25/m moving to Oahu (Honolulu, Haleiwa: apartment, for rent, home)

[mikefromphiladelphia]

I am moving to Oahu in Feb and have enough money saved up to survive for 6 months based on $1,000 a month for rent/utilities and food. I am a carpenter by trade and I'm wondering if i will be able to find work. I want to live on the north shore close to the water near Haleiwa if possible. Oahu is the only island i have been on before and it seems like the construction trade is not thriving but at least steady. I am open to any other island but on what island am i most likely to find a job as a carpenter?

[OpenD]

First, I would suggest you spend some time reading the back posts here, which have answered these general questions numerous times before. There's a wealth of information posted here. Then come back and ask specific questions after you have some basic familiarity.

But for a quick answer, I doubt you would be very happy trying to live on $1,000 a month here, and most carpenters who already live here are scrambling for the limited amount of work available.

[Balad1]

You can not live anywhere on Oahu for $1K a month, no less on the north shore.

You are correct that employment might be possible on Oahu but not likely on the outer islands.

[OpenD]

To put this in perspective, according to the 2011 Poverty Guidelines published by the Federal Government, $1,000 a month is slightly above the poverty line on the mainland, but below the poverty line in Hawai'i.

It's all too easy to become poor in Hawai'i. Planning to be poor in Hawai'i makes no sense.

[thrillobyte]

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[hotzcatz]

Well, save enough for a return ticket and give it a try. It will be an adventure if nothing else. The construction industry is pretty dead on the outer islands, I can't tell you how it is on Oahu but I doubt it is much better. You may be able to find a place to sleep within your budget by sharing an apartment with two or three other guys. I can't tell you how likely you are to thrive but at the age you are and without dependents and such, it would be fun to try. Just be sure to keep your exit strategy viable and don't burn any bridges on the mainland before leaving.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Well, save enough for a return ticket and give it a try. It will be an adventure if nothing else. <snip> Just be sure to keep your exit strategy viable and don't burn any bridges on the mainland before leaving.

The last is VERY important.

Frankly, the minimal social services on the islands are already stretched beyond breaking, so there is even less of a safety network here than there is on the mainland.

One of the members of Gov. Abercrombie's team told me the latest official count of homeless people in Hawai'i is 1,235, and they estimate the "real" count is probably double that. It's a very large problem here.

If you do decide to "go for it," as an adventure, please be sure you have a way to go back home if you need to.

[katiem8]

Definitely have the cash saved for a return ticket home! And be open to other jobs or living somewhere other than the north shore. Obviously Oahu has the most jobs & Honolulu is gona have more than haleiwa. If you stay flexible & open to what comes your way you can most likely do it. May have to work in a restaurant or something sucky to make ends meet for awhile. But definitely have an escape route if things don't work out.

[mikefromphiladelphia]

Thanks for the replies everyone and I'm up for an adventure, but i will also have some cash stored for a return flight.

[winkosmosis]

I make twice that on Maui and I accrue $100-200 in debt every month. I don't see how you can live for $1000 on Oahu.

So you have $6000? Subtract $1000 for a flight back to Philadelphia and another $1000 for shipping your car back, and the $4000 will last you maybe 2 months