 14 I was glad to be leaving. After having returned for a few visits, I want back for the beauty and the beaches.
Pete
06HHR said:I have a brother in law who has lived there since the 80s. Went to visit last year, the views are stunning. Just when you think you've seen the most beautiful scenery ever, you turn a corner and see something even more jaw dropping.
Everything is expensive, especially housing and petroleum. Prices are a bit above southern California/san Francisco bay area for both. Pretty sure you can find whatever you want automotive on the island, plenty of cool cars, didn't check prices but after shipping it should be a wash. Traffic is a nightmare in and around Honolulu, it's better outside the city, but never lke you see on Magnum where the streets are empty for the car chases.
Better get the most money you can, there is a problem with young people having to leave the island for jobs on the mainland because you simply cannot survive there on an entry-level income.
The people are friendly, but they are leery of outsiders. They still hold a grudge at being made a US territory, they view the annexation of the islands as a coup. Having said that, I don't think you will have any problems fitting in. Life moves at a different pace there, hard to explain but you can tell the difference once you get away from the tourist traps. Kind of freaky to see chickens and goats roaming free range along the highway(!) Frankly, if I could afford to move there myself i'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd never get tired of being around this:
EDIT: took me too long to post, but I think you get the picture
Hey, it's K-base firing range in the background.
NOHOME said:
Living in PR left me with a lifelong disdain of the tourist industry. I knew what the locals thought of the tourist and I saw how the tourist treated the locals: "Ambulant wallets vs Peasants".
Pete
I grew up in a resort community on the southern tip of NJ. You had better believe there is a distinct line between locals and tourists. We had a real love/hate relationship with them. We needed the tourists for their money, but hated everything else about them. Working in the casinos in Atlantic City now, I am so glad I do not have to deal with the public, my little bit of interaction I get when crossing the casino floor is more than enough for this introvert
My aunt was out there for a few years as a nurse. She loved everything but the prices. We used to mail her a case of groceries every few weeks because it was cheaper than buying there.
Part of me has these dreams of catching a limit of Wahoo, picking some limes, and buying some tortillas. Fish tacos for every meal.
I interviewed for a job on Hawaii. The thing that got me most: California is 3 time zones west of where you are right now. Hawaii is 3 time zones west of California. That's quite a distance from any connections you have on the east coat.
Do my theory of working at Home Depot and living in a basic 1 bedroom apartment in Hawaii isn’t realistic?
Duke said:I interviewed for a job on Hawaii. The thing that got me most: California is 3 time zones west of where you are right now. Hawaii is 3 time zones west of California.
We spent weeks in Hawaii and were still waking up at 5am and having a drink with lunch by 10am.
In reply to mad_machine :
I've had similar impressions living in Portsmouth, NH, although I blur the line between a tourist and a local. I live out of a hotel, so by that definition I'm a tourist, but anymore I tend to "live" like a local, limiting my trips into town for dinner to maybe once every two weeks. But I shop at the local supermarkets for food. I know just about all of the weird little back-ways to get around. There definitely seems to be a greater disparity between the haves and have-nots in a town like this. Or maybe it's just more obvious due to the proximity of living situations.
As far as living in Hawaii? I don't know... Would you plan on selling your PA house or keeping it as a rental and potential escape plan?
From what you've said, it sounds like a visit would be in order, but not as a tourist, but to explore the other spaces off the beaten path to see how the locals really live.
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