What is the feasibility of getting an unskilled labor job in Hawaii from mainland? (Hilo: real estate, rent)

[Kansoku]

I want to go to Hilo.

I am interested in jobs like hotel housekeeping, waiter, retail entry job, taxi driver, bus driver, janitor, landscaper (I guess that's a bit of skilled labor but still)

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Kansoku

I am interested in jobs like hotel housekeeping, waiter, retail entry job, taxi driver, bus driver, janitor, landscaper (I guess that's a bit of skilled labor but still)

I'd say your chances are extremely low, close to zero. It's tough getting jobs like that even if you are here, and can apply in person. Unless you have family connections, I wouldn't even think about it.

Good luck.

[CoolSocks]

Your biggest issue would be paying Hawaii's outrageous rental/real estate fees with a minimum wage job. Unless you actually know someone there who you could crash with, you wouldn't be able to afford it.

[thatsong64]

I got one within a month of being here. And a girl that just got hired at my job has only been here a week. I'm in Maui. Probably was just luck, but it's not impossible. Also, my rent is only $700 which everyone said finding a place under $900 would be impossible.

[hotzcatz]

However, thatsong64, you had to physically be in Maui to get the job. Why should an employer hire someone on the mainland when there are a dozen applicants already here who they can meet in person?

Taxi driver and bus driver require special licenses. I think for a small bus you need a CDL C (Commercial Driver's License) with passenger and most likely air brake endorsements. Bigger buses need a CDL B, I think. You'd need the bus to go take the test, too, so you are not only asking an employer to hire you from the mainland without seeing you in person, but you are also asking them to train you and loan you a bus for the driver's test. I'm not sure what the taxi driver requirements are.

Kansoku, how about taking a long vacation in Hilo and looking for employment while you are there? If you leave all your important stuff already in boxes on the mainland, then if you find employment, you can have someone mail you the boxes. If it doesn't work out, then you'll still have a place to go back to after your vacation.

[Razzbar]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Taxi driver and bus driver require special licenses.

Bus driving jobs are very hard to get. You would either drive for the county, which probably employs no more than a dozen or so drivers, or from some tour company -- are you fluent in Japanese?

There aren't many taxis on the Big Island. I know haoles who had them on Maui, so they are a common "entry level" job... But the Big Island is different. There isn't that much tourism. People just don't use taxis there much.

You might be able to find labor work, but you have to talk to a lot of people. I've never, ever found a job out of the newspaper in Hawaii. They have all been word of mouth. There are jobs, but they're usually temporary, part time, and paid under the table -- no taxes, but no benefits, and good luck if you have a problem with your employer.

If I were you, I'd get a small truck, a cell phone, and some gardening tools, especially a weedeater. Advertise on Craigslist and especially on local bulletin boards. If you establish your dependability, you can do all right.

[Razzbar]

The job market in Hawaii is very "word of mouth". There is *plenty* of work that needs to be done if you 1) have transportation, 2) a phone 3) some tools.

There's *always* yard work and painting that needs to be done. If you do both, you can eventually build up a clientele. This is especially true with yard work. Eventually, you can stop advertising. The most important thing by far is to be dependable. Show up on time, get the job done, offer no BS, and they'll call you back next month.

[Kansoku]

Originally Posted by Razzbar

The job market in Hawaii is very "word of mouth". There is *plenty* of work that needs to be done if you 1) have transportation, 2) a phone 3) some tools.

There's *always* yard work and painting that needs to be done. If you do both, you can eventually build up a clientele. This is especially true with yard work. Eventually, you can stop advertising. The most important thing by far is to be dependable. Show up on time, get the job done, offer no BS, and they'll call you back next month.

What does yard work involve? How much can you expect to earn from it?

[Kansoku]

For the tourist bus driving job that you need to know Japanese, as long as you know fluent Japanese are you guaranteed a job?

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by Kansoku

What does yard work involve? How much can you expect to earn from it?

You can expect a lot of heavy cutting and jungle growth. Everything grows fast here; we know a guy who has a cutting/clearing crew and he's always busy, and he and is crew work very hard. Not sure on the wages, but yard work here is a lot different than yard work on the mainland.