Moving to Oahu - Need Advice

[aaron]

Hello. My name is Aaron Bowen. My family and I (wife and two infants) are moving to Oahu after Christmas. I have printed up a map of Oahu and see that there are many different cities to choose from as far as living in goes. I am looking at spending not more than 1200/mo. rent for a 2 br apt. I am looking for a pretty decent area. I am currently living in Southern California. We have alot of crime and drugs out here. I am looking to get my children away from that kind of environment. I want to be away from the meth and the crime and gangs. I don't want that around my kids. I plan on working in Honolulu but from the pictures Ive seen it reminds me alot of LA. To much of a city for me and my family. Were looking for a little town that is free from the drugs and crime. Ill drive into the city for work but I want to live in a little town. A town were everybody knows everybody and family and community are of great importance. I also want to move to a town that won't isolate me and my family because of our skin color (white).Any input will be helpful. I will be very grateful and appreciative. Thank you.

[Glen Miyashiro]

My first piece of advice to you would be to cancel those after-Christmas plane tickets. You sound like you have never been here -- and you want to move yourself and your family to one of the most expensive cities in the country, sight unseen? Take a week off right now, fly to Honolulu with your family, and have a nice vacation. See what O'ahu is like, in person. Check out the rental prices ($1200 for a nice 2 bedroom place? good luck!) and the various neighborhoods. THEN, decide whether you really want to move to Hawai'i.

[pzarquon]

Holy cow. $1,200 might get you a small one-bedroom in an okay community. My bet is to get a two-bedroom apartment like the one you have in mind will cost you well over two grand.

And you want to get away from meth? Hawaii's the meth capital of the country, man! Or at least very near the top of the list.

You need to do a lot more research, and actually spend some time here visiting, before moving. You could otherwise very likely end up on the streets here with your family, and even though it is Hawaii, it's no picnic. You owe it to your kids to plan better.

Hell, if I were you, I'd just move north to Oregon or something. :p

[aaron]

Sounds like a good idea. Ill be visiting in Sept. to check things out. I saw that Waipahu and Waianae have pretty cheap rentals. Ill have to go and check out those apartments. Thanks for the replies though.
Oh and by the way, I'm from the desert, Oregon is to cold for me.

[lurkah]

I saw that Waipahu and Waianae have pretty cheap rentals.
IMHO, the areas you mentioned are pretty rough high-crime areas for newbies to be moving in to, and therefore, the fairly cheap rent.

[1stwahine]

Sounds like a good idea. Ill be visiting in Sept. to check things out. I saw that Waipahu and Waianae have pretty cheap rentals. Ill have to go and check out those apartments. Thanks for the replies though.
Oh and by the way, I'm from the desert, Oregon is to cold for me.

First of all, welcome to HawaiiThreads. Second, I don't think you would like to live either in Waipahu (sorry Adrian) or Waianae. Hawaii is the capital of Meth. It has found it's way into our neighborhoods. Unlike the mainland, we can only go around the island. Really think it out before coming here with your family. There are countless of others before you that have come unprepared and found themselves on the streets. I wish you and your family the best. Take care.

Autie Lynn

[Miulang]

As everyone previously has stated, Hawai'i is not the place to move to if you want to get away from drugs and crime. The cost of living is high and your dream of renting a 2-bedroom place in a safe area is just a dream...and are you sure you'd be willing to spend an hour or more on the freeway just to get to work? (NOTE: Living on an island with a population that outstrips the infrastructure doesn't make for a pleasant commute).

If you want safe, and you don't like cold weather, have you thought about moving to the southwest? Seriously. There are jobs out there and the cost of living is a whole lot lower and crime is less because there are fewer people. Places like Salt Lake City, small towns outside of Las Vegas, Albuquerque...all those places do have winters (snow) but the quality of life is great.

Miulang

[aaron]

Thank you so much for your replys.I WILL be moving there after Christmas. I have thought about those other places in the S.W. you speak of and they lack ocean. Gotta have ocean. Love to fish, love the smell, love the sounds of the waves, love looking out at the horizon. Okey, so $1200/mo. is a pipe dream for a nice place. If its 2 grand then so be it. But where to look and live? And as far as Hawaii being the meth capitol, that is really to bad. I absolutely hate that drug and the lives of the users and their families and the communities that it destroys. I work in a drug rehab and we got kids coming in and out of there behind that drug. It seems to be a country wide epedemic. NE ways. So what is wrong with Waipahu and Waianae? I looked at the 2000 census and saw that less than 10% white. Is that why you say I should stay out? Kind of reminds me of living in a section of Pontiac Michigan. I got off the bus and it seemed as if I was the only white person in the neighborhood. A little scary at first but I got use to it and the fellas got use to me. Every thing was cool.
I really appreciate your honesty and your help. As far as living on the streets go, well I am a nurse, and fortunetly nurses are in a pretty high demand. I will work two jobs if thats what it takes. I am not a materialistic person and have no problem riding a bus to and from work and shopping at thrift stores.
And that hour commute to work you speak of, whats the rush. (LOL) A perfect opportunity for some prayer and meditation. I was driving 45 minutes to and from here as well and thats just the way it goes.
So again, whats wrong with Waipahu, and Waianae. How about Pearl City or Makaha. What about Mililani Town. Thank you again for your honest replys.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Oh, you're a nurse? In that case you're right, you'll have no problems landing a job. :D It sounds like you've given this some thought, which is good. You should still definitely come and take a look before you move for real. Welcome to the islands.

[aaron]

Ill be going there in Sept. to check it out.

[kimo55]

($1200 for a nice 2 bedroom place? good luck!)



I'll take a dozen!

[kimo55]

Okey, so $1200/mo. is a pipe dream for a nice place. If its 2 grand then so be it.



I'll have 6 of these, please!

[Miulang]

I'm from Palm Springs California. Found this site looking for info about moving to Oahu. Plan on moving after this Christmas.
Why would you want to move from ritzy Palm Springs to Honolulu? Especially to move to Waipahu or Waianae? You want comparable, shoot for Hawaii Kai or Kahala. Crime is lower in those areas. I think you and your family would be very disappointed if you moved to Waipahu or Waianae.

Miulang

[Miulang]

I'll have 6 of these, please!
I'm not sure if the price is what's going to kill you. It might just be the availability of ANY 2-bedroom anywhere on the island that might keep you from moving. I suggest you take a gander at the Advertiser classifieds. Look under "Unfurnished Apts". Then click on any section of Oahu. How many apartments do you see for rent? (the ads only come out on Sunday for those of us on the Mainland). Nada and nada again at ANY price. What's been happening is for every available apartment, there are at least 3 or 4 people bidding on it, so even $2k a month might not get you a closet. Sad but true.

Miulang

Here is a story about the rental market (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/10/bz/bz01p.html) squeeze. Or this more recent story (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jun/16/il/il02a.html) last month. Oh yeah, and the salary you get as a nurse in Hawai'i is going to be far less than what is being offered on the mainland, too, even though it's more expensive to live in Hawaii.

[Stephen]

Congratulations on the upcoming move - I agree with everyone else - check out the island before going. Rock fever can get you. Of course, if you take the time to appreciate the islands, the people and the culture, that rock fever will vanish. The rents are going to be higher than you're expecting - but you will be living in Hawaii - somethings are worth sacrificing. But it sounds like you're in the right frame of mind and I wish you the best of luck. I've listed a few sources for rentals (I haven't used any beyond just daily checking to see what's available - we'll start looking more seriously at the beginning of September.) One thing you might want to consider - the Big Island. I believe Glen lives there and could offer you some good advice - it's no where near as populous, is huge in land mass comparison and should still offer job opportunities. Good luck!

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/

http://www.marcusrealty.com/Search/Propertysale2.aspx

http://www.rentalsillustrated.com/

http://www.hicentral.com/home.asp

Stephen

[Glen Miyashiro]

One thing you might want to consider - the Big Island. I believe Glen lives there and could offer you some good advice - it's no where near as populous, is huge in land mass comparison and should still offer job opportunities. Good luck!Nope, I'm in Honolulu -- it's Craig that's over on the Big Island.

[kimo55]

shoot for Hawaii Kai or Kahala. Crime is lower in those areas.

whuwhuwhuuuhuhuuuu! miulang knows not what evil lurks in my neighborhood...

[kimo55]

One thing you might want to consider - the Big Island.
- it's no where near as populous, is huge in land mass comparison and should still offer job opportunities.




you keep this up, Dear Abby, and it won't be for long!

[Stephen]

Glen - imagine Homer Simpson, DOH! A thousand apologies!

Kimo - Isn't Honolulu in O'ahu - not the Big Isle - just trying to steer a haole away from the gathering place!

[kimo55]

Glen - imagine Homer Simpson, DOH! A thousand apologies!

Kimo - Isn't Honolulu in O'ahu - not the Big Isle - just trying to steer a haole away from the gathering place!



i hear kansas is nice. corn fields, lonely scarecrows... gumbo and mustard... cheaper... go there.. yea that's the ticket...

[jdub]

it won't be easy...but if you've got the gumption and the muster, there are ways to make it work...hell, i'm still here...

[Palolo Joe]

I think you and your family would be very disappointed if you moved to Waipahu or Waianae. Keep in mind this is the opinion of someone who lives on the mainland and primarily visits Maui - not Oahu.

Waipahu and Waianae are definitely not Palm Springs. But you can still find a nice place to live and get along with your neighbors if you've got the right attitude.

Unless you've got the money. Then go for Hawaii Loa Ridge. And buy something with a guest house so I can rent it from you.

[Miulang]

it won't be easy...but if you've got the gumption and the muster, there are ways to make it work...hell, i'm still here...
One big difference between you and Aaron, Jaime, is that you're single. You're your own free agent. Aaron has a family with kids, which is going to make it a whole lot harder to survive.

In fact, if I was the one moving to a new town and I had school age kids, I'd want to check out the schools in the neighborhood to see what the student population is comprised of and what their achievement scores were. If you want the best for your kids, you don't put them in a school which has lower academic standards, and in Hawai'i especially, where there's a lot of subtle antagonism if you're from the Mainland, you certainly don't want to set your kids up to fail (oh gomen...I meant "to have their academic futures deferred"). The other option is private school, which is pricey. So make sure you check out the schools in any area you are thinking of living in, Aaron. Your kids will thank you later.

Miulang

[Stephen]

Kimo - Gumbo is Awesome! You've got to love the Cajuns for coming up with Gumbo - shrimp, sausage, chicken, if it weren't 100' outside, I'd go home and make some.

[Miulang]

Kansas and gumbo...what an odd combo. Didn't realize many Cajuns lived in Kansas, but they do have Cajun restaurants in KC (link to recipe (http://www.kctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=447983) from one of those restaurants). I bet one of the reasons they eat gumbo in KS is because they can grow okra (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/hfrr/extensn/Hort_Tips/Vegetable_Crops/okra.htm) so easily, and there ain't many ways of cooking okra that are palatable (the only other way I know is to deep fry the stuff).

Miulang

[aaron]

Thank you every one for your help. I really do appreciate it and I am extremely grateful.

[LikaNui]

I suggest you take a gander at the Advertiser classifieds. Look under "Unfurnished Apts". Then click on any section of Oahu. How many apartments do you see for rent? (the ads only come out on Sunday for those of us on the Mainland). Nada and nada again at ANY price.
Yeah, but "unfurnished" means there's no fridge, stove, or anything. I'd suggest instead that they look under "Partly Furnished" like most folks do.

What's been happening is for every available apartment, there are at least 3 or 4 people bidding on it, so even $2k a month might not get you a closet. Sad but true.
I think you meant to say 30 or 40 bidders, not 3 or 4.
I know of one place on the rental market recently at $750. It was an 8' x 15' single room. Not a typo. 8' x 15'. I've seen larger walk-in closets! It had no kitchen at all. And yes, they had at least a couple of dozen lookers in the first few days.
Things are even worse right now, as all the mainlanders coming here for the new college semester are snatching up everything in sight.

[oggboy]

Buddy, Try Do Your Self And Family One Good Deed.....
If You Think Your Running Away From The Problem
In Orange, Then You Better Be Prepared If Your Thinking Of
Moving To The Areas Your Thinking Of......

This Is Not A Good Move..... Period..... Okay Den..nuff Sed.....

[aaron]

okey. ill stay. thanx.

[SouthKona]

Good luck in finding a rental on the Big Island, at least from the West Hawaii perspective.
Another thought, your kids are still young, so you are in luck that you have time to check out the SCHOOLS before they are old enough to attend. THAT is one of the major problems in many areas of the state, the public school system sucks. (No implications about the teachers in this statement, as it is the DOE that is dysfunctional.) Check out the test ratings of the schools when deciding where to live, or count on adding private school tuition to your budget. The longer children are in the Hawaii school system, the further the behind they fall. Compare the 3rd grade scores to the 10 grade scores (http://lilinote.k12.hi.us/STATE/COMM/DOEPRESS.NSF/a1d7af052e94dd120a2561f7000a037c/5a9edbaf5c17d56d0a256f0300697413/$FILE/HSA-04%20SAT9%20by%20district.xls).
Don't let us scare you off, just do your homework so you don't face unnecessary disappointments and problems. :)

[Surfingfarmboy]

i hear kansas is nice. corn fields, lonely scarecrows... gumbo and mustard... cheaper... go there.. yea that's the ticket...

Hey Kimo..I just read your comments about Kansas...the cornfields, the lonely scarecrows...all of the hackneyed perceptions non-agricultural people have about farm life out on the Great Plains. It seems, in some sort of way, you're expressing sarcasm towards one of of America's most important agricultural states. I hope not. Inasmuch as I'm certain that you are thankful that the Gods above have chosen for you to live your idyllic life over in the relative calm and beauty of Hawai'i Kai, in the shawdows of Koko Head and Kohelepelepe, and not one of those who have been fated to farm the expansive prairies of Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, I do hope you realize that it is these very farmers that make your life and the ability to perhaps poke fun at their expense, a possiblity and a reality, by providing your state with the food it needs to survive. Kansas can survive very well without the food contributions Hawai'i makes to it, but conversely, could Hawai'i survive without the food contributions it receives from Kansas?

I'm going to argue with you that nearly anyone can live the life of an average Honolulan, but your average Honolulan could never live the life of a Kansas wheatfield farmer.

Just about every day in Hawaii Threads, it seems there are postings from people from all over the mainland looking for advice on how to make the most impractical move a person can make in the USA...a move from the mainland to Hawai'i. They all want to know where they can find a job, a decent apartment in a decent (Read: excessively haolefied) neighboorhood, where are the best schools at. The usual replies with pejoratives come forth..Yes, it is possible to make it here if you have the right vocation, apartments are expensive if/when found, life is not perfect here on O'ahu, etc, etc. The one trait that most of these potential newcomers to Hawai'i have in common is that they are employed on the mainland in positions that can usually be found in Honolulu. Or there are positions in which one's training in a particular field can be transferred into another different, yet similar field.

Take the case of the 22 year-old Yale grad from the Northeast who recently posted a thread inquiring about the possibility of establishing himself in Hawaii. The general consensus, after excessive insults were directed toward him, is that if this grad applied himself, and actually took the time and effort necessary to secure a job, he would eventully find employment in his chosen field in Honolulu. I'm not sure what his major was, but I somewhat got the impression that he felt his Ivy League education was enough for the employers of Hawai'i to want to welcome him with open arms, as if his degree from Yale carried more clout than one, say from UH-Manoa. Maybe I'm wrong about this. In any event, what ever his major is, he can most likely apply it towards numerous positions in Honolulu. Or any other city in Hawai'i, for that matter.

He could easily find employment pushing a pencil as a mortgage specialist for the BoH. Or as a portfolio manager for a Bishop Street brokerage house. Or selling computers for the big box outlets. Heck, he could even be a sales manager for the latest townhouse mega-development being constructed on formerly productive agricultural land in Kapolei for Horton Homes! Gotta build them townhouses for all of the "Weather Wimps" ( a Rhode Island term for those who can't handle winter ) relocating to Hawaii, just so they avoid the three months of winter, crop lands be damned!

Now, let me change the story. Suppose our Yale grad went to "Kansas Threads" (should it exist), and asked the folks in Cheyenne County, Kansas if there was any chance of him finding a job there. Surely, with his Ivy League education and newly granted pedigree, he could find one. After all, he IS Ivy League educated. His book-education has taught him all of the latest business theories and concepts. The rubes of Cheyenne County are clearly no match for the intellegence and outright brilliance of this Yale grad.

Unfortunately for him, knowing the basics of Wall Street technical analysis as opposed to arbitrage doesn't do anyone much good in the aforementioned Cheyenne County. The sod-busters there aren't overly impressed with those who have mastered dubious theories of ambiguous worth such as "just-in-time inventory" basics or "human resources management". What they do need are people who know the difference between a heifer and a cow, know how to till out the back 1000 acres, and what 10-10-10 means on fertilizer. They need people who are willing to toil on a combine in 100 degree heat as well as get out of bed at 4AM on a sub-zero January morning to milk the herd.

Unless our grad took up Agronomy 101 at some point during his education at Yale, or was a member of the Future Farmers of America, New Haven Chapter, I highly doubt he has the skills, knowledge, and physical stamina required to make it as a farmer on the prairies of Kansas. Or in the orange groves of Florida. And especially in the mac plantations on the Big Island.

And with that in mind, I highly doubt most of the city-dwellers of Honolulu could make it down on the farm. Their lives in Honolulu are relatively comfortable to the lives of the farmers all over the US. Why should they bother with something like agriculture when they don't have to. The fact is, most Honolulans could not manhandle a John Deere if their lives depended on it.

But I can tell you this: I'm just an old farmboy from Ka'u, but I know how to make journal entries in T-accounts and reconcile banking statements to the penny, I know how to set up speadsheets, and I can express myself as eloquently as any Financial District manager. What the heck..I can even calculate the expectation and variance of a binomial random variable. Oh yes..I also know to how to raise a crop of seed corn. How many Honolulans can say they can do all of this?

So, with the dependence of the city-folk of Honolulu (or any other city in the US) on the farmers of America to provide them with their daily sustenance, why is it that we and the simple lives we live are often the butt of jokes, subject to derision? I don't get it. Remember, if it was grown, and you're eating it...thank a farmer.

[kimo55]

Hey Kimo..I just read your comments about Kansas...the cornfields, the lonely scarecrows...all of the hackneyed perceptions non-agricultural people have about farm,,,,,


jay zeus kee rist! chill pill time dude.
You JUST read it? You should do more than JUST read it. You outta think about it too.

That was a wizard of oz reference, pardon my cultural literacy.
corn fields. scarecrows. le petit ingenue finding they're "not in kansas anymore"?!
No? yes?
hmm. ok.

and the gumbo and mustard obviously related to the next post; gumption and muster.
ok, dumb joke as palolo would attest. but lemme make my oblique point without you intimating your requirement of conversational tech-support.

Jees do i hate explaining manini kine stuffs.

although I will never comprehend that strange comparison to kansas denizens and ourselves here... and tho I dunno about others looking for a job... but yer cornpone accounting resume is so obviously impressive, it would bump any Honolulu-an and especially me, right to the back of the line. IF... I were the kind of person to wait in line.


(noooononono, don't call india on that 800 number; yes, that was sarcasm.)