Planning a move to Hawaii (transplants, to rent, health insurance)

[monsieurchad]

Hi there.

I am a 20 year old single guy from the LA area in California and I'm planning on moving to Hawaii in September. I have some money saved up and will be saving up a couple thousand dollars more before I make the move. I don't have a job lined up but I don't require much and have enough money to live off of for a few months once I get there. I'm not doing this for any particular reason other than to experience something new in life. I've been dreaming of living in Hawaii for a while now. The aloha spirit and beautiful scenery made me fall in love. I understand that no place is perfect, Hawaii is expensive, slow, and difficult. But I have my youth and my will and only myself to worry about. Life is defined by the adventures and risks we take.

Anyway, I'm having some trouble deciding which island to move to. I'm looking to rent a room and to use public transportation/a bike to get from place to place. As for jobs, I'd probably try to find something like working in a restaurant or a hotel. Probably involved in tourism. I'm not too worried about nightlife. I'm pretty laid back and easy going, so hiking and swimming at the beach are good enough for me. Would like to meet some young friends though. Any advice you guys have would be great. I've read through most of the back posts on the forum here but I haven't really found much to help me specifically.

I'd also love to hear stories from anyone who has moved to Hawaii in an adventurous way, even if you ended up leaving. You never know if something might work out until you try, right? Even if I get there and end up staying for two months, at least I did it and didn't spend my life in a boring, monotonous existence always wishing to do something exciting.

This post is way too long so I'll be going now. Thanks

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by monsieurchad

Hi there.

I am a 20 year old single guy from the LA area in California and I'm planning on moving to Hawaii in September. I have some money saved up and will be saving up a couple thousand dollars more before I make the move. I don't have a job lined up but I don't require much and have enough money to live off of for a few months once I get there. I'm not doing this for any particular reason other than to experience something new in life. I've been dreaming of living in Hawaii for a while now. The aloha spirit and beautiful scenery made me fall in love. I understand that no place is perfect, Hawaii is expensive, slow, and difficult. But I have my youth and my will and only myself to worry about. Life is defined by the adventures and risks we take.

Anyway, I'm having some trouble deciding which island to move to. I'm looking to rent a room and to use public transportation/a bike to get from place to place. As for jobs, I'd probably try to find something like working in a restaurant or a hotel. Probably involved in tourism. I'm not too worried about nightlife. I'm pretty laid back and easy going, so hiking and swimming at the beach are good enough for me. Would like to meet some young friends though. Any advice you guys have would be great. I've read through most of the back posts on the forum here but I haven't really found much to help me specifically.

I'd also love to hear stories from anyone who has moved to Hawaii in an adventurous way, even if you ended up leaving. You never know if something might work out until you try, right? Even if I get there and end up staying for two months, at least I did it and didn't spend my life in a boring, monotonous existence always wishing to do something exciting.

This post is way too long so I'll be going now. Thanks

Yep - go for it.

You meet all the criteria:

20 and no college degree.

"Some" money saved up.

No job

You are "dreaming"

You are bored and have monotonous existence.

And - you went through the threads but found them to be of little help.

I suggest the Big Island - they will be happy to host you on your next adventure.

[Joliefille]

Google the bus system in Hawaii...that should answer what island you can ride the bus on. I'd post a link, but am too lazy.

[mdand3boys]

I agree with whtviper1 except for the Big Island part - because the Big Island has no jobs - especially for transplants without a degree or special skill set.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by monsieurchad

I have some money saved up and will be saving up a couple thousand dollars more before I make the move. I don't have a job lined up but I don't require much and have enough money to live off of for a few months once I get there.

Don't forget, the most important part of your plan for Hawai'i is being able to leave when it's time. Be sure you have a return ticket, or a reserve fund that you won't touch for any other purpose. Seriously, that's my #1 advice.

Originally Posted by monsieurchad

I've read through most of the back posts on the forum here but I haven't really found much to help me specifically.

Wow, that is truly amazing. As of today there are 5,550 Threads in the Hawai'i forum, with nearly 65,000 individual posts. That's quite an accomplishment. Especially since it was so useless.

[vahnessuh]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Wow, that is truly amazing. As of today there are 5,550 Threads in the Hawai'i forum, with nearly 65,000 individual posts. That's quite an accomplishment. Especially since it was so useless.

What he means is that everything that he has read runs contrary to what he wants to hear about living in Hawaii.

Seriously, why don't these people just take an extended vacation instead of moving outright?

[hotzcatz]

I dunno, maybe living on a pristine empty beach in a little grass shack supported by a part time job is some sort of widespread species dream state or something? Maybe Hawaii Visitor's Bureau is spreading dream dust in the mainland people's water supply? (Just joking, of course) It might be the end of winter on the mainland and all those HVB's TV commercials.

Well, MonsierChad, with the limited public transport on any island other than Oahu, as well as the more jobs (relatively speaking) on Oahu and it being more like what you are used to (city versus rural) you may want to start on Oahu. Make sure you have enough money to get back to the mainland with, though, and don't burn any bridges on the mainland while you are adventuring in Hawaii.

It should be a great adventure, although after awhile you may realize the drawbacks and choose somewhere with a less expensive cost of living. But, perhaps you'll thrive and do well, it's hard to say.

[winkosmosis]

If you get work, plan on 60, maybe 80 hours a week. Of course that will be at 4 different jobs so they can keep you under 20 hrs and not have to pay for health insurance. You'll still be poor too.

[NorthStarDelight]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

If you get work, plan on 60, maybe 80 hours a week. Of course that will be at 4 different jobs so they can keep you under 20 hrs and not have to pay for health insurance. You'll still be poor too.

Good gosh, working those kinds of hours would defeat the whole purpose of moving to Hawaii, as you'd never have any free time to enjoy it.

But it's true about the jobs there - the pay sucks in spite of the very high cost of living - think of living in Manhattan while while to live on wages more typical of the rural South.

If I were you, I'd try to come up with an unique business idea and use that to make a living on Hawaii - you might go broke just as fast, but it'd sure beat working for someone else...lol.

[winkosmosis]

People in the trades seem to do pretty well in Hawaii. I'm guessing training is easier to get in LA so it might be a good idea to learn a trade and then look for a job.