Moving to Hawaii in August from Austin, TX (Kapalua: apartment, renting)

[teraval]

I know that moving questions in general have been asked here before, but I thought I'd post my specific situation to see if I could get any tailored advice. I am 26 years old and I live in Austin, TX with my girlfriend. We have made the decision to move to Hawaii in August of this year. My sister (24) is moving with us (she has a three year old son) and also my best friend is moving as well. My sister and I, ethnically speaking, are from Guam and have been to Hawaii numerous times during our lives. My girlfriend is Mexican and my friend is Haole (a term we use on Guam too - no harm intended). We decided on Hawaii because we could all use some Aloha spirit in our lives. We plan on renting a house/town home together for a while and then eventually branch out on our own as we establish our lives there. My sister and I work for the IRS, my gf works a private sector job and my friend works in the medical field. That being said, we are all only making from about 27,000 to 30,000 a year. What would be a good area to move to as far as jobs and the environment? It would help if it was more on the family friendly side. Any advice or help would be appreciated. I'm sorry this post turned out so long. Thanks for reading!

[hotzcatz]

Can any of you transfer your jobs? Then you could relocate somewhere near where ever the job is so the commute would be nice. Combining households is how folks get by over here so bringing a whole household with you makes it easier. It helps having family nearby for raising kids, too.

[mdand3boys]

Many large companies, including some branches of government, offer different pay scales in different areas/regions/cities based upon a cost of living scale. See if the IRS offers it as well and begin applying for a transfer right away. It could take quite some time to go through.

[Kapalua]

First of all, have you checked online for the newspapers online, to see what type of jobs are available? TOWN HOUSE? How do you know if your landlord will allow all of you to live in that particular townhouse? Food is much more expensive in the islands that the mainland. Are you willing to pay $7 or more for a gallon of milk? Well, that gives you a hint what food prices are like.

[teraval]

Originally Posted by Kapalua

First of all, have you checked online for the newspapers online, to see what type of jobs are available? TOWN HOUSE? How do you know if your landlord will allow all of you to live in that particular townhouse? Food is much more expensive in the islands that the mainland. Are you willing to pay $7 or more for a gallon of milk? Well, that gives you a hint what food prices are like.

Thanks for your answers everyone. We have checked local resources and others to check out housing and everything. Believe me, we're planning as much as we can. We even have a couple of acquaintances that live in Hawaii. We are well aware that everything is expensive but we have all had the experience of living in places with higher cost of living. We're looking more at a house since we will need the space. Right now I'm living in an apartment that costs a thousand dollars a month but we know it's a lot more in Hawaii. Fact is, we feel that you pay for what you get and if a better quality of life is on the horizon, we're ready. Anyway, I appreciate the advice. Thanks again.

[mdand3boys]

Why do some of these posters go on about $7-$10 per gallon for milk? IT ISN'T TRUE. (Unless one only buys organic milk by the half gallon, maybe) This week's Hawaii Foodland ad has milk at $3.99 a gallon which is typical. Right now, I can buy a gallon of milk here in Central Illinois for $3.29. Only stupid shoppers pay full price on all items.

[KoaKine]

Whats the price of milk at the ABC store ?

[teraval]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Why do some of these posters go on about $7-$10 per gallon for milk? IT ISN'T TRUE. (Unless one only buys organic milk by the half gallon, maybe) This week's Hawaii Foodland ad has milk at $3.99 a gallon which is typical. Right now, I can buy a gallon of milk here in Central Illinois for $3.29. Only stupid shoppers pay full price on all items.

I was actually wondering about the actual price of milk there. I've heard four dollars but never as high as seven dollars. Milk always seems to be the demonstration product for high cost of living in Hawaii. Good thing I don't like milk all that much