Honolulu (Hawaii) to Wichita (KS) (Kansas City: real estate, to buy, high school)

[Bobtrann]

Hi.
My wife wants to move to Wichita KS to be near family and to be able to buy a house. She heard that the pay is good there and the cost of living cheap. Her cousin who only has a high school diploma claims he makes $40.00/hr. I make $40 K and my wife makes $24 K /yr. My concern is the weather in Wichita since she thinks Hawaii (65F) is chilly in the winter. Would love to hear advice from anyone who moved to Wichita from Hawaii (successful or not).

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Bobtrann

Hi.
My wife wants to move to Wichita KS to be near family and to be able to buy a house. She heard that the pay is good there and the cost of living cheap. Her cousin who only has a high school diploma claims he makes $40.00/hr. I make $40 K and my wife makes $24 K /yr. My concern is the weather in Wichita since she thinks Hawaii (65F) is chilly in the winter. Would love to hear advice from anyone who moved to Wichita from Hawaii (successful or not).

In terms of temperatures Wichita gets much colder than 65F in the winter. Low temperatures are in the teens and 20s with highs usually in the 30s to 40+F. Real estate is very cheap in Wichita even compared to areas of the Kansas City metro.

[chele123]

I lived on Oahu for three years. I've lived in SW Kansas (but not Wichita) for over 20 years. If weather is a concern, then the weather contrast between Hawaii and Kansas is going to be a rude shock! Weather in Hawaii is perfect about 350 days a year. Weather in Kansas is perfect about twice a year. It is either too hot, too cold, too windy or once maybe even raining. The cost of living is very affordable here, and the lifestyle is very comfortable. When I was living in Hawaii I was scrambling to survive; here in Kansas I live well on not a lot of money. I love it here and would not move back to Hawaii!

[Houseslinger]

lol If your wife thinks 65 is chilli, you need to trade your grass skirt for some long underwear and feet pajamas before coming to Kansas. Like the earlier poster said, we have perfect weather ... about twice a year. our temps fluctuate between 20 below to 115 above... sometimes in one day!

Not trying to scare you off just letting you know. You might get some practice for winter snow by shoveling sand a couple of hours a day ;o)

[athfo]

To be fair, this summer has actually been fairly mild, with high 70's and 80's most of the summer, with 90's just this past couple of weeks. In the winter, it really only snows maybe 3 to 5 times. Like I've said before, I think the weather here is a plus - I like having 4 seasons.

[GraniteStater]

Also, Wichita and areas off to the West tend to have slightly hotter and drier conditions during summer compared with areas of extreme eastern Kansas.

[writedecision]

Contact Harry Reese, owner of Harry Reese Dance Studio. He is a Hawaii native who moved to Wichita. Find him online at Home.

[oligos]

Hi I am a kansas native and have lived kauai and big isle. Kansas weather is extreme. The culture lacks diversity and as much as I had missed a good chicken fried steak when living in Hawaii, I seriously miss laulau, shoyu, lihimui, lilokoi, and so much more. It costs money to go to most lakes that are only usable 90 days a year and I miss the free ocean usable 360 days a year. Living in Hawaii was like living in a postcard in so much as being surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I love Hawaai and will return when the time is right and must remind myself that there is some thing to be said about watching the wind waves over a wheat field and the wide open spaces with spectacular sunsets, ice as it hangs off of the trees dazzling like diamonds in the sun, the quiet of the world covered in snow. the fall colors and watching the world green up after the gray brown death of winter. Grocerys are so much cheaper here as well as everything else.

[Ketabcha]

We moved to Wichita after 5 years on Oahu. The weather in Hawaii is indeed lovely but it was the same all the time. That is just fine with some folks but I prefer to have as close to 4 seasons as possible. Wichita furnished that. We lived in Wichita for 5 years. I loved it.

Since your wife thinks that the 60s are chilly she may have some trouble with a Kansas winter. My mother hated the winters. The rest of us loved them. Since Kansas is a snow state the cities are well equiped to handle the ice and snow.

Wichita is a great city. I am very partial to it. Kansas won my heart.

One more thing to mention....you'll find that folks in Kansas are very nice. Neighbors take care of each other.

Plus, Wichita is a great starting point for road trips. You can get here from there.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Bobtrann

Hi.
Her cousin who only has a high school diploma claims he makes $40.00/hr.

Wow, you are related to the only person in America with a HS education making 40 bucks an hour . Wichita is indeed cheaper living but in reality expect your pay scales to remain the same-tho' you get much more for it.

I like Wichita a lot-GREAT place for a family. I'd also miss Hawaii a lot