Moving to Kauai (Kilauea: houses, neighborhood, to live)

[bresdo]

Me and my two girls are moving to Kauai in August 2008 to live. I have visited before for a month at a time on the south side. We will be moving to the North shore in Kilauea. Being a lifetime resident of the mainland I was wondering if the people of this board can enlighten me with some facts and things to know before we make the move. Anything trivial at all, all information is appreciated. Just want to make sure of everything and not want the surprises. I have a job working online so not going there and needing a place to work. Figure since I can work from anywhere why not one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Thanks for the help,

Bresdo

[bresdo]

So reading through some of the other threads I have come up with the following on what to expect.

Me being 46 and a Haole I will get some flack from the locals but should not be so bad. Since I have my own online business I won't be stealing someones job.

My girls are ages 8 & 6 and their mother is Korean so they have a lot of Asian character in them. They should not be bothered by any of the kids except maybe teased that they have a Haole for a father?

[Sandpointian]

I do not live in Kilauea nor Hawaii. Have visited the state more than two dozen times and Kauai at least five or six times.

My recollection of Kilauea was that it was very, very quiet. It is on the north shore so it gets that Northern overcast skies and gray. I recall the houses being laid out in a very neighbor-friendly manner, which a number of houses selling stuff (like leis) from the front porch. I also recall the famous bakery as feeling very much like a neighborhood bakery. Each memory suggests a town in which your ability to bring value added to the community matters most.

One final comment. Communities with a high % of tourism and beauty tend to attract people who move for a few years with unrealisitc expections and then leave less beucase finances have soured but more because the reality never quite matched the fantasy. On my last visit to Hawaii (to the big island) I was shocked to see how many haoles there were, most appearing totally burned out and most trying to import a life and lifestyle from the mainland. Each that I talked to said they were sick of being there and were plannign to head back to the mainland. So if Kilauean locals see you as a transient with images of hula dancers in his eyes, they rightfully will raise the bar on you and in the meantime heavily discount their communication with you. Why should they invest time into someone who will be gone before too long? However, if they sense that you are there to stay, I think their hard exterior will melt.

Best of luck. You are moving to one of the most special places in the US. Live it and breathe it!! You'll be better for doing so...