Anything you miss about the mainland?

[axelthefox]

Renaissance faires.

[Futuremauian]

In-N-Out Burger even though I didn't eat them very often.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by 1freespirit

Cons: .., biting gnats..

They don't exist in Hawaii. I'm wondering what is biting you, other than mosquitoes? Nice post though.

Snowbirding is a good way to go if you can swing it. That way you shouldn't be missing anything for too long. Many Alaskans either snowbird or vacation regularly in Hawaii.

Mainland? Parts of it may be fun to visit, but I would be perfectly content to only travel between the 49th and 50th states.

[Ian_Lee]

Cheap steakhouse like Bonanza and Ponderosa (which are also harder to find in Mainland).

Texas style BBQ -- the only one here in Wahiawa has closed.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by steiconi

After 12 years on the Big Island, with few mainland trips, I've come to the Midwest for medical care.

I miss the Big Island sometimes, but I didn't live there. We like Waikoloa Village the best, at about 900 feet elevation. It's dry, so theres no mosquitoes, and few bugs. There's a lot of green due to all the irrigation. It's a little breezy there, which we really liked. Not that far to the best beach on the Big Island, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, and not too far to Kona for shopping. The farmer's market in Hilo was worth the drive on the improved Saddle road. Not much traffic compared to the big metropolitan cities.

It looks like from your status updates, you had to go to or go back to Minnesota for your health care. Maybe the health care on Oahu wasn't good enough. Many people say that the health care in Minnesota is very good. But a lot of other things are bad in Minnesota, like the weather, most of the year and high taxes.

At least you were able to spend 12 years the Big Island when your health was better. That's the problem with Hawaii, besides the high cost of living and extreme isolation, is the very bad health care. Maybe you could be a snowbird, and live in Hawaii part time, unless you need to stay closer to good health care all the time.

Several years ago, I overheard another patient, that was older and probably retired, at the dental office tell the dentist that she was going in Hawaii, to the Big Island, at the end of the week. It was November. The dentist asked her how long she was going to stay in Hawaii. She said that she would return to Minnesota in May, after all the snow had melted, and it warmed up. That's the life! To not be stuck in the snow belt in the winter!

[Tisambas1]

I miss the big banging thunderstorms of the Midwest, reasonable grocery prices, fireflies, and the late summer evenings with day light. That is about all.

[Amadrid]

Originally Posted by Futuremauian

In-N-Out Burger even though I didn't eat them very often.

OMG I love those burgers - definitely will miss a Double Double

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by Amadrid

OMG I love those burgers - definitely will miss a Double Double

It's no In n Out, but Punalu'u Bakery has a pretty good burger.