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I am originally from Martinique, a French island in the Caribbean. I'm wondering if there is anyone on this forum who's been to both areas (any of the Caribbean islands AND Hawaii) and who could offer a comparison in terms of the islands, the landscape, etc.
I've watched the Lost series, Jurassic Park etc. which were all shot in Hawaii and it looks like heaven on screen, a lot more beautiful than the West Indies. Yet I have heard a few people say that Hawaii is is no way more beautiful than the West Indies and that the main difference is in the people who inhabit each of those islands.
My guess would be the same, since all smaller islands in the Caribbean are pretty much similar (I'm not talking about Cuba or Puerto Rico), the only thing that changes is who lives on them.
What are your thoughts on this?
I'd love to go back and settle in Martinique where I grew up, but the crime rate, violence, drug trafficking issue, racism and other social issues have led me to consider Hawaii instead (I am a dual French/US national).
I've been to Jamaica twice. The biggest difference, assuming you're not on a resort, is that Jamaica felt a lot more like a 3rd world country...and a lot less safe. (A good friend of mine is from there and said "You left the resort?!") One of the things many people like about Hawaii is that it feels tropical/exotic, but is still part of the U.S. and has the benefits that go with that.
Hawaii is very beautiful, but keep in mind that the movies show you only tiny bits of the island. In real life, the landscape can vary quite a bit. It's not all jungles, waterfalls, volcanos and beaches everywhere you look. A lot of the land is dry and without much vegetation and there are many spots where the ocean is perhaps visible, but quite a drive away.
Definitely do some research, pick an island or two to visit and see for yourself before deciding to move to Hawaii.
Thank you!
So would you say that Jamaica in terms of the nature and landscape is greener and more lush than Hawaii?
I definitely have to visit
I think it really depends on which parts of which islands you go to. For example, Kauai is overall very wet and very green. My experience with the other islands I've been to is that they have lush green areas...and more arid areas. I'm not an expert in this stuff, but it seems to have to do with which parts of the islands catch the brunt of incoming storms.
On my two times to Jamaica, it didn't strike me as being more lush and green than to Hawaii. It did seem to be more humid, though.
The Caribbean chain of islands is more diversified by nature, politics, races, religion, language, wealth, etc than the Hawaiian chain of islands. So the comparison is therefore a bit difficult to make.
I have been to many Caribbean islands in my life professionally and as a tourist, but they also undergo constant changes. I.e. the effects of Cuba opening up to unrestricted US tourists and investors would have major implications to tourism & the economies of all other islands.
The Canary Islands are more easy to compare to Hawaii, especially as you hold French/EU papers as well and could move there.
I live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which also has a lot of the same benefits as stateside living (like Hawaii) We have a lot of people who bounce back and forth between here and Hawaii. A woman I spoke to a few months ago who just came back said she preferred the VI to HI simply based on the "type" of mainlander's that we get here vs. the mainlander's that go to Hawaii.
She said that the Hawaiian Islands are more beautiful, but the waters of the Caribbean are warmer and snorkeling is better here.
Duttygal your comparison is very interesting. The Virgin Islands are pretty close to where I grew up (Martinique), does it have fewer drugs/crime/violence issues? I'm asking because that's the one huge thing that stopped me from settling in Martinique again... You just can't feel safe in Martinique anymore. One of my relative got shot to death by burglars for example, and that's just the latest 'crisis'. Another one caused island-wide uproar among the black majority for shooting an armed burglar in another instance. Being white and well-off is the best way to run into trouble there.
You want have to fear much gun violence in Hawaii. Or racially motivated violence against whites. Our police department makes it very difficult to get hand gun permits. This stops the flow of them to our islands and reduces their usage. The Caribbean islands are drug traffic routes and small boats & planes bring contraband everywhere.
Hawaii vs Caribbean
100 per I will choose Hawaii
Beach in Hawaii very beautifull
Speacial bikini ,sexy girl more than carribean
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