THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE (Oahu) (Honolulu, Pearl City: for sale, apartments, to rent)

[daywalker]

Okay heres the deal. I get out of the military in AUG. I plan to to get a one way plane ticket to hawaii/Oahu and live out the rest of my days there (I've been doing research). Word on the thread is Oahu has better job opportunities. The job issue really isn't much of an issue cause I know I'll bust my butt to find one. The problem is finding a place to LIVE....Is there a site where you can find a roommate or something or affordable studios (in SAFE area). Its just going to be me. I'll get a temp job till I get the job I want (DOD JOB or something in goverment/federal). I just don't want to get there and not have a place to stay. I also plan to ship my car over there once i get settled in (been doing resarch on that too). Time is ticking away. I know this sounds insane but I know in my heart of hearts I would be happy there.

[scorpio22]

I hear you 100%... I'm in the same position.

I just sold most everything I owned, and will be landing in O'ahu July 25th (one-way ticket already bought).

I've been reviewing Craigslist for places;
craigslist: oahu classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events
It lists out both Shared and Individual places nicely; and there seems to be quite a few nice places too.

I'm just planning to rent a furnished room for now while I get settled and get to know the area better - and maybe rent my own place (with roomies) if I don't end up liking it were I am renting initially.

I'll be staying in a hotel for the first week while I tour around and look at potential places to get into for the 1st of August. Be very careful renting anything sight-unseen; especially over the internet (Craigslist, etc.) - far too easy to get scammed.

Hope this helps a little - there is a lot of great info here (been lurking and reading here for a long while).

Aloha!

[daywalker]

Yeah man. Thanks for the tips! Its good to know there are others out there with wild crazy dreams too. I'm gonna check out that craig list. Keep me updated with your adventure.

[MsHell]

Originally Posted by daywalker

... The problem is finding a place to LIVE....Is there a site where you can find a roommate or something or affordable studios (in SAFE area). Its just going to be me. I'll get a temp job till I get the job I want (DOD JOB or something in goverment/federal). I just don't want to get there and not have a place to stay...

Since you don't have a job yet and don't know what part of the island you will be working, I'd recommend looking for places to live in Aiea or Pearl City. Both areas are fairly close to everything and reasonably safe areas. You should be able to find studios or 1-bedrooms in both areas.

Good luck.

[MsV]

Good morning, Daywalker! I too have always loved Hawaii...enough to be married there many years ago...and have revisited a couple times since.
I have family that has lived there for 30 years - I sent them your blog and this was their response. It sounds discouraging, but if you follow through, and I hope you do, lots of luck cause you're living my dream too!

"I think it would be pure luck to find a nice, safe, affordable place to live & a job here. In any 'safe'neighborhood, a room or small studio would go for$1,000 on up. Renting is as bad as trying to buy. We have lots of homeless people, with jobs, living in their cars. There are jobs here, but salaries are low compared with those on the Mainland. Two low-paying jobs MAY enable this person to eke out an existence while he searches for the job he wants. So unless this blogger has intimate knowledge of the islands, 3 - 6 months of salary saved, & friends he/she made when he was here before, it will be harder to break into this culture than he thinks. This person might want to get The Honolulu Advertiser &/or The Star Bulletin. Then he can use the internet to explore the opportunities here. He might also try...

<http://www.apartments.com/Hawaii>‎