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If I break my ass I should find a job within a month somewhere, right? Job prospects can't be much worse than where I am at now (Tampa/St. Pete FL area).
There are burger-flipper jobs, which typically get capped at 20 hours a week, so they don't have to provide you with health insurance.
Use the Search function to dig into the archives to find many previous discussions of this topic. Newcomers often find it takes much longer to find work in Hawai'i than they are used to.
There are burger-flipper jobs, which typically get capped at 20 hours a week, so they don't have to provide you with health insurance.
Use the Search function to dig into the archives to find many previous discussions of this topic. Newcomers often find it takes much longer to find work in Hawai'i than they are used to.
I'll have to do that. I've read many of the threads on the board and I don't mind having to find a few jobs to hit the 40 hour mark or more until school. My only worry is that it takes more than a month and a half to do so in which case I would really be put in a rough spot. In fact, the 20 hour thing might actually come in handy when I do start school since that is about as much as I would want to work anyways while full-time student.
Would being a veteran (and not the branch that locals/natives hate - Coast Guard) help me find a job quicker than a regular mainlander? I do speak a little japanese (thanks to my previous GF), but I'm not sure I would be able to really converse much, but I'm able to understand basic things though. I've heard that might also help.
My only worry is that it takes more than a month and a half to do so in which case I would really be put in a rough spot.
OK, good. You should be worried, because your plan is so thin. The question to ask next is... what will I do if I can't find a job? As Viper keeps reminding everyone, 11% of the homeless in Hawai'i have been here less than a year.
Quote:
Would being a veteran (and not the branch that locals/natives hate - Coast Guard) help me find a job quicker than a regular mainlander? I do speak a little japanese (thanks to my previous GF), but I'm not sure I would be able to really converse much, but I'm able to understand basic things though. I've heard that might also help.
Maybe, a teensy bit. The biggest thing that would help you would be related to someone who has been here all their life.
Gasoline hovers at around $4.00 a gallon. Try not to drive farther than you have to. Most youth hostels are in Waikiki as is the YMCA except on the opposite end of the peninsula. If you live in either and work a service job in Waikiki you could walk to work.
I was reading your thread and am very surprised how much we have in common. I am in the Coast Guard still as an AMT. I'm from Clearwater, FL. My enlistment will be up in June 2014. At that time I plan on doing pretty much exactly what you're doing. I'm going to attend KCC for a year so I can gain residency then go to UH.
The only difference is I've already lived on Oahu for two years. I will tell you this. Check out craigslist, Palolo valley, Manoa, St louis heights, and Waialae all have a decent postings right now in the 600 to 1000 a month range. A few of those are just looking for a roomy with no lease agreement which may make things easier. When I lived there I didn't have to any problems finding a room or place to rent, I also lived with civilians but there are a ton of military guys out there need roommates. I saw that your living expenses aren't bad. The G.I. Bill and a part to full time job will get you by just fine.
One question though????
Have you visited Oahu? If so how long? Doing the touristy things and living there are two different animals. I know a lot of guys that hated it.
Here's the bad in my opinion:
Traffic definitely sucks
Parking is difficult to find in town
There is racism towards haole's (I also can understand why in a sense, I'd be pissed to if a bunch of people crowded my island, built military bases on sacred land and so on. But, if you show respect for the people,land, and culture you'll do fine
Food, Living, and Gas are expensive! But like I said G.I. Bill and a job you'll do fine.
The Good:
I've traveled many places and consider the islands in general to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
I'm an avid surfer and to say Oahu has good surf is a huge under statement.
I like a vibrant passionate culture, Hawaii is just that.
I like Asian women (there are more than you can shake a stick at.) haha
I can't remember one day that I was bored living there, If you like the outdoors there is always something to do.
After leaving Hawaii, I've thought about how much I miss it everyday and that was 5 years ago, if that says anything to you.
So, in ending I hope you found my advice helpful, if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them I'm no expert I only lived there for 2 years but as a Coasty with a like mind. I'm sure I can help. I wish you all luck and definitely do it. Life is to short not too. If you don't like it you can always leave. But, I hope it becomes your happy place like it did for me. Maybe I'll see ya when I get out there.
OK, good. You should be worried, because your plan is so thin. The question to ask next is... what will I do if I can't find a job? As Viper keeps reminding everyone, 11% of the homeless in Hawai'i have been here less than a year.
Maybe, a teensy bit. The biggest thing that would help you would be related to someone who has been here all their life.
The plan is thin insofar as for the first few months until I receive my VA benefits (GI Bill). Sure, I will be able to not have a job and still make ends meat for 2 and a half months, but I don't want to have to find myself at the last minute needing something before school starts. At that point I'd have a month where I'd be in a place I don't want to be. Minimum wage is fine. If it means applying to 200 different places, then its something to be done. I'm just inquiring that the average time to get a job, would be over 2 months (no criminal history, veteran, etc.)? I don't mind working a crappy job until I find something better (ideally something in radio telecommunications on one of the bases, or with the county), or just have a part-time job while I go to school full-time.
Hopefully one of my old coastie buddies comes through and I don't have to shell out a few hundred bucks for the first week while I look for roomy/apartment/job. Also, I will have a 808 number before I arrive, so, that should help some too.
If I can't find a job (worse case scenario), then...it'll be rough for a month. With the unemployment as low as it is compared to elsewhere, the racism and prejudice can't be so bad that you cannot find a job within 3 months. No job is beneath me.
Yes, I am sure being related to someone there would help unfortunately, at best I'll have someone there who is a friend of a friend.
I was reading your thread and am very surprised how much we have in common. I am in the Coast Guard still as an AMT. I'm from Clearwater, FL. My enlistment will be up in June 2014. At that time I plan on doing pretty much exactly what you're doing. I'm going to attend KCC for a year so I can gain residency then go to UH.
The only difference is I've already lived on Oahu for two years. I will tell you this. Check out craigslist, Palolo valley, Manoa, St louis heights, and Waialae all have a decent postings right now in the 600 to 1000 a month range. A few of those are just looking for a roomy with no lease agreement which may make things easier. When I lived there I didn't have to any problems finding a room or place to rent, I also lived with civilians but there are a ton of military guys out there need roommates. I saw that your living expenses aren't bad. The G.I. Bill and a part to full time job will get you by just fine.
One question though????
Have you visited Oahu? If so how long? Doing the touristy things and living there are two different animals. I know a lot of guys that hated it.
Here's the bad in my opinion:
Traffic definitely sucks
Parking is difficult to find in town
There is racism towards haole's (I also can understand why in a sense, I'd be pissed to if a bunch of people crowded my island, built military bases on sacred land and so on. But, if you show respect for the people,land, and culture you'll do fine
Food, Living, and Gas are expensive! But like I said G.I. Bill and a job you'll do fine.
The Good:
I've traveled many places and consider the islands in general to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
I'm an avid surfer and to say Oahu has good surf is a huge under statement.
I like a vibrant passionate culture, Hawaii is just that.
I like Asian women (there are more than you can shake a stick at.) haha
I can't remember one day that I was bored living there, If you like the outdoors there is always something to do.
After leaving Hawaii, I've thought about how much I miss it everyday and that was 5 years ago, if that says anything to you.
So, in ending I hope you found my advice helpful, if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them I'm no expert I only lived there for 2 years but as a Coasty with a like mind. I'm sure I can help. I wish you all luck and definitely do it. Life is to short not too. If you don't like it you can always leave. But, I hope it becomes your happy place like it did for me. Maybe I'll see ya when I get out there.
Too bad it isn't June 2013, eh I was an Operations Specialist. No doubt, you aviators probably laugh at us all the time.
I was browsing craigslist earlier. It is definitely a resource I plan on using quite a bit. It would be a lot easier to find other students and or military vets to room with since there is that commonality all ready. Thanks for the locales! Anywhere specifically to avoid as a mainlander?
No, I've never lived there, but I am a Florida native (St. Petersburg), and have lived in the area most of my life, as well as California and Wisconsin and I love the outdoors. As far as being an island is concerned, I've no need to usually drive more than 80 miles in any direction anyways and I really love asian culture, which...is about .05% of the population here. As for the bad's you listed, I don't mind traffic (can't get worse than Baltimore/Washington turnpike) and ideally the car would be mainly used for social activities (dates, hiking, seeing rest of island, etc.) and I'd use a bike for most of my commuting.
I do love hawaiin culture too, and am very open to other beliefs. I guess I should take off my Ron Paul stickers though, eh?
Oooh boy. Asian women. A big part of Hawaii's appeal.
That would be nice *shipmate* chuckles haha. Always corny. Always.
A couple of weeks back, a young lady named Syletha appeared here, with 8K and her own version of the "I Have A Dream" speech. Perhaps she is in need of a roomate?
Nobody can answer that question for you - it could take a day - it could take 2 months, over 2 months, or anything in between.
Roger. I'll see what I can do on this end to cut my expenses even more. I'm sure I can chop my food expenses in half seeing as I all ready have 50% of my meals for most of the time I'm staying here (Whey/Casein powder) + cheap oatmeal and eggs. The 5,000 was a general low-ball. If I really buckled down and received more value for my possessions that I'm going to sell, it could wind up in the 7,000+ range which would give me more breathing room. The great thing about Florida is that there is no income tax, so that's at least a bit more % that I'll have when I move.
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unfortunately, at best I'll have someone there who is a friend of a friend. 
