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Hello, I am looking to relocate to a place with nice Tropical climate, along with good and interesting business opportunities and the right balance between being laid back and open minded along with a desire to seek out new horizions in life ( as in entrepreneurial/ seek new adventured spirit. I also would like warm ocean waters to swim in.
I have been to Honolulu, Hawaii several times, and despite the stereotype of Honolulu only being about Palm Trees, Luas, and surfing there actually has been some business development in the past decade with a mini-silicon valley, several 500 million dollar startups, and a few interesting business accomplishments. Checkpoint software actually started in Honolulu. While it still has that gentle Hawaian feel and warm oceans to swim in, there is an emerging mini San Diego within the business world. However, it is still a small place.
I am also considering Sydney which has a dynamic business sector, and excellent warm water for swimming and surfing. However, I hear that it is becoming a bit too much like New York City( many fake posuers and status types).
While more dynamic than Honolulu, and more laid back than Sydney, Queensland is an interesting possibility. However, the beaches are quite far from Brisbane CBD and I am not sure what Surfers paradise or the Sunshine Coast are like. I do hear that there is an emerging business sector with some new Biotech startups.
My concern about Queensland is that being half Asian, but a Yank will I face racism.
I guess to sum it up, of the following places where would you live if you wanted the best balance between the possibility of great business opportunities along with the ability to swim in tropical oceans on weekends and bodysurf in warm waves. The choices are Honolulu, Hawaii, Queensland, Australia, and Sydney, Australia.
I don't don't think too many here have been to all of those places so you may not get the answers you are looking for. However, I can attest to the fact that you won't experience any more or less racism in Oz than you would in the US -- that I can confirm as a person of mixed race that has lived in both countries, and Canada. Actually the only place I experienced an overtly racist act -- was in California. So throw the racism concern aside. However, if you want to swim year round you won't get that in Sydney; winter temperatures range from 7/8 - 16ish centigrade. Not exactly cold by north american standards, but not beach swimming weather either. Can't comment on Brissy winter/water temps. But it gets warmer and more tropical the further north you get.
Southest QLD seas still wouldn't exactly as warm as Honolulu's.
Racism?
You might be luckier than most people being part-Asian in Honolulu;
a lot of Hawaiian residents don't like white people (ha'ole)
I think Asians as a whole out number any other group in Hawaii, including native Hawaiians,
but the native Hawaiians don't seem to mind Asians. (as much?)
a lot of Hawaiian residents don't like white people (ha'ole)
You think so? I've never seen that actually. I had rellies that used to live in HNL (my Mom was born on Kaui'i) and when I used to visit I did not really notice any anti-haole sentiment. They may make a comment about tourists, but this is normal for anyone that lives in an area where you see lots of tourists acting at times stupid. They'll whinge at people who show disrespect, but again, that would nto be different from any other place.
You think so? I've never seen that actually. I had rellies that used to live in HNL (my Mom was born on Kaui'i) and when I used to visit I did not really notice any anti-haole sentiment. They may make a comment about tourists, but this is normal for anyone that lives in an area where you see lots of tourists acting at times stupid. They'll whinge at people who show disrespect, but again, that would nto be different from any other place.
Well I've read surfer biographies from guys raised in Hawaii (not "Hawaiian" only people from that ancestry are "allowed" to call themself that ) and heard stories like how growing up was tough for a guy in Kauai; many kids would pick on them, sometimes beat them up, just because they were one of the very few white kids in school.
At best, being white and living in Hawaii would draw as much attention as being American in Australia.
Maybe Honolulu itself is not that bad, but in less-urban or rural areas it's probably uncomfortable.
I've even seen a show on the Disney Channel set in Hawaii where in school, white kids were getting picked on for being white.
If it were me and I was leaving the USA to work in another country this is how I would look at it
Am I taking the job in Sydney for the long term, and I will be able to secure the proper documents to remain in Australia for that time? Or am I planning on only remaining in the job for a limited time, and then I would have to find another job elsewhere. What country do I plan on staying in Australia, or return to the USA and where will I be working there? Am I going to have adequate housing, that is going to be affordable for me and my family. Or will it be disrupted during my time there because of cost or other issues.
How will this move impact my children long term, and what country do I want them to be growing up in? Will I have proper access to health care and education for my kids. I imagine in Australia you would be fine in those categories
If the job in Australia didn't work out am I financially stable enough to withstand a loss of income, and where am I going from there?
You definitely have some big decisions to make, but I'm sure you will add it all up and make the best one. Best of Luck.
I admit it sounds like a lot of fun. I'd probably want to jump at the chance myself, if I was still in my working years.
As this thread is 12 years old I'd assume the OP has made his decision.
Thanks for telling me. I guess a 12 year old thread showed up and I didn't realize it.
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) and heard stories like how growing up was tough for a guy in Kauai; many kids would pick on them, sometimes beat them up, just because they were one of the very few white kids in school. 
