Ten worst things about living in Honolulu (Hilo, Waianae: fit in, home)

[Erma]

I work in Hawaii from time to time. My only complaint is the 8 hour plane ride from Houston!

[pj737]

1) Roaches are a problem when you do nothing to address it. There are 100+ products out there that can control any home's roach problem. The products are cheap and introduce no dangerous chemicals into the home. Bottom line if your home in Hawaii has lots of roaches, you're not clean or you don't take any precautions to keep them out.

2) Homes are pricey here, yes. That's generally the case in highly desirable locations like our islands.

3) I lived in California and I would take Hawaii drivers over Cali drivers anyday. I can ride my bike here without fearing for my life. Not so in Cali. Apparently you prefer road rage over slow, less aggressive drivers.

4) Drugs are a problem yes, but most people tie drug use to violent crimes. In which case we rank very low in the nation. Drugs are not omnipresent like some suggest. I am close with hundreds of people from all walks of life on this island and nobody I know uses hard drugs to any degree. Sure, a couple here and there smoke pot maybe once every few years but it's definitely not typical.

5) Racism is probably less of an issue in Hawaii than virtually every other state in this nation. That's one of the things I like best about Hawaii - people generally accept you for whatever race you are.

6) You're kidding, right?

7) Traffic only affects those that make the decision to live far from their work or school. Be smart and traffic is not an issue.

8) Again, something that makes Hawaii unique. Without the language barrier we wouldn't have the "melting pot" of cultures which makes Hawaii so unique and desirable.

9) Here you are pointing out one of the negatives that are inherent to a much larger positive. Would a faster paced Hawaii make it more desirable? No, of course not. Because then it wouldn't be Hawaii. You have to lower expectations in work performance and city/state efficiency. Just drop it down a notch, sit back and enjoy... and work.

10) Yes, it does get old once in a while... and that's why you travel. Travel to another island, to another state... to another country. One thing I notice is that no matter where I travel, it always feel great to come back home. ALWAYS.

[SouperStar34]

Originally Posted by dollpaste.

1: And I'm assuming there are no roaches elsewhere?? Alright...

2: I agree, it sucks.

3: There's no need to say "these people' because if you want to get personal, the majority of bad drivers are Asian.

4: Alright, that's one thing we have a problem with. But what can you do? Judge? If it doesn't affect you personally, you should only feel sorry for those people.

5: There's going to be racism everywhere, and if you want to get technical we're not half as bad as the south. I've lived in many places for half my life, so I'm not assuming.

6: I actually agree, food from places we don't have here is like a big tease and I don't see a point in advertising something we can get without a plane ticket. Although I really don't see how that reflects on Honolulu or Hawaii for that matter.

7: Traffic wouldn't be so bad if people who whine about ONLY the downsides of Hawaii would stop coming here and adding more traffic. What can you do? Such is life. The natives don't tell the foreigners to get out because they're overpopulating our islands, they deal.

8: There are language barriers everywhere, even in the continental U.S. (as much as that may surprise you). Contrary to your insinuations, there are people in Hawaii who are native that can speak properly and are educated, like myself.

9: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

10: What can you do? There's always a plane ticket back to the mainland.

--
This is addressed to whoever wrote the list - I just don't understand why you don't leave if you hate it so much.

You failed to read the "10 best" things about Hawaii.

People tend to always focus on the negative.

You can write a 10 best and 10 worst about any where bro.

No one said that they hated it...

[Sweetbeet]

Interesting how this thread has gotten so much response, while the "10 best" has dropped out of view for lack of response. Hmmmm...

[mauigirl808]

That list is so true. This is coming from a kamaaina. It is all these seemingly little things that add up to a frustration with living in Hawaii. If you move here, don't burn your bridges, be prepared to move back at some time. Very few live their lives out here - why has the population remained under 1.5million?
If you come, treat it as a short term adventure as you would moving to Maine or Costa Rica. Don't expect to be welcomed as you were as a tourist (taken care of by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau). People are working hard to pay for their $600,000 home, raising children, taking care of their extended families, just making a life. In which mainland communities would someone who had newly moved be welcomed with open arms??? It is no different here.
This is not a fantasy island, expect that you will be the one to make the adjustments. But, if this is a fit, in time, you will be one of us and this may just be the true home you are looking for.

[109*]

Originally Posted by kaimuki

5.) We only frown upon those who make blanket statements, race has absolutely nothing to do with a negative reaction by a local. It's what you do or say, it's not racism or prejudice

Umm yes it is!!!!! Maybe thats how you look at it but most other people mean it as a racist remark.

[Goldwing]

5. Racism - Although it's wonderful to have so many cultures living together in one small place, it also creates tension among races. Haole (this is what they call white people, they say it's not meant to be derogatory, but I think it kind of is) kids have it really bad in the schools. If you live here and you're white, for the protection and safety of your child, you either homeschool them or send them to a private school that costs up to $15,000 a year. It's nuts. I heard of a school that shut down for a couple days recently because fights were breaking out between Hawaiians and Samoans

Let's get this one right, when the missionary's came to the island and prayed with the Hawaiians they would not breath outwardly during there prayer as the Hawaiians did naturally.
The Hawaiians gave the Missionaries the name Haole meaning NO BREATH

[Waianaegirl]

I would have to agree with the 10 worst..... I lived 6 years there, been back every year for the past 4 years and I would have to agree. Life there is different. Some people like it, some people love it. Others can't handle it. I never understood how people can live in such a beautiful place, and feel the need to do drugs ( ICE).

[kaimuki]

Originally Posted by Waianaegirl

I never understood how people can live in such a beautiful place, and feel the need to do drugs ( ICE).

I haved live in Hawaii my whole life, 39 years, and I have never done ice. In fact, there is not a single member of my family who does ice. I'm not sure what you're saying? Drug usage can be found almost anywhere.

[Malia85]

Originally Posted by SouperStar34

10 Worst Things about Living in Honolulu


(My sister, from Chicagoland, wrote some of the negatives of living in Honolulu)

1. Cockroaches - That's right. Their may not be snakes on the island, or very many other bugs for that matter, but for what the island is lacking in small gross creatures, it makes up for with it's abundance of cockroaches. And you can't escape them either, they're everywhere.It doesn't matter how clean you keep your apartment or house, they will find a way. I'm scared to get up and go to the bathroom at night, because who knows what's crawling around on the floor. I don't even want to think about it. And do you know some of them fly? I've seen it first hand. It's disgusting!

2. The price of an "average home" - When I say average home, I mean a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, with the size yard of someone who lives in let's say a very close suburb of Chicago. If you know what I'm talking about, then you know how small of a yard that is, barely anything. The average price for a home like this is $600,000. Not very many people here can afford this, so their is pretty much an upper class and lower class, barely a middle class at all. It's sad to see so many homeless people, and so many people with houses worth millions, not million, millions, living blocks away from each other, it just doesn't seem fair!

3. Drivers - I know where ever you go, you hear people complaining about the drivers in their town, and they think their town has the worst drivers. Well, I'm hear to tell you that this island has the worst drivers I have ever seen. I don't know what the problem is, or where these people took drivers training,or if they have ever had driver's training in their lives, but it's enough to make you scream sometimes!!!!

4. Drugs - This island is filled with drugs and drug users. Crystal meth is HUGE here. It ruins so many people's lives. Marijuana is barely considered a drug here. I smell it on a daily basis somewhere in Waikiki. For people who teach at schools here, they have a three strikes and your out policy when it comes to drug use. Does that sound a little too relaxed to you? Would you like to send your child to a school where their teacher uses drugs and the school knows about it, and still allows them to teach there?

5. Racism - Although it's wonderful to have so many cultures living together in one small place, it also creates tension among races. Haole (this is what they call white people, they say it's not meant to be derogatory, but I think it kind of is) kids have it really bad in the schools. If you live here and you're white, for the protection and safety of your child, you either homeschool them or send them to a private school that costs up to $15,000 a year. It's nuts. I heard of a school that shut down for a couple days recently because fights were breaking out between Hawaiians and Samoans.

6. Commercials - Okay, this is small, but it's a huge pet peeve of mine here. On T.V., I would say almost half of the commercials here are advertising for places that aren't even here, like Kohl's or Target for example. Neither of those stores operate on any of the Hawaiian islands, and yet they play their commercials all the time. And I love Olive Garden, and they keep torturing me with pictures of their delicious food, when they know full well that their aren't any here.

7. Traffic - You would think, on this tiny island, that you'd be able to get anywhere fast, because you can't really go that far anyway, well, you're wrong. Again, if you think traffic in your town is bad, spend a rush hour here. It's a nightmare. On the west side of the island, if you work in Honolulu, which most people do, plan on spending an hour and a half to two hours each way on your commute each day. What makes that sound even worse, it's only 20 miles away, think about that for a little while.

8. Language Barriers - I think this has become my motto here, and I will take it with me for the rest of my life, "Even though you're both speaking English, that doesn't mean both of you are hearing the same language." I have never seen so much miscommunication in my life, and I was not expecting this at all, but it makes sense. Everyone uses their own framework of mind when processing information, and if you grew up in a different culture where words we use as Americans mean one thing, that doesn't necessarily mean that will be processed in the same way by someone else who grew up in another culture. It's hard to explain, but you'll know what I'm talking about if you've been in that situation before, it's definitely a "lost in translation" kind of thing.

9. Relaxed Atmosphere - You might think, "what's so bad about that, that sounds nice and refreshing." Sure, if you're on vacation, but when you are trying to live your everyday life, it's extremely frustrating. Whatever you do in a normal day, plan on getting accomplished half of those things in one day living on this island. Everything takes forever.

10. Island Fever - Even though it's wonderful being in a tropical paradise, it does get old from time to time. I mean, their is only so much to see. I hate to say I feel like I've already taken for granted my beautiful surroundings. Pretty soon we're going to have to start exploring these other islands. It's not like living on the mainland, where if you want to go somewhere, you hop in your car and go. We have to fly where ever we go.

I totally agree with said complaints. Don't forget about the mosquitos (especially after a rainy day in the valley)!!!!! And I love Hawaii.

Maybe I agree because I am in a position of being able to view Hawaii as a local and a mainlander. My fam has been in Hawaii (Manoa and Kahala in Honolulu, Oahu) since the early 1900's and most of them still reside there. And while I spent most of my summers and winters in Manoa growing up, I spent the rest of my time in the Pacific Northwest too. And to all those who were getting a tad defensive, don't you think it's ok (and probably better) to be objective and critical about places you are fond of?

There is a reason the average age of people in Hawai'i is late thirties. Young people cannot afford to permanently live there unless they are living at home, working two or three jobs and sharing housing, or have a hefty inheritance. (I'm talking mainly about Honolulu and Oahu, though the other islands are following suit) When I was searching for summer housing two years ago as a junior in college, I was appalled by how expensive rent was. Although my family is fairly affluent, many of my cousins have moved to the mainland to look for jobs. The Hawai'i economy is a slave to the tourist industry providing a limited and low paying job market (outside of real estate and banking). This translates to other areas; the growing wealth gap in Hawai'i does not help the crime rates nor the large number of poor. Or the traffic! The reason the H1 (or is it the H2?) is so bad is because the public school system is notoriously poor so all the people who live outside of Honolulu like Ewa and Mililani (but can't afford to live in the city) want to send their kids to Punahou and Iolani! I think Hawai'i, or at least Oahu, also has a very bad recycling system and has some very big pollution problems (Ala Wai for example), which is ironic considering so much of it's economy relies on it's natural beauty. Bottom line: It is a not a paradise that many people romanticize it as, especially if you don't have the money!!!

That being said, Hawaii has an excellent public transit system-one of the best in the nation. It's culture is incredibly rich. There is always something to do in terms of outdoor activities- I love sailing in Kaneohe Bay, snorkeling in Kealakekua (Big Island), hiking Diamond Head and driving up Mauna Kea and partying on the Waikiki strip. People there are generally very friendly and easy going, and of course it's gorgeous. The food is SOOOO ono. But yes, if you like a high-paced life, with lots of variety and you value MOBILITY (as in you like to go road tripping and travel a lot), Hawaii, long-term, is not the place for you.