Hello everyone,
I found this site by following a link in a newsgroup. I'm glad I stumbled upon it. It looks like you have a nice place here and I'm happy to be a part of it.
I'm a transplanted mainlander (from Massachusetts via Utah) who is currently living in Hilo on the big island. My girlfriend and I moved out here this past January because, well, why wouldn't one want to move to Hawaii (so we reasoned)?
My girlfriend's cousin and cousin's boyfriend were attending UH Hilo and we've been sharing a house outside of town with them. They've decided to return to California (fools ) but we're excited to stay here a while longer.
This brings us to why I was scouring the internet in search of information about living on Oahu. The lease in our current home ends shortly and, while we like the big island in general and Hilo in particular, we're interested in seeing what the other islands are like.
So, after flipping a few coins we rather arbitrarily decided to move to Oahu. If there is a real reason it is mainly in the hopes that my girlfriend will have an easier time finding steady work on Oahu.
I don't want to be an annoying newbie who starts a flurry of threads asking the same questions that have already been answered dozens of time by you patient people so I'll happily search the older threads as much as possible.
However, if anyone wants to offer advise on our situation that would be wonderful too. The circumstances are:
As said, we've lived in Hilo since January but have not travelled to any of the other islands.
I'm fortunate enough to have a full time job as a software developer that allows me to telecommute. Unfortunately, that means I'm a computer geek but one benefit is that I can work from anywhere I have a broadband internet connection.
My girlfriend has some minor income from her own telecommuting work but will be looking for more steady (hopefully full time) employment.
We initially decided to move to Oahu figuring she would find work more easily there than anywhere else. While she is well educated (MS in Physics) she is also a recent graduate and doesn't have much real world experience so most jobs she would apply for would probably be entry level. She is willing to work most any reasonably enjoyable job (it doesn't have to be related to Physics or anything).
On the other hand the tales of traffic, crime, heavy crowds, and insane rental prices have made us wonder if we might be better off on Maui.
Although I know it would be best we probably won't have the opportunity to visit before moving so I'm hoping you all can help steer us in the right direction.
So, would someone like to make an argument for why we should choose Oahu or Maui (or anyplace else)?
Is it reasonable to think my girlfriend will be able to find work in either place fairly quickly? In the $700 - $1200 range, is there a big difference in housing quality between the two islands (we don't need a lot of space -- a studio is fine -- but we don't want to live in a loud, sketchy, dangerous neighborhood if possible -- we're also willing to share a place with other people).
If you've read this far, believe me, I am both impressed and appreciative. I apologize for being so verbose. Thanks a lot and any advise will be very helpful.
I found this site by following a link in a newsgroup. I'm glad I stumbled upon it. It looks like you have a nice place here and I'm happy to be a part of it.
I'm a transplanted mainlander (from Massachusetts via Utah) who is currently living in Hilo on the big island. My girlfriend and I moved out here this past January because, well, why wouldn't one want to move to Hawaii (so we reasoned)?
My girlfriend's cousin and cousin's boyfriend were attending UH Hilo and we've been sharing a house outside of town with them. They've decided to return to California (fools ) but we're excited to stay here a while longer.
This brings us to why I was scouring the internet in search of information about living on Oahu. The lease in our current home ends shortly and, while we like the big island in general and Hilo in particular, we're interested in seeing what the other islands are like.
So, after flipping a few coins we rather arbitrarily decided to move to Oahu. If there is a real reason it is mainly in the hopes that my girlfriend will have an easier time finding steady work on Oahu.
I don't want to be an annoying newbie who starts a flurry of threads asking the same questions that have already been answered dozens of time by you patient people so I'll happily search the older threads as much as possible.
However, if anyone wants to offer advise on our situation that would be wonderful too. The circumstances are:
As said, we've lived in Hilo since January but have not travelled to any of the other islands.
I'm fortunate enough to have a full time job as a software developer that allows me to telecommute. Unfortunately, that means I'm a computer geek but one benefit is that I can work from anywhere I have a broadband internet connection.
My girlfriend has some minor income from her own telecommuting work but will be looking for more steady (hopefully full time) employment.
We initially decided to move to Oahu figuring she would find work more easily there than anywhere else. While she is well educated (MS in Physics) she is also a recent graduate and doesn't have much real world experience so most jobs she would apply for would probably be entry level. She is willing to work most any reasonably enjoyable job (it doesn't have to be related to Physics or anything).
On the other hand the tales of traffic, crime, heavy crowds, and insane rental prices have made us wonder if we might be better off on Maui.
Although I know it would be best we probably won't have the opportunity to visit before moving so I'm hoping you all can help steer us in the right direction.
So, would someone like to make an argument for why we should choose Oahu or Maui (or anyplace else)?
Is it reasonable to think my girlfriend will be able to find work in either place fairly quickly? In the $700 - $1200 range, is there a big difference in housing quality between the two islands (we don't need a lot of space -- a studio is fine -- but we don't want to live in a loud, sketchy, dangerous neighborhood if possible -- we're also willing to share a place with other people).
If you've read this far, believe me, I am both impressed and appreciative. I apologize for being so verbose. Thanks a lot and any advise will be very helpful.
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