moving to honolulu (Kaneohe: apartment, rental, job)

[haveaniceday]

Hi, I just took a job offer in Honolulu, I'll be splitting my time between Queen's Medical Center and Kaiser Hospital. I would really appreciate info on the logistics of moving. I DEFINITELY want to live within honolulu proper and want to avoid commuting more than 5-10 miles. I"m a single female, mid twenties, and will be able to afford rent up to about 1200/mo. my main questions:
1. unsafe areas - where should I avoid? i've heard Kalihi. what about nuanuu, punchbowl, downtown, makiki, pacific heights, any others?
2. when searching for an apartment, I plan on just moving to honolulu into a short term (1mo) rental so I'll have plenty of time to find a place. is this what you would recommend, or would i be able to find a place if I came out early, for 5-6 days?
really appreciate your help!

[Randall Ruby Bay]

TYry manoa hieghts. It's up away from the noise and it's between them both. My brother worked at both of those hospitals and did the same. Are you a RN/

[brikag]

UMMM, for 1200/month... one bedrooms is what you'll get. Makiki area near the university. Outer edges of Waikiki. A friend of mine lived on the corner of Kalakaua and Mccully and had no problems. A bit noisy, but she got used to it. Also check along S. Beretania st. between Mcully and Ward. They are good areas and very close to Straub and Queens. Also consider the Ala Moana area, but it may be pricey.

Good luck!!!
ALOHA!!!!!

[haveaniceday]

thanks for the replies. what about the areas around queen's hospital - makiki/downtown/punchbowl/nuuanu?
also . . . . any ideas as to how much time it will take to find a nice, likeable place? a few days? a few weeks?
thanks a lot . . .

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by haveaniceday

thanks for the replies. what about the areas around queen's hospital - makiki/downtown/punchbowl/nuuanu?
also . . . . any ideas as to how much time it will take to find a nice, likeable place? a few days? a few weeks?
thanks a lot . . .

I'm not an expert on this, as I only stayed in Honolulu for six weeks last summer.

But 3 of those places I felt comfortable in (admittingly, I'm a guy). Downtown you probably wouldn't feel so comfortable in. There are always shadey people lingering around all hours of the night.

I stayed up in Nuuanu.. and a number of times I took a real late night walk from Waikiki home to Nuuana (takes a LONG time to do that).. I generally felt comfortable everywhere from Waikiki to Nuuana except downtown.

In short, avoid downtown.

[haveaniceday]

thanks for the info, guys.
I've heard that Oahu has microclimates - lots more rain in the valleys, more sun on the coast. How much of a difference is there within Honolulu, i.e. Manoa valley/Nuuanu versus closer to the coast (Ala Moana/Makiki)? I really want to be able to bike to work, would it rain too much if I lived closer inland?
thanks

[brikag]

Yes, they do have micro-climates. It'll rain for one to ten minutes then stop for a period of time. That's usually during the fall time. During winter it rains alot. During the summer though, it'll do as above. Ala Moana/Makiki, where I used to live, is normally clear. If you lived in Kaneohe on the other hand, you'll see more rain there than HNL. Totally to different weather conditions on some days which is cool.

[Surrounded By Frenchies]

Check near the Ward area