If you had a good job offer in Hawaii, would you move there? Why or why not?

[Anonymous]

OP, we're thinking about trying for a job to go to Hawaii for a couple of years... down the road, but soon, as well! Sounds like a similar situation to yours. Perhaps we can be friends? ha!!

[Anonymous]

OP here -- I don't know anyone in Hawaii, so yes, definitely we can be friends!!

[Anonymous]

I don't have experience with moving to Hawaii, but I have relocated my family for work reasons to another country (the UK, we lived in London). Obviously, not the same, but my big advice to you is to run realistic figures regarding your budget/cost of living. I got paid very well in London and still - the added COL really shocked me. To get even remotely comparable housing in London in a relatively nice area, we spent 3x as much as on our mortgage in Alexandria (and not a cheap mortgage either). We thought we had run all the numbers, but really - we completely underestimated how much more expensive it was to live there and then, when we added in the inconvenience of living that far away from family and friends and the cost of private school for our kids (London public schools are not so good), it really made the decision to move back a no-brainer.

That said, I can't say I regret moving over there, but 2 years later, we were back here (originally, I was supposed to be there for much much longer).

I have a feeling you will end up going there anyways, and don't disagree with that, but if I were you I would try to keep as many contacts back here as possible. For example, we rented out our place in Alexandria instead of selling it, which made moving back SOOO much easier. Also, both DH and I kept strong contacts back here in DC.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I would not go. At this time in my life, I value proximity to my extended family on the US East Coast and Europe. Hawaii would put me too far away.

This alone is a dealbreaker. Would need no other reason not to go.

[Anonymous]

My friend moved there and then her mom followed soon after. Her mom worked for a hospital in Honolulu and was sort of shocked by how different healthcare is over there. After hearing the horror stories, I couldn't imagine having to live there (of course, there are other parts of the US with healthcare that is lacking as well). While my friend and her mom initially raved about the laid back island lifestyle, it eventually annoyed them (why does everything take so long? why are folks so lazy? what's with the slacker attitudes) --- I guess you can leave the Type A neurotic rat race of DC, but you might not be able to fully embrace the island way of life (and you might discover you miss it --- and you miss real news --- and you miss talking to folks about world events). To make a long story short: both my friend and her mom moved back to the US after 18 months or so. I guess paradise isn't for everyone. (And ditto the comments about everything being expensive and not fitting in like a local.)

[Anonymous]

"To make a long story short: both my friend and her mom moved back to the US after 18 months or so. I guess paradise isn't for everyone. (And ditto the comments about everything being expensive and not fitting in like a local.)"

Very wise.

[Anonymous]

Not sure about the actual healthcare services but read that it has one of the best healthcare systems in the country. I believe Hawaii, along with a few other states, were looked at as models on how to reform the national healthcare system because it of the emphasis on universal coverage and prevention.

[Anonymous]

18:13 here --- my friend's mom the nurse said the hospitals were 3rd rate at best as compared to what we have here (Suburban, Holy Cross, etc. --- where she's worked). Lots of freestanding "clinics" for routine care available, but after visiting one for services she said she'd never go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come on OP, you know it's beautiful and a once in a lifetime opportunity many will never come across. And, like every other place, you know there are some down sides as well. Just take the plunge and go for it! If it turns out to be a mistake, you'll deal with it and can always move back. But if you don't do it, you'll always wonder if you should have done it.

Yeah, I call Tsunami a deal breaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come on OP, you know it's beautiful and a once in a lifetime opportunity many will never come across. And, like every other place, you know there are some down sides as well. Just take the plunge and go for it! If it turns out to be a mistake, you'll deal with it and can always move back. But if you don't do it, you'll always wonder if you should have done it.

Yeah, I call Tsunami a deal breaker.

I guess CA and OR are out for you too?

[Anonymous]

We lived in Hawaii for twelve years. Three different times, each time for about four years. I graduated from the University of Hawaii. It is a beautiful place to visit. If you don't have kids, it's a great place to live. However, I wouldn't live on any of the islands with kids. The schools are horrible. Some are better than others, but all are bad. The privates are better than the public schools, but not by much.

We always enjoy going back for vacations. And I love a lot of things about Hawaii. But again, I wouldn't move back with kids.

[Anonymous]

My father was in the Army and we were posted to Hawaii from 84-86. I attended 7th and 8th grades at a public school there in Honolulu. I would never put my children through what my brother and I experienced. Discrimination against kids from the "mainland" was rampant and at times violent, although I had no problem defending myself (having built up those self defense "talents" at the prior location we had lived at, a small small town in upstate NY). I have vivid recollections of discrimination being conducted not just by fellow students but often by the teachers and other school officials themselves. (Granted, having experienced that gave me a much greater appreciation and sensitivity for those populations who have faced years of discrimination themselves.) Being in 7th and 8th grade was already tumultuous just given the ages involved, but having to live day-to-day in this environment certainly didn't help matters. A silver lining was the fact that at least we lived on a military base, so I had somewhat of a cocoon to escape to outside of school, being alongside fellow kids who were also military brats.

Quoted for absolute truth.

[Anonymous]

Beautiful for a vacation but living there is rather like having a diet of cotton candy. Extremely expensive as almost everythng is flown in from mainland. Not sure about public schools and it is a long, long way from home. Also, there is a definite hierarchical society and it can be lonely unless you make friends easily. Living there for a year though would be lovely. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

my now husband spent 3 years there while he was in the military. He thought it was beautiful, but living there is not for everyone. It is so far from everything. Gas and food are expensive, as is the real estate. Worse than here. My husband did OK because there were military discounts everywhere due to all the bases.

We were just dating, so I did not go. I would not have wanted to live there anyway. I was bored after a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here...thanks for the replies...curious if anyone knows someone who moved to Hawaii, hated it, and moved back to the mainland US?

My SIL and BIL used to live there and talk fondly of it still. They want to move back. I do know there are school issues, and she homeschools even here - so not sure if that is helpful or not....