honolulu for a year

[trip]

My husband is a project manager for a consulting firm and may have the opportunity for a one year assignment in Honolulu. Has anyone done this? His usual jobs are within 350 miles of home.

He is retired AF so we are used to moving but this time we would be leaving our daughters (they are old enough).

Just looking for any comments, concerns, or suggestions.

 

[nwdisgal]

Have you visited Honolulu before? It is someplace that you would be comfortable living for a year?

 

[trip]

We have never visited there. We would have to accept "sight unseen".

 

[lucyanna girl]

My oldest son was a member of the Marine Special Forces. He was stationed in Hawaii for three years. While he loved the islands and had many wonderful experiences there he was ready to leave when his time was up. There are only so many places to go on an island and he also felt the permanent residents resented military personnel. We visited him there and it is a beautiful place.

 

[nwdisgal]

Honolulu is a beautiful place, but I think you want to make sure you are comfortable with the culture before moving there. Everyone is a minority in a sense, including Caucasians and you need to be okay with that perspective.

A year isn't a very long time. It would pass quickly, and there is certainly a lot to enjoy there and in the neighbor islands. The cost of living is very high in Honolulu, so I would also make sure the pay is adjusted accordingly to compensate for that.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I spent a semester of college in Barbados, and its amazing how quickly you can feel "trapped" on an island. So thats something to consider. I was very ready to leave when my semester was up, even though it was gorgeous and I loved it there, I learned that I like to visit islands NOT live on them! That said Honolulu is a fun place and it would be a wonderful opportunity to take weekend trips to explore the other islands.

 

[mamajoan]

It has been a long time since we lived in Hawaii. We loved it... dh was stationed in Kanehoe, on the Windward side.

A one year committment is not bad, rather enjoyable I think.
Things to consider...
1. Will you be looking for employment?
2. Will you move everything or be provided with temporary housing/living quarters?
3. Are you adventurous?
4. Do you acclimate easily?
5. Are you prepared for an increase in your daily cost of living?. everything from groceries to gasoline.

Being retired Air Force I am sure you have experience with moving a great deal. I think if you have a realistic expectation about living on a Pacific Island you will do well.


I found Hawaii and it's local people lovely. I am a very open person who enjoys different lifestyles and cultures. I am whiter than white..LOL.. almost transparent..my dh is Black.. my kids Bi-racial.. and we NEVER had a problem..EVER.. In fact, Hawaii was great for us. We lived in a small, local community and upon the base. I worked in Honolulu.. I learned alot in our time there.

I would move back to Hawaii in a minute.. no questions asked.

Hawaii has an extemely relaxed pace. It is tough for some to be at ease with the "no worry" life.
I got "rock fever" or Island fever once or twice during the three years we were on Oahu. A trip to the mainland or to another island helped to ease that problem.
Best wishes on your upcoming decision.

 

[chyam]

After spending many winters (my parents lived there for 7 years) there I would jump at the opportunity. Hawaii is expensive though so if his pay is adjusted I would go and enjoy the opportunity. There is so much diversity there and always something to do, you cannot beat the weather! No humidity like FL and it seems it is always pleasant, unless you hit a rainy year. But a year will pass quickly and you probably will be ready to come home but in my opinion it is a great opportunity.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As long as it is "paid for" in compensation for cost of living, I would do it. A year flies by and it would be a wonderful opportunity.

 

[Rajah]

For one year? I'm there!!!

I'd feel trapped for more than a year, but I think I'd love it for a year!

 

[grlpwrd]

I'm an ex-local so I'll be blunt.

Get ready for:

* a high cost of living, especially housing, food, and gas. If he can get per diem it would be a lot better.

* island fever - limited professional arts/entertainment venues (Hawaiian entertainment is great, but not if you're used to the mainland one's), slow with the latest fashions (of course, nothing compares to NY, but things are very slow to get there), but there are many airplane companies that fly out of state so it's not like you're moving to Siberia lol

* yes, there is lots of diversity, but there is still racism (no matter how people say it's a "melting pot" )

* the island way of life is much slower than the mainland way of life (mainland being the continental US) - slower local drivers waving thank you is much nicer, but the traffic is still very bad

* they do a lot of things differently there, like real estate - fee simple versus leasehold whereas leasehold is you don't own the land under your home, but you pay a lease to use it

* corruption - it's common to hear about political corruption there

* "ice" or crystal meth is very popular there - my mom got robbed by a family friend and I believe when you get addicted you also turn to crime to feed your habit

* street racing is illegal there, but it has happened and unfortunately killed many innocent people

The best things:

diversity, no snow to slow you down and utilities are economical, he can go to work in Hawaiian print shirts, beaches, traveling to the different islands, yummy food, the aloha spirit, and the people are wonderful.



I love it there, I am part Hawaiian, and I love everything about Hawaii good or bad, but I gotta be real. Hope any of this helps.

 

[trip]

Well,we just found out today (friday) that he starts his new assignment next week. We leave Monday! The contract is for 6 months with a possible extension. Our 3 DD's will be looking after our house so we don't have to worry about that. Right now I'm busy making list after list.

We are going to spend the first 3 nights at the Hale Koa (a military resort similar to the Shades of Green) while we look for something more permanent.

I sure am going to miss my 2 DGS's (4 & 1) but they are already planning to come visit.

I'll try to post some pictures after we're settled.

 

[momof2inPA]

I would do it in a heartbeat! If you can shop at the exchange, the food is cheap, so don't worry about that. The restaurants at the Hale Koa are cheap, too, and I'm pretty sure you can use their pool anytime if you have a military ID, so that's a resort experience waiting to happen whenever you want. If I were you, I would just park there, at the hotel, and take the trolly to shopping and stuff if I had a boring day. And visit the Polynesian Cultural center if you haven't already; the music and cultural performances are amazing. Plus, you can get great sushi anywhere, anytime, yum. The military people I have known loved Hawaii, except for the schools, and that's not a concern for you.

 

[MissMinnie]

Wow!! I'm jealous!! I've always wanted to visit Hawaii. I would go since it is a temporary assignment and enjoy it while it lasts. It would be an adjustment, but it is not permanent and would not require a long commitment. Good luck in your travels if you do decide to go!!

 

[tweety 12]

How lucky! What a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'd be there in a heartbeat. Go and enjoy the islands. Hawaii is just paradise !!

 

[DawnCt1]

I spent a semester of college in Barbados, and its amazing how quickly you can feel "trapped" on an island. .

"Island Fever" is a common complaint although not having lived on an island, I guess I can be "philosophical" about it. When you consider it; most of us live on our own islands. Except for vacations, we pretty much stay on the islands of Ct. and western Ma. and not even southern Ct. I think most people limit there everyday travels to within 25 miles from home. I was pretty surprised when I spoke with some of the desk clerks at the Hale Koa on our first visit to HNL. Many of them have never been off of Oahu to the other islands, let alone the mainland. Edited to add; If I were offered an opportunity to live on Oahu for a year, I would jump at it.

 

[DawnCt1]

I love it there, I am part Hawaiian, and I love everything about Hawaii good or bad, but I gotta be real. Hope any of this helps.

Informative post. Right now Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate of all 50 states. That is good news for Hawaii and it is clear that tourism is on the upswing. I booked our Skymiles seats for our August vacation in Sept. Once I knew my dates, I searched VRBO for accommodations. I am so glad I did. I have been checking affordable condos (I tend to do that, even after I book) and availability is sooo limited for this summer. I booked our mini van too, and car rental rates have gone up since I booked. All good news for Hawaii. The room rates, rental rates, etc. are up since we first visited 7 years ago or so when Hawaii was definately in a recession. It seems to depend upon the global economy more than the other states. One of DS 24's friends graduated from the University of Hawaii in software engineering and IT. He is now truly a Kama'aina. He is a grad student with a teaching position, comes home for a week or two per year but can't wait to get back. He visits us at the Hale Koa when we are there. My SIL's sister's DH took a "temporary assignment" on Kawajalen and that was more than 10 years ago. They are flown back to New England once a year for vacation. They fly to HNL a couple of times of year but Kawajalen is "small island" living. It is 2 by 4 miles and 1500 miles from Hawaii. They love it. They wouldn't change their life style at all.

 

[taeja71]

I feel trapped in my own home during Winter! Oh to be trapped in HI! Think of it as a year long vacation. Take all the info you receive with a grain of salt and I'm sure you will be fine. If you go to HI, would you adopt me?

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Well,we just found out today (friday) that he starts his new assignment next week. We leave Monday! The contract is for 6 months with a possible extension. Our 3 DD's will be looking after our house so we don't have to worry about that. Right now I'm busy making list after list.

We are going to spend the first 3 nights at the Hale Koa (a military resort similar to the Shades of Green) while we look for something more permanent.

I sure am going to miss my 2 DGS's (4 & 1) but they are already planning to come visit.

I'll try to post some pictures after we're settled.

Congratulations!!! I was thinking after my original post that one good thing about doing that in Honolulu is that both sides of the island are so different (Waikiki and North Shore in particular) which would probably help ward off any "island fever". Also like some pointed out if you are used to staying in the same region 99% of the time it probably won't hit you so hard. We live in CA and are used to travelling frequently through CA from snow to beach, big city to country (and of course DL), etc. Also used to frequent temparture changes so weird as it is to say 80 degrees everyday got a little old (I know most would LOVE that). We just found out we will likely be moving to London for one year (dh's job) and I will probably will be BEGGING for sunny and 80 after that, lol!! I think you will have a wonderful experience. We love it in Oahu and will be taking our kids in June. Good luck with your move!!!

 

[Mimi Q]

Congrats. Sounds like fun to me. Be sure to post pictures when you get settled there.