Moving to Hawaii soon. (Honolulu, Hilo: house, high school, living)

[dolphin73]

Aloha, my best friend and I have been planning on moving to Hawaii for a couple of years now. We have gone to the library and checked out books, videos etc... I have also read a lot of these posts, which are very helpful. Most recently we picked up the book, So you want to live in Hawaii. Great book!!! We are definately use to Island Life, we currently live in the San Juan Islands, in Washington State, Friday Harbor to be exact.
We are thinking of moving to Lahaina, also thought about the Big Island. Most likely moving in September. I have been to Maui before, but never the Big Island. Does anyone have comments on either, which one might be better. I would just like to hear some comments from people that have lived in either place, the pluses and minuses of both. If it helps, we are females, in our mid thirties. We both have worked in the Tourism Industry a lot. Thanks for any insight!!

dolphin73

[Zorina]

You know the islands have a humid side and a dry side. Honalulu on the bid island is sticky, humid. Lahania is not. You'll love Lahaina, the atmposphere, good night life, good city, lots of art fairs, etc. A little hot and dry during the day but go out at night and it is just beautiful.

Originally Posted by dolphin73

Aloha, my best friend and I have been planning on moving to Hawaii for a couple of years now. We have gone to the library and checked out books, videos etc... I have also read a lot of these posts, which are very helpful. Most recently we picked up the book, So you want to live in Hawaii. Great book!!! We are definately use to Island Life, we currently live in the San Juan Islands, in Washington State, Friday Harbor to be exact.
We are thinking of moving to Lahaina, also thought about the Big Island. Most likely moving in September. I have been to Maui before, but never the Big Island. Does anyone have comments on either, which one might be better. I would just like to hear some comments from people that have lived in either place, the pluses and minuses of both. If it helps, we are females, in our mid thirties. We both have worked in the Tourism Industry a lot. Thanks for any insight!!

dolphin73

[leilaniguy]

I'm afraid Zorina is a little geographically confused. Honolulu is on the island of Oahu. Hilo is the big town on Big Island, on the east(wet)side. Kona, on the west side of the island has weather similar to Lahaina.

[dolphin73]

Thank you so much for the info. I think Lahaina sounds great.

[Sorcerer68]

The San Juans have a completely different feel...especially the fact that they are an easy ferry ride to the mainland and easy distance to Seattle. I suggest as long of a visit as you can afford in the area you want to live in before making the plunge. Your biggest challenge may be getting acclimated...my best friend from Bellingham couldn't handle the heat and humidity and never returned. You'll love the warm water, a huge contrast to what you're used to.

[PETeachers]

Have you and your friend moved yet? Just currious if this is still active. My friend and I are also in our "30's" and looking to move out of Washington to warmer weather. We are sick and tired of the doom of WA state. Please let me know if you have made the move and what your experiences are.
2 PE teachers wishing to exercise elsewhere

[WASailorGirl]

Another teacher (and Realtor) here, soon to be moving out of Washington (Port Townsend). We're hoping to move mid summer. Our house is going on the market mid April. I have an interview in Seattle on March 31for a teaching job on the Big Island. They hire SPED and math teachers from recruitment on the mainland. I don't know about PE teachers though. I can tell you my experiences so far, if you would like to DM me. Best of luck getting out of the doom and gloom and into the sunshine.

[cwm]

If you are looking for an affordable place in Hawaii, check out Hilo. We moved from California and are finding it a great place to live and much more affordble than other areas of Hawaii that we checked into. It is not touristy, locally grown foods are available, and we really like the people. Our experiences are documented in Moving to Hilo, Hawaii.
chris

[Cosmo]

cwm, ive read seveal posts saying that puna and hilo have some pretty bad meth useage in the area. whats your take on that?

[cynmkolohe]

There is no doubt that there is drug use in the islands. But we just spoke with a friend in NC yesterday who informed us that there is a new epidemic of cocaine use there....

It is my opinion that much of what you experience in any place is directly connected to the way you choose to live your life on a daily basis. Not once in all the time I've lived here have I ever actually been in a situation where meth was offered to me, where I've seen it used, or where I had direct contact with any evidence of the drug (except in drug education classes when I worked as an EA in a Health class at a local High School).....but I think that if I wanted to find it, I could...just as I could in any other geographical location on the mainland!

I will add, for balance, that I've seen more instances of casual marijuana use here than I did in my former life on the East coast. Certainly not a daily thing for me--I choose to be "illegal substance" free , but it is more an accepted part of the culture here. Then again, that is probably related to the fact that I was raised in a very conservative environment and it was probably just as present there...but I was sheltered from it.