Leaving Paradise...

[1stwahine]

There is a thread about "How do locals feel about visitors or people moving from the mainland?" Well, I wanted to start a thread about those having to leave due to education, employment, high cost of living, etc.

Why or what has caused our own "local's" to move from Paradise. I am the mother of three soldiers. I knew about their re-locations and also about their inevitable deployments to War Zones.

I thought that my youngest was only going to stay in the National Guard and then go into some kind of local enforcement agency here at home. I never drempt that she too...would go full active and re-locate to another place. Taking with her my love and only grandchild, Antonio.

As I stood in line at Times Liliha, the woman in front of me had several Enfamil Powered Cans. She paid for it with WIC. I can not understand. Somebody, tell me please. Why does the hardworking and law abiding ones have to go? My heart breaks. My thoughts are many. What I have instilled into my children has taken them from the place of their birth.

Would have it been better to do what the majority of lazy, govt. programs, hand outs fo society takes? I think not. This coming holidays will be the first in 8 years that I will have all three in my arms again. My son is stationed here for the next four years at Schofield. My daughters will be in Alaska and Florida.

Somebody tell me why, please.

Auntie Lynn aka Auntie Pupule

[newroots]

thats a good question. alot of people here leave cuz they want more oppurtunities becuase the economy is so bad. or they just wanna live in the states. i have alot of family in the military that are stationed somewhere else. they unfourtnately chose the military as their career cuz it was their only option , plus they could travel that way. maybe the people on government programs arent qualified for government use. they keep the government in power lol.

[1stwahine]

thats a good question. alot of people here leave cuz they want more oppurtunities becuase the economy is so bad. or they just wanna live in the states. i have alot of family in the military that are stationed somewhere else. they unfourtnately chose the military as their career cuz it was their only option , plus they could travel that way. maybe the people on government programs arent qualified for government use. they keep the government in power lol.

thank you for answering my question...however do you think it's a LOL that they have to leave? For those who are less fortunate to keep being on Govt. Funding that they keep government in power is no excuse. My children put their lives on the line, so that that we can live safely and sleep soundly...only to have those who speak against our government so freely. I don't want to have to lose one or all of my children to a government that is not appreciative to what they do. They leave Hawai'i nei in hopes that they are appreciated. They leave Hawai'i nei because they have to. They leave Hawai'i nei because they would not make it if they didn't...and then there are those that want to know how we feel, if they come to our islands to live in Paradise when our own children can not. I don't think so.

Am I pissed. You damn right I am. I am drunk but I speak from my heart. I am tired of the BS of whether or not "how do we feel when others come here to live?" Keep our children here in our Paradise! Get a grip. Stay where you are...we don't need you here!

Auntie Lynn aka Auntie Pupule

PS. I went to see jdub tonight. He and his group plays great. He has a beautiful voice. Packed house. Gotta see him in action...will go back another Saturday.

[AuntieNellieKulolo]

I am single with no kids and would not qualify for any gov't programs despite the fact that I have paid into the system for 20 years(that's another rant but I'm not going there). I could not survive on my own on what I was making and at the time I moved(2000) the economy in HI was tanking, the HSPL was laying off librarians left and right and the economy in NYC(where I had lived previously) was booming. I am now making $15K more than what I was making back home. In a nutshell that's why I moved. It's impossible to live as a single person on the kind of wages you make in HI and have any kind of savings or 'fun money', unless you are willing to work 2 jobs and live with roommates in your 40s. Of course I moved when there were plenty of apartments in Honolulu, I can only imagine the situation is worse now, wages haven't gone up but apt. prices are as much as NYC... :mad:

[1stwahine]

Nellie K., Mahalo for your honest response. Apartments are getting hard to come by every day. It saddens me that my children will be leaving too. It's their jobs and I will miss out on my grandchildren's growing up. good thing is I don't have to babysit. LOL

Theres too many reasons in itself to understand. Whatever the reasons for my family...it is ment to be. The drums of islands will call them back home too. I once ventured away for a better opportunity to work on Treasure Island for Selective Service Region V. Headquarters, under Col. Blanchard. My daughter, Christy the youngest was born in Vallejo. We had our own resturant in Vallejo too called "Crispy Lechon"...the drums of the islands called me home for good. Mama was sick. She is now 80.

Do you plan to come back home someday for good? Or continue to live away only to visit?

Auntie Lynn aka Auntie Pupule

[808_m3]

My spouse and I left Hawaii for career reasons. The sad fact is the mainland has more job oppurtunities for computer/technical related fields.

Just before graduating, my spouse was able to land a position through one of the company recruitment fairs at UHM. Although my spouse had a local job reserved, the mainland job was almost double the pay and came with a nice signing bonus. At that point, it was pretty much a no-brainer.

I came up a few months later. I had a harder time finding that dream job, but that day came eventually and now both of us are doing well with our careers.

The hardest part was leaving family. Thinking back at those times, I think that might have been the best thing to happen to us. Why? Well, I just think you really don't know what you're made of when you don't have that support structure around. No matter where you live, living near your parents puts you in a certain "comfort zone." I wouldn't consider that a bad thing, but when you take that zone away, you strive harder to make up for it. Transitioning to a new "comfort zone" that is, the support structure between my spouse and me.

I suppose you could say this would be rather insensitive, considering it may seem like you are abandoning your parents. I don't think so. Actually, my spouse and I return the favor by sending money back so they can save up for a nice retirement. Our parents are certainly proud that we've been able accomplish here. We do make yearly visits to Hawaii, likewise, our parents fly up here to visit us as well.

My spouse and I always discuss future plans about coming back to Hawaii. Unfortunately, these days, that possibility has become less and less. I suppose you get used to a certain lifestyle, perhaps it's income related, or maybe materialistic reasons. Maybe it's nice that the mainland is such a large place with a lot of things to do.

Perhaps the sad truth is that when you leave paradise, you don't come back. :(

[adrian]

My older brother left Hawaii in 2002 for Michigan and since then, he's come back here for summer and winter vacation (he just left to go back a few weeks ago).

What makes it interesting, is that he met his gf on one of his school trips, and she's from Maui and he runs a radio show on the Universtiy campus, where he plays local songs for the people (they seme to love it, and they call him the "Hawaiian Boy" even though he doesn't have an ounce of Hawaiian in his blood)

I think after all of these years, he adjusted to it, but when it was his first year out, we sent him local snacks (dried fish, octopus, squid [amongst other things that were dried], li hing mui, mac nuts, rice, spam, seaweed and other local favorites) and his friends gobbled them up (until he told them what the dried stuff were).

We support him 100% when he's on the mainland, but he never changed when he comes home for vacation, helping us around the house like he's been home for the past few years. As long as he can spread the aloha spirit, then we're happy.

[1stwahine]

808 M3, I pray that someday my children will return to the islands...but if they choose to settle in another place, I will support them. At least I'll get to travel various places. We can always plan for family reunions when the time and needs arrives.

Adrain, you've given me another perspective to the whole situation. I, too will be sending goodies from Hawai'i. I get to recieve "Salmon" from Alaska and more. As for Ligaya in Florida...CSI Maimi on Monday nights! Oh! Florida Juice too but I can get that here at the market. *L* Also, worrying about her everytime a hurricane hits there. Anything is better than Iraq or Afganistan!

Auntie Lynn

[Islandgirl1]

I would live in Hawaii in a heartbeat if I could afford it. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It is good that people come to visit and spend money there because it does help the economy.

I also want to say about the war and such, I honestly believe there is so much more that we as a nation are not aware of, why wars start and why we are really there. In some cases I applaud the men and women that are there defending our country, but do they know the real reason we are there? I honestly think Bush has been orchestrating this for a long long time. I am not saying I know anything for certain, but I don't think they are completely honest. Look at the governments track record, how everything comes out about our leaders years and years later. I am sure years from now we will know the truth about this war. It seems we have no choice, they make it possible for us to do things we couldn't normally do, and we do something for them, blow up other cities. Does that make any sense? It is a trade, they make it easy for people who are struggling like pay for college, travel, home, food etc and those are the people who do the dirty work. I know I am alittle off the subject but I really feel for the person who wrote this original thread. Good luck and I hope Hawaii is your paradise!! ;)

[Supersonic]

My parents took me kicking and screaming from Hawaii. I didn't want to leave at all.. I still don't want to be here... LOL.
My parents wanted to have 30 acres and 4 horses in Oklahoma rather than 1 acre and 2 horses in Hawaii. So that's pretty much why they moved. They say they don't miss the islands. My dad grew up on Lana'i, I can't understand why he wouldn't miss that.

[oggboy]

HOW CAN WE MOVE FROM THESE ISLAND`S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA?
Too much cost for buy or rent, even if you born and raised here. The bottom line is, our kids no like move. Or for that matter any Hawaii resident. The part is!, The kids NOW

[oggboy]

[QUOTE=oggboy]HOW CAN WE MOVE FROM THESE ISLAND`S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA?
Too much cost for buy or rent, even if you born and raised here. The bottom line is, our kids no like move. Or for that matter any Hawaii resident. The part is!, The kids and us all trying to figure out watt da hell us going do now.

The part is we are getting screwed, we all work hard to sacrifice alot for living on this piece of rock called home. Many of us have had to work more than one job to make ends meet...............

[NemesisVex]

I moved away from Hawai`i because I got a job offer in the middle of a summer internship eight years ago. That was the catalyst, but I knew I was moving away from Hawai`i ever since I was young. Hell, I was frustrated that I couldn't afford to go to college on the Mainland and leave sooner.

A big priority for me is a vibrant arts community, and the one in Hawaii just doesn't do it for me. I live in Austin now, and I feel like there's a better springboard for me here -- even if I just work on music as a hobby -- than I would back in Honolulu. And it's not just music -- there's a strong film community here, and while Dallas and Houston may have the better museums, there are enough folks in this town "keeping it weird" to make life interesting.

I also think there's a lot of personal stuff that keeps me away from Hawaii. I see alot of posts from people who say they miss their families, but I'm glad half a continent and an ocean separates me from mine.

I'm probably the rare case where leaving Hawai`i was better for me personally and professionally. It wouldn't be wise for me to move back.

[Glen Miyashiro]

It all depends on what's most important to you.

Some people, like NemesisVex, follow their jobs or their passions to the communities that can best support them. I have many friends who have left the islands for professional reasons, because they're in specialized fields that the Hawai'i job market can't support. I know a few who have left because they "couldn't wait to get off this rock" and get some distance away from the nīele small-town atmosphere of the islands where you always run into somebody who knows you or your family.

On the other hand, I always knew, growing up, that even if I moved away for college and my early career, I would eventually come back, settle down, and live in Hawai'i. That was one of my priorities, more than getting the dream job, more than seeing the world. At heart, I'm an island boy.

[Miulang]

I also think there's a lot of personal stuff that keeps me away from Hawaii. I see alot of posts from people who say they miss their families, but I'm glad half a continent and an ocean separates me from mine.

I'm probably the rare case where leaving Hawai`i was better for me personally and professionally. It wouldn't be wise for me to move back.

I also thought the same thing as you, Nemesis. I wanted to move to the mainland when I was 13. But you know what? No matter how far away you get from the 'aina (both in time and distance), you know there will always be "something" tugging at you, otherwise, you would not visit HT, yeah? ;) Yes, I have been more successful by living up here on the Mainland, but the older I get, the more I think it'll soon be time to return to Hawai'i and work to make it a better place for everyone. I know I can do that because I have seen and experienced a lot, and a lot of what I have seen that dismays me is now happening to Hawai'i, which is not a good thing for anyone living there.

Miulang

[AbsolutChaos]

One of the first friends I made here was an engineer. He had moved here around the same time I did. Now he'll be moving back to the Mainland in a month, due to his Honolulu company treating him so shabbily. My friend hasn't had a single raise in the almost three years he has been here, all the people hired at the same time as him quit within a year of being hired, and the company chose to give him more and more responsibilities to make up for those who left, forcing him to pick up the slack, as well as compensate for the inexperience of the new hires. My friend warned his company that he was going to look for a new job, and it wasn't until he had an interview lined up on the Mainland that the company belatedly offered him is overdue raise. It's a matter of too little, too late, however...obviously the company didn't believe him when he said he was ready to leave, and now my friend and his wife are reluctantly packing to leave the island and move to AZ.

It's sad that companies in HI choose to lose good employees like my friend, knowing full well that there are plenty of other young Mainland engineers fresh out of college who will jump at the chance to move to HI--it's a constant source of new workers without the "hassle" of providing them with raises. :mad:

[saigonwarrior]

Young engineers are behind the 8-ball for a number of reasons. There's no union or sense of decency among bosses so you can work ungodly amounts of hours (I used to average 60 hrs a week at a mechanical engineering firm before I went to govt). You don't get much value to an engineering company unless you get either a) a Professional Engineering license or b) some significant time as an engineer where you can develop a decent name for yourself by running jobs or getting clients. Plus, how many places you know will willingly give a raise unless it is set by some system? Often you need to go somewhere else or threaten to get something. It is sad to see engineers go but these engineering companies can act like buttheads because there are more engineers willing to take the place of the last one who left be it from here or the mainland. So is the marketplace for engineers.

From what I also know most companies here (and anywhere else) would rather hire anyone with some sort of local ties. There is much more of a chance for the local kids to stay here. PHNSY has had to hire some mainland engineers. Usually they are the first to go as well. The people with some Hawaii ties are ususally but not always more likely to put up with more crap cause they want to stay here for family reasons. I've met a number of engineers at PHNSY who hate what they do but stay at PHNSY because the job pays the bills and they get to live in Hawaii.

Best of luck to all of us young professionals. It is tough to start off. On one hand you want to be a good professional and work hard to become good at what you do. On the other hand you want to have a life. Me and my fiancee think of this all the time. I've gotten offers from mainland companies but I decided to stay in Hawaii. I have started to change my mind and will look at some of these mainland companies again and others in states we might consider moving to.

I would hate to leave. I love this clmate, the fact I get to see many friends from college, my family and this is my home. But to live in a place where the climate is okay but you have a better job, that's something to consider.

To have to work two jobs to live here....that is tough..those of you who do it are amazing..you wonder if you have to work so hard and put with so much..do you get to enjoy the paradise you live in...when does it stay worth it to stay here...But man do I love Hawaii cause it is our home for better or worse.

[saigonwarrior]

You can also never totally leave. A piece of you stays behind and longs for home even after you leave. I think if I left I'd be going to L&L and getting food from Zippys.com way too often.

[NemesisVex]

No matter how far away you get from the 'aina (both in time and distance), you know there will always be "something" tugging at you, otherwise, you would not visit HT, yeah?

I was reminded of HT when Ryan spoke endlessly about it on his HawaiiUP podcast, and I posted because not everyone who's from Hawaii would necessarily want to move back. Hawaii is still very much frozen in time for me right around 1996, when things weren't too rosy. While I like hearing about what's happening now, I usually end up feeling better about having left.

I won't rule out ever living in Hawaii again, but if it turns out I never move back, I don't think I'll be less for it.

[Miulang]

I was reminded of HT when Ryan spoke endlessly about it on his HawaiiUP podcast, and I posted because not everyone who's from Hawaii would necessarily want to move back. Hawaii is still very much frozen in time for me right around 1996, when things weren't too rosy. While I like hearing about what's happening now, I usually end up feeling better about having left.

I won't rule out ever living in Hawaii again, but if it turns out I never move back, I don't think I'll be less for it.

My point was, regardless whether you end up moving back to the 'aina or not, you will always have a part of you that's there. If it only means checking up on what's happening there periodically, you still want to know what's happening there. And that's as it should be. I was the same way when I left Maui to come to the Mainland for college. Swore I'd only visit occasionally but never return to live...here I am today, after way too many years, contemplating making that move back in about 5 years. Never say never. Just continue to say maybe. ;)

A hui hou,
Miulang

[NemesisVex]

Never say never. Just continue to say maybe.

I prefer to say unlikely.

[Miulang]

I prefer to say unlikely.
You've only been gone from Hawai'i since 1996. Wait about 20 or 30 years from now...

Miulang

[NemesisVex]

You've only been gone from Hawai'i since 1996. Wait about 20 or 30 years from now...

Setting aside the dismissive way you project ...

I imagine there are people from Texas who still keep up with what's happening in Texas without ever wanting to be in Texas. I think it's possible to be connected to a place by maintaining distance, and my connection to Hawai`i is strengthened by the fact I don't live there.

[pzarquon]

I've met plenty of people from Hawaii who never want to come back. Whether they've been gone three years or thirty. Many of them are from Hilo. ;)

Just as well. More space left for the rest of us.

That said, I miss NemesisVex. You might not miss the place, but please say you miss at least a few people!

[U'ilani]

I left Hawaii to go to college, and then didn't return because it was best for my career to be on the mainland. However, I miss Hawaii. I will always consider it my home. When we come home (usually once a year), my kids just fit in to the lifestyle here. Heck, they look totally local. My boy's skin turns a gorgeous golden/brown and his wavy hair looks good in the humidity. He loves to go boogie boarding, to string plumeria flowers, to eat shave ice. His naturally gregarious and kind disposition are much more appreciated in Hawaii than on the mainland. The ladies in the stores all seem to really take to him. My daughter is easy going, moves slowly, and loves being near her grandparents and aunt and uncle. Her naturally wavy ehu hair is not out of place here as it is in Seattle. The sun feels differently back home in Hawaii. The air is fragrant. I didn't really notice it or think about it until I moved away and then came back to visit. I swear that I can smell the fragrance of flowers wafting through the air on the freeway as I'm leaving the airport and going towards H3 (maybe I passed by lei stands and didn't realize it, lol). Being back home nourishes my spirit in a way that nothing else can. I am looking forward to long walks on the beach at sunset, to hiking in Nuuanu, to seeing my husband and children happy in the environment. Just 15 more hours!

[1stwahine]

The Drums of the islands and Flowers await you and your family back home! 8/25/2005!

Auntie Lynn ;)

[kimo55]

my connection to Hawai`i is strengthened by the fact I don't live there.



wot da hell!?

[NemesisVex]

wot da hell!?

If Hawai`i comes up in a conversation I have with someone here on the Mainland, I'll talk at great length about it, and I may even say something positive. And I can afford to because I'm not dealing with the crap that makes living in Hawai`i difficult.

[toeknee]

Every place has it's pros and cons. Most have some characteristic that's undesireable. I'm just curous: what would be the "crap" you speak of that makes Hawaii such a difficult place to live? Is it the obvious, like cost of living and limited career opportunities or is there something more you would add?

[NemesisVex]

Nope. I'm talking about the obvious stuff. I characterize it as crap because, well, it is. If it shouldn't be characterized as such, how should it be described?

[Rickyrab]

Question: why is the economy so sour over in the 'aina, and what would you want to do about it if you were, say, governor?

[Miulang]

Question: why is the economy so sour over in the 'aina, and what would you want to do about it if you were, say, governor?
The economy's going gangbusters (lowest unemployment rate in the country). Problem is with the high cost of living and low wages. Quite a few individuals have to work at least 2 jobs in order to survive, which is about all that you can do if you're working 12-16 hours a day. :mad:

Miulang

[DaveNSoKona]

Well gang, It's for real we are leaving paradise...

http://www.kingmanglass.com/gallery/albums/Moving/Img0002.sized.jpg

Help the new owners of Kona Mist Coffee (http://www.konamist.com) (of Hawaiian ancestry) feel at home by ordering lots of great coffee...once they get up to speed and the harvest comes in.

[1stwahine]

Good Luck, God Speed, visit us often!

Happy Holidays to you and your family DaveSoKona!

Auntie Lynn and family!!!!

[Miulang]

Good luck Dave! May you and your family have a peaceful and prosperous life in Oregon.

Miulang

[AbsolutChaos]

Here's an article that backs up the alarming housing rental situation on Oahu...makes me terrified to even attempt to look for a new apartment, even though my current one is no longer suiting my needs anymore...

Housing costs lift rents out of reach, study finds (http://realestate.msn.com/Rentals/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=159225&GT1=7474)

:( :eek:

[Lisheous]

Oh, 1stWahine,

I know exactly how you feel. My husband and I left for 2 reasons, he missed his family so much and for financial reasons. He has been away for 18 years and our rent was so sky high. ($1250) He made pretty good money as a US postal carrier, but that was going to rent, food and bills and not much left to have fun or go out on family outings. I worked at the Grosvenor Center on Bishop st. for a brokerage company as a secretary. So we actually lived from paycheck to paycheck, I did pretty good, but it still wasn't enough.

My husband thought we could do better in the mainland, because the cost of living was cheaper and so were the homes there. We have bought a new home for $19,000, yes, at an auction. We paid for it in 9 years. We now bought another home and rent our first home, which pays our mortgage. We bought our new home on sale for $122,000, very spacious with 3,000 sq ft.(originally 140,000), comes with an acre of land, if it was compared to the homes back there, it would probably be worth almost 7 or $800,000. It used to be our former Pastor's home in a upper scale neighborhood. I would love to email you some pictures of it sometime. The food here is very reasonable and there are lots of dollar stores. The chinese restaurants are not as tasty as back home, they don't know what "won ton min" is or manapua LOL! I miss eating at Lin's, Liliha Times Square. :D

But I do miss home and the local drive in's. I'm lucky that I can afford to come home very year after 7 years, I have lived in VA for over 10 years. We are pretty much stable now as far as financial wise and very happy where I want to be in life. Praise the Lord.

We can live comfortably and eat well. A whole chicken here is $2.00, cheap yeah, a loaf of bread is .78 cents, king size. I don't' work, I have 6 children, my first 2 girls are grown, a paramedic in the Air Force and the other one is a flight attendant for PACE Airlines. Then I have 4 children that are still in school. As a matter of fact my parents lives at Kauluwela's condo. near Times right across Kukui Gardens, I was raised at MWH. So we were neighbors of a sort. I looked at your profile and you're the same age as my sister, Francine Castillo, maybe you may know her.

Anyway, I don't mean to go on and on, atleast I can communitcate with my homies back home now. So glad to have found this site. Thank you for listening! Enjoy the rest of your day!

*Melissa*

[Miulang]

We can live comfortably and eat well. ...I was raised at MWH. So we were neighbors of a sort. I looked at your profile and you're the same age as my sister, Francine Castillo, maybe you may know her.
*Melissa*
Wow! Local girl does good on Mainland! Just goes to show, no matter how far away you go or how long you've been away, you still cannot take memories of small kid times in Hawai'i away from us expats.

Welcome to HT, Melissa. You going have good fun here, especially now that Auntie Lynn knows you one MWH alumna! :)

Miulang

[Shan-n]

Thank you Auntie Lynn for posting this topic! I was born in the mainland but came to Hawaii when I was about 11. My father came to Hawaii to visit a really good friend. Well he loved Hawaii so much he moved our family here a year later! I went to public school here on the windward side truly have always felt like a local girl! Some of my friends say I am a local girl trapped in a haole girls body :) I still live with my father and we have been in the same house since we moved to Hawaii.

Well I am a single mom of an 8 yr old son and although I have a pretty good job I have been considering relocating to the mainland (Washington State) for the past year. I am familiar with Washington as I visit there about 2 times a year. The cost of living here in Hawaii is just too expensive. I am 28 and want to buy a house by the time I am 30. I CANNOT do that here in Hawaii with the cost of a house averaging $605,000 :eek: !! But if I move to Washington then I would have no problem. I could rent a house here in Hawaii for the rest of my life but with the cost of rentals nowadays I just can't justify it. I also could wait for prince charming to come sweep me off my feet but I am not holding my breath hahahah!!

I am extremely nervous about the thought of moving as Hawaii is all I have known. My son isn't exactly happy at the thought of moving but he understands that life may be better there. So here I am looking at the pros and cons of leaving the place I love, the only place I really know, the place my son was born and raised... How do I actually make the decision to move my son and I to the mainland and start fresh?? Sometimes I hate being an adult and having to make decisions like this!!

So for all of you who have moved to the mainland I give you lots of credit and I look up to you. I just hope and pray that if I do decide to move that it will be the best decision I ever made.

[1stwahine]

Aloha Lisheous and Shan-n! Great way to end my day. Mahalo. Lisheous, I graduated with your sis at MHS 74! I'm glad for you in your wonderful life in which you made with your family. Next time you come visit ~ give Auntie a call.

Shan-n, it's quite hard for anyone to make it in Hawai'i. Housing is at such a high rate that I'm amazed my own daughter and son-inlaw is actually in the process of buying their first home. They're taking advantage of the Military benefits which is darn good. My other two will eventually do the same.

I wish you luck wherever you may go and do. May God bless you and your family.

Happy New Year Ladies! :D

Auntie Lynn

P.S. No wait for Prince Charming, I still waiting for mine and I "50"! :p

[Lisheous]

Hi Auntie Lynne,

It's so nice to hear from you again, I still keep in touch with the news, through the Honolulu Starbulletin daily emails. I remember seeing your nice article, about the children getting some rubbah slippahs for Christmas. It was a wonderful thing for the children to have. You seemed to be well known and lots of people thinks highly of you and I'm happy for you.

You must also know the Clemente's, my best friend Sharleen is married to Patrick. Yes, I truly miss her and I'm always in touch. I will definitely try to meet with you sometime this summer, :D when I come in June to visit, probably in the second week.

I also went to your website and enjoyed looking at your pictures, especially the all food ones, mmm___, it made so me hungry. LOL! :D

You have a lovely family.

Aloha,

*Lisheous*

[1stwahine]

Aloha Lisheous! What a small world it is! Sharleen is my cousin! :D Patrick and her will be moving across of me soon. I'll take a picture of them in a few days and post it on my Blog for you.

As for being well known and highly thought of...that's cute! Not yesterday. I was naughty. ;) Today, is a new day.

I'm just a mother of three soldiers, a grandma, a Pupule Wahine who running for Governor! :p A daughter, a sista, an auntie to many, and a widow/prisoner's bitxh! :eek:

The Christmas Slippahs are still on the children's feet. It's a wonderful sight to open my door and see feets with colorful slippahs on running, walking, all ova instead of barefooted ones.

In Christ,

Aunty Lynn

[Lei K]

Not yesterday. I was naughty. ;) Today, is a new day.


Yeah Auntie, what happpened to that New Years Resolution eh? :p

Like I said Auntie, you always make me smile. God Bless.

[Miulang]

[FONT=Arial]Well I am a single mom of an 8 yr old son and although I have a pretty good job I have been considering relocating to the mainland (Washington State) for the past year. I am familiar with Washington as I visit there about 2 times a year. The cost of living here in Hawaii is just too expensive. I am 28 and want to buy a house by the time I am 30. I CANNOT do that here in Hawaii with the cost of a house averaging $605,000 :eek: !! But if I move to Washington then I would have no problem.
Shan-n: Whatever you decide, it will be the best decision you can make. Lots of locals have moved up here to the Pacific NW and made very good lives for themselves. The cost of living is certainly lower than Hawai'i, housing is slightly cheaper and wages are about 20% higher than in Hawai'i, depending on your profession.

In the Seattle area, it would be really difficult to go without local food for long. We have an L&L and many many teriyaki joints and Hawaiian style restaurants. Almost anything you ate at home you can find up here, either in the restaurants or at Uwajimaya.

The only thing I really miss (besides my parents) is the warm waters around Hawai'i. We have Puget Sound but it's nothing compared to the blue waters of the Pacific.

I love living up here because I can get in the car and drive for a couple of hours (like I did on Jan. 2) and see bald eagles perched in trees. Or going West, I can eventually get to the Coast and see the Pacific Ocean. North a couple of hours and I'm in Vancouver, BC. I love the cooler weather (I hate humidity). Yes, the Mainland has been good to me.

When it comes to "home", though, it will always be Hawai'i. Seattle has been a good alternative in the meantime, but eventually (like within the next 5 years) I'll probably be back on Maui or the Big Island, raising native plants.

Good luck with your decision. It would be a much easier one to make if you didn't have your son's feelings to consider.

Miulang

[Lisheous]

Oh my gosh, really Auntie Lynne, I can't believe it! Your cousin! LOL! I never heard of you, but maybe I seen you before and I don't recongnize your picture. :D Sharleena told me they were moving but she didn't know when, oh wow, how exciting! Now I really want to come home! She called me the day before, to wish me Happy late New Year and I wasn't home, oh shucks! Snap!. I was out somewhere.

Maybe she can show you some pictures of my house, I sent her a few, just recently. I was going to call her yesterday, but I didn't, so I guess I'll call her sometime today. I'm expecting one of my husband's client, to pick up her computer, my husband is a computer technician too, besides a Minister and US postal carrier. After she comes and pick up her computer, I'll give Sharleens a call, cause we like to laugh and talk a long time about the good ole days. She was away for 13 years and I was back home there and when she came home, I left. Oh I'm so glad to meet you, I'm very excited and happy to have found this site accidently. I have no idea how I got here.

I bookmarked this site several weeks ago and only now I registered and posted messages. She gave me the name Lisheous. :D Waving, smiling, jumping up and down!

Wow! Local girl does good on Mainland! Just goes to show, no matter how far away you go or how long you've been away, you still cannot take memories of small kid times in Hawai'i away from us expats.

Welcome to HT, Melissa. You going have good fun here, especially now that Auntie Lynn knows you one MWH alumna!

Thank you Muilang, yeah I know, I'm already having fun now! :D Oh I cannot wait to come home to see my family and friends.

Aloha, Lisheous

[kaneohegirl]

Well I am a single mom of an 8 yr old son and although I have a pretty good job I have been considering relocating to the mainland (Washington State) for the past year. I am familiar with Washington as I visit there about 2 times a year. The cost of living here in Hawaii is just too expensive.So for all of you who have moved to the mainland I give you lots of credit and I look up to you. I just hope and pray that if I do decide to move that it will be the best decision I ever made.

When I moved to da mainland when I was 16 I nevah have choice, my mom decided to go to TN an I was like hillbillie land NOWAY, so she sent me to live wid my Dad in CA. well I stay 34 now an we jus moved from CA to Missouri (my hubby from Kansas City) because housing like in Hawaii is out of control we lived in my grandparents house that was 2 bedroom 1 bath... we had 6 ppl living there. no enough room an personal probs dat no need be talked about prompted my husband to say go look online at da housing costs in Missouri. well 3months aftah saying we go... we went. sold da house in CA bought one in Missouri. we been hea for almost 4 months an da ppl nice and even tho its cold its not too bad. da house we bought here would go for in Ca for $800,000-over $1,000,000 in da same kine neighborhood we paid a little over $120,000 an I finnaly found one chinese restaurant dat is halfway decent. My oldest son had to repeat a grade cause da schools soooo much better hea dat he would have been behind big time an I nevah like him suffer. Cali is 47th in da nation in da top 50 schools an Missouri stay 28th
My sister still stay in Hawaii but she is 44 an renting an getting to wea she really tinking of leaving cause of da high costs. I tell her come I help you get on your feet she say she need wait see if can get her daughter to come too.
so I wait an see
come if you know you an your kids goin have one better life can always go visit.... sad tho dat da state not tinkin about da normal people an how dey goin live since its da regular peoples that work da tourist industries an keep da state operating
your dads house probly worth 100x times what he paid for it all those years ago.. he could get one good loan for you to buy one house in WA an den jus pay da payments an in no time all da mortgage paid an still get plany equity in da Hawaii house

[1stwahine]

Yeah Auntie, what happpened to that New Years Resolution eh? :p

Like I said Auntie, you always make me smile. God Bless.

Lei, My New Years Resolution is "keeping the weight off"...das what I was trying to do! ;)

Love, Auntie Lynn

...back on the subject: Leaving Paradise, I'm happy to report that my youngest daughter didn't take the position in Alaska. She'll be here at Hickim. Her husband and her are in the process of buying their first home. It's a family affair when we sit around and she asks MAMA and I about the areas and what we think. We all have to think about the areas for Antonio's environment as well.

My middle daughter Ligaya and husband Justin are expecting their first child in August and will be station in Hawai'i too. Conrad already is station with the Stryker Brigade.

I'll be having my kids in Paradise some more years with me! :D

Auntie Lynn

[Shan-n]

Shan-n: Whatever you decide, it will be the best decision you can make. Lots of locals have moved up here to the Pacific NW and made very good lives for themselves. The cost of living is certainly lower than Hawai'i, housing is slightly cheaper and wages are about 20% higher than in Hawai'i, depending on your profession.
Miulang

Miulang, thank you for your words of encouragement! Like you I love to get in the car and drive to a new place. When in Washington we often catch the ferry to Whidbey Island and see family friends. I am trying to look at it like moving will be a new adventure for my son and I. I'll give it 1 year and if it doesn't work out then we can move back home.

Kaneohe girl, you are so nice to let your sis live with you till she gets on her feet. My best friend has wanted me to move up to Seattle for the past 2 years. She thinks it will be good for my son and I. We can stay with her until we get on our feet! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful best friend!

Aunty Lynn, I think we gotta stop waiting for prince charming to come find us, we gotta get out there and find THEM! LOL ;)

[waioli kai]

'I know exactly how you feel. My husband and I left for 2 reasons, he missed his family so much and for financial reasons.'

And there's likely as many a haole husband who stays in Hawaii because it's about as far away as he can afford to get from his family and "former life" and/or lifestyle (reputation and/or criminal recrord) on the mainland.

[mungbeansoup]

I'm plannning to move to either Portland or Seattle, myself. Seattle is my first choice--I've been to both cities, and I like the large ex-pat community and overall city vibe.

Can anyone who lives there or is knowledgeable about either place give me the low-down? How are the people there? Is it easy for a kamaaina to get started there, economy, etc? Thanks MBS

[Leo Lakio]

See my comments in the "Aloha from Los Angeles" thread, mbs. Hope all your plans work out.

[Melisa]

It's sad to say goodbye. I've just left after being home for 7 or 8 years. I'd been gone 7 years before that (for college and after school) and never thought I'd return to Hawaii, but I did once my grandparents' health started to deteriorate. Now, I'm back on the mainland - for personal reasons again - and I have to say, I cry almost every day. I miss my family, my underpaid/overworked job, swimming at Ala Moana Beach Park, Gold's Gym and hanging out at Borders. But - being single on the island's not easy. I'm not single, but my girlfriends and I used to complain about the lack of selection of motivated, ambitious men. I've always imported. But quite a few of my girlfriends left because they didn't think they'd meet the "right" guy in Hawaii. So they headed to LA, Washingston state and Vegas. Underpaid jobs, overpaid milk, you can't get a decent place to live for under a 1/2 a million dollars and lack of educated, goal oriented partners... it's easy to see why so many of us leave. Really, can young professionals get ahead?
But it sure is hard to trade in the bikini for a 30 degree WX, down jackets and UGGS. :eek:

[Glen Miyashiro]

Howzit Melisa. Nice to meet you, but too bad it's only once you've left! We all make our own choices in life as to what's best for us. We all have different priorities. Good luck, and stick around over here at HT if you like, too.

[1stwahine]

I started this thread on July 9, 2005. Full of anger and questions. I am happy to report ~ tonight, I will have my three children in my arms at the same time in eight years! :D

I waited a looong time for this day. Many tears, heartaches and pain as a Military Mother!

Conrad is stationed here with the Stryker Brigade.

Christy @ Hickim.

Justin @ Schofield.

Gaya in Florida but will be coming back to Schofield.

Christy & Izzy just purchased their first home.

Yep, everything is coming out ok ~ afterall. Just gotta believe.

Auntie Lynn ;)

[Leo Lakio]

Yep, everything is coming out ok ~ afterall.
"Life, according to Zen, ought to be lived as a bird flies through the air, or as a fish swims in the water. ~~~ D.T. Suzuki ~~~

A philosophy like that helps to make sure everything comes out ok; just have the flexibility to adapt your definition of "ok" (and I think you do, Lynn, I think you do.) I'm happy to hear your good news!

[TuNnL]

Underpaid jobs, overpaid milk, you can't get a decent place to live for under a 1/2 a million dollars and lack of educated, goal oriented partners... it's easy to see why so many of us leave. Really, can young professionals get ahead?


Wow isn’t this what Hawai‘i’s all about for us Generation X-ers?! I love all the beautiful things about the Islands, but if you don’t have time to enjoy it, it’s mostly for the malahini to experience!

I’m seriously considering a move to the mainland. Lowest unemployment rate in the nation here is because unless you’re in a union (excluding HSTA), the jobs pay dirt here!!!

In my industry people are getting laid off left and right. And, like the engineer who posted earlier, I haven’t gotten a raise in 3 years. Any recommendations???

[Miulang]

Yeah, come up here to the Mainland because you can make more money and have more opps. Isn't that what your friends and family have told you to do?

But I tell you what (speaking from the voice of experience): That's exactly what I did so many years ago, and yes, I've been able to build a good life, good career, make good money, etc. etc. etc. But the older you get the more you realize that it isn't "all about the money". Experience what it's like to be "in the minority" up here on the Mainland either because you look different or because of your unique "Hawaiian" accent (yes, even if you speak perfect English, some people can detect that you're not like them). Get spoiled by immediate gratification that you get because everything you could ever want or need is available to you 24x7. Commute for hours everyday to work because you can't afford to live closer to your job.

Eventually, if you're like so many of the expats up here, you really start thinking about "home" and "ohana".Your visits back to Hawai'i will be more frequent as time goes on. You will start to treasure that which you left behind, because once you leave, it becomes really really hard to move back to the 'aina.

It also becomes hard to stomach what you read in the online versions of the StarBulletin and Advertiser...the ice problem, the overcrowding, the high prices, the loss of farmland to development. Because until you leave Hawai'i and do some travelling up here and see what the Mainland has become, you can never fully appreciate how lucky you were to be born in Hawai'i. You will also want to say, "stop the madness, Hawai'i...don't become another Los Angeles." :(

Miulang

[kamuelakea]

Eventually, if you're like so many of the expats up here, you really start thinking about "home" and "ohana".Your visits back to Hawai'i will be more frequent as time goes on. You will start to treasure that which you left behind, because once you leave, it becomes really really hard to move back to the 'aina.Miulang


I think this is true. I have mainland friends from good ole high school dayz who are seeming to come back more often. But I think its because, like you said, they are starting to reminisce about the good old dayz, but also because they know DAMN WELL THEY AIN'T COMIN BACK.

I think it's more of a goodbye thing. They are taking more trips back so that they can say goodbye to their parents and grandparents. So they can bid aloha to their friends and cousins. There is a burst of trips in their 30s and 40s when their kids are really young, and then it stops. Pau. Their kids start to like THEIR homes more than Hawaii and now the parents slowly disconnect from Hawaii. They get to the point where financially they could move back to Hawaii but instead choose to stay for a variety of reasons.

Thats the process I see. All by choice so no problem to me. Just interesting.

Aloha

[Missing da 'aina]

Yeah, come up here to the Mainland because you can make more money and have more opps. Isn't that what your friends and family have told you to do?

But I tell you what (speaking from the voice of experience): That's exactly what I did so many years ago, and yes, I've been able to build a good life, good career, make good money, etc. etc. etc. But the older you get the more you realize that it isn't "all about the money". Experience what it's like to be "in the minority" up here on the Mainland either because you look different or because of your unique "Hawaiian" accent (yes, even if you speak perfect English, some people can detect that you're not like them). Get spoiled by immediate gratification that you get because everything you could ever want or need is available to you 24x7. Commute for hours everyday to work because you can't afford to live closer to your job.

Eventually, if you're like so many of the expats up here, you really start thinking about "home" and "ohana".Your visits back to Hawai'i will be more frequent as time goes on. You will start to treasure that which you left behind, because once you leave, it becomes really really hard to move back to the 'aina.

It also becomes hard to stomach what you read in the online versions of the StarBulletin and Advertiser...the ice problem, the overcrowding, the high prices, the loss of farmland to development. Because until you leave Hawai'i and do some travelling up here and see what the Mainland has become, you can never fully appreciate how lucky you were to be born in Hawai'i. You will also want to say, "stop the madness, Hawai'i...don't become another Los Angeles." :(

Miulang

Maikai. Even if you love da 'aina with all your heart like me, you REALLY dont realize what you lost until you leave. My wife lives on Guam and I decided to move there because she is still in the process of rasing three of her four keiki from a previous marriage.

Hawai'i may have a high cost of living and dat other stuff.....but Hawai'i has something that i have NEVER seen anywhere else.....SPIRIT. I'll tell you this, Guam may be an island, but IT AINT HAWAI'I, people in Guam seem "Haolefied" and more like Mainlanders than Islanders.

There is only ONE 'aina, and I WILL move back at the first opporotunity, because all the money in da world can NEVER make up for a simple shaka and a "howzit, bra".

[tutusue]

[...]There is only ONE 'aina, and I WILL move back at the first opporotunity, because all the money in da world can NEVER make up for a simple shaka and a "howzit, bra".
So incredibly true. ;)

[waiz4kooks]

I have read alot of this and I can honestly say that when I return this summer to Oahu, that I am never leaving, regardless of whether or not I would have a better life, or a better house on the mainland, I will make do no matter what. I am living in the Pacific NW right now, and the last year and a half have not been easy. I feel sorry for those who have left and even more sorry for those who have been away longer than I have and want to return, I know how you feel.

[kimo55]

... can NEVER make up for a simple shaka and a "howzit, bra".
just try no fo sayum like Dog does, eh.

[timkona]

I came to Hawaii for the warm ocean. Having grown up in the SF Bay Area, and fishing/surfing/sailing/diving my whole life, I had no idea that somewhere on the planet the water was warm. It was a revelation.

After arriving in 93, at the heart of the slowdown, I really had to get creative to make a living. Deckhand, Captain, Carpenter, Tour Guide, Satellite TV, Fisherman, Waiter. Things have improved. Work is fun. Surf is perfect.

People love the aina here. I think the kai is even better.

[1stwahine]

I can't find the thread where I asked for help for my neighbor asking about medical coverage. Anyway, all hope was gone and today my neighbor's wife and daughters boarded the plane to meet him in Las Vegas. He left two weeks ago.

They leave behind family and friends. They leave behind a place they LOVE. A place, in reality they just wasn't able to financially make it. He was offerd a better position in Las Vegas where the cost of living is much cheaper too.

Today, I said goodbye to a good neighbor.

...leaving paradise. :(

Auntie Lynn

btw: My son-inlaw, youngest daughter & Antonio moved into their "first" purchased hale! ;)

[oggboy]

I can't find the thread where I asked for help for my neighbor asking about medical coverage. Anyway, all hope was gone and today my neighbor's wife and daughters boarded the plane to meet him in Las Vegas. He left two weeks ago.

They leave behind family and friends. They leave behind a place they LOVE. A place, in reality they just wasn't able to financially make it. He was offerd a better position in Las Vegas where the cost of living is much cheaper too.

Today, I said goodbye to a good neighbor.

...leaving paradise. :(

Auntie Lynn
I know how you feel Auntie, alot of my very good friends are now on the 9th hawaiian island. Sure nothing can beat our climate, cost of living so much cheaper then here. Oh well, gotta do what you gotta do!!!
OGGBOY :)

[Vanguard]

I had to leave 7 years ago, I still miss Hawaii like anything. I definetely miss the islands -- the meteoric rise in real estate prices doesn't make the idea of coming back any more feasible :/

[LikaNui]

Excerpts from a story just now published at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/20/br/br03p.html :

"More people continue to move away from Hawai'i than come here from other states, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report on domestic net migration shows that between 2000 and 2004, the state lost an average of 2,053 residents annually to out-migration to the Mainland.
"Most of the out-migration came from O'ahu, with the Neighbor Islands seeing a positive increase in domestic net migration, particularly on the Big Island, where land is usually cheaper. Hawai'i County averaged 1,988 more people moving in per year than moving out from 2000 to 2004, more than twice as high as the annual average in the 1990s.
"Maui had an average net in-migration of 746 residents per year, higher than the annual average of 494 experienced in the 1990s.
"Florida, Arizona and Nevada, a popular destination for people leaving Hawai'i, attracted the most new residents, according to the Census Bureau. New York, California and Illinois lost the most."

[Pedro]

Speaking of leaving I am going off this island in July to live with my sister in Utah. Never left this state in my entire life. I know, why Utah right? I have lots of friends up there and I always wanted to leave the islands but I will come back.

[MadAzza]

Speaking of leaving I am going off this island in July to live with my sister in Utah. Never left this state in my entire life. I know, why Utah right? I have lots of friends up there and I always wanted to leave the islands but I will come back.

Utah is gorgeous. I've never been there, but I've seen pictures. Stunning landscapes. Great skiing. Interesting indigenous culture (my people!) (well, different tribe, but still ...).

It will be an adventure. I hope you enjoy it! And you can stay on HT to chase away those homesick blues.

[Pedro]

Utah is gorgeous. I've never been there, but I've seen pictures. Stunning landscapes. Great skiing. Interesting indigenous culture (my people!) (well, different tribe, but still ...).

It will be an adventure. I hope you enjoy it! And you can stay on HT to chase away those homesick blues.

Hey thanx for the encouragement. I actually look foward to the move, and it would be great to see something new but if ever I need to know how my home is doing I always have hawaiithreads to fall back on. ;)

[Miulang]

I lived in Salt Lake City many years ago while attending college. The city itself is very pretty and most of the people are very nice. Depending on where you live (either in Salt Lake City or West Valley City) you going find diifferent kine people. West Valley City has plenty Pacific Islander people (especially Tongans and Samoans); many came to Salt Lake City because of their religion.

The scenery is absolutely fantastic. One of my favorite things to do was to go out to the Great Salt Lake and watch the sun go down from Antelope Island (in the middle of the Great Salt Lake...I dunno if still can drive out there, though).

It'll DEFINITELY be a good experience for you to live someplace else. You'll have seasons in Salt Lake and maybe you will even get to go skiing in the wintertime (foa sure go play in the snow!). But most of all, I think living away from everything you've ever known gives you more appreciation for the place in which you were born and raised.

Good luck and happy adventures!

Miulang

[Shan-n]

Thank you Auntie Lynn for posting this topic! I was born in the mainland but came to Hawaii when I was about 11. My father came to Hawaii to visit a really good friend. Well he loved Hawaii so much he moved our family here a year later! I went to public school here on the windward side truly have always felt like a local girl! Some of my friends say I am a local girl trapped in a haole girls body :) I still live with my father and we have been in the same house since we moved to Hawaii.

Well I am a single mom of an 8 yr old son and although I have a pretty good job I have been considering relocating to the mainland (Washington State) for the past year. I am familiar with Washington as I visit there about 2 times a year. The cost of living here in Hawaii is just too expensive. I am 28 and want to buy a house by the time I am 30. I CANNOT do that here in Hawaii with the cost of a house averaging $605,000 :eek: !! But if I move to Washington then I would have no problem. I could rent a house here in Hawaii for the rest of my life but with the cost of rentals nowadays I just can't justify it. I also could wait for prince charming to come sweep me off my feet but I am not holding my breath hahahah!!

I am extremely nervous about the thought of moving as Hawaii is all I have known. My son isn't exactly happy at the thought of moving but he understands that life may be better there. So here I am looking at the pros and cons of leaving the place I love, the only place I really know, the place my son was born and raised... How do I actually make the decision to move my son and I to the mainland and start fresh?? Sometimes I hate being an adult and having to make decisions like this!!

So for all of you who have moved to the mainland I give you lots of credit and I look up to you. I just hope and pray that if I do decide to move that it will be the best decision I ever made.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to give you an update. It is official I have decided to leave paradise and move to Washington. I know so sad... another family from Hawaii moves due to more opportunities and lower cost of living on the mainland!! My son and I just got back from a trip to Washington and we feel we are ready to make the move. We won't be moving alone. My best friends sister and brother-in-law are moving with us too. We will all be living with my best friend for the time being until we can figure out where we are gonna live. It is nice to be moving with them because we are all sharing the cost of things like the Matson container we need to ship our belongings!!!

I have done tons of research about different towns to live in, good public schools and jobs. My son and I really like Mukilteo and from my research the schools are really good here. We even looked at a few condos for sale!! Really nice places! Lynnwood had tons of rentals and the schools are pretty good there too from what I have read. Do any of you have suggestions as to nice towns to live in that have good schools?? I have read that Everett has a terrible public school system. One of my main concerns is that my son go to a good school. But I also want to live in a place that I can afford.

Also if anyone has any other suggestions about moving to Washington please please post them for me. This is my first move...so I am a little.. well a lot nervous :eek: Thank you so much everyone!!!

[Miulang]

Hi Shan-n:
Mukilteo is very nice. It's considered a "bedroom community" to Seattle and Everett. Lots of open space and you're near the water (Puget Sound). There's a really nice big park there, too. Housing is probably more affordable there than in Mill Creek (other side of the freeway).

I know what you mean about Everett. It's getting way too congested, more like Seattle. Mukilteo and Shoreline (down by Edmonds) have very good school systems. Northshore School District (by Bothell and Silver Lake) also has good schools and housing is still pretty reasonable. Depends on the type of housing you're looking for. Condo? Single family home? I don't know if you're planning on getting a job, but the commute to work might also be something you want to take into consideration when looking for someplace to live. Commuting from Everett to Seattle can take more than an hour some days. :eek: The Edmonds/Shoreline/Woodway area is still pretty uncrowded (relatively speaking) and still close enough to Seattle or Everett without feeling like you're in the big city. Public transportation between Everett and Seattle and points in between is pretty decent too during the week.

Good luck with your move. The nice thing is, by moving to Washington, you will never be homesick for the local food anyway! There are lots of local grinds places (including, but not only, L&L) that Leo Lakio and I can tell you about. Plus, there are lots of halau that put on their fund raising ho'olaulea every year so you can get your hula fix too! :)

Miulang

P.S. making the move with others will help out a lot, as will being able to stay with someone who is already familiar with the area. I've moved all over the country by myself and it's always been a great experience to learn about new places and do new things.

[1stwahine]

Good Luck, Shan-n! I have a neice who made the big move to Washington State several years ago. She is a single mom and owns two homes there. Loves her job, the State and her Community. She visits Hawai'i every other month. She wouldn't have it any other way.

She has asked me to come and live with her several months of the year. I just laugh. I shouldn't. I would be treated like a Queen. Hmmmm...I have many friends living in beautiful Washington State. I hope to visit there someday soon.

Once again, Good Luck and God Bless!

Aloha Oi'

Auntie Lynn

[Mangoseed]

My wife and I left Hawaii to travel, live and work in different parts of the world. I would love to be able to spend my final years in the place I was born and raised, but we are not able to afford the cost of living. I must say that one of the things I miss most is "my people," the local people. I am a retired career teacher, and the thing I hated most about teaching on the mainland was kids making fun of my being Oriental. Yes, sad to say that many people in America think in terms of Black and White as the only "real" Americans. Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, etc. types are not "bonafide," they say.

[Kekaha Roots]

My wife and I left Hawaii to travel, live and work in different parts of the world. I would love to be able to spend my final years in the place I was born and raised, but we are not able to afford the cost of living. I must say that one of the things I miss most is "my people," the local people. I am a retired career teacher, and the thing I hated most about teaching on the mainland was kids making fun of my being Oriental. Yes, sad to say that many people in America think in terms of Black and White as the only "real" Americans. Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, etc. types are not "bonafide," they say.

Mangoseed,

I hear you loud & clear, brah. I lived in Miami for 4 years and I couldn't believe how a lot of people were ignorant of the different type of Asian cultures. It didn't help that there weren't many orientals down there when I was there (91-95), either.

Where abouts in Florida do you live? In my experience, this ignorance was even worse in Central & North Florida where the cultures weren't as diverse as they were in South Florida.

[1stwahine]

I was reading on the other thread about people moving here and islanders moving away. I started this thread when my children were away. Now they are all here. Unfortuanately, my middle daughter, Ligaya talked with me last week. She's Kiana's mommy. She just got out of the Army as a Staff Sargent. She worked for Military Intellegence and was damn good. Her husband is now in Iraq.

We talked. My daughter and I. Her counterparts in her line of work makes an average of $80,000+ on the East Coast and Washington D.C. There is a need of people like her due to the present situation of our country.

Although it would deeply sadden me for her to leave our islands...I know her heart as well as her future is not here. I gave her my blessings and told her to go. :(

I am proud of my children's accomplishments. From humble beginnings from MWH, they have ventured around the world. They all did and still continue to do their duties in protecting our country the best they know how.

I am a Military Mother who will always be here in Hawai'i to welcome them Home.

Auntie Lynn

[Miulang]

I was reading on the other thread about people moving here and islanders moving away. I started this thread when my children were away. Now they are all here. Unfortuanately, my middle daughter, Ligaya talked with me last week. She's Kiana's mommy. She just got out of the Army as a Staff Sargent. She worked for Military Intellegence and was damn good. Her husband is now in Iraq.

We talked. My daughter and I. Her counterparts in her line of work makes an average of $80,000+ on the East Coast and Washington D.C. There is a need of people like her due to the present situation of our country.

Although it would deeply sadden me for her to leave our islands...I know her heart as well as her future is not here. I gave her my blessings and told her to go. :(

I am proud of my children's accomplishments. From humble beginnings from MWH, they have ventured around the world. They all did and still continue to do their duties in protecting our country the best they know how.

I am a Military Mother who will always be here in Hawai'i to welcome them Home.

Auntie Lynn
Aw, Tita! That's kind of sad for you, though. :( But you express the thoughts of many other local parents, I think. My parents told me to come to the Mainland because they knew the opportunities were better for me up here after I was finished with college. And it has been a good life, but it's almost time for me to go back to Hawai'i and give back some of what I have gained.

Too bad Gaya can't be on the West Coast! Maybe she can work in DC for a few years (while Justin is overseas) and then they can find good paying jobs on the West Coast so you can come visit them and Kiana often! Thank goodness that technology has advanced so that you can use the internet to stay in touch with them, though.

Malama pono,
Miulang

[1stwahine]

Tita Miulang, With the kind of money she going be making ~ she going send foa me anytime I like come visit. Das how my kids are. Anyting I like, they give. Even if I no like...they give! ;)

My children are my Best Friends. We've been through so much together. I'm in awe everyday of how they turned out. I've never experienced heartache from any of them.

They continue to excell in their own individual fields. Christy will soon be one of HPD's Finest! :D I going be an HPD Officer Mommy!hahahahaha

Das means I gotta stop whack whacking people.

Can imagine the headlines! Auntie pUpule arrested by daughter! :p

Auntie Lynn