A scary move to Oahu?! (Kaneohe: loan, military, wages)

[stxx7]

We have decided to move to Oahu next year. We have 5 children w/us. My husband is a heavy equipment operator and I currently am not working because my baby is 6mo. old and taking time off. I do hold a Bachelors degree in Business. We have not been able to find any construction companies that require heavy equipment operators via online searching. Our concern is finding the emplo yment b4 we move there. Does anyone know of any construction companies? We're moving from NH and just want out of the weather here. Still not sure about taking our vehicles with us either and just selling the majority of our stuff and then rebuy since it seems so expensive to ship. ANy feedback would be wonderful. Thanks!

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by stxx7

We have decided to move to Oahu next year. We have 5 children w/us. My husband is a heavy equipment operator and I currently am not working because my baby is 6mo. old and taking time off. I do hold a Bachelors degree in Business. We have not been able to find any construction companies that require heavy equipment operators via online searching. Our concern is finding the emplo yment b4 we move there. Does anyone know of any construction companies? We're moving from NH and just want out of the weather here. Still not sure about taking our vehicles with us either and just selling the majority of our stuff and then rebuy since it seems so expensive to ship. ANy feedback would be wonderful. Thanks!

With five children, moving to O'ahu is definitely a scary proposition. If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend reading Toni Polancy's "So You Want to Live in Hawai'i", paying close attention to Chapter 5 on work and Chapter 8 on children. Finding employment is fairly easy; however, the wages for most jobs in Hawai'i are somewhat less than elsewhere in the United States, while the overall cost of living is somewhat higher. Since you haven't mentioned anything about housing, I'll assume that's taken care of.

Good Luck,

Jonah K

[stxx7]

Thanks for the info. Actually, we don't have housing set up. We're definitely not buying at the moment. I assume it will take a lot of research to find a nice area for kids and a good school.

[AKMammabear]

Originally Posted by stxx7

...We have 5 children w/us....

Not to make light of your weighty desicion:

Years ago I worked as a loan officer in a bank. This couple came in with their little kids, (looked like a church organ!) and applied for a loan to cover the hospital costs for the next little one. The husband actually joked and asked if I could increase the requested amount with the price of a TV to prevent them from coming back the next year!

Good luck with your research and decision-making!

[Jungjohann]

As far as a heavy equipment operator goes, you should try Hawaiian Dredging or Goodfellow Brothers, AC Koboyashi and Dick Pacific, yea, it really is Dick Pacific, might have jobs. But as a recently retired General Contractor, things are definitely about to slow down over here construction wise, you may want to reconsider your move. A local guy will be hired before a recent mainland transplant any day of the week. Best of luck.Best spots to live on Oahu, depending on where you are working, are probably Mililani, Ewa, Kapolei or Hawaii Kai, Kaneohe on the windward side is also very nice

Aloha,
Thomas Praetzel

[China Doll Me]

Good luck on the education for the children... It will be a costly move... Depends on where you will be living public not so good local mentality very slow and behind the times ... Private very expensive but for a normal mainland education and if your cacasion you're better off private depends on where you pick to live on the islands...
I wouldn't suggest moving to the islands over rated... There are better places to raise your kids that your husband can get a better paying job or union job and your money will go alot farther with that many children, unless one of you is going to go military... This is a major welfare state if you speak FOB (fresh of the boat foreigner)
Good luck to whatever you choose you'll need it...

[sassieb75]

Originally Posted by stxx7

We have decided to move to Oahu next year. We have 5 children w/us. My husband is a heavy equipment operator and I currently am not working because my baby is 6mo. old and taking time off. I do hold a Bachelors degree in Business. We have not been able to find any construction companies that require heavy equipment operators via online searching. Our concern is finding the emplo yment b4 we move there. Does anyone know of any construction companies? We're moving from NH and just want out of the weather here. Still not sure about taking our vehicles with us either and just selling the majority of our stuff and then rebuy since it seems so expensive to ship. ANy feedback would be wonderful. Thanks!

I do not recommend moving your children and raising them in Hawaii. Especially if you are not of some asian decent. I know this sounds terrible but in the schools white kids are picked on alot! I know, my parents moved us there and it was the worst experience of my life. We spent summers there all of our lives and in the 7th grade I moved there with my mother and her new husband. I realize it has been a number of years but things don't change all that much! They even pulled us out of public school and put us in private...things were worse....

Not to mention, why did you pick Hawaii? Just because of the weather? It truly is a great place to visit and even retire if you can afford but it is SO expensive and the economy is not good. There are plenty of other places where the climate is nice and jobs are plentiful, not to mention affordable to live with such a large family. Im not trying to be so negative but just want you tounderstand...you and your children are in for a real culture schock!!!