Loving Hawaii (Honolulu, Kaneohe, Kailua: sales, city hall, rental)

[LSLBlues]

We've been here two months now and we're loving it. We're living in Kailua on Oahu. The only two things we've found much more expensive are rental prices and utilities. Food is more expensive, but not that much. We buy most of our stuff at Costco and then buy stuff locally when its on sale.

One thing I have been amazed at here is the customer service in the license/city hall. When I went to get my driver's license in Kaneohe it took about 10 minutes. Take the test. Photo. Done. And the folks working there were extremely friendly. Today I finished up registration on our car we bought here. Again - very fast, very friendly, very cheap.

We moved from Missouri and I HATED going to the license branch because the service was horrible.

[wati]

I'm glad you're loving it up in Hawaii. Customer service in Hawaii is all a part of the Aloha Spirit.

[VanHa]

Originally Posted by LSLBlues

We've been here two months now and we're loving it. We're living in Kailua on Oahu.

Congratulations! I hope that you find this to be a true home for you. If you can step outside take a deep breath and then say AHHHHH! Then this is home for you....it has always been waiting for you...you just happen to take a while to find it! Aloha!

[NoMoreSTL]

OMG! I'm from STL and when I went to register my car here, I almost cried because it was so easy! I even made a point to tell the woman who helped me what a nice experience I had! She was so friendly. No hoops to jump through, no lines to stand in, no dirty chairs to sit in for hours waiting... Lovely! DMV offices in STL are absolutely heinous. I look forward to going back to get my HI DL.

[jayhawks]

Wow...that makes 3 posters here from MO. Only I'm still here in MO!!!
If only my husband could get transfered to Hawaii. Fat chance. Happy for you both, No More, and LSL...it sounds like you are really loving it there!
As for me...I get to go to the DMV here in MO soon. Oh goody.
At least I get to visit Hawaii thru the internet. Just can't breath in the salty fresh air.

[mdand3boys]

Congrats!

The DMV part is weird to me - In Illinois a large amount of the services are now on-line via the web!
I just renewed my IL drivers license that way. When I get to Hawaii in June, I will actually have to visit a DMV office.

[waiverrn]

How much is drivers license there? Any other things you have to do with your vehicle when you move there besides get Hawaii license?

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by waiverrn

How much is drivers license there? Any other things you have to do with your vehicle when you move there besides get Hawaii license?

It has to be inspected. You will need the title, current registration and paperwork from the shipping company that proves when it came over. If it is a newer vehicle (I think less than 2 years old, someone correct me here) you will owe the equivalent of sales tax.

[newUHprof]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

It has to be inspected. You will need the title, current registration and paperwork from the shipping company that proves when it came over. If it is a newer vehicle (I think less than 2 years old, someone correct me here) you will owe the equivalent of sales tax.

My car was only 1 year old when I brought it here, and I didn't have to pay the taxes. I think I just made it... so I think it's a 1 year limit.

And (at least if you're in Honolulu) make an appointment for the inspection. The states I'm from, you can just drive into a service station and have it done. But I tried to do that here and was told that I need an appointment. The first one (when I brought the car over) took a long time, but I just had the renewal done and it was quick.

[KoaKine]

The info about the cars will help me talk my wife into leting me take my car to Hawaii I didnt know about the tax.