Moving somewhere on the BI: Where do I start? (Hilo: rentals, hotel)

[closee]

I like to hike, and I like the idea of living near a rainforest, but I don't want to live in a big city. I will need someplace to rent that isn't too far over 1000 It's so hard to find information on the local life of towns, everything is so centered around tourism. Unfortunately, I will not have the opportunity to visit before moving this July! I'd appreciate any input. Mahalo!

[maui_bound]

My husband and I are planning a move to the Big Island, too, and I was desperate for any information that anyone would give me. Several people mentioned that you should purchase the book 'So You Want to Live in Hawaii'. Naturally, I went to the bookstore and ordered it. I picked it up yesterday and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It is a "sea of knowledge". I've already read the first several chapters. It provides a realistic look at moving to the islands, without sugar-coating anything. I would strongly recommend you make a trip to the book store today.

Good Luck!

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by closee

I like to hike, and I like the idea of living near a rainforest, but I don't want to live in a big city. I will need someplace to rent that isn't too far over 1000 It's so hard to find information on the local life of towns, everything is so centered around tourism. Unfortunately, I will not have the opportunity to visit before moving this July! I'd appreciate any input. Mahalo!

Where you should look for housing really depends on where you will work. There are no "big cities" on the BI. Kona is the center of tourism and Hilo is the county seat, but neither have any of the attritubes of a big city EXCEPT that traffic in Kona is horrid. If your jobs are in the Kona area, you will not find much for $1,000 a month. I recommend checking the classifieds in "West Hawaii Today", but know that most people won't even talk to you until you are actually on the island. There are lots of communities outside of Kona and Hilo and, again, it depends on how long of a commute to work you want to put up with.

Do you have kids? Finding good schools is also very hard to do, and could dictate where you live.

Local life is what you make of it. People in Hawaii enjoy being with friends, going to the beach, and sharing food, no matter which town they live in. Waimea has more of a cowboy flavor because of the Parker ranch. Our town at the south end of the island has it's own music "festivals" and hula events.

If you're not limited by a job location, you may want to consider renting for a couple of months in different areas of the island to get a feel for what is good for you.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by closee

I like to hike, and I like the idea of living near a rainforest, but I don't want to live in a big city. I will need someplace to rent that isn't too far over 1000 It's so hard to find information on the local life of towns, everything is so centered around tourism. Unfortunately, I will not have the opportunity to visit before moving this July! I'd appreciate any input. Mahalo!

If you want to live near a tropical rainforest for around $1000 per month, the Puna District is probably your best choice. Although it's a little outdated, H. Skip Thomsen's "Affordable Paradise" gives some fairly decent information about living on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

[Sorcerer68]

Don't rent anything until you visit. In the meantime you can rent a hotel by the week, a room at a hostel or a vacation rental. There are many reasonable choices. If you've never been to the Big Island, you have no frame of reference regarding housing quality, weather, neighbors, amenities...I could go on. It's better to look at rentals in person anyway so you aren't stuck with a dump in a neighborhood of ice heads.

Nice, reasonable rentals are plentiful but I send this caution: make sure you rent something before the UH Hilo students start looking for fall. I learned this one the hard way. Good luck.

[Paniolo Cowgirl]

I want to make sure I understand your situation. You've never been to the Big Island but you want to move there?

I strongly suggest you go there for a few weeks before you decide to uproot yourself and transplant over there.

The best way to find info on the local life in town is to visit and talk to people.

[AlwaysSmiling]

Cowgirl,
We are a little late in responding to the OP.
He moved there in July.

[Paniolo Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSmiling

Cowgirl,
We are a little late in responding to the OP.
He moved there in July.

In that case I hope he's enjoying himself.