BOTL from Hawaii please help me

[AlohaStyle]

I lived on Oahu for a few years and I wish I still could live there. Only reason we left is my wife wanted to get back to her family after her brother had their first kid. Yes the cost of living is higher, but just like anywhere else, you simply adjust. Make sure you have a Costco membership and shop smart. There are a lot of places that don't need the A/C running all the time, there's a lot of cool breeze that can run through houses/apartments as long as there is good placement of windows and sliding doors.

It sounds like from above nursing isn't a sure thing in Hawaii unless your wife has a lot of experience. One thing I will say is that it's not the easiest for a white guy from the mainland to find a job. The Aloha Spirit is alive and well with great genuine people there, but locals don't take too kindly to mainlanders coming over and taking jobs. Nothing personal, but they would much rather hire a local than a haole that might move back to the mainland in a couple years after getting island fever.

If I were you, I would do some major research on the warm places of the continental US and Hawaii and make your move. Like you said... move now and enjoy the nice weather!

Good luck brother!

[Fia]

Originally Posted by oooo35980

I have a friend in the Navy over there and his wife has been looking for a job as a Nurse for over a year. The cost of living is insane, it will give you a mild stroke the first time you walk into a grocery store. I didn't like Oahu because of how crowded it is and the tiny area just made me feel trapped all the time. Other islands may be better. A lot of my friends really love it there, but for me the nice weather and scenery didn't make up for all the things that drove me crazy when I lived there.

California has nice weather, so does florida and most of the south, you don't have to move to the middle of the pacific ocean for that. Ultimately if you aren't stationed there in the military and weren't born there or offered a crazy good job there, I'd recommend thinking about whether there is really any good reason to move to Hawaii. It is a much better place to visit then to live IMO.

Some good points made. Then again it depends on what a person values. I grew up in San Diego county. I miss certain things about California but to this day dont regret my move to Hawaii over staying in Cali. There are things that drive me crazy about Cali too. Too many people are in a rush, too many people are up in your business if you know what I mean, too many people are inconsiderate, too crowded, etc. No one single place will be perfect IMO.

Originally Posted by AlohaStyle

I lived on Oahu for a few years and I wish I still could live there. Only reason we left is my wife wanted to get back to her family after her brother had their first kid. Yes the cost of living is higher, but just like anywhere else, you simply adjust. Make sure you have a Costco membership and shop smart. There are a lot of places that don't need the A/C running all the time, there's a lot of cool breeze that can run through houses/apartments as long as there is good placement of windows and sliding doors.

It sounds like from above nursing isn't a sure thing in Hawaii unless your wife has a lot of experience. One thing I will say is that it's not the easiest for a white guy from the mainland to find a job. The Aloha Spirit is alive and well with great genuine people there, but locals don't take too kindly to mainlanders coming over and taking jobs. Nothing personal, but they would much rather hire a local than a haole that might move back to the mainland in a couple years after getting island fever.

Good luck brother!

There is some truth to that. Locals can be wary of someone coming over taking a job, getting trained and digging out after a short period of time. Then again I know many Haoles from the mainland that have come to hawaii, found jobs and did well for themselves. There in another mindset from many employers is they could care less where you from as long as you are a reliable, good worker. My father moved to Hawaii to work construction in the late 80s, early 90s and they loved him. Why? Cause he showed up to work every day!!! LOL

[AlohaStyle]

Originally Posted by Fia

There is some truth to that. Locals can be wary of someone coming over taking a job, getting trained and digging out after a short period of time. Then again I know many Haoles from the mainland that have come to hawaii, found jobs and did well for themselves. There in another mindset from many employers is they could care less where you from as long as you are a reliable, good worker. My father moved to Hawaii to work construction in the late 80s, early 90s and they loved him. Why? Cause he showed up to work every day!!! LOL

Very true. If a haole is a good genuine person and locals get to know these people, they are treated like family. But, it's hard for a local to learn the true person and if they have a strong work ethic in a simple interview. It can be very tough for a haole to get a job. But once they do get a job and if they do it well showing respect, you are set and can live like a local. I have many haole friends that have lived there a long time... wish I would be one of them! LOL

[Digs]

Originally Posted by AlohaStyle

I lived on Oahu for a few years and I wish I still could live there. Only reason we left is my wife wanted to get back to her family after her brother had their first kid. Yes the cost of living is higher, but just like anywhere else, you simply adjust. Make sure you have a Costco membership and shop smart. There are a lot of places that don't need the A/C running all the time, there's a lot of cool breeze that can run through houses/apartments as long as there is good placement of windows and sliding doors.

It sounds like from above nursing isn't a sure thing in Hawaii unless your wife has a lot of experience. One thing I will say is that it's not the easiest for a white guy from the mainland to find a job. The Aloha Spirit is alive and well with great genuine people there, but locals don't take too kindly to mainlanders coming over and taking jobs. Nothing personal, but they would much rather hire a local than a haole that might move back to the mainland in a couple years after getting island fever.

If I were you, I would do some major research on the warm places of the continental US and Hawaii and make your move. Like you said... move now and enjoy the nice weather!

Good luck brother!

I think my wife will be ok; she has 15+ years and is the 3rd shift nurse manager for the stroke unit. I have heard that the work ethic isn’t quite as strong as some parts of the “mainland" I have heard that it’s a lot like the south? (Cant blame them I too would rather be at the beach on a Friday, ha-ha)Growing up my parents had a home in Sanibel Island Florida so I spent some time in the warmer parts of the country, I don’t know brother I haven’t seen any place on the mainland that comes close - climate wise or scenery.

I keep hearing that the cost of living is higher, I live in northeast pa my bills look similar monthly electric bill is $150-$275 per months, $100-$450 per month for gas, $850 per year for my supplement heater - pellet stove, $6200 per year property tax (or aprox $515 per month in mortgage) $100 - $125 per month for water & sewer.....+ trash a $100 per quarter, etc.