Maui Living vs Oahu Living, no job required (Honolulu, Kaneohe: real estate, apartments)

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by vsimmons1988

If the people in the dept of education know that Hawaii has the lowest academic preformance rate in the country and highest percentage of students attending private school, why don't they do something about it? Why should you have to pay for quality education when it is offered on the mainland for free?

Public schools on the mainland aren't exactly "free." In most jurisdictions, public schools are supported by local property taxes. For the most part, schools in affluent areas receive more money and resources than schools in less affluent areas. The Hawai'i State Department of Education, on the other hand, is the most centralized and only statewide public education system in the United States. Established by Kamehameha III in 1840, it's a legacy of the Hawaiian Monarchy. All public schools in the state are theoretically funded from the same pool of money on an equitable basis. The main rationale for maintaining the status quo is this equitable distribution of resources.

If the Department of Education were decentralized and decision-making placed closer to the classroom, academic performance would probably improve. Unfortunately, politics in Hawai'i will probably prevent that from occurring. Thus, folks in Hawai'i who want their children to receive a quality education (and can afford to pay for it) send them to private schools.

[vsimmons1988]

Thank you for reminding me that our tax dollars help fund the local and state education systems. In addition, I appreciate the insight on the history of education in Hawaii. I am still saddened that politics stand in the way of improving the academic performance of public schools.

[Elder_Shawn]

Originally Posted by vsimmons1988

If the people in the dept of education know that Hawaii has the lowest academic preformance rate in the country and highest percentage of students attending private school, why don't they do something about it? Why should you have to pay for quality education when it is offered on the mainland for free?

Free is a relative term...I pay for schools and I'll never have kids.

[TN2HI]

Originally Posted by Elder_Shawn

Free is a relative term...I pay for schools and I'll never have kids.

I hope you're not actually mad about this... Just because you aren't planning on having children, doesn't mean you won't benefit from the education of others. Who do you think will be running this country when you are old and gray?? My plan is to educate as many children as possible between now and then... mine or not.

[TN2HI]

Originally Posted by vsimmons1988

If the people in the dept of education know that Hawaii has the lowest academic preformance rate in the country and highest percentage of students attending private school, why don't they do something about it? Why should you have to pay for quality education when it is offered on the mainland for free?

First, I believe this is relative to where you live. There are lots of states that have a very poor education system. Hawai'i has a "free" education system just like every other state, and Hawai'i's system isn't the only one that is lacking.

Second, it isn't just up to the dept of education to fix the problem. There are a lot of factors... parents have to care AND have enough time to help their children AND be educated enough to help their children. Parents who are working 2-3 jobs just to house and feed their families have little time to help with homework, go to parent-teacher conferences, etc. Teachers have to be able to AFFORD to teach... in order to pay teachers, the gov. needs money... are you going to give it to them? or are you going to complain about the taxes that you already have to pay? or maybe you'll complain about the fact that you don't have children or that they're already out of college; think about it... if I am intelligent enough to be an engineer/doctor/lawyer, making a VERY good living, why would I choose to be a algebra teacher? Some of us do... we suffer the low-paying jobs, we put up with the children who are disrespectful, we try to help those who want to learn, because we believe in the power of an education... but a lot of teachers don't make it very long before they decide it isn't worth it.

Fixing our education system, any education system, has to start with people deciding that education is worth it.... in Hawai'i and in every state. It isn't up to one person or one group, it's up to the community. If you want it fixed, do something about it... offer to tutor students, make a donation to help with technology and school supplies, get involved with the school board and tell them what you want done. Just stop complaining!

I apologize for the soap-box rant, and this may get deleted, but I am tired of hearing how horrible the education system is in Hawai'i, and how you shouldn't live in Hawai'i unless you can afford private school, especially when I have yet to see a post on how to make it better.

[mauigirl6]

If the Department of Education were decentralized and decision-making placed closer to the classroom, academic performance would probably improve. Unfortunately, politics in Hawai'i will probably prevent that from occurring.

Amen to that!

Thus, folks in Hawai'i who want their children to receive a quality education (and can afford to pay for it) send them to private schools.

Well you could homeschool Thats what we do! There are also many fine "public" charter schools (only one on Maui)

[IndyRes]

bas1,
Thank you for the awesome and insightful reply! My husband and I are late 20's professionals and are looking to relocate to (most likely) Oahu. That said, we are in the very early stages of research and these forums have been most helpful. I am adopting the attitude that even if we "only make it" for 18 months, the experience will stay with us always, and we will never regret it!

[L. Jerrell]

Curious about jobs for massage therapits. Planning on moving to Oahu soon.
What are the best places to work. Good money, for few hours. Single mom.
Some spas tend to have reps of slave drivers.

[Jungjohann]

Kihei on Maui is very nice, used to be a lot nicer, but what wasn't. Condo prices are coming down, as are rental prices. Most places above Kam 1, 2, and 3 are nice, plenty of resturaunts and shopping are close by, and walking is the most logical form of transportation, as I have been passed by kids on skateboards while driving Kihei Road. Kailua, Oahu is beautiful, but when I was living both on Oahu and Maui, I had a condo in Upper Nuuanu, kind of like living in the country, but close to downtown, and 15 minutes to the airport! What a plus when you're in a rush to get back to Maui.

Aloha

[Mily]

GREAT THREAD!!! I am interested in more input!

Much Aloha, Mily